Calling MLS a major sport effectively insults MLB, the NFL and NBA. Women's basketball (NCAA and WNBA) has a national TV deal, and so does the Arena Football League. The AFL also has several teams that average over 15,000 in attendance. They're certainly not "major," and neither is MLS. The NHL is dead in most places. MLS execs probably salivate with glee at the prospect of being compared to hockey, because that's one fight they can win.