I’ve given up trying to explain MLS to my sports-fan friends who aren’t versed in the nuances and beauties of single-entity and multiple ownerships.

The hiring of Sunil Gulati was the last straw. They asked me how one man could, in effect, control player matters for both teams? And isn’t this the same all-powerful poobah that MLS kicked out the door just a few months ago?

Uh, yeah.

In the post-Doug Logan era, new commissioner Don Garber has stressed how important credibility is. Now one man is running rosters, picking coaches, and making trades for two teams.

This is supposed to be a pro league, not the Rich Men’s Playhouse. How can he be equally loyal and equally fair to both teams?

Gulati’s real influence will come as the Kraft representative on the various committees on which investor-operator Jonathan Kraft serves. And this must help the league, for Kraft is too involved with other Kraft projects, such as the New England Patriots, and too ignorant of soccer to make meaningful decisions.

As MLS deputy commissioner, Gulati reneged on a deal with Paul Caligiuri and thus plunged the league into legal hot water. He arbitrarily nixed several trades, including a Jorge Campos-Eddie Lewis swap last year.

He won’t have that power this time around, yet he has reportedly begun the process to lure Campos to San Jose. It is these contacts and influence the league must exploit. But his rift with MetroStars investor-operator Stuart Subotnick necessitated this backdoor move to bring him back on board.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall during those meetings with Gulati and Subotnick at the same table!

To trade Jonathan Kraft for Sunil Gulati on the board of directors and marketing committee is a good swap. But for appearances’ sake, that’s the only trade Gulati should make.
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