![]() ![]() The creation of SUM (Soccer United Marketing) was a financial boon to US Soccer and it’s hard to see the MLS in its current state without him. It’s not perfect of course, the aforementioned Crew spat worked out in Garber’s favor but has tainted his legacy and could have outright ruined it had the franchise moved. During his time in charge, MLS has grown in stature, shaking off its “retirement league” label for a “developmental” one. He played a major role in saving the league from folding in the early 2000s while also managing a treacherous decades-long expansion process. But it’s undeniable that Garber was the right person to take soccer to the next level on and off the pitch in North America. Garber’s critics will point to the Columbus Crew relocation debacle. Which, given some of his contemporaries, puts him comfortably top of this list. More work needs to be done to combat tanking, while the regular season needs to be far more appealing, But, all in all, Silver has been fine. But the bumps pale in comparison to the successes: Silver navigated the Covid-19 pandemic about as well as could be expected he is popular with players due to the importance he places on social justice he has continued Stern’s global NBA push with NBA Africa and he has even been open to innovation in the form of a midseason tournament, which could be his lasting legacy for better or for worse. It hasn’t been without its hiccups of course: The handling of Daryl Morey’s comments on China didn’t have the same forthright morality that Silver exhibited during the Sterling affair (although it was perhaps an unwinnable situation given the NBA’s commitment to global growth.)Īdditionally, there are some valid arguments that he has allowed players to force moves to big-market teams too easily, an issue that the NBA may need to mitigate at some point. Silver’s quick and decisive reaction set the tone for what has been a successful tenure thus far. Silver’s response, highlighted by the often memed “Banned for Life!”, brought him plaudits, perhaps most crucially from the players themselves. Just three months after succeeding David Stern, Silver was given a trial by fire after the release of tapes in which LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling used racist slurs.
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