That is, the planned start of the MLS season.
Little progress has been made in labor talks between the players' union and the league's owners, and with players fully ready to strike -- all but two of 385 players voted in support of such action if a deal couldn't be reached -- it's certainly a possibility becoming increasingly likely with each passing day.
Throw in the intransigent matter of free agency, and it all seems to some like a matter of when, not if:
"There's no way the players are getting free agency -- no way," a source close to both sides said. "These are stubborn owners and they are not going to budge on this one. There is a deal to be done out there, to avoid a strike, but the players have to realize [free agency] is off the table."Unfortunately, it's a touchy situation for both sides.
On one hand, you have dedicated owners who threw millions of dollars at a once-fledgling league that could have easily gone under and cost them everything. Now that MLS's are finally starting to surge from the red to the black, it's not entirely unreasonable for them to want a bigger piece of the pie.
On the other side, it's not like the league's players haven't made similar sacrifices and contributions to MLS's welfare. For so long, they took the meager salary offerings they could from owners. They could be waived mid-season, and be legally denied the rest of their contract. Now, they understandably want greater flexibility and rights in a burgeoning players market.
As a fan of the sport, I'm hoping the two sides can find some common ground.
Just how realistic is that wish? We'll find out in about a week.
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