Comments on: MLS Fines DC President $5k for Pointing Out The Obvious http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/ Exploring football culture around the world Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:05:25 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Daily (or Weekend) Dose 10.31.09 - - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10877 Daily (or Weekend) Dose 10.31.09 - - The Offside - Soccer News and Opinion from leagues around the world Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:01:59 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10877 [...] MLS fines DC President $5k for pointing out the obvious (Pitch Invasion) [...] [...] MLS fines DC President $5k for pointing out the obvious (Pitch Invasion) [...]

]]> By: Benjamin Kumming http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10632 Benjamin Kumming Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:33:42 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10632 Payne specifically named names in his tirade - thus the fine. Unfortunately for all involved, he spoke the truth, and so when MLS fines him, it looks punitive and a bit petulant. Payne specifically named names in his tirade – thus the fine. Unfortunately for all involved, he spoke the truth, and so when MLS fines him, it looks punitive and a bit petulant.

]]> By: anonymous http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10621 anonymous Fri, 30 Oct 2009 15:04:59 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10621 Schram, Payne did not trash the league. He made some critical comments, the same that both many fans and detractors make. If MLS insulates itself with yes-men, doesn't acknowledge opposition (draw them in) it won't improve as fast as it can. So they disagree. Then that's a good media opportunity for MLS to make a statement explaining its issues, success, and direction. Controversy launches media. A skilled PR staff can put a positive spin on it and benefit from the controversy itself. Schram, Payne did not trash the league. He made some critical comments, the same that both many fans and detractors make. If MLS insulates itself with yes-men, doesn’t acknowledge opposition (draw them in) it won’t improve as fast as it can.

So they disagree. Then that’s a good media opportunity for MLS to make a statement explaining its issues, success, and direction. Controversy launches media. A skilled PR staff can put a positive spin on it and benefit from the controversy itself.

]]> By: Joseph D'Hippolito http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10539 Joseph D'Hippolito Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:24:08 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10539 The fact that Payne got fined $5,000 means that MLS equates Payne's comments with David Beckham's challenge of a fan to enter the field during halftime of the Galaxy-Milan friendly. That equation, in itself, is ridiculous and asinine. What Beckham did was far more damaging to the image of the league. Besides, Garber did NOTHING when Cuauhtemoc Blanco clocked a couple of people (including a security guard) during the U.S. Open Cup game against United -- which was far worse than what either Beckham or Payne did. Yes, it was an Open Cup game, not an MLS game, but that's merely a convenient excuse for Garber to sit on his hands. The last time I checked, both the Fire and United are league members. The fact that Payne got fined $5,000 means that MLS equates Payne’s comments with David Beckham’s challenge of a fan to enter the field during halftime of the Galaxy-Milan friendly. That equation, in itself, is ridiculous and asinine. What Beckham did was far more damaging to the image of the league.

Besides, Garber did NOTHING when Cuauhtemoc Blanco clocked a couple of people (including a security guard) during the U.S. Open Cup game against United — which was far worse than what either Beckham or Payne did. Yes, it was an Open Cup game, not an MLS game, but that’s merely a convenient excuse for Garber to sit on his hands. The last time I checked, both the Fire and United are league members.

]]> By: EricJ http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10528 EricJ Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:25:28 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10528 (Honest Question) Did Seattle make any direct comments like Payne did? If not then...well that's your answer. (Honest Question)

Did Seattle make any direct comments like Payne did? If not then…well that’s your answer.

]]> By: A. Ruiz http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10519 A. Ruiz Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:38:31 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10519 Why is this a fine and when Seattle basically trashed the whole DC organization and fanbase we didn't see a similar reaction. I call shenanigans. Why is this a fine and when Seattle basically trashed the whole DC organization and fanbase we didn’t see a similar reaction. I call shenanigans.

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10515 Tom Dunmore Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:39:18 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10515 True enough, it's hard to shed a tear for dear old Kevin. Glad someone picked up on the Lalas hypocrisy! I get a lot of questions, praise and complaints about that avatar, but it was perhaps the great moment in televised American soccer history, in my opinion. True enough, it’s hard to shed a tear for dear old Kevin. Glad someone picked up on the Lalas hypocrisy! I get a lot of questions, praise and complaints about that avatar, but it was perhaps the great moment in televised American soccer history, in my opinion.

]]> By: schram http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/10/29/mls-fines-dc-president-5k-for-pointing-out-the-obvious/comment-page-1/#comment-10514 schram Thu, 29 Oct 2009 20:35:21 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=4142#comment-10514 Meh, $5,000 is a very, very small amount, I don't think it's an unreasonable amount to ding a front office guy for trashing the league. And yeah, I think a fine is karmic justice for him to make those comments after all the time I wasted tuning in and thinking DCU would finally get their act together in the CONCACAF Champions League. Talk about hours I'll never get back. And Tom, that's rich of you to complain about MLS making you see Alexi's face everywhere, when you've chosen him as your Twitter avatar and subject your tweeps to it like 5 times a day! (I was actually gonna mention this on FF, but it's actually my favorite avatar on Twitter, no joke.) Meh, $5,000 is a very, very small amount, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable amount to ding a front office guy for trashing the league. And yeah, I think a fine is karmic justice for him to make those comments after all the time I wasted tuning in and thinking DCU would finally get their act together in the CONCACAF Champions League. Talk about hours I’ll never get back.

And Tom, that’s rich of you to complain about MLS making you see Alexi’s face everywhere, when you’ve chosen him as your Twitter avatar and subject your tweeps to it like 5 times a day!

(I was actually gonna mention this on FF, but it’s actually my favorite avatar on Twitter, no joke.)

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