Wonder if the clubs planning on inviting a ton of celebrities (and by that I don't mean one or two) for the first game. Certainly would attract extra attention though argument can be made it would take spotlight off the players a bit. Still endorsement from well known figures isn't a bad thing if not excessive. How do people define the term "celebrity" anyway?
The club needs to create its own personalities. That's why the club needs someone like Balotelli with his personality and propensity for headline drawing antics. This isn't a knock on David Villa at all but he's not exactly been signed for "cult of personality" reasons. He's going to draw attention for high performance (hopefully and very realistically) but do we want a squad entirely comprised of safe corporate citizens? That's probably what its going to be but Henry hasn't exactly flooded the media with headlines is he? Beckham was corporate friendly but in the absolute top tier of name recognition not just as a football personality.
I truly believe someone like Balotelli as the face of MLS will do more than anyone to elevate media attention. If nobody can get him (at least anytime soon) then people should be looking out for the next best thing. I don't know much about basketball but the 3 main players of past/present I can name would be Michael Jordan (more like the Beckham type), Dennis Rodman and Metta World Peace. There needs to be people like that in MLS. I don't think Kreis would sign people like the latter 2 in a million years. Yet it could be people like those two who become the major draw for MLS as a whole. Right now due to the squad restrictions overall quality of the league isn't going to inflate publicity overnight.
This is NYC there's no harm in having a bit of danger involved. It can be a hell of a draw. If NYCFC take no steps in that direction another club surely will.
The club needs to create its own personalities. That's why the club needs someone like Balotelli with his personality and propensity for headline drawing antics. This isn't a knock on David Villa at all but he's not exactly been signed for "cult of personality" reasons. He's going to draw attention for high performance (hopefully and very realistically) but do we want a squad entirely comprised of safe corporate citizens? That's probably what its going to be but Henry hasn't exactly flooded the media with headlines is he? Beckham was corporate friendly but in the absolute top tier of name recognition not just as a football personality.
I truly believe someone like Balotelli as the face of MLS will do more than anyone to elevate media attention. If nobody can get him (at least anytime soon) then people should be looking out for the next best thing. I don't know much about basketball but the 3 main players of past/present I can name would be Michael Jordan (more like the Beckham type), Dennis Rodman and Metta World Peace. There needs to be people like that in MLS. I don't think Kreis would sign people like the latter 2 in a million years. Yet it could be people like those two who become the major draw for MLS as a whole. Right now due to the squad restrictions overall quality of the league isn't going to inflate publicity overnight.
This is NYC there's no harm in having a bit of danger involved. It can be a hell of a draw. If NYCFC take no steps in that direction another club surely will.
