On Wednesday night, Major League Soccer held it's 17th All-Star Game at PPL Park just outside of Philadelphia. A record crowd, and a TV audience on ESPN, saw the

. As I watched, I heard former U.S. international and ESPN analyst Taylor Twellman say this was the best All-Star format in American sports. I thought about it and had a hard time disagreeing.

A few years ago, debating which All Star Game was the best was no chore at all. Few would argue that Major League Baseball has stood alone as the only major sport worth tuning in to. While there are pitching changes every inning or so and the winner of the glorified exhibition game, unfortunately, decides home field advantage in the World Series, the game itself doesn't change much. Gone are the days of Pete Rose barreling into Ray Fosse at home plate but for the most part, the game is the same. Pitchers still throw hard and players can still play the game hard and play solid defense, unlike in the NHL, NBA and NFL All-Star Games.

However, as much as I enjoy baseball's Midsummer Classic, in recent years, Major League Soccer has overtaken them on my All-Star Game priority list.

Full disclosure: I am a fan of all sports (with the exception of NASCAR -- and not for lack of trying). While I've spent a lot of my career broadcasting and writing about soccer, I get just as excited about an intriguing NBA or NHL game as I do about an MLS or European soccer game. (e.g. I skipped the Roma vs. Liverpool Fenway Park friendly in favor of watching the Tigers/Indians game on Wednesday)

Side note for non-soccer fans: MLS launched in 1996 and has grown to 19 teams, and is stronger than ever. Last year, the league surpassed the NHL and the NBA in league-wide average attendance (granted, MLS stadiums are bigger than NHL and NBA arenas, but still...). TV audiences are slowly growing and a

shows the sport's popularity is expected to continue to grow as kids from this generation are growing up with a professional soccer league here in the U.S. and more soccer on TV than ever before. (Who would have thought 20 years ago a major network like Fox would show a live regular season English Premier League game?)

Since MLS doesn't have a long history to draw from, the format has changed a few times, starting with East vs. West, dabbling in the USA vs. the World during the 1998 World Cup year and then having the All-Stars face off with outside opponents like the U.S. National Team (2002) and Mexico's C.D. Guadalajara (2003). After one last East/West battle in 2004, the league decided to go back to finding an opponent to come in to play the best of MLS and the format has remained since.

Beginning in 2005, when U.S. internationals Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra brought middle-of-the-table English Premier League side Fulham FC to Columbus to play the All-Stars, the league has made it their goal to put the league's best players on the field against some of the world's best teams, or at the very least, against teams from some of the world's best leagues.

Celtic (Scotland), West Ham United (England), Everton (England), and Manchester United (twice) have all taken part and this year, Chelsea FC, made their second appearance in the annual exhibition game. The attendance and interest for the All-Star Game continues to grow and if

, the current format looks to remain in place.

Here are the reasons why the MLS All-Star Game is superior:

A ROOTING INTEREST: US AGAINST THE WORLD

One of the great things about international play in any sport (Olympics, Ryder Cup, World Cup etc.) is that everyone comes together for one common cause. Sure, a lot of people don't like LeBron James, but when he puts on those red, white and blue colors at the Olympics, he's representing our country and (most people) put their hatred of the Miami Heat aside for a few games and cheer for the good 'ole USA.

The MLS All-Star Game does the same thing. MLS fans, no matter what team they support, and casual fans, can all get behind the MLS All-Star team in an "us against the world" situation. Soccer isn't king in the United States like it is in most other countries, and since the league is relatively new, Major League Soccer has always been the underdog when it comes to soccer.

The NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB don't have any real competition with any foreign league, but MLS does in a big way. The league is constantly trying to prove itself to the rest of the world and to "soccer snobs" here in the U.S. What better way to do that than to play against some of the best teams in the world or against a team from one of the powerhouse leagues? It seems like even the casual sports fan could get behind the underdog U.S. league playing against a foreign power from another country.

COMPETITIVE GAME

There is a lot of pride at stake when it comes to the MLS All-Star Game, which makes the games competitive. The foreign club doesn't want to lose to the "inferior" American team, and the MLS players want to prove they belong on the same field as some of the world's elite. Some players see this as a way to get the attention of some overseas clubs.

Gone are the days of the 9-4 East vs. West-style contests where even an NFL Pro Bowl participant would be ashamed of the defensive display. The games are still relatively high scoring and entertaining (only three of the 10 MLS vs. opponent games have failed to surpass two total goals.), and while defenders aren't going in with studs-up tackles, they also don't want to get beat, so there is a real effort on the defensive end.

NOT THE SAME OLE, SAME OLE

In the other sports, it's almost always the same. East vs. West, US vs. World, AL vs. NL. The NHL had their "pick teams" approach and that was interesting, but for the most part, it's the same ole, same ole.

For MLS, aside from Manchester United and Chelsea, who have both been the opponent for the All-Star Game twice, it's a different team every year. This gives MLS fans a chance to see the players they voted for face off against new teams and new superstars. Variety is the spice of life.