The list for the MLS all-star game came out and to nobody’s surprise there were quite a bit of complaints.

“How is this guy on the roster?”… “ I can’t believe this guy didn’t make it?”...“It’s a popularity contest!”.. “The all-star game is a joke!” were all various statements I happened to come across on twitter.

I’m not here to talk about snubs and what not, I’m here to discuss how to make the all-star game more enjoyable or at least more respectable.

I understand that MLS is still a growing league but at this point I don’t understand why the league pays money to these big European teams to play our best players in a friendly. I think it’s a lose-lose situation. The big European teams we play are in the middle of their preseason while our players are in peak shape. There really isn’t any benefit to the all stars or the league if we win(please don’t say it means we are closing the gap or that it gives us bragging rights because it doesn’t). If we lose, people will say that our all stars can’t even beat a club team. Granted it’s Real Madrid this year two time defending Champions League winner, but you get my drift. If we are trying to be a top league, shouldn’t we stop playing into this inferiority complex with these teams and league we aspire to be? It’s not like we are going to be able to take the all star team to a Fifa Club World cup when an MLS team eventually wins a CCL trophy.

I truly believe that the league is at a point where we don’t have to play European teams in the All-Star game to bring excitement to the league. I know bringing these teams in helps with global marketability and business but I feel that we have a strong foothold of fans in the US that will only continue to grow.

Here are some options for the All Star game that would be better in my opinion:

East vs West : Not only does it give more players recognition for the excellent seasons they are having, it lets the fans argue about which conference is stronger. If you want to make it interesting, the league could do it like the MLB where the conference that wins gets to host the final.

DPs/(TAM*) vs Everybody else: Lets be honest the DPs not only for their deserved play but their fame are more often than not going to be the first ones picked to represent the league in All-Star games. Americans love an underdog story and this gives a chance for the players that are performing but may not be as popular their chance to shine. We live in a world, where people that watch highlights over content are affecting some of the picks that are being made for this game. If you did an all star game this way, guys like Tim Melia, David Accam, Ike Opara, Justin Morrow, Kelyn Rowe, Jonothan Spector, Darlington Nagbe, Christian Ramirez, Justin Meram, Anibal Godoy, Fanendo Adi, Christian Roldan, Alexander Ring, etc would get picked.

*I don’t know how we’d figure out which side TAM players played on

Internationals vs Domestic (US & Canada) or Concacaf vs Internationals : Perfect chance to market domestic/local talent compared to their foreign counterparts.

Other ideas for the All Star game

Mls has been doing a great job trying to create more buzz around the all star games with fun activities and skills challenges but these are ways to help it improve in my opinion.

Rising stars game: MLS promotes this 24u24 every year and does great work, they should do more with that. The Homegrown game is cool but again a collection of players playing a reserve liga mx team doesn’t do anything beneficial for the growth of the game. Why not have a game that promotes the bright young stars of the league. 24u24 Homegrown vs GA & Draft Picks: Imagine Julian Gressel, Jack Elliot, Aaron Long, Jeremy Ebobisse, Miles Robinson, Jack Harrison, Alex Bono, Marky Delgado & Niko Hansen on one side vs Alphonso Davies, Nick Lima, Tyler Adams, Marco Farfan, Derrick Jones, Justin Glad, & Ian Harkes on the other. I don’t know why but I think it’d be a great way to get more exposure to the young talent that is in the league.

You could even do a 24u24 international vs domestic…although I don’t know if there are enough numbers…

Skills Challenge: I don’t know how you have a skills challenge in soccer and don’t have a crossbar challenge. Every team sends a representative for their team to play the crossbar challenge and winner gets a prize for the team and their supporters.

Soccer Tennis- teams send two players to compete in a mini soccer tennis tournament at the all-star games. Winner gets a prize for their team. If you’ve ever been around a team you know soccer tennis gets real.

Foot golf

Two touch tournament

Goalie wars

These are all ideas on how to improve the all-star game and not only make it more enjoyable for the players but the fans as well.

Anyways I’ve talked for too long on this subject…congrats to all the players that made it. Someone fake an injury, so my boy Ike Opara can come as an alternate.