The MLS and 'exciting players' - Europe the Talent Black Hole

When the MLS was first initiated, pretty much all the teams had one or two really good players. There was a Cienfuegos, Marco Etcheverry, or Carlos Valderrama on just about every team. Coincidentally, these were DC United's glory days. From '96 to roughly around I don't really know when because it was sometime in the early 00's (when I paid little to no attention to MLS because United stunk) was the Era Of Exciting Players (creative name, huh?).

Then, mysteriously, all of these players left, either retired or "TOO GOOD FOR THE MLS" and we entered the dark Era Of Steve Ralston-Class Players, where every team had exciting players like the afore-mentioned New England Revolution signature-player. No insult to Steve Ralston, whom I do believe is a fine player, but I don't think he's quite on par with Carlos Valderrama or Marco Etcheverry. The point being: this is the best we've got?

During this time, we saw occasional flashes of brilliance from the likes of players like Bobby Convey, DaMarcus Beasley, Damani Ralph, and others. But (surprise surprise!) they soon left for Europe, deemed 'TOO GOOD FOR THE MLS" and the Era continued to sink its icy grip into the entire league.

However, hope for the MLS and 'exciting players' soon reappeared, in the form of young American soccer prodigy Landon Donovan. The young striker, on loan from a German club, proceeded to lead San Jose to an MLS Cup victory. Though afterwards the inexorable grip of Europe would proceed to drag Donovan back to Germany--where he did nothing but warm benches if he was lucky--he soon returned to San Jose.

Now, with the advent of the Designated Player Rule, 'exciting players' have returned to the MLS. There is now a Cuahtehmoc Blanco, Juan Pablo Angel, Luciano Emilio, Dwayne DeRosario, or Taylor Twellman on most teams in the league.

Will this new age of exciting players last? It's really hard to say. What with players like Troy Perkins moving, and players like Joseph Ngwenya contemplating movement, is this a sign that Europe may soon play its age old game of sucking talent from lower-level leagues?

I'm hoping some of these players will stay in the league for a few years. I really believe that having talented players helps stimulate growth in the MLS, and I can't see the same kind of effect coming from them all leaving for Europe.