MLS and the player's union have agreed to a new five year collective bargaining agreement.  The players ended up not getting free agency, but they did secure guaranteed contracts and a "re-entry draft" for players who are out of a contract at the end of the season.  It will surely be convoluted and complained about in the years to come, but for now, we've secured five more years of local soccer.

Which is huge.  Obviously the World Cup is coming up in the summer, and a spirited run by the Americans should drive some interest in soccer among non-fans here in the States.  Secondly, the NFL and NBA seem to be heading towards labor stoppages in 2011.  If either, or both, of them were to have a strike or a lockout, the door would be opened for soccer to gain much more of a hold on the American sporting landscape.  The rise of soccer is inevitable, but thank goodness no steps to hinder that rise were taken today.

See you all at RFK on Apr. 3!