Leicester City just isn't allowed in US soccer...

American sports fans love the underdog story... they love March Madness... Hoosiers... all the stories of teams coming out of nowhere and winning the big game. Right now in the EPL (the antithesis of parity right Closed System Zealots?) Leicester City FC is in first place. Thats right... a club most of you didn't even know who they were featuring two scoring machines who none of you knew about is at the top of the standings and they don't look like they want to give that spot up easily either.

Gary Kleiban wrote a great blog about the club and how we are just not allowed stories like this in American soccer... 

I think we can agree that fulfillment of potential is something we all yearn for.
But what if the path to fulfillment is taken away from you? What then?
Well, compared to the rest of the world, American soccer is set up precisely to do this. Limit, or even take away, one’s potential.
Whether you are a player, a coach, a club, a community, or any active or would be active participant in the ecosystem, that is something you should be aware of.
This article is but one of what will be a never-ending series illustrating this. Never-ending, that is, until those responsible stop denying and obstructing merit-based opportunity for every constituent in the landscape.

READ THIS GREAT PIECE HERE

Soccer just isn't that popular

Ever since the start of this blog I've been interested in providing links that help people get to debunking the varied myths surrounding the "Why it won't work..." arguments closed system zealots like to use on social media every day... like the "soccer just isn't that popular in the US yet" one that is debunked with this great piece...

Soccer Isn’t Popular in the US Because the Wrong People Watch it

 

Also remember that clubs and leagues at every level outside of the MLS have came out in favor of #ProRelForUSA (even in Canada) and their supporters groups (HERE and HERE for the supporters group alliance) and fans are solidly in support of the movement as well as this FC Edmonton poll shows. It's not some "Tinfoil brigade" of just a few radical fans on twitter... We are the MAJORITY of fans in the United States in every single poll that has been done ever since the start of this blog. I could post a new poll result every week and the results are always the same...

 

Building a movement...

Guys, thank u so much for fighting for an inclusive ecosystem. What u are accomplishing in building this movement is incredible to witness.

— Gary Kleiban (@3four3) December 24, 2015

Yes... thank you so much to every writer, blogger, club, supporters group and fan out there who put in effort this year to grow the Open Pyramid movement. It was about 10 months ago when I wrote my first little piece on the rapid growth of the movement. Since then I've noticed nothing but an acceleration of the conversation not only online but at every game, tailgate, and watch party I've been to since then.

Keep up the good work #ProRelForUSA

 

 

 

Eric Wynalda and Landon Donovan talking #ProRelForUSA and more...

Eric Wynalda and Landon Donovan talk Promotion and Relegation on WTF Radio...




also Ted Westervelt was a guest on World Soccer Talk Radio with Nate Abaurrea talking #ProRelForUSA as well

LISTEN TO IT HERE

We would love to hear what you think about these interviews ... let us know in the comments or on social media make sure you use the #ProRelForUSA hashtag on twitter!

Don Garber vs Chattanooga FC

As I'm sure many of (all?) of our readers already know... Don Garber opened up his mouth and inserted his foot in it at BlazerCon. The Director of Chattanooga FC Tim Kelly penned a great response ...

That said, I was the lone Chattanoogan in the crowd on Saturday morning when you called out my fair city in your argument against promotion and relegation, as though it were some hellish backwater where the likes of Kansas City might be forced to play if they were to suffer the indignity of being sent down. I almost choked on my breakfast pie. Let me set the record straight:

READ IT HERE


Larry Johnson of Helltown Beer also penned a great piece about this comment...

Don Garber, MLS Commissioner, has a deep-rooted misunderstanding of the sport of soccer. At the very essence of it, soccer is a sport open to everyone no matter their means. This is what separates it from other sports out there and why it has become the most popular sport in the world.

READ IT HERE

Derby City Ultras with a wonderful podcast

This is a great podcast from the Derby City Ultras that features a really good #ProRelForUSA segment at about the 50 minute mark. Make sure you give it a listen!


LISTEN TO IT HERE