Despite lacking a team name, owners of the Seattle MLS franchise are looking well beyond the name announcement on Monday and to the 2009 inaugural season. Since here at the offside, we also lack the name, logos and colors, we are using the Arsenal template for the time being. Nothing could be more appropriate considering the rumors bouncing around this site, local sports radio and even appearing on the front page of the Seattle PI sports section. Thierry Henry, the ex-Arsenal dreamboat, the face of the Seattle franchise?
Mama always said that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. However, the man himself has expressed his desire to play in the US, "I would love to. It's still early. Don't get me wrong, I just love the U.S. I don't know why. I love the way you live. I love American sports. For me, it's a dream to go to training and then see a game of football, basketball, whatever game." I love whatever games, too Henry. Maybe we can be friends.
I think we have to see how things unfold in Barcelona's season and maybe hear from Henry (or more likely his agent) himself about a move to Seattle. The man obviously isn't washed up, but is on the downside of his spectacular career. Say Barca walks away from the season without a single piece of hardware (god, would I cherish that). Does Henry take a Beckha-deal and head over the pond? It seems a bit early to me, but then again some could argue that Beckham made the jump a couple years earlier than expected.
How sweet would a Ronaldo, Henry striker partnership be the 1st season? There probably aren't words to describe such a thing. There have already been 13,000 season ticket deposits. We would probably see that number double. I can tell you one thing, Roth and Allen definitely have the money to pull it off.