Creepy Jose & Kasey Keller: Seattle Sounders should craft the new collective bargaining agreement

From the files of just wow, what are you smoking. A couple days ago my favorite vampire/guy who won't shut his mouth, aka Kasey Keller, opined on the MLS labor dispute. The party line is that the players have to sign away their FIFA rights to play in MLS, and now it's time to "join the rest of the world". A lot of people picked up on the "we'll be locked out on February 1" statement too. I'll have more on the FIFA rights issue later, but for now the gold is in Creepy Jose's followup in which he and Keller declare that Seattle Sounders FC is in fact more equal than any other team in MLS from a player and management perspective:

The Sounders not only have an equal say in the proceedings, they have additional sway as the most successful club in MLS after just one season of existence.

Really. Do tell.

Keller would like MLS to be on equal footing with other pro leagues around the world, and for MLS to uses FIFA guidelines when it comes to player rights. FIFA is the world's soccer governing body. He said MLS claims it abides by FIFA rules but that MLS players must sign a waiver denouncing those same rights.

"It's something that would barely cost the league any money," Keller said. "I believe that Seattle should be the 800-pound gorilla in any meeting. We're the ones doing it the right way."

Fans of other teams, rest assured that Sounders FC will be working for ourselves to determine the future of MLS. We are, after all, more equal than any other team in the league. And we think you'll like what we've got in mind.

Now Kasey, is what you're saying is that Sounders FC is currently opposed to the situation in MLS to the point where it is actually giving the players rights they claim not to have? Or are you just saying that Seattle management should torpedo the MLS structure because they drew a lot of fans? Or something else? Be specific.

Let me remind you that our team last year was fueled by extra allocation money from the league. Money that runs out in May. We'll be back down to earth soon enough.

Also of interest is the fact that the players only asked for a 17 percent increase in the salary cap to $2.7 million a team. Which means it will probably be less. $2.5 million a side, anyone?

-FS