MLS All-Star Game Conversion

I've never been a big fan of the glorified friendlies that get played here in the US. Years ago, back in 1991 I traveled with some friends to Chicago to watch AC Milan play the US. It was a fun time but that was back in the days before we had a professional league. That was back before we had cable and satellite with GolTV, Setanta and Fox Soccer Channel (let alone games shown on ESPN & Fox). That was back in the days when just catching box scores in the newspaper was a HUGE deal. The soccer landscape in America has changed a lot since then. Heck, it's changed a lot just in the last 5 - 10 years. I don't see the use of paying $40, $80, or even more to go to the world series of soccer to see a pre-season Manchester United take on a pre-season Juventus in a huge football stadium. I can't imagine spending $200 to see Chelsea take on Los Angeles (tonight's game). I had lumped the MLS All-star game in that group. I don't feel the same way about it now. The game Thursday night was fun to watch. The hodge podge of MLS players thrown together with only one practice session were fun to watch. They played good soccer and had it not been for Celtic's Boruc, the score could've been 4 or 5 to 0 (or 1 had it not been for the post on a shot by Celtic's McDonald). Most of all it was fun to have some interaction with other fans from around the country (and even Scotland!). It was a celebration of soccer. US Soccer Snob has a good recap of the game and his experiences at Dicks Sporting Goods Park (better known as The Dick). It's nice to see that even though KSE can't put together a decent team to watch, others agree they did a great job putting together the new stadium and complex. By the way, if you'd like a t-shirt from the game we still have some. You can get them here.