Lagerwey was coy on the CBA issues but admitted there was ‘evidence’ free agency helps bigger clubs
Photo: Alex Caulfield (Sounders FC)
Garth Lagerwey arrives in Seattle during a period of uncertainty in MLS. The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has expired and a new one needs to be negotiated between the players and the league.
Issues like removal of the salary cap and especially free agency are uppermost on the Players Union wish list.
One can see why the league is opposed to much of this but there are some doubts as to whether all the clubs are as united as MLS might hope.
Last week in his video column Hinton Unleashed, Alan Hinton noted that free agency might benefit the larger clubs over the smaller ones. Sounders FC have the biggest fanbase and matchday income as well as a corporate sales outreach that is the envy of most in MLS.
In Joe Roth and VSE, they also have owners with deeper pockets than many of their rivals. Lagerwey was asked if he agreed with Alan Hinton that free agency might benefit the bigger clubs, in particular his club:
“I think there’s some evidence to suggest that in other leagues. If you look at Major League Baseball with no salary cap, the bigger clubs have prospered. If you look at the EPL and the bigger soccer leagues around the world, there’s some evidence to support that.”
It was an interesting answer. Lagerwey avoided putting his own opinion on record but confirmed that he is looking at the same evidence as everybody else. Smartly he declined to much further on record:
“Beyond that, to tell you the honest truth, free agency is such a hot button topic in the context of the CBA that it’d be better that I not discuss it at any length here.
“We have to let the league and the players sort out what’s important on both of them and how we want to go forward. We at the team level are not part of that process. I’m probably best to leave it at that commenting on observations from somewhere else.”
Lagerwey is well within his rights to not add a personal opinion to the ongoing debate, far less offer one in his role of Sounders GM.
However it was a tougher challenge for him when reminded of an opinion voiced on this site in August 2012 that the ‘removal of the salary cap is our worst case scenario’ when he was speaking on behalf of RSL.
“You get a different perspective from a different team. But again this is something the league has got to talk about with the players. As you know, we’ve talked about this stuff over the years. Philosophically there are things … right now in the cauldron of the labour negotiations is not the time or the place.”
Lagerwey’s hesitancy suggested he was bursting to talk about these issues but was simultaneously smartly aware that no good could come of either saying he still agreed, or now disagreed with his previous remarks.
It would be an interesting question to put to him in a slightly different way, to ask this; ‘if the end of the cap was STILL RSL’s worst case scenario, would he still push for it as Sounders FC General Manager?’
He is also smart enough not to have even contemplated answering it publicly and certainly stressing that it is the players and the league who are the primary actors in this drama allows for a legitimate reason to opt out. It indeed is the league’s job rather than his to look after the interests of both the large and small clubs.
If he was reticent to go on the record on the hot button topics surrounding the CBA, he was a little more open than expected on another issue.
RSL had taken steps in July 2013 to eradicate what they called vulgarity inside the stadium. It was mostly focused around the YSA chant but not exclusively as this warning to their fans explains:
“Since last season, vulgarity in both organized mass fashion and by individual fans has become more problematic for the club, the league and its business partners. Because of this, an evaluation will be made between now and August 10th at both home and away matches as to ALL RSL FANS’ commitment to eradicate YSA and other foul language chants.”
In truth, the YSA chant is not much of a problem in Seattle, and not a problem at all in sections where the Supporters Groups congregate.
There are still a few odd expletives left in some chants but the language on the RSL site also refers to vulgarity by individual fans, lest anyone think RSL were just making a move against their Supporters Groups.
On the subject of swearing, Lagerwey seemed to tilt more towards families over fans to use a hackneyed old term to describe the issue:
“I think it’s not a great idea to be honest with you. That may be my puritanical view coming from a fairly religious community. I’m also the father of young kids; a 3-year-old and a baby. I think they should be able to go and watch a football match without cursing all around them.
“Is there a way to do it cleverly and sporadically and not on national tv?
“I certainly don’t want to inhibit anyone’s right to free speech but likewise there’s just a respect – something the supporters value very highly is their support for the club and their respect for the legacy of the club, the tradition of the club.
“I think it’s important not to defame that by creating an atmosphere that isn’t representative of the club as a whole regardless of perhaps what one Supporters Group wants to chant and sing.”
His concluding thought on the matter provided a milder perspective:
“That said, I’ve not had the chance to meet with the Seattle Supporters Group so if they feel different, if they have a particularly clever chant that they use all the time.”
Lagerwey put very succinctly that he may veer towards the Portland policy of ignoring expletives in chants if witty or part of a larger song but cracking down on it when it seems to be done merely for the sake of profanity.
This definition would definitely exclude the YSA chant but not outlaw every song that used a profane word to keep the beat, for example a song where one might inquire if anyone could hear opposing fans singing, or perhaps even the relative flammability qualities when trying to stay warm on those cold Cascadian nights.
What has already evolved in Seattle is not dissimilar to this and one would anticipate a common sense approach and a meeting of the minds when he meets the Alliance Council members on Tuesday, a collective that includes members of the Emerald City Supporters group.
Lagerwey is looking forward to hearing their and others’ viewpoint, concluding.
“I’m happy to listen and happy to understand their view.”
Then he dealt with the obligatory comedy question, on a matter that clearly isn’t the GM’s job, although there seems to be a lively discussion as to who decides these things in other places:
“If the Sounders have a chance to score from one yard out to win the game in the last minute, can he guarantee that they’ll score from it?”
After a loud laugh, he composed a fine PR answer:
“Well we can’t hand the ball off. That was clearly at least the choice for those interested in the outcome. But it was an interesting play call.
“You know, we have a ton of respect for the Seahawks and what they’ve accomplished over the last couple of years. It’s really really impressive and we hope to emulate it. We’ve not been to a (MLS) final yet with Sounders and the Seahawks have won one and narrowly lost the two.
“Hopefully if we get that chance in the last minute, hopefully it’ll fall differently for us. But certainly we were there rooting for the Seahawks like the rest of the city and heartbroken not to see them be able to punch it in on the last play.”
In the last part of the series introducing Garth Lagerwey to Sounders fans, he talks about Adrian Hanauer, the one key factor that influenced him to take the Seattle job, and meeting Joe Roth for the first time
Related:
Lager than life Part 2: My challenge depends on how much of a pain in the neck Clint is!
Lager than life Part 1. Sounders new GM vows to ‘listen but be an independent voice’.
Lagerwey – The Best in the Business
Sounders should hire Garth Lagerwey – October 2013
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