United Soccer Leagues preview -- Kinda

My joints hurt. But you don't care.

Lots of people wrote MLS previews last week and this week, and with good reason as the recent wave of expansion has given the league a nice boost. MLS seems to be bucking a trend among the top divisions in American sports and is actually holding together well, and in some ways thriving, during the recession.

I think the USL will have a nice season too. The reason I think this is because of ticket prices. The USL offers minor league ticket prices because it is, in some ways, a minor league. In reality the correct term would be "lower divisions", but most associated with American sports aren't used to the terminology.

Some of the teams in the "major sports" have been forced to slice ticket prices, indeed so has NASCAR. Soccer in America traditionally offers lower ticket prices, and despite times being tight, people still want entertainment, this is why MLS is reaping the rewards.

Another boon for the USL this season might be the success of it's teams in the CONCACAF Champions League. The league's biggest name, the Montreal Impact, made it to the quarterfinals before spectacularly crashing out at the hands of Mexican side Santos Laguna in Torreon. The Puerto Rico Islanders have faired a bit better, they're currently holding a 2-0 lead in their semifinal against Cruz Azul with the second leg to be played April 7th in Mexico City.

Anyway, lets get on with it:

President Obama did not return my phone call. (No idea where the picture is from, credit if you speak up)

The USL First Division is, as the name says, the top tier of the USL. It's the American national second division. It used to be called the A-League, the Select League, among other things. Then the USL realized that "First Division" sounded, and looked, a lot better. Hopefully it's here to stay. Last year the Vancouver Whitecaps won the playoff title, and the Islanders won the season title. Both winners get a trophy but the playoff winners are the champions, so Vancouver is the defending champion.

Vancouver and Puerto Rico will again be among the favorites. Both are well coached. Montreal should present a real challenge as well. The Carolina Railhawks will look to improve on their 2008 performance, they missed the playoffs. Charleston, one of the league's seasoned clubs, could make some noise after they finished as runners up in the 2008 Open Cup (and really should have forced extra time as they had a legal goal disallowed in stoppage). Keep an eye out for new boys Cleveland and Austin. Watch for Miami FC to prop up the table after a turbulent (to say the least) off season. I pick Puerto Rico to claim the championship.

The USL Second Division is the lowest tier of professionalism in American soccer. Three of it's teams, Charlotte (who've somehow secured sponsorship from Coca-Cola), Richmond, and Wilmington are actually among the old guard of American soccer. The 2008 playoff title was claimed by Cleveland City who accepted a promotion (yes, it actually has promotion) to the First Division after Atlanta relinquished their spot in the league due to financial difficulties. Charlotte won the regular season title over Richmond on goal difference. Charlotte and Richmond have a nice rivalry and should fight it out for the title again. Crystal Palace Baltimore is another team to watch, along with Harrisburg. Western Mass operates on a very small budget and should finish in the middle of the pack. Bermuda (owned by Shaun Goater for any Man City fans reading) faces an interesting travel challenge, and fatigue may cost them again. Charlotte will win their third title.

If a USL team is in your area, it's definitely worth your time to check them out.

Well, there you are. Have a lovely day and please, watch my friend's video. Haha, sorry, it's just important to her (and therefore me).