Covering a MLS game --- tips/advice?

There is pregame access in MLS, up to an hour before kickoff (at least that was the rule as of last year; not sure how the Beckham frenzy might change things).

Bring binoculars or anything with a telescopic lens. The Giants Stadium press box is about 6 miles above the field.

Don't buy the press box food. Absurdly expensive for what probably will be macaroni and cheez (it sure as hell isn't "cheese").

Don't be offended if Red Bulls coach Bruce Arena acts like a dick toward you. It's just his nature.

 

If you fall asleep, try not to drool on yourself... That would be embarrassing...

 

So how did things work out Hunty?

 

Over/under was 9. Good game to watch on the tube, except that it was played on FieldTurf. MLS needed a high-scoring match for the more than 65,000 there.

 

Awesome.

 

i bet everyone was a winner.

 

The score was fun to fun

 

Hope you kept your money in your pocket...

[/soccer fan that gets a little sick of old, tired, clichéd jokes]

 

"Oh, I'll kill myself if Portugal doesn't win."

 

but it is funny ... every damned time i hear (read) it.

 

To each their own. Before you write it just make sure you aren't turning off more readers than you are making chuckle.

I hate NASCAR, but I appreciate that the redneck nation jokes went out of style sometime around 1994. Soccer-haters...to each their own.

Anyway, to try and turn this into a somewhat serious journalism discussion, I sometimes think that we let our personal feelings about a particular sport impact our decision to cover them. In many markets in North America soccer has a big following yet soccer coverage is often nothing more than overused one-liners by the half-wit humor columnist.

Then there are the whole mixed-martial-arts-isn't-a-real-sport-and-I'll-be-damned-if-I-ever-cover-it-despite-its-massive-appeal-amongst-the-exact-demographic-we-as-an-industry-are-losing crowd.

One and the same...