November 25, 2009
OFFSIDE REMARKS
In the name game, leagues should move forwards, not backwards

By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

Recycling old league names isn't anything new to soccer.

It's been done for years, if not decades.

Let's see. There have been at least three leagues named the American Soccer League.

The Major Indoor Soccer League bounced around from 1978 through 1992. The Major Soccer League, from the old American Indoor Soccer Association, before renaming itself

Heck, there was a United Soccer League, an off-shoot of the ASL, bouncing around for a few years in the mid-1980s before the USISL switched its name to the United Soccer Leagues (plural because there are so many leagues under its umbrella).

Which brings us to Monday's announcement that the breakaway league from USL-1 has decided to name itself the North American Soccer League.

Hmmm. Where did I hear that name before?

Oh yeah, it was the league that brought us the New York Cosmos, Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, Rodney Marsh, Minnesota Kicks, the original Seattle Sounders and Tampa Bay Rowdies and that's not to forget the Rochester Lancers, Team Hawaii, Las Vegas Quicksilvers and the Toronto Metros-Croatia.

I learned my soccer while covering that league in what seems like another lifetime ago. I enjoyed writing stories about the intriguing characters and situations that occurred.

But that's in the past.

It's time look toward the future.

In as much I enjoy history and reading about it and sometimes even watching it be made, I just don't think naming the league the NASL is a good idea.

“By becoming the NASL, we are paying respect to the players, coaches and leaders who were pioneers for men’s professional soccer in North America, many of whom remain involved and committed to the growth of our game in various capacities throughout the U.S. and Canada,” Selby Wellman, principal owner of the Carolina RailHawks and newly appointed president of NASL, LLC., said in a statement. “For that, we honor and thank them with a new era for the NASL.

“Further, by going with NASL, we’re obligated to operate our league at a high standard befitting a name that means so much to the soccer community throughout North America. Our intention is to offer an elite brand of soccer and outstanding experience for our partners and fans, something the old NASL did very well during its day. We will do the same in the new NASL.”

An elite brand of soccer at the Second Division level, huh? Well, I hate to tell you that the original NASL was a First Division league and then some in an orbit that cannot be replicated ever again for many reasons.

The new NASL owners have a long way to go to duplicating the success of the old NASL, for all its problems.

And oh yeah: having two second tiers instead of one, weakens soccer. It doesn't strengthen it.

Look what happened to the MISL when owners disagreed. It split into three leagues -- National Indoor Soccer League, Professional Arena Soccer League and Xtreme Soccer League and the last one already has entered soccer oblivion.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem anyone has learned anything from recent history.

But that's another story for another time.

Michael Lewis would like to hear from you. If you have a comment, drop him a line at email.