Down With NYRB

This week was the final week of games for the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League. On Tuesday, the Puerto Rico Islanders (of the United Soccer Leagues) defeated Toronto FC (of Major League Soccer). Then on Wednesday, Western Connection (of Trinidad) defeated New York Red Bull (MLS).
Puerto Rico got into the competition through the Caribbean championships. They were also the semifinalist of last year's CCL. New York got into the competition by being a finalist from last year's MLS Cup. New York, however, has not won a game since May 8th. They are last in MLS. Yet, while the USL is considered the second tier of American soccer, Puerto Rico defeated an MLS team and is still only fourth currently in USL. Most soccer nations have a league system in which two or three of the worst teams from the higher division are relegated to a lower league, and the best teams from that league are promoted each year. MLS is now in it's 13th season, but does not have promotion from USL.
Promotion is strongly needed for MLS. Not only to punish teams like New York, that year after year are a laughing stock, but also to reward teams like Puerto Rico for patiently building a team to maturation. They are clearly capable of beating the best teams in the region and should be eligible to compete for the MLS title. While the United States national team has steadily improved in the last decade, MLS has been sketchier. The threat of relegation would force the front offices to field a truly competitive team year after year, and would hopefully improve MLS in the long run. Then, maybe, MLS teams would not be knocked out of a prestigious club tournament by teams from footballing backwaters like Trinidad.