The league returned to action in Florida, where COVID-19 cases are skyrocketing. And players were left with little choice due to the relatively modest pay.
MLS is back … in a Covid-19 hotspot with terrible food
The league resumes with a month-long tournament but there is disquiet about playing in a state where coronavirus is surging. And then there are the sandwiches ...
Omar Gonzalez probably expected a little more from a summer trip to Walt Disney World than a soggy-looking sandwich and a banana in a box. No Dole Whips or Mickey Mouse lollipops in sight, and there was certainly no evidence of the “house roasted prime New York strip loin” the Toronto FC defender’s $65 lunch had been billed as on the menu.
Yummm... #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/nelyLH9YsW
Related: The NBA's Disney World dream could turn into a nightmare, fast
FROM THE BUBBLE: “Remember: we’re real people. We can be replaced on the soccer field, but we can’t be replaced in our real lives. It’s easy to say “you’re safe” when you’re already eyeing up the next sub. Our friends and families don’t have that same luxury.”
Continue reading...Mayweather and Beckham’s Inter Miami applied for Covid-19 relief loans
- Data shows thousand in sports world applied for government aid
- Money was used to help support organizations during shutdown
Ice Cube, Floyd Mayweather and David Beckham’s Inter Miami led a cavalcade of sports leagues, federations, businesses and teams that navigated a federal loan program designed to help small firms cope with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Data released on Monday showed hundreds of thousands of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) recipients across a wide range of industries, and sports-related businesses were well represented. However, the NFL, NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball were not among the businesses that applied, according to the data.
Related: David Beckham hopes MLS can challenge European leagues in next 10 years
Continue reading...MLS’ mess a precursor for what U.S. leagues face
If American sports do return, they'll come with fright and exhaustion. Major League Soccer hasn't even started yet and is already proving that.
MLS players left bemused as $65 meals turn out to be a sandwich and banana
- Players are preparing for tournament at Disney World
- Comparisons made between MLS and Fyre Festival
It appears that it’s not only teams that are overvalued in MLS.
Nutrition is crucial for players, so it made sense that the league wanted to make sure its athletes got the best food as they prepare for the MLS Is Back Tournament in Florida, which starts next week.
Yummm... #MLSisBack pic.twitter.com/nelyLH9YsW
Continue reading...MLS Black Players Coalition to fight racism
More than 70 Black MLS players have formed a new coalition to combat racial inequities in the nation's top soccer league.
Atlanta, Miami players test positive for virus
Both Atlanta United and Inter Miami announced that a player had tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday.
NBA All-Star Kevin Durant buys 5% stake in MLS’s Philadelphia Union
- 2014 NBA MVP says he has always been a soccer fan
- Nets star will also develop charity programs in Pennsylvania
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has joined the ownership group of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.
Durant, a 10-time NBA All-Star and former league MVP, has a 5% ownership stake, with an option for 5% more in the near future, the Union announced on Monday.
Related: The soccer v football debate still lingers on in MLS
Continue reading...MLS tourney has major flaw with simple fix
The "MLS is Back Tournament" puts six teams at a significant disadvantage. There's a simple solution that the league seemingly ignored.
MLS will support players’ protests during anthem
Major League Soccer will support players who want to protest police brutality and systemic racism during the playing of the national anthem.
Major League Soccer to restart season with Disney World tournament on 8 July
- MLS to resume at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex
- All 26 clubs to vie for 2021 Concacaf Champions League spot
- Group-stage results to count in regular-season standings
The league’s 26 teams will be divided into six groups for the opening round of the tournament played without fans at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex at Walt Disney World.
Teams had played just two games to start the season when the league suspended play on 12 March because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Continue reading...It’s back! MLS will restart July 8 in Orlando
Major League Soccer will resume its coronavirus-cursed 2020 season with a World Cup-style tournament next month.