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Over the past year or so I’ve started to really get into MLS soccer.  The Beckham craze certainly helped spark my interest, as well as the announcement of a Philly expansion team in 2010.  But the main reason I watch MLS is because it’s really the only soccer I get on TV this time of the year, aside from Euro games at odd hours of the morning.

Now, I have to assume that the MLS realizes it needs good national TV broadcasts to gain popularity.   And right now I get only two games a week — Thursday night on ESPN2HD and Saturday night on Fox Soccer Channel.  So naturally, you would think they would want to showcase their top talents to really make these broadcasts count.  They did it last year with Beckham… every Thursday game at the end of the season was an LA Galaxy game.

This year though they seem to have lost their way.  Tonight’s fascinating matchup is between Real Salt Lake and San Jose, the two WORST teams in the league.  And it’s at 9 PM EST.   I realize it’s on the west coast, but I’m not going to wait around all night to watch these two teams go at it.  When I watch an MLS game, I want to see the exciting players!  Beckham, Blanco, Gallardo, Barros Schelotto, Twellman.  I mean, they are trying to make stars of these guys with the whole “Designated Player” rule, so why not put them on center stage and show them off?!?

The MLS should consider flex scheduling for national broadcasts like the NFL uses.  Don’t schedule all the national broadcasts before the season… wait and pick the best matchups each week, and make them play at 8 PM EST.  It’s the game of the week for Christ’s sake, it should be at the same time every week.  Hell, if they want to take it even further do an Eastern game followed by a Western game each week.  All I’m saying is, they need to get some hype going here, for all us soccer fans who want the league to succeed.

PS — Not only is Guillermo Barros Schelotto is the coolest name in soccer, but he also has the coolest haircut.