How does WSG have involvement? Have you actually read the audit? The only mention of World Sports Group directly is the negotiated Master Rights Agrement (MRA) with the Asian Football Confernderation (AFC) which was for $1 Billion. It is speculated that the contract is undervalued based on other deals of its kind in other parts of the world. Other complanies who had investors and minority stakeholders in WSG paid money to the AFC's account in 2008 and 2009. Form there along with other moneies, the AFC president and finance director missapropriated it by transfering AFC funds to their personal accounts. WSG isn't involved it the bribery. If anything all they did was grease some hands in 2008 through a minority ownership's seperate business to get a better deal on the MRA in 2009. Welcome to doing busirness in the middle east. Also, since when do weathly conservatives give a shit about corruption and self dealing! LOL http://www.eurasiareview.com/23072012-bin-hammam-audit-opens-pandoras-box-analysis/ Please enlighten us on what your point is, or did you just copy paste something unsourced for no reason?
The article is from Soccer America from this morning and I can source it easily. My point being is that it seems that the Cosmos management was involved in a "dirty deal". I sure hope that the Dandy Don is getting a complete background check on these individuals before even speaking to them about MLS. In the meantime I'll remain very skeptical of these Cosmos.
I know what I read...and I could care less if MLS takes the Cosmos into the fold or not. But I would prefer not dealing with possible criminals.
The expression is "I couldn't care less" and what did they do that would make them a criminal? Jesus man, they didnt even convict Bin Hammam for stealing money and making brides to the associations and others....you think the chairman on Aisias biggest sports media company who at worst is guilty of greasing the palms of the AFC executives for a better deal in the middle east on their exclusive rights media and tv deal. None of that has anything to do with Bin Hammam trying to bride the world cup voters. The problem with just reading a 3 paragraph except with little information of value is you dont get the full picture and the writters don't really do a great job connecting the dots properly.
That is three straight posts you've ignored my request to explain yourself. Just admit you have no idea what you are talking about.
yes Mr. Pants, I have registered 2 BigSoccer accounts...I really didn't know that was illegal. I have one for the office and one for home. If you'd like to report me to the authorities, feel free to do so. As for anything else, I owe you no further explanations. I'll state once again for everyone that I feel that this Cosmos adventure is likely to end up going down in flames. I've seen teams come and go in this market and this situation doesn't exactly give anyone the "warm fuzzies". But hey, I hope that you can prove me wrong when they sell out Hofstra and get approved as MLS2. Somehow I doubt that either situation is likely to happen.
I know its still early but I can't imagine a Cosmos team without a star or a former superstar. Any big names being thrown out as potential signings?
Not yet. They're keeping things under wraps for the time being. Apparently right after the announcement, they started receiving resumes and questions about when tryouts would be... We'll have to wait for a few more staff hirings before they start talking players.
I have a funny feeling that if they enter MLS after the 2014 WC, I'll bet they will go after one of two players. Either Kaka or Cristiano Ronaldo...not sure why but I really feel it could happen!
After WC2014 half of the Spanish team will be in a healthy "go to the MLS to die" age-range (half joking)
I think they should worry about the first floor before they worry about the penthouse. Soccer is a game in which a superstar can't accomplish too much if he's surrounded by nobodies.
Its not like Beckham was surrounded by anybody or even household names other than LAndy when he came. Sadly, compared to the rest of the world ,we are all nobodies. Any other league on earth, the Gals in their first two years with Becks, should have been relegated twice.
You just made a perfect argument about NOT going after a superstar and instead spending your money on quality squad all around.
Of course you make and have a valid point. Still I don't know how anyone who knows about the history of the team or grew up seeing the great stars like I did , can watch a NY Cosmos team without a superstar. I mean you think Cosmos, which names come to mind? I'm not saying sign a team of 11 superstars but I'm sure 1-2 would world class names will suffice...
It would be nice and he will be 38 this November but I don't think he is coming. I read he wants to sign with the J-League in Japan. I think they might have a better chance with signing Totti.
And that is...the entire point and problem. People expect a team named the Cosmos to be those Cosmos, when 1-2 superstars was "the back line." We can never recreate the conditions (in America or American soccer, or in New York or in MLS) that led to that period between June 15, 1975 and September 18, 1982. Some people are thinking they're going to be able to do that, while others - who weren't even cognizant of that period because they were either not yet born or too young - seem to insist on a recreation of that to fill some nostalgic/hip void for some reason. You can have a team in New York. You can have a second MLS team in New York. You can have a team in New York called the Cosmos and you can even put it in something called the North American Soccer League. But it won't be The Cosmos of the NASL. Ever. No one will ever confuse today's Rowdies and today's Strikers with those Rowdies and those Strikers - we've seen that now. So why people seem to think we'll be able to say "Pay no attention to the second-division player behind the curtain, these really are the reborn Cosmos" is beyond me.
You are 100% right about that. There won't ever be another Cosmos unless they go for broke. Even now when I hear the Rowdies name I think of Rodney Marsh, Steve Wegerle & Wes McLeod and each time I read about the Strikers I'm looking for Muller, Best , Nene Cubillas and even Colin Fowles. They should call them the New York Centaurs! Speak of the devil....deja vu. I should open up a palm reading stand!