Scott Adamson, Author at Adamsonmedia.com

A missed opportunity

OK, I realize that the American men’s soccer pyramid features Major League Soccer at the top, the United States Soccer League Championship a step below, MLS Next, USL League One and the National Independent Soccer Association occupying the third rung on the ladder and USL League Two, NPSL, UPSL and NISA Nation representing the fourth tier.

For the purposes of this column, however, let’s pretend we’re only dealing with MLS, the USL Championship and USL League One.

**Scott Adamson writes stuff. Follow him on Bluesky @scottadamson1960 and Adamsonmedia on Facebook.**

Now, travel with me back in time (through research … I don’t have the budget to use cool portals like you see in big-budget movies) and visit July 30, 1988.

That’s the date that Werner Fricker, president of the United States Soccer Federation, sent out a press release that detailed his plans for professional soccer in America.

The U.S. had just been awarded the 1994 World Cup, and part of the deal with FIFA was that the country had to develop a First Division pro league. With the demise of the North American Soccer League in 1984, there was no established major circuit in operation in 1988.

Fricker’s release was chock full of details, but the one that really jumps out to me came under the heading “The Future of Pro Soccer.”

The U.S. Soccer Federation has developed a plan for the reorganization of professional soccer in the United States. The plan calls for a First, Second and Third Division professional structure, with a system of promotion and relegation that will be unique to American professional sports. Under the new system, any community in America, provided it meets the proper standards, could field a team in the new professional league.

Wow.

Had that idea come to fruition, this year in domestic pro men’s soccer would look quite different.

Using the European pro/rel model (and sticking with the alternative timeline trope), Inter Miami CF are MLS champions by virtue of having the best regular season record in the league, while the Chicago Fire FC, New England Revolution and San Jose Earthquakes suffer relegation to the USL Championship.

Louisville City FC and the Charleston Battery earn promotion to MLS from USLC, and Detroit City FC, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, Rhode Island FC and Memphis 901 compete in a playoff for the final MLS promotion spot.

Miami FC, El Paso Locomotive FC and Monterey Bay FC tumble to USL One, with Union Omaha and Northern Colorado celebrating promotion to the USLC and Forward Madison FC, Greenville Triumph SC, One Knoxville SC and the Charlotte Independence battling in a promotion playoff for the last 2025 spot in American soccer’s Second Division.

Pretty cool, huh?

I love the idea that a minor league team can become a major league team through sporting merit, and for a few years I spent a lot of time howling at the moon about pro/rel soccer here in America.

“If we can’t have it here,” I screamed, startling many of the customers gathered at Trader Joe’s, “then it’s not worth having at all!”

But you know what?

It’s not gonna happen – at least not in a way that truly matters.

That ship sailed, sunk and rests at the bottom of the ocean 36 years after Fricker’s bold plan.

Ask 100 people why it never came to pass and you might get 100 different answers.

For one thing, Fricker lost his USSF reelection bid to Alan Rothenberg in 1990. Rothenberg, of course, went on to chair the World Cup 1994 Organizing Committee and helped oversee the establishment of MLS, which began play in 1996.

That league works under a single entity structure with each club owned by MLS but individually operated by investors. And while most franchises lose money, they’ve increased their value substantially over what they were worth originally.

A piece in Forbes in February stated that the average MLS club is worth $658 million (LAFC became the MLS’s first $1 billion franchise last year) and the expansion fee is now $500 million, up from $200 million in 2019. That gives off something of a Ponzi scheme vibe, but I have less than $300 in my checking account, so I’m not really qualified to comment on high finance.

Recently, Forbes gave a glowing review of the current status of MLS:

Boasting a league-high 23,194 average attendance at the All-Star break, MLS announced it has welcomed 8.3 million fans to matches so far, the most in league history by date in any season. With average attendance across the league’s 29 teams averaging 94 percent of capacity with a midseason-record 153 sellouts, fans aren’t just coming to the marquee matches. Season ticket sales league-wide are up 12 percent from the same time last season, with 25 of 29 clubs seeing increases from 2023.

The point is, people who invest that kind of money aren’t doing it at the risk of seeing their clubs lose First Division status. And frankly, rank-and-file American soccer fans seem fine with that arrangement. They’re used to having champions determined by playoffs/tournaments at the close of regular seasons in all other sports, anyway.

So, the worst team in MLS this year will return to the circuit in 2025, just as the trophy lifters in the USL Championship can only hope to add more USLC hardware a year later.

Throw in the fact that pro soccer in the United States doesn’t follow an international schedule (most of the rest of the world’s leagues started play in August), and you’re basically dealing with a different sports animal.

The USL has hinted at trying pro/rel, but that would be contained within the league’s sandbox.

There are lower division leagues that do it as well but, again, it’s an in-house thing.

All this used to bother me and hindered my enjoyment of U.S. men’s pro soccer but – and I truly hate this phrase – it is what it is.

I’ve come to view MLS, USL, etc., a bit like I view the United Football League (and the USFL and XFL before it). It’s a fun product to watch in the “offseason.”

Just as the NFL and college football are my primary tackle football focus, the Bundesliga, English Premier League, Scottish Professional Football League, Serie A, La Liga and college soccer offer the brand of association football most interesting to me.

That doesn’t mean I have to ignore what’s offered in my own country.

Anyway, Fricker’s pro/rel idea was in keeping with the traditional structure of world football. Promotion playoff battles are some of the most compelling in all of sports, and I think it would’ve been glorious.

Regardless, thanks for traveling back in time with me so I could write a few hundred words about something that didn’t happen. On the bright side, it’s hard to miss what you never had.

The Reincarnation Hotline

Thank you for calling the Reincarnation Hotline. We are currently experiencing a higher than usual call volume, which may result in a longer wait time. Please stay on the line and a representative will assist you as soon as possible. Be assured that your call is very important to us. This call may be monitored or recorded for quality control.

Calvin Holloway – or at least the soul occupying Calvin Holloway – was nothing if not patient. It had done this dance many, many times before, although this was the first time reincarnation business was being conducted over the telephone. A lift music version of Tina Turner’s I Might Have Been Queen played on a continuous loop, and the Soul found itself mindlessly humming the tune as it awaited the chance to talk with an agent.

Holloway, 32, would die in a workplace accident on Halloween. He’d leave behind a wife and young daughter, and plenty of family and friends who’d miss him. All in all, he was a kind human being. The soul made it so, working from Holloway’s first moment to mold him into the person he would ultimately become. Souls could chase the light or wallow in darkness, and this soul had always wanted to shine. That being the case, the spirit about to exit Holloway was confident it would find a happy – albeit temporary – home once Holloway was gone.

Finally, the recorded music stopped and there was a slight delay.

“Thank you for calling the Reincarnation Hotline, this is Shanti, how may I help you?”

“Hi, Shanti, I’m the soul of Calvin Holloway … he’s scheduled for transition tomorrow at 10:16 a.m., Central Daylight Time, in Lake County, Illinois, United States. My ID number is 65309827630987156242470.”

The soul heard the rapid clacking of a keyboard.

“Just looking that up for your right now, 65309827630987156242470, and thank you so much for having that information handy,” Shanti said. “The transitioner is Calvin, C-A-L-V-I-N, Holloway, H-O-L-L-O-W-A-Y, reborn March 16, 1992, in Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Is that correct?”

“It is. He’s a lineman for the county, and tomorrow he’s going to be electrocuted while performing maintenance from his bucket truck.”

“Oh,” Shanti said. “Like that Glen Campbell song.”

“Beg your pardon?”

“You said he’s a lineman for the county … it reminded me of that song Wichita Lineman by Glen Campbell. You know … I am a lineman for the county, and I drive the main road, searchin’ in the sun for …”

“Oh, OK … gotcha,” the soul said. “Never really thought about it before.”

The clacking resumed.

“Just for our records, could you name the past three vessels you’ve inhabited, along with the years of inhabitation?”

“Sure,” said the soul. “There was Rita Showalter from 1933-1992; Atrem Boyko, 1874-1933; and Hattie Grant, 1837-1874. I’ve memorized almost all of them if you need more, of course we’d be here a while.”

“Oh, no, 65309827630987156242470,” Shanti said with a chuckle. “Just needed the three most recent and again, thank you for having that information ready. Now, how may I help you today?”

This soul had been, well, a good soul, so it always wound up helping humans be the best versions of themselves. It wondered, though, what it would be like to inhabit an animal again.

Instead of dealing with all that entails functioning in an industrial society, a simpler existence might be welcome – at least for a while.

“I realize you guys have these things lined up already, but I was wondering if maybe it would be possible to be a dog on my next occupancy,” it said. “Not that I’m complaining about any of my assignments – they’ve all been rewarding – but I was just hoping maybe after all these eons I could try it again. That’s where I started, and I kinda miss it.”

There was a brief pause followed by furious clacking.

Then there was another pause.

Then more clacking.

“OK, 65309827630987156242470,” Shanti said, “You have been a terrific soul from the outset and you’ve never received anything but exemplary marks. I’m looking at your record now and it’s quite impressive. But I have to tell you, it’s really, really hard to get matched with a dog in this particular era. We get that request quite a bit as I’m sure you can imagine, and we turn down thousands more than we accept.”

The soul sighed.

“I don’t know if this is your area of expertise, but is there any advice you can give me … I mean, is there something in particular I need to do to get a dog gig again?”

“I wish I knew what to tell you,” Shanti said, a hint of sadness in her voice. “I’d say just keep doing what you’re doing, and your odds will get better each time. As you know, there’s no higher honor than being a canine’s soul. Once you begin that journey, you also learn about the souls of humans. And unfortunately, you don’t always like what you learn, which is why we try to place the souls of very good dogs into people in an effort to make them very good … or as good as possible. You and souls like you are desperately needed in that capacity. But at some point, I’m sure you’ll go back in the canine rotation.

“Now, according to our records, Nori Yoshida, who will be born at 12:16 p.m., November 1, in Tokyo, Japan, is your next stop. You’ll guide her as she becomes a childhood educator and I know you’ll do a wonderful job, as always.”

“OK,” the soul said. “I appreciate the opportunity. One last question… I met this great dog about 40,000 years ago and its soul was the personification of good. I think the ID was 11786340086391205348529. Any idea where it might be today?”

Shanti did a quick search on her computer.

“I got that information right here,” she said. “It’s inhabiting Dolly Parton. Is there anything else I can help you with, 65309827630987156242470?”

Going to the line

You already know that I’m a gimmick guy, meaning I love a good sports rule innovation – especially one that makes fans of the status quo uncomfortable.

And this is the time of the year when I always go to the NBA G League website to find out what tweaks they have for the upcoming season.

In 2024-25 the only changes in the developmental circuit involve end of period “heaves” and expanded coach’s challenge.

If a player chunks one from the cheap seats at the end of the quarter and misses, it’ll be charged to the team and won’t go against his shooting percentage. It has to come within the final three seconds of the first three periods, and must be 36 feet from the basket or beyond.

And as for the coach’s challenge, the only called infractions that won’t be subject to review will be technical fouls, unsportsmanlike acts and flagrant fouls.

I don’t have strong feelings about those changes one way or another – my main concern was making sure the free throw rule was still in place. The one implemented by the G League starting with the 2019-20 campaign is the best in the roundball business, in my opinion.

A single free throw is worth one, two or three points when a player goes to the line following any foul that would result in one, two or three free throws under standard NBA rules (it doesn’t apply during the last two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime).

Not only does this speed up the game, but I think it’s a fair way of making the punishment fit the crime, so to speak. If a guy was fouled while shooting a three, let his lone charity toss replicate that number of points.

Out of curiosity, I decided to look at some of the other modifications free throws have undergone through the years.

One of my favorites (and a controversial one) is an oldie but a goodie, courtesy of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

From 1939 to 1952, the NCAA utilized a rule that allowed a team to decline free throws and, instead, retain possession of the ball and inbound it from halfcourt. And in the case of a team being awarded a two-shot foul, it could opt to shoot the first free throw and then decline the second in favor of possession.

The rule was proposed in March, 1939, by Marquette coach W.S. Chandler but ultimately fell out of favor and nixed by NCAA coaches during their March, 1952, meeting.

I’ve always been intrigued by this alternative. Instead of the “Hack-a-Shaq” approach that puts a poor free throw shooter on the line, the opposing defense will simply have to force a turnover if the fouled team retains possession. Then again, it didn’t stop them from fouling during its 14-year run (especially since the inbound play came from halfcourt), so this rule was hardly perfect.

Starting with the 1954-55 season, the NBA had a “three to make two” free throw rule. This was applied during shooting fouls, flagrant fouls and backcourt fouls when a club was over the team limit. In the 1960s there was also a “two to make one rule” that went onto effect after a player was fouled followed a made field goal.

I liked those fine, although both were canned before the 1981-82 season. The stated reason was they were extending the length of the games (which they did).

So, what would my free throw “fix” be if I ran a league?

It’s far too drastic to ever be considered, but I’d just eliminate free throws altogether.

If a player is fouled while shooting, he or she is awarded the points (two or three) they would’ve scored on a made basket. And in an “and one” situation, they automatically get the one.

As for fouls during a bonus situation, instead of a one-and-one, the offense is credited with one point and retains possession.

Yeah, I know … that’s too far outside the box and would result in freakish scoring stats. But it’s still what I’d do because as I wrote at the outset, I’m a gimmick guy.

Fortunately for basketball fans everywhere, I’ll never run a league, so there’s absolutely nothing to worry about.

That being the case, I’ll just keep hoping that one day the G League free throw rule becomes universal.