MLS State of the Union

It was almost out of patriotism. Out of loyalty. Out of a deep-lying unselfishness.

Otherwise, why would World Cup veterans and known entities around the globe like John Harkes, Alexi Lalas and Eric Wynalda leave their club teams in Europe to play for something called "Major League Soccer."

Those signings took place 10 years ago, which seems more like 25. After the success of the 1994 World Cup, there was optimism amongst the top American players. Yet, it was sort of that blind faith type of optimism, where nothing was there in front of you to substantiate your sunny outlook.

"You just didn't know back then," says Colorado Rapids midfielder Chris Henderson, who was making a living in the Norwegian First Division with Stabaek before he signed with the MLS.

Alan Rothenberg and Sunil Gulati busily signed players from the U.S. national team to MLS contracts while at their training center in Mission Viejo, Calif., in 1995. The several American standouts were added to a stable of "name" players like Carlos Valderrama, Roberto Donadoni, Marco Etcheverry, Leonel Alvarez, Robert Warzycha and Mauricio Cienfuegos that were signed at various times throughout 1995 and 1996.

And a new league was born.

As fascinating as it was to have a full-fledged professional soccer league in the United States back in 1996, the Vegas oddsmakers probably wouldn't have laid down a line for anyone who would have taken the over in how many years it'd last.

Yet, somehow through various growing pains that included the dreaded "shootout," contraction, astroturf, low T.V. ratings, France '98, nicknames like the "Wiz" in Kansas City, lime-green uniforms, and, well, Lothar Matthaeus, Major League Soccer survived.

And as it enters its 10th season, which starts on Saturday afternoon, the league has never been in better shape or had such a bright future ahead of it. Now that Chivas USA and Real Salt Lake have joined as new expansion franchises for the 2005 season, there are 12 teams competing, with another half-dozen cities vying for spots in the league over the next several years. Come Season 15 in 2010, it wouldn't be outlandish to estimate the number of teams in MLS being close to 20 with potential franchises in Rochester, N.Y., Houston, Seattle, San Antonio, Cleveland and an added New York team, amongst others.

"We are more relevant today than ever before," said MLS Commissioner Don Garber.

Ask players around the league about how the league has changed over the years, and they'll mention the makeup of the rosters first and foremost.

"When I entered the league I was one of the youngest guys, and I was 21," said New England Revolution midfielder Steve Ralston, who began his career with the Tampa Bay Mutiny out of Florida International University. "That's not young anymore by any means. Look at all the 16-, 17-, and 18-year-old players who are not only out there playing on teams not, but making an impact for their teams.

"The players are just better at a younger age now."

One look around the league and you can find a teenager on almost every roster. Leading the way, of course, is 15-year-old Freddy Adu, who remains the youngest player in MLS. What's most promising is that the young players around the league are making an impact even in their teens. In addition to Adu, consider that the following players all made meaningful contributions to their clubs before turning 20: Arturo Alvarez (San Jose), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago), Bobby Convey (D.C. United), Landon Donovan (San Jose), Eddie Gaven (MetroStars), Eddie Johnson, Mike Magee (MetroStars), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Justin Mapp (Chicago), Santino Quaranta (D.C. United), and, most recently, 17-year-old Danny Szetela (Columbus), who signed with the league last July.

"What's even more amazing is how you get old in this league really fast," said L.A. Galaxy defender Chris Albright, who signed as a Project-40 player in 1999 as a 20-year-old out of the University of Virginia. "People were saying last year that Eddie Johnson was finally living up to his expectations. The kid is only 20! It's partly the media's fault for it, I guess, but a lot of people are missing the fact how young some of the players are in MLS, despite the fact that they already have two or three seasons under their belt."

The youthfulness of MLS should increase exponentially now that the reserve league will be starting up this year. To make that possible, roster sizes have been increased from 24 to 28 players in '05. While many of the players taking part in these matches will be seen as contributors to their clubs down the road, it'll give the second-team players see time in MLS matches another forum to compete for starting roles.

As Los Angeles Galaxy and U.S. national team goalkeeper Kevin Hartman said, it'll just add to the already increased competitiveness that has been seen within the league over the past 4-5 years.

"I began playing in MLS in the second season, and the competitions for spots is something that no one takes for granted anymore," said Hartman, who was listed as Kasey Keller's backup during the U.S. national team's 2-0 victory over Guatemala on Wednesday night. "There's competition for spots within teams, and now there's competition for reserve teams. And that's helped our national team. We now have quality players skipping college to be a part of this league.

"At this point, it's now part of the culture."

U.S. national team assistant coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick believes that MLS has helped deepen the pool of the national team partly because of the tremendous parity that exists, which ups the competition level each week.

"A lot of people complain about the parity, but I think that's one of the league's strengths," said Myernick, who coached in MLS with the Colorado Rapids from 1997-2000. "We want our players to have to experience those type of competitive games every weekend."

The pool for the national team now runs 70 players deep if you buy the latest list drawn up by U.S. Soccer. The majority of those players are making a living in MLS, which simply didn't seem possible back when the league started in 1996. Had an all-MLS team played against some of the opponents around the CONCACAF region, they simply wouldn't have been able to compete. That's all changed now, when you consider that six of the 11 players who started against Portugal in the team's stunning 3-2 upset to in the 2002 World Cup were from MLS teams, including a pair of 20-year-olds in Beasley and Donovan.

As U.S. goalkeeper Kasey Keller sat alongside Donovan after the U.S. side's latest victory, he mentioned how the top American players no longer have to ply their trade in Europe to develop into top-notch players, alluding to the 23-year-old midfielder's decision to return to MLS from Germany to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Our young players have been able to go to Europe, but they can also stay home now," said Keller. "MLS have given players an opportunity. At first, you had to go to Europe. What MLS has done is have people like Eddie Lewis and Carlos Bocanegra go over to Europe after having that grounding in the States. They were basically picked out of MLS to go over and play.

"What it also does is it's given guys at home, that maybe Europe is not their thing, a chance to play and be a part of this (U.S.) team for years to come."

Several different players over the years have actually headed back to MLS from their European clubs since they know that Arena and his staff are able to follow virtually every MLS match, which often makes it more possible to make an impression on him and earn a call-up into a training camp.

"The road to the national team still runs through their club team," said Myernick. "And for many players, just going "over there" doesn't mean it's going to be a better situation for them. It's all about playing."

What's important, though, is to note that the bosses of the league do not want to simply be a developmental league for young American players. With the addition of an extra senior international slot for each club to go with about 36 transitional international players around the league, Garber and Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis want to see a league that is a true melting pot.

"We want to diversify the league," said Gazidis. "It's very important that we have players that are different from one another."

While several of the teams around the league have bolstered their rosters with talented players from around the world, especially from within the region, the veterans of MLS would like to see the league spend more money to get some "name" stars, as it did at the outset of the league. That fact that the only real star to be signed by MLS in the off-season was former French international Youri Djorkaeff was a disappointment for many.

"Each team used to have a big-name player, but I don't think we really have that anymore," said Ralston. "Instead, the teams are deeper than they were in the first year and we're developing younger American players. We could have both. I think we could get a lot out of having those young Americans learning and getting help developing from some of the big-name type of players we had at the beginning of the league."

One former MLS All-Star believes that the league can only start signing those type of players once the single entity system is scrapped and a straight salary cap is imposed for each owner to abide by. Once this occurs, and every team is in their own facility, does he believe that the league will really take off.

"Then the front offices will have more incentive to scout players and bring in guys that can help them both sell tickets to their own stadium and win games," he said. "It's not that far down the road, either."

Not when you consider that new stadiums are going up in Dallas, Colorado and Chicago, as well as being discussed in Salt Lake City and, as always, New York. With sponsors such as adidas, which signed a 10-year, $150 million partnership with MLS at the end of the 2004 season, one would think that the investors would soon follow, and additional stadiums will be erected, perhaps in New England, D.C. and San Jose.

Of course, that's all down the road. What's important on the eve of the 10th season of MLS is the fact that there actually is a down the road. This isn't a fly-by-night, XFL-type of league. It's one that has proved over the second half of its tenure that is here to stay.

"To look around and see a league that I know isn't going anywhere is amazing," said Henderson. "It's a league that my son, Aidan, can grow up and aspire to play in."

Marc Connolly covers soccer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at: marc@oakwoodsoccer.com.