MLS preseason dispatches from sunny Arizona

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Back in the day, MLS sides would take off regularly for exotic destinations, toting the balls and cones and 25 or so players down to South America or to some fancy European resort for preseason training.

It always struck me as a bit odd.  I mean, training in foreign destinations is sexy and all. But it seemed a pretty highfalutin choice for a bunch of teams that were absolutely hemorrhaging money.  I mean, I get the whole team bonding thing. And I get the weather thing.  But you can bond and find good weather in Pensacola just as easily as Peru.

In truth, once you pushed ‘em a little, they deciders would usually fess up: the real reason they liked going overseas was that they got so dat-gummed tired of playing the same teams over here.  Again and again.  This, remember, was back in the day of 10 or 12 clubs. So, yeah, you could see where they’d want to see different opposition for the preseason. Diversity is the spice of life, after all – or so Hugh Hefner tells us. And Hef is The Man, so he should know.

But, as I’ve written numerous times, this is MLS 2.0.  There are 18 sides now filling up the field. So, if you go kicks shins against, say, the Colorado Rapids in preseason, you won’t have to dread getting kicked back by the same dudes five, six or seven more times in season.

That’s why MLS sides are pulling out the passports and heading overseas far less often now. Rather, they just load up the family truckster and head to Florida or Arizona, where they can enjoy sun and varied opposition aplenty.

So, I did the same.

I’m in Phoenix for a few days, spending time with seven MLS sides in the area. I’m seeing the Colorado Rapids and Columbus Crew today … and maybe one other side, depending on how things fall.

Check back daily for stories of high MLS adventure in Phoenix.