Believe what I say, not what I do
You ever hear someone say something, but what they do say the exact opposite? Yeah, as a parent, I get called on that one all the time. The actions of David Beckham sure don’t mirror what he keeps trying to convince us is true.
Well, how about MLS? If you follow the league I’m sure this isn’t a surprise though. However, from the day the league started, we knew that certain players got special treatment. Now though, punishment is more level for all players but it seems that the focus is more on the offence than anything else.
Lately, MLS has been having to deal with two main problems:
- The leagues continued belief that playing on FIFA Dates (often scheduling matches at the same time) is necessary.
- That the quality of reffing in MLS is improving and that it’s not ok to calling them out.
Here’s the thing, I’ve always said that players make mistakes, coaches make mistakes, why can’t refs be allowed to make mistakes? It happens in all sports even with all the latest technologies. Honestly, I believe that 99% or more of the mistakes refs make are honest errors. This also holds true for players and coaches. They make mistakes and everyone, fans, management, media, everyone let’s them know.
So, why is it so wrong to criticize a ref for a poor decision? Oh wait, it is ok as long as it’s during the match and all you are doing is yelling something no one can really hear when watching on TV.
When I read that Houston Striker, Brian Ching was fined for a tweet he sent, I had to check it out.
Well, maybe calling him a “cheat” was a bit much but, that piece of text got @BrianChing fined. We all do and say things at times when we probably shouldn’t. Tweeting during the match when you are still upset about a decision, probably isn’t the best time. Yeah, he sent the tweet from (I assume) his hotel room in Philly. He’s with the National team right now and played the final 15 minutes against Haiti later that evening.
On Sunday, two more tweets on the subject appeared.
Sure Brian. It happens. I didn’t see the match but I’m sure the calls were questionable. You did have replay while the ref didn’t. It happens. You were frustrated and wanted to express your frustration. Now, Twitter probably isn’t the best medium to do that and I’m guessing you’ve learned your lesson and will give yourself a few minutes to calm down before sending a tweet next time. It happens.
Of course, I could question MLS here and say, why should a player have to be sitting in a hotel room on the other side of the country watching his team play an important match? After all, the Gold Cup is a FIFA event. It has to be very frustrating fo him to not be able to help.
The there is the matter of the fine. Yesterday, MLS announced it was fining Ching $500 for the tweet. A tweet he sent. Someone at MLS-HQ caught it. Something must have been said to Brian. I’m going to guess it was prior to the apology tweets. But an example had to be made in order to prevent other players using Twitter to launch anti-ref campaigns. So, the grand sum of $500. Now, for most that would be a sting. For me, it’s half a mortgage payment. I’d feel it but I could pay it. According to information released by the MLS Players Union, Ching receives almost $250,000/year (man, I thought he was earning a lot more) from his MLS gig. Lemme see now–divide by 52…..–Before taxes and that other stuff, he earns about $4500/week. Yeah, he’s in a higher tax bracket than most of us so don’t think he gets all of that. However, he’s pay checks are probably about $9000/month (or about 2/3’s of what developmental players make) so, he’s not going to feel this fine too much. And MLS–well, those handing him this fine–know that.
In other words, it’s a silly slap on the hand. Wanna know what’s really funny? I’ve been following Ching’s Twitter account for a while now. I was at my brothers wedding on Saturday and not checking Twitter. I didn’t see the tweet and never would have seen it if they hadn’t fined him. I’m guessing I’m not alone there. In this Houston Chronicle article (with quotes from Ching) it mentions that he had around 1800 followers. As of right now (about noonish Eastern) he has just over 2000 followers. So, in less than 12 hours from the time the article was published, @BrianChing has increased his number or followers more than 10%. Ya think the publicity MLS gave his twitter account had anything to do with this?
Of course, there’s still the question of his right to speak his mind. Now, any organization has rules about what you say in public. I know if I went out and bad-mouthed my employer and the way things are done at the office I’d probably have to explain myself and be told to watch what I say–or something like that. However, if something is legitimately wrong, shouldn’t someone speak up? Most large organizations now have ‘Whistle Blower’ lines for that sort of thing. Somehow, I doubt MLS locker rooms have posters with 1-800 numbers to call when a ref blows a call.
So, between the fact he was fined, the size of the fine and the ongoing ostrich act MLS is doing regarding the (lack of) quality of officiating, Ginger of GingerTalksTheFooty.com–I’m assuming his a Red Head–has set up a little Fundraiser to help Ching defray the cost of this unjust punishment. Give until it hurts. 
When will @TheSoccerDon learn? Funny thing is, he’s not following anyone so it wasn’t him who caught Ching.
So, to wrap up this ramble/fundraiser promotion:
- If MLS had better officiating, this wouldn’t have happened
- If MLS didn’t play matches on the same days as FIFA International matches, this wouldn’t have happened
- IF MLS had given Ching a warning and not fined him, few would have ever known about it.
Ah, but look at all the publicity they got. Just like British guy (what’s his name?) brings. It sells tickets right? Ok, not going there right now. As long as some charity recieves some money out of all this silliness, I guess it’s worth it.
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