image: sportsillustrated

One of the great things about MLS is the Commissioner's State Of The League address. I can't think of another league that has anything similar. This year Commissioner Don Garber had some good news.

ESPN will not only be broadcasting MLS, they'll be paying money for it. Until 2014. Great news financially, but also a much-needed morale booster. MLS is now a product worth paying money for.

The downside is the deal gives ESPN responsibility for programming, effectively placing the success or failure of soccer in their not always capable hands. Fingers crossed they don't screw it up.

The other good news is that MLS is "a couple of weeks away" from announcing a system where teams would be able to control the rights of players developed through their youth academy. Those players would not be entered into the MLS SuperDraft, giving teams an incentive to produce their own talent.