European clubs want to take Manhattan

"“The challenge I have for those gathering in New York is to make as much noise as the 76,000 people who’ll be inside Old Trafford that day.”"

Shouldn't be too difficult.

Then they'll take Berlin?

"US supporters are increasingly split between those who watch domestic teams and those who bask from afar in the perceived glamour of Europe."

Speaking as a town-member of one of those "West Coast teams" - I do not 'bask,' but there are two factors of why I do not attend home games and watch Europe on the TV: primarily because the level of play (for the foreseeable future) is significantly better in Europe and I also dislike attending live events (I can see and hear much better from the comfort of my own home.)

I'm a season ticket holder at Sporting Kansas City and enjoy going there every chance I can. I will admit that MLS is a bit more difficult to enjoy on TV and I do watch a lot of European soccer, like CL & EPL as I would prefer to watch those competitions on TV over MLS for obvious reasons, but I don't get to watch too much TV these days. Also, I think comparing a matchday atmosphere to what you'd viewing on a flat screen in HD while plopped down on the couch with a mouthful of Funyuns is like comparing apples to oranges.

From a matchday standpoint, my team Sporting Kansas City is quite an exciting squad to watch. I'm lucky in that respect because when I witness teams like the New England Revs come to our place to play, I count my lucky stars that I don't have to watch them week in, week out. And, while Sporting tops the standings right now, there are really no legitimate superstars on the squad. This makes the MLS atmosphere that much more appealing to someone like me.

So, I tend to consider this last point the most when I read articles on WSC written by self assumed throwbacks from a golden era who seem to want to rekindle the purism of a simpler time, always bemoaning the state of the modern game with all its gloss and melodrama. (Who needs the Soaps anymore...right?) But, I can certainly understand what they mean, and in this respect, at least, I'm thankful I have the MLS and not the EPL.

Yeah, most of the players on Sporting don't make all that much money if you were to compare them to their counterparts in the NFL, MLB or NBA. And, most of them couldn't hack it in any of the leagues abroad, (though, a few of them have tried.) But, I do think that since it lacks the hype, there's more of a community feel to it, and Sporting certainly has enough local flavor since starters Matt Besler and Seth Sinovic both grew up in the area and played for prominent high school teams in Kansas City. Furthermore, Julio Cesar's son and my son go to the same school. I have seen him around there and have always wanted to ask him what playing for Benfica or Bolton Wanderers was like but usually I'm coming in and he's going out the door and the opportunity has not presented itself. Lastly, my son plays his league soccer games at the same spot where Sporting trains. Last Saturday morning I passed the golden bearded Kei Kamara on my way to the car to grab my coat and we nodded at each other as we went about our business. I guess my point is this: these players are more or less like me and you and since they don't carry the burden of 'star appeal' the MLS experience is a lot more attractive and 'real' when you compare it to the somewhat cartoonish quality of a bunch of New Yorkers geared up in Barca attire congregating together at a bar for some silly 'event'. I could go out to Livestrong Park on a Saturday evening, share something real with a few thousand people for 90 minutes, then go home and maybe read a book, listen to a record or make love to the wife. So, I could be wrong, but I'm assuming a lot of these Barca clones from the aforementioned article just can't wait to get back to the apartment to play a few hours of Barca vs. Barca on the Xbox before they tuck themselves in for the night in Barca sheets to dream Barca dreams. Nah, I'll go ahead and stick with MLS.

Obviously if you're just watching it on TV and don't have any particular connection to the cities anyway, then the European games are better.

Everyone is welcome to their own opinion, of course, but I don't understand how anyone could prefer watching a match - any match - on TV to going to a live game. I'd rather watch the Penn State women's team play live than watch Barca play on TV. I like watching games on TV too, but as a supplement, rather than alternative to, the live experience. I watch some MLS on tv, but my overriding feeling during the whole game is "man, I wish I were there." Unfortunately, the closest MLS city to me is 3 hours away, but I make do.

MLS isn't really as bad as the Eurosnobs say it is anyway. And, as Kickstartkid says, there's an opportunity to feel a real connection with the club which is not available in any of the other US major sports and certainly not available to Americans who support Champions League teams half a world away.

For example, when Sebastian La Toux was traded from Philadelphia Union to Vancouver, the Philadelphia supporters held a going away party for him at a bar. Lots of fans came out as did the man himself and some other players. There is no other major sport in America where that would happen and I doubt it would happen in any of the top divisions in Europe.

At a Montreal Impact reserves game this summer, most of the first team, including Nesta were sitting a few feet away from the fans. Anyone who wanted could walk up to snap a picture or get a shirt signed.