The Athletic keeps growing .......

The soccer gig is ideal for Scott French.

 

Good luck getting Americans to read MLS coverage

 

I know people who work at a paper with an MLS team in city. They cover the hell out of the team, and they say they’re shocked whenever a story on them gets more than 200 clicks. Soccer people talk a big game about how hungry the public is for daily coverage in this country. When it’s actually delivered to them, it’s....crickets

 

Agreed!

 

My understanding is that soccer fans here and abroad take many forms of soccer seriously, but -- as you suggest -- not MLS.

 

I read a decent amount about EPL teams and the other top European clubs, but I read pretty much zero about MLS. The same way I might read about MLB but pretty much zero about any minor league teams.

 

There is a weekly Timbers Talk show out this way - I don't know how you fill an hour, let along multiple hours. Nothing against the game - I don't think it is a sport where game coverage would be widely read. True fans would watch it live (or taped) and reading about soccer is like reading about art or music. I do think if you're lucky enough to be in an area with a lot of fans you can focus on the culture of the sport.

 

George Quraishi founded and edited Howler magazine - arguably the best soccer magazine in America. He's a great get for them.

 

To Ragu’s point, I thought SI.com did with Grant Wahl.

The Revolution have a postgame show that has analysis and takes calls. I think it’s the same five people who call in every week.

 

Contrary to its name, MLS is strictly a minor league.

 

Boston Sports Journal has two Revolution writers now. That’ll show The Athletic they mean business!