blake burrus

[Aakash Gupta @aakashgupta]

In Germany, a talented 14-year-old earns his club money. In America, his parents pay the club $15,000 a year.

That single inversion explains why "we will not" is the most accurate line ever written about US soccer.

FIFA built a global system for this. Training compensation and solidarity payments send a cut of every transfer fee back to the clubs that developed the player, from age 12 onward. Develop one future pro and your academy gets paid for a decade. Barcelona's La Masia, Ajax, every Bundesliga academy runs on this logic. The kid is the asset.

US Soccer refuses to enforce those rules. When Seattle's Crossfire Premier claimed its $60,000 share of DeAndre Yedlin's transfer to Tottenham, it got nothing. Claims on the Dempsey and Bradley transfers died partly because the federation couldn't even produce the youth training records.

So American clubs earn zero dollars when a kid turns pro. They earn when a kid enrolls. Which makes the parent the customer, and the product is whatever keeps the parent writing checks: travel tournaments, hotel weekends, $500 showcase events, private training at $100 an hour. Elite pathways run $8,000 to $20,000 a year. A comparable academy spot in Italy costs about 120 euros.

Follow the incentive one level deeper and it gets darker. A club dependent on fees can't cut its weakest paying players, so rosters optimize for retention over development. The scouting pool shrinks to families who can afford the cliff, which appears around age 11, exactly when development matters most. The country runs a talent filter sorted by household income instead of ability.

Every four years someone proposes fixing this. The proposal always requires the people profiting from the $15,000 model to vote themselves out of business.

They will not.

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@THFCgary30 Reported.

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@wheelstl #NotMyShortstop

[St. Louis Battlehawks @BattlehawksUFL]

KAW IS THE MF LAW!!!!!!

BATTLEHAWKS WIN!!!!!!!!

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@mike_uggla @2jhalstead @SonySanDiego @Marlins @MLBTheShow @MLB As the friend that’s been sending those messages for 3 years. I appreciate it @mike_uggla

[Killer bee🐝 @2jhalstead]

My dearest @SonySanDiego a friend of mine has been asking for Dan Uggla to be in the show every day for years. Can you at the very least let us know that he will not be included? Any response would be appreciated, including signed memorabilia. Thank you @Marlins @MLBTheShow @MLB

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@wheelstl @SLU_Billikens We’ll be there. Roll Bills

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

Are the gunners back??? People are starting to ask. @BoogieEppers @wheelstl

[Brian @brianmichaelf]

Let's not wait 7 months. We don't need to miss another world cup to realize Berhalter isn't the one.

It's time to get a real manager. I'm officially team #berhalterOut

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@ForePlayPod @TaylorMadeGolf @BarstoolTrent @dpr410 we need this

[bill @wheelstl]

Javierror Baez

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@wheelstl About time someone said it

[U.S. Soccer Men's National Team @USMNT]

This is one of those highlights you're not gonna forget.

@WMckennie CAN FLY! 🇺🇸🦅

Check out his first @ChampionsLeague goal for @juventusfcen!

(@TUDNUSA)

[USMNT Only @usmntonly]

TODAY WAS A VERY GOOD DAY

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@tommy_canino Well said Tom...well said

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@tommy_canino Pour one out for barber mike

[Max Godby @OhMyGodby64]

I demand a public apology from every coach I’ve ever had...

[Dillon Danis @dillondanis]

these videos break my heart nobody should have to go though this, if anyone knows how to contact him i wanna get him into martial arts immediately #fuckbullies

[blake burrus @blake_burrus]

@AndrewRettig You are muy loco