

Klinsmann (By Julio Cortez — Associated Press)



Garber (By Graham Hughes — Associated Press)

What MLS Commissioner Don Garber got right and wrong in his criticism of Jurgen Klinsmann …

RIGHT

“I will do anything and everything to defend our league, our players and our owners.”

You would hope so. That is his job. Over 15 years, he has done a good job. He is paid millions to do it. He is employed by the investors/owners. He also wants to show he has the work force’s back. The question is whether, in this case, he needed to defend the league. Garber responded to Klinsmann like a hitter in baseball charging the mound after an inside pitch. Overreaction.

“We have invested since our founding billions and billions of dollars in creating a foundation for this league and sport, growing a fan base, commercializing this sport, creating a dynamic where it’s part of the sports culture in this country and creating a soccer nation.”

All accurate, though the exact amount invested in the league is as secretive as the player acquisition rules. If not for MLS, what would soccer be in this country? It would be track and field.

“The facts show that without the league, both the depth and the quality of the U.S. player pool would be diminished. It certainly wouldn’t be what it is today.”

Correct. The league has developed players and deepened the national team player pool. It has raised homegrown talent. MLS deserves enormous credit for help advancing the sport to where a World Cup berth is commonplace.

WRONG

“We have a good relationship with Jurgen but we collectively need to ensure that everybody is aligned with the mutual goal that we have of growing the game and the league’s role in growing the game.”

Garber and Klinsmann have different objectives. Garber is operating a business. Klinsmann is assembling the best possible all-star team to represent the country. Are their goals linked? Yes, of course. But both sides are looking out for their best interests. They do not need to be — nor should be expected to be– aligned perfectly.

“I don’t believe anyone is above the sport and I believe everybody needs to be accountable for their behavior, whether it’s a commissioner, whether it’s an owner, whether it’s an athlete or whether it’s a national team coach.”

You are the commissioner of a league, not the soccer czar. There is only one soccer czar. He goes by Sepp.

Klinsmann’s comments “are detrimental to the sport of soccer in America and north of the border and everything we are trying to do. Not only are they detrimental, I think they are wrong.”

Klinsmann’s comments were mildly critical and hardly sinister.

“When we have a national team coach who in essence is telling players that when they sign with our league that it is not going to be good for their career and frankly not going to be perceived well by the national team coach is incredibly damaging to our league.”

Klinsmann’s job is to select players in good form. If said players suffer a drop in form, he must decide whether to invite them to the squad. If he believes the player is suffering from his club or league environment, Klinsmann tends to point it out, whether the player is at home or abroad. No question, sometimes he is too critical.

“To think that we are not aligned with our national team coach is disappointing and frankly it is personally infuriating.”

Don’t take it personally. It’s not.

“To think that our national team coach is in disagreement with that is frustrating as hell.”

It’s healthy to disagree, to discuss, to exchange ideas. Frustration is natural. Just wait until the labor negotiations with the union heat up this winter.

“If you make those kinds of comments, it’s going to negatively impact our ability to create the right partnerships with corporate sponsors, the right relationship with fans and ultimately create the right dynamic to continue having the success we have had signing international players.”

Garber loses points for raising the issue of corporate sponsors in the context of the national team coach. As for the fans, most understand Klinsmann’s priorities will, at times, conflict with the league’s strategy.

“I am confident [Sunil Gulati] will understand and accept the severity of what is happening here and ensure that our technical director is in line with the vision [Gulati] has publicly stated.”

Gulati has seen everything in American soccer over 30 years. He has attended CONCACAF and FIFA meetings, for goodness sake! I doubt he considers this a “severe” situation.

“We are dealing with young professional athletes. I don’t know what possibly could have motivated Jurgen to so publicly criticize Michael Bradley and ultimately Clint. It is concerning to me that it seems to be following a pattern that began with his criticism of Landon [Donovan].”

Bradley, Dempsey and Donovan are not children. They are not college football or basketball players who need coddling. They are professional athletes who have circled the globe. They have endured nasty fans, abrasive coaches and clueless media. They were hardened by age 20. They don’t need a commissioner acting like the parent of a bullied child.

“He needs to think very, very hard about how he manages himself publicly and how he motivates players playing in our league.”

Klinsmann has said many clumsy things over three-plus years at the U.S. helm. You may not agree with his player selections and tactics — or his choice of words in situations such as this — but for the most part he has managed himself professionally in public and served as a thoughtful ambassador for American soccer.

“I am demanding that he refrain from making comments which are critical of our players and damaging to our league.”

Just wait until Louis van Gaal or Jose Mourinho accepts the national team job …