Zoltan Toth: 'MISL Soccer in Kansas City but no National TV'

Source:Zoltan Toth- a map of some of the MISL.

"Kansas City effected by national media coverage.

What was wrong to fold MISL Soccer even if Kansas City sold out is Lost  ESPN the national tv sport coverage." 

From Zoltan Toth

For me at least, to be a major sports league in America, you have to be in the major markets and you have to have national sports exposure on TV. If you can't get the broadcast networks to show your league, you at the very least need national cable networks to do that, as well as local television to cover your league. 

Then you also need a feeder system to your league like a minor league system where your clubs can draft young players from, but also develop players who are not ready to play in the major league full-time yet. 

Then all of your clubs need to be in major sports markets and not just New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Boston, Detroit Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, but Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, as well. As well as the good mid-markets where your sport is popular. And in the MISL case, that would be Baltimore, Cleveland, Milwaukee, St. Louis, and Kansas City.

What a major sports league needs to have to not just stay in business and be profitable, but be around indefinitely and be in place where you are not worried about which club or clubs is folding or relocating at the end of the season, are things that the MISL has never had for the most part and why they're still a minor sports league in America. Even though they have a great sports that's purposely designed for the American sports fan, with a lot of action, speed, end to end, and great plays, where you can play both great defense and offense and where you need to do both to be champions.

NBC Sports: NFL 1994- Houston Oilers @ Dallas Cowboys: Full Game

Source:NBC Sports- one of the Houston Oilers lineman.

"1994 Week 2 - Houston at Dallas. Houston Oilers (0-1) at Dallas Cowboys (1-0)

September 11, 1994." 

From Sports!

You could really argue that 1994 NFL season was the last nail in the coffin for the Houston Oilers. They were 2-14, head coach Jack Pardee gets fired in the middle of the season and after the 94 season, Oilers owner Bud Adams starts looking for a new home for the Oilers and they end up in three years later in Tennessee, first in Memphis and then later in Nashville. And have been the Nashville Titans (as I call the Tennessee Titans) ever since the 1999 NFL season.

Pittsburgh Penguins TV: NHL 1991- Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: Pittsburgh Penguins @ Minnesota North Stars: Highlights

Source:Pittsburgh Penguins TV- The Penguins bench in game 6.

"1991 Stanley Cup Final Game 6 North Stars vs Penguins Goals" 

From Liver 04

I'm not a hockey or NHL expert in general, but going into the 1991 NHL Stanley Cup Finals, I think you would have to assume that the Pittsburgh Penguins-Minnesota North Stars matchup was a mismatch and that the Penguins should win this in a sweep. The North Stars only won 27 out of the 82 games that they played and were in 8th seed in what would be called the Western Conference today. The Penguins had all of that firepower on offense led by Mario Lemieux and others, Tom Barasso was their goalie, and Scotty Bowman was their head coach. And yet the North Stars take the Penguins to 6 games.

NBA-TV: NBA 1985- Western Conference Quarterfinal Game 4- Dallas Mavericks @ Portland Blazers: Mark Aguirre Highlights

Source:Utah Jazz Fanatic- Dallas Mavericks forward Mark Aguirre.

"Huge game by Mavericks forward Mark Aguirre, but his effort isn´t enough to win.

In the last minute Audi Norris scored two decisive baskets." 

From Utah Jazz Fanatic

I don't consider Mark Aguirre to be one of the best players of his era. Certainly not one of the best all around players of his era. And not even one of the best all around small forwards of his era. But for about a 5-6 year span in the 1980s, he was one of the best scorers in the NBA, at least at the small forward position. 

Mark Aguirre was basically a bigger, stronger, perhaps taller version of a Adrian Dantley. Both players played like big forwards on offense, but weren't big or tall enough to play the power forward and not very good defenders at either the power or small forward position. But during the 1980s, Mark Aguirre could get his points against every other forward in the NBA.

Paul Manoguerra: MISL 1983- MISL Finals Game 5- Baltimore Blast @ San Diego Sockers: Short Video

Source:Paul Manoguerra- the Blast and Sockers for the 1983 MISL Championship.

"1983 MISL Championship Game 5

San Diego Sockers 3, Baltimore Blast 1

Sockers' 2nd goal

Ade Coker from Julie Veee and Kaz Deyna" 

From Paul Manoguerra

The San Diego Sockers were like the Los Angeles Lakers of the MISL during the 1980s. The Blast were close and a serious championship contender in the 1980s and even won a championship. So this was a great matchup of two of the best MISL franchises. 

Joey Teefizz: MISL 1986- MISL Finals Game 7- Minnesota Strikers @ San Diego Sockers: 2nd Quarter

"

Source:Joey Teefizz- Game 7 of the 1986 MISL Finals.

"Please note the first quarter was not on tape but a first period Brian Quinn goal puts Sockers up 1-0 going into the 2nd quarter. Sockers are attempting their 5th title or as they call it...the hunt for "one for the thumb"

From Joey Teefizz

The Strikers and Sockers playing for the MISL Championship.

The Celebrated Misterk: NASL 1980- Tampa Bay Rowdies @ San Jose Earthquakes: Short Video

Source:The Celebrated Misterk- a little ruckus between Rowdies and Earthquakes. Aw, so that's why they're called the Rowdies.

"The Tampa Bay Rowdies defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 3-0 in a North American Soccer League match on July 16,1980 at Spartan Stadium in San Jose, California." 

From The Celebrated Misterk

The San Jose Earthquakes played on a short, narrow field, at Spartan Stadium, which was an American football stadium for the San Jose Spartans from San Jose University. Which made it a great place to watch soccer because the fans are so close to the game and action. But it presents challenges to for the offensive teams, to go along with the offsides rules which makes no sense in American sports. But the shorter, narrower fields at American stadiums make it harder for the offenses to move the ball. Plus, the field was so dry and beat up when the Earthquakes played in the NASL. They're really needed their own soccer stadium in the NASL and MLS today.