Counting Stars

It was recently decreed that prior to every MLS season starting next year, each club will unveil at least one new uniform top during Jersey Week. My first reaction to this was cynical; it sounded like a money-grab. Even with 3 kits per team, this means the average jersey life would be only 3 years. Then I thought to myself, “Self, did you just say ‘money-grab’? We’re lucky to live in a time in which this notion would even be economically viable. If it makes MLS money and doesn’t cheapen the product, all’s good.” Jersey sponsorships don’t often last more than 5 years, so I decided that maybe this wasn’t even such a big change. It will certainly inspire creativity amongst talented soccerphiles, which is not a bad thing. In the trust that if a club did happen to stumble upon an iconic kit that they would be allowed to keep it, I saw this Jersey Week in a more positive light. After taking in a few of the new kits this week, I’m even more in favor of it.

I do, however, have two simple hopes for MLS jerseys in the near future. To explain them, I first need to distinguish between the two styles of official MLS jerseys for sale. One is called “Authentic”, and the other is what I’ll refer to as “Standard”. (Previously known as “Replica” jerseys, in 2013 the delineation on mlsgear.com is now “Authentic soccer jersey” and “soccer jersey”). I apologize if this is insulting your soccer shopping intelligence, but this distinction is crucial to my argument– please bear with me.

 

Authentic jerseys are the top-of-the-line model, featuring contours and materials identical to the field-worn kits. With Standard jerseys, all the essential elements of the kit are there– the jersey sponsor (if it exists), MLS and Adidas logos and the team’s crest. Standard jerseys run for $84.99, and Authentic jerseys are $35 more at $119.99. For example, here are the Houston Dynamo’s home jerseys for 2013 (pre-order prices from mlsgear.com displayed):

 

AUTHENTIC ($119.99)

STANDARD ($84.99)

If you’re like me, seeing nearly-but-not identical pictures of two items like the ones above invokes an involuntary Photo Hunt reaction. Above, you’ll see the Texas flag on the Authentic jersey, while it’s not on the Standard. You’ll also see that the Standard is missing 3 more items: The US flag, a white strip on the left shoulder that reads “FOREVER ORANGE” and two stars above the Dynamo crest.

 

To be clear: I have no problem whatsoever with different tiers of jerseys. The market has spoken over the last 5 or so years and both products seem to have their niche. But two items on the Authentic jerseys give me taco neck, and here’s what I would like to see:

1. Add the Stars to the Standard Jersey

Championship seasons create dear memories. Soccer’s time-honored tradition of adding a star near (or to) the club’s crest after each championship is an elegant way for players, club staff and supporters to pay homage to those magical years. Unfortunately, currently not all supporters in MLS get to enjoy this tradition; stars are only added to the Authentic jerseys.

It makes perfect sense that certain features only be available on the Authentic jersey. After all, it’s a premium product and should offer more for its audience. However, keeping the stars off the Standard jerseys is counter to the spirit of economic equality in club culture. Additionally, the lack of stars on the Standard jersey displays a lack of consistency in the presentation of a critical club image – its crest.

 

   2.  Drop the National Flags on the Authentic Jerseys

I respect all nations’ flags. But they don’t belong everywhere, and for the life of me I can’t come up with one good reason why national flags belong on a club kits. Here are three reasons why they don’t:

• From a style perspective, a national flag strikes me as a feature that takes away from other, more creative jersey features.  Said differently, clutter.  It also acts as a required item that inevitably reduces space options for kit designers. 
• It needlessly introduces nationalism and patriotism into a stateless world. A country’s colors stir up intense emotion and imagery which I believe should be reserved for national team matches. City or State imagery has the power to work exceptionally well on club kits, if used thoughtfully.  I was impressed by the Colorado-flag themed kit from The Rapids, and it reminded me of the wildly popular redesign of the Columbus Blue Jackets' main sweater from 2008-present.
• They force proud citizens of many non-North American countries to wear the national colors of their employer’s city. Read that again. I wonder how Jay DeMerit feels when he looks over at that Canadian flag each week. I wonder how DeRo feels about wearing his United States flag. I’m sure each of these pros and others take it all in stride, but this to me is an unnecessary thing to ask of them. I enjoyed working in Germany for nine months, and I love the German people, but if I had to wear the German flag on my jacket each day to work it would have felt forced and awkward.  This also raises the question: Will Chivas USA petition to wear the Mexican flag this year?

What do you think?  Should all MLS gear of clubs with MLS Cups display their stars?  Do we need United States and Canadian flags on our kits?

Soccer Rising: From Columbus To Phoenix

Three years ago today, I was driving from Memphis to Oklahoma City.  It was the second of a four day journey from Columbus to Phoenix, where I would start a new role at work and a new chapter in my life.  I was leaving behind, at least physically, a city in which I was mainlining soccer.  The Crew were quickly rising to top-of-mind status for the casual central Ohio sports fan, aided by the club's 2008 MLS Cup victory and flourishing development program.  (How smart is it to outfit hundreds of local youth players in replica jerseys, by the way?  The impact of seeing nine-year-olds all of the sudden wearing Crew gear at the grocery store = priceless.)  Add my participation in club and country supporters culture to my coaching role in the Crew Juniors development program, and you start to see how pervasive soccer was to my day to day life in Columbus.

The impact of soccer in my destination city, however, was unknown.  I had a serious soccer habit to maintain, and there was much working against me in Phoenix.  First, there was no stable professional club, let alone an MLS team.  In a climate in which high temperatures of over 100 degrees are the norm from June - Sept, grass was only to be found on golf courses or the many spring training ballparks that dot the valley.  Further complicating things, my new work role would prevent me from coaching.  I'd also soon find that there were zero soccer-friendly pubs in my new 'hood, which I detailed in a blog post here.  It was a dark time for the rebellion.

However, there were signs of hope.  I quickly learned that the Crew were visiting Phoenix for their 2010 preseason training.  Attending these preseason matches was a treat; it was so quiet, you could hear all the players' on-field communication.  Clearly the soccer gods knew that I was going to deeply miss supporting my team in the Nordecke, and they threw me a frickin' bone to keep my spirits up.  I even met a few local Crew supporters at the preseason games, which helped to build my new Crew family in the desert. 

Cut to 2013, and you find Arizona busting with soccer news at both the country and club levels.  Last year's hosting of the USA-Venezuela friendly saw 22,000 witness Ricardo Clark's later-than-Klinsy's-roster-announcements 97th minute game-winner.  Last week's Mexico-Denmark friendly drew 43,000.  On the club side, since 2010 a Cactus League culture has firmly established itself in Arizona.  Between the Desert Friendlies and the Desert Diamond Cup, more than half of the 19 MLS clubs will spend time in Tucson this February.  Plus, plans have been revealed for $2MM of venue enhancements in Tucson for 2014.  With its warm February weather, its facilities and the current critical mass of MLS teams participating, a meaningful and lucrative MLS spring training tradition is Arizona's to lose.

Most importantly for soccer's future in the desert, professional clubs have been established in both Tucson and Phoenix.  FC Tucson started their PDL campaign in 2010, and Phoenix FC, the valley's new USL PRO team, will host its first match on March 30.  Phoenix FC is also affiliated with MLS' Real Salt Lake, which will visit the desert in June as part of a home and away series.  It's quite a trip to witness a club's borning cry, but that's exactly what is happening right now in Phoenix.  Its home will be Arizona State's soccer stadium, with its capacity being expanded to over hold over 5000 fans.  Some players have been named, and soon the squad will be complete.  A supporters group named La Furia Roja has formed, and soon they will be singing at matches.  Supporters' scarves have been produced, and soon there will be PFC gear.  Announcement by announcement, tweet by tweet, history is being made.  

With all this progress, there are still setbacks.  Local soccer supporters are currently mourning the loss of the town's best (only?) soccer pub, 16th St Sports Bar.  It was perfect in so many ways, I often wondered what I did with my other two wishes.  Their friendly staff would accommodate your every footie desire by opening no matter how early (EPL matches often start at 7am), acquiring every soccer channel possible, showing your match including the sound and ensuring that the entire experience was washed down with cheap drinks and tasty food.  I especially weep for the loss of my first girlfriend in town, their Torta Cubana; Te amo siempre, tortita!  I'm sure a new home base will soon be found, perhaps near Phoenix FC's stadium in Tempe, but 16SSB will always be remembered and adored.

Taking into account the stillness of the soccer scene three years ago, the current buzz in Arizona is remarkable.  I feel lucky to bear witness to it, just as I feel lucky to witness the ascendency of soccer in the United States in my lifetime.  Similar to when I moved to Columbus in 1996, living in Phoenix since 2010 has given me another chance to witness the beautiful game's cultural maturity in a part of the United States.  I'm excited to see what another three years will bring.