In addition to being a piss-poor ’keeper with a porn star mustache, Shep Messing is the regular color commentator for Red Bull New York, co-host of the dreadful MLS Extratime … and soccer super agent.
That’s right, Messing is the Bob Sugar of MLS. His clients include Mark Schwarzer, Tomasz Kuszczk and U.S. under-20 star Danny Szetela.
Szetela, according to reports, is considering an offer from Italian giants Roma.
"We're in discussions with Roma, but nothing's agreed," Messing said. "We're also in discussions with MLS. I don't know where they're connecting the dots."
"He's been miserable the last two years, but now the Crew is playing well and he specifically didn't want to go now," Messing said. "If the league comes in with something that knocks our socks off, he'll consider it. I think he should go. I think it would be a good atmosphere for him."
I hope Danny goes to Roma. He is an excellent player and it would be great to see an American playing in the Serie A again, but that isn’t why I’m writing this post. I’m writing this post because I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that MLS allows a player-agent to be one of its primary pundits. As half of the half-brained MLS Extratime (with Alexi Lalas’ malformed shadow), he is portrayed as some kind of MLS media guru.
As the managing director of Global Sport Group, Messing’s responsibility, as his web site says, is to “maximize your value during your playing career.” What better way to maximize his client’s value than by talking him up during a live broadcast?
Now, many of you know my disdain for Messing and his dim-witted blather during MLS matches (check out the latest Messing Moronic Musing on the right). But I’m not the only writer to raise this issue. Check out what long-time DC United writer Steven Goff (Washington Post) has to say about it.
When he approached Messing about the apparent conflict of interest, Messing said:
"As an aside, because of my television work for Major League Soccer, I do not handle Szetela, [Messing's brother] Roy does, although within the same company. I limit my player representation to players outside of MLS."
But Goff correctly points out:
"[GSG’s] web site also shows Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes among its clients, although Messing said Szetela is Global's only MLS client."
Mendes is actually listed on GSG’s site under the Rochester Rhinos, despite the fact that he hasn’t played for them since 2004. Furthermore, in all the articles I’ve read about Szetela, Shep Messing is listed as his agent, not Roy Messing. U.S. assistant coach Peter Nowak is also one of their clients. What’s to stop him from shilling for Nowak to get the Colorado or Real Salt Lake job during MLS broadcasts?
But, surely, Messing wouldn’t shill for a player or coach. What he lacks in soccer journalism acumen, he makes up for in blubbering honesty. He tells it like it is. Even if that means disagreeing with himself from one sentence to the next. He is unfiltered truth vomit. So, if a client plays poorly, like, say, Carlos Mendes, in a match he is calling, he wouldn’t pull punches, right?
Well if he doesn’t, he isn’t fulfilling his promise to his clients:
GSG “helps players enhance their value in the marketplace, capture that value and maximize their wealth – during and beyond their playing careers. These services are delivered with uncompromising integrity, honesty and un-conflicted advocacy of our client’s best interest.”
What if that conflict is unbiased color commentating?
How can someone with a vested interest in the building up the market value of certain players be allowed to comment on those players and the league in which they play? It’s like letting the president of the Carlos Ruiz fan club referee a Dallas-Los Angeles match.
Perhaps, I’m making too much of this. After all, it’s only Danny Szetela, Carlos Mendes and Peter Nowak that are ever involved in matches he broadcasts. The rest of his clients play overseas. And I’m sure he isn’t planning on signing any more MLS players or potential MLS players. I mean, it’s not like MLS is becoming a destination for European players now or anything (I’m being sarcastic. Could you tell I was being sarcastic? Was I laying it on too thick? I was laying it on too thick, wasn’t I?).
No, Shep Messing, you need to pick a career. You are either going to be a media personality or a sports agent, but you can’t be both, jackass, so pick one.
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