The Resident Expert Part 2: OWU coach Jay Martin on the MLS

NOTE: See Jay Martin's biography below. Also this is the second part of a two-part series in what will be a weekly feature.

5. Can you briefly describe your role/position with the Columbus Crew and how many years you worked for them?

I was the radio "analyst" for the first 11 years. The summer that Greg Andrulis replaced Tom Fitzgerald I trained the team every day at practice and helped Greg in games. I have not had any contact with the Crew the last two years.

6. Looking at the upcoming 15th MLS season, what are your predictions as far as favorites, playoff contenders, players to watch, and rising stars to look out for?

The MLS is built for parity and it has parity!!! I think that LA will be a factor, they have confidence after last year and the best American player - defense will be a problem. Neighbor Chivas will give them a run - new coach and new assistant coach Nick Theslof (who coached two years at OWU) will make a difference. They were on Jurgen Klinsmanns staff at Bayern Munich last year.

New England will bounce back from a tough year!! (Steve) Nichol is a legit coach. But my sleeper is Seattle. Good coach, good organization, unbelievable fans and support and a veteran Freddie Ljungberg (former Sweden international).

7. Throwing out a hypothetical say the MLS could pick either format, would you prefer the American-style playoff format that the MLS currently has or would you prefer to see the European format where teams only play for regular season league championships but with the stipulation of relegation for the bottom side clubs?

I prefer the European style relegation model BUT it will never fly here. There is too much money at stake and too much tradition. The US won't buy it, but how cool would that be??

8. Can you assess where the MLS is in its 15th season?

The MLS is surviving. Reports are that only three teams make a profit - although Seattle should be a fourth. The TV package isn't great - although last year was the first year that ESPN actually paid for the rights. The labor problem is a real problem - I believe that MLS players want it all NOW i.e. Kobe like contracts. They don't know the history of pro sports - ALL pro sports struggled at first and did extraordinary things to make it, the MLS does NOT make any big effort. The relationship with the communities and the MLS teams is not good in many MLS cities - except Seattle who have adopted a "membership situation for fans" and they actually get a vote on some issues!!!

The good news is the last two franchises cost $30 million, so there is optimism. The MLS must continue to try to get the best players possible, but watch the influx of international players

9. Is the fact that the league will soon be expanding again from 16 teams to 18 teams a good sign or will that water down the competition?

The expansion is a good sign and demonstrates that the MLS is the ONLY sports league in the country that is still growing. The dilution of talent will be a challenge. But anything that gives more Americans a chance to play is a good thing.

10. Do you feel the league is a good place to continue to develop world class Americans or do they still have to go over to Europe to develop to make the U.S. a viable threat on the world stage or some combination of both?

I have watched many training sessions in the USA, Europe and South America. The intensity of training outside of America is unbelievable - ask Landon Donovan. Jürgen Klinnsman used the term "nasty" to describe Bayern München practices when I visited there last year - and they were nasty. We must do something to improve the intensity. American players can get better in the MLS, but must still go to Europe to get to the international level.

11. If you were the league commissioner, what would be your next step to continue to grow the game to make it more popular and viable with the other major American sports?

As a commissioner you can't force soccer into the main stream. That would be a mistake. It's like Title IX forcing women's sports in colleges - the PRvalue back fires! But I would work on the coaching. Coaching in this country is AWFUL. Our coaches don't know the subtleties of the game and, therefore, can't teach them to the kids. Coaching is terrible.

12. Do we have any Battling Bishop alums in the MLS or playing professionally anywhere else?

Chris Vorenkamp is playing in Iceland - his 8th year. Cris Gilmore is playing in Den Haag (The Hague) in Holland. Clay Smith is playing in South Africa. At this time there are no OWU alums playing is the MLS. But we have had 29 grads play at all levels of American soccer.