Dwight Howard to New Jersey Nets

[CF DolFan]

It seems pretty obvious this is his intention.  I have to wonder if Orlando will survive loosing him.  Second superstar and second guy to bail on them when given the chance.  This after coming out of what seems to most fans as a lockout between greedy and greedier. I bet Orlando will be somewhere else in the near future.

On that note it has come to my attention that the MLS has now overtaken basketball as the third sport in the US.  These type of moves will not help basketball. I think the fact that it only takes a few players to make a difference and players are selling out because of that it will continue to destroy the smaller markets. What happens when you are only left with about ten teams in large markets?

[Cathal]

You're kidding, right? Soccer is more popular than basketball in this country? I don't think I would have ever seen that happen in my life time.

[Phishfan]

Dwight has said he wants to stay, but I think that has just been a public face. He wants to stay if the execs will help him to win. I wonder how much harm that late night phone call did the other night? I'm pretty sure Dwight leaves now one way or another. This is going to be a major blow to the Orlando fans, community, and team.

[EKnight]

I agree it likely will, but I seem to remember the same doom and gloom when Shaq left, and they rebuilt. That's one thing Orlando as a franchise does well- they are not afraid to go after better talent. -EK

[EKnight]

ESPN is reporting that this will happen today.

Edit: Now they are reporting it will never happen ever, and that he's off the trade-market. Gotta love those guys.... -EK

[Dave Gray]

On that note it has come to my attention that the MLS has now overtaken basketball as the third sport in the US. 

I believe the words I'm looking for are: "Bitch, you crazy!"

Where is this coming from?

[CF DolFan]

I believe the words I'm looking for are: "Bitch, you crazy!"

Where is this coming from?

I've read and heard in several times in the soccer circle. A quick google found this on wikipedia ... I know I know but that's where I saw it first.

In 2011, MLS reported an average attendance of 17,872 per game, becoming the third most-highly attended professional sports league in America.[5] This was a substantial increase from the previous season. Statistical analysis of the 2010 US Census, based largely on demographic trends among Hispanic populations, in addition to a new multimillion dollar television deal with major American sports broadcaster NBC Sports has led to Major League Soccer being considered a major league.[6]

edited to add

MLS passes NBA as third best-attended American sport

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-11-07/mls-passes-nba-as-third-best-attended-american-sport#ixzz1gXme44y3
Major League Soccer set a new high-water mark for average attendance this season, as expansion clubs in Portland and Vancouver lived up to preseason expectations for big crowds, and a new stadium and rebranding effort in Kansas City turned around that city’s once-ailing club.

Average attendance for the 18 clubs rose 7.2 percent to 17,872 spectators a game this season, surpassing the league’s previous record of 17,406, which was set during its inaugural season in 1996. The league’s lowest attendance came in 2000 when it averaged just 13,756 fans. Since 2007, its average has consistently stayed between 16,000 and 17,000. The strong showing at the gate brought MLS’s average above the most recent seasons for both the NHL (17,132) and NBA (17,323).

Read more: http://aol.sportingnews.com/soccer/story/2011-11-07/mls-passes-nba-as-third-best-attended-american-sport#ixzz1gXmKE0Q9

[MaineDolFan]

Shutting this one down, folks.  Howard didn't get traded and now we are comparing MLS to NBA numbers?  Let's keep the threads on track, please.