6-30-2004: Fire Marshall Bill

[JMU Soccer!]

Busy Burn down to three healthy forwards (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/sdavis/stories/063004dnspoburnlede.2ace22a8d.html) - Dallas Morning News

U.S. Needs More Fans Through Turnstile (http://www.soccer365.com/_365_Features/page_121_75166.shtml) - Monster

Big Czech machine Koller Greeks' next uphill test (http://www.suntimes.com/output/soccer/cst-spt-soccin29.html) - Chicago Sun TImes (halfway down, day late)

Wizards unfazed by relocation report (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/9042229.htm?ERIGHTS=3145468066032608912kansascity::bigsoccer@bigsoccer.com&KRD_RM=0hmjgkhkoipggggggggggghohg|Karl|Y) - KC Star

It's Open Cup Season (http://www.rnews.com/Sports/TopSports.cfm?cmd=top&ID=19243&rnews_story_type=24&category=3) - RNews

D.C. United's Adu wants more playing time (http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/sports_story.asp?intID=3816777) - Chicago Daily Herald (day late)

Eight teams join the tourney in the third round Wednesday. (http://www.soccertimes.com/proleagues/usopencup/2004/jun29.htm) - Soccertimes

Rapids hope luck, defense hold vs. Metros (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/rapids/article/0,1299,DRMN_51_3001234,00.html) - Rocky Mountain News

Thunder: A long time coming (http://www.startribune.com/stories/503/4853271.html) - Minnesota Star Tribune

Metros' Rapid adjustment (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/207188p-178714c.html) - NY Daily News (Day late)

Rapids reap rewards of new style (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~94~2243102,00.html) - Denver Post

Sports Focus: Ronnie Pascale (http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031776322473&path=!sports!localpros&s=1045855935035) - Richmond Times Dispatch

Parity dominates first half of MLS season (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/9043008.htm) - KC Star

Which Mariners team will MLS’ Burn tackle tonight? (http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=72399&ran=16833) - Virginian Pilot

USYSA to move its offices to new Frisco facility. (http://www.soccertimes.com/youth/2004/jun29.htm) - Soccertimes

Lalas: Quakes could leave Bay Area (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/9035943.htm?ERIGHTS=5956986891092677835mercurynews::bigsoccer@bigsoccer.com&KRD_RM=8opotqoxwxorwqvrpqrooooooo|bigsoccer|Y) - San Jose Mercury

Hanauer ready if MLS wants Seattle in 2005 (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2001968568_mlsseattle30.html) - Seattle Times

Death doesn't derail plans to woo MLS (http://www.daytondailynews.com/sports/content/sports/daily/0630ohiomls.html) - Dayton Daily News

Mayor 'optimistic' about MLS, AFL (http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA063004.8C.briefs.1529814c.html) - San Antonio Express News

Added Time: Shoes planted in U.S. soil required to cover Kreis' feat (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/sdavis/addedtime/stories/063004dnspoadded.2aeb4cc35.html) - Dallas Morning News

MLS notebook: Duncanville native finally shines (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/063004dnspomlsbriefs.1681a.html) - Dallas Morning News

Plans still in works for soccer stadium in area (http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/9041492.htm?ERIGHTS=-8260783876031239508ohio::bigsoccer@bigsoccer.com&KRD_RM=5sotnqsqonoqrupolllllllllt|big|N) - AP

1st-Place Metros need to bounce back (http://www.nypost.com/sports/26618.htm) - NY Post

[cl_hanley]

But MLS Commissioner Don Garber told the Business Journal that no decision has been made to relocate the teams, a statement repeated by league spokesman Simon Borg on Monday. Lalas said the same.

Taken out of context, this quote almost seems reassuring if you are a Quake fan, but when read as one paragraph of a larger article, and hearing statements made by Lalas, my conclusion is that Garber and Co. are just trying to keep panic and disenchantment from driving away what remains of the Quake faithful until the end of the season when the hammer falls. Garber basically continues to "not answer the question." I think at the top echelons, the decision has indeed already been made.

I don't have an opinion on the KC thing. Seems odd.

[sanariot]

Metros' Rapid adjustment (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/207188p-178714c.html) - NY Daily News (Day late)

No it's not. It was posted in yesterday's thread. ;)

Metros' Rapid adjustment - New York Daily News (http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/story/207188p-178714c.html)

[kenntomasch]

On this date.....

1999 - Columbus Crew fans consume 15,217 bratwursts at the team's second "Buck-A-Brat" night ever.
2001 - 30,271 fans attend the second MLS/WUSA doubleheader as the Rapids and DC United play to a 1-1 draw after the Washington Freedom beats the Carolina Courage 2-0 in the opener.


Today's Birthdays

Carlos Llamosa is 35
Mike Tyson is 38

[sanariot]

Gaven can galvanize - North Jersey Herald News (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2JmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2NTQ4NTM2) (day late)

[Goodsport]

Lalas: Quakes could leave Bay Area (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/9035943.htm?ERIGHTS=5956986891092677835mercurynews::bigsoccer@bigsoccer.com&KRD_RM=8opotqoxwxorwqvrpqrooooooo|bigsoccer|Y) - San Jose Mercury
You're doing a great job JMU Soccer!, but for a thread of articles dated 6-30-2004, you may not want to post articles dated 6-29-2004. ;) Speaking of which...


But MLS Commissioner Don Garber told the Business Journal that no decision has been made to relocate the teams, a statement repeated by league spokesman Simon Borg on Monday. Lalas said the same.

Taken out of context, this quote almost seems reassuring if you are a Quake fan, but when read as one paragraph of a larger article, and hearing statements made by Lalas, my conclusion is that Garber and Co. are just trying to keep panic and disenchantment from driving away what remains of the Quake faithful until the end of the season when the hammer falls. Garber basically continues to "not answer the question." I think at the top echelons, the decision has indeed already been made.
Maybe... maybe not.

Trust me, the last point/paragraph of today's article...

Ailing Robinson expects return this season (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/soccer/9045568.htm) - San Jose Mercury News

... is not simply a throwaway point. There's been a lot going on so far behind the scenes in the goal of keeping the Quakes in San Jose (or possibly Santa Clara) so far, and still more to be done. Things may even be made a bit easier if this (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119936&page=1) is true.

As they say: one way or another, "Stay tuned!"


-G

[kenntomasch]

Things may even be made a bit easier if this (http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=119936&page=1) is true.

If that is true, we've all got problems.

[Goodsport]

If that is true, we've all got problems.

Again, maybe... maybe not.

AEG doesn't really seem as hell-bent on moving the Earthquakes as it is of divesting itself of all but one or two MLS teams (most likely keeping LA and/or the Metros), and if a local investor/operator can be found in or near San Jose to take the Quakes (or at least 49% of them) of their hands, then so much the better. And if Club America chooses not to buy into the Quakes, then Soccer Silicon Valley may help in the search for a local committed investor/owner (as well as help in the stadium search).

There absolutely are no guarantees one way or the other how it'll all turn out (which is still far better than almost everyone's assuredness here that the Quakes are gone from San Jose), but if it all pans out, then everyone wins: Quakes fans keep their team (especially kept with the team's identity that they chose some years ago: "San Jose Earthquakes") along with a new stadium and an investor that'll likely decide to finally start marketing the team; Houston still gets an MLS team (a brand new one they can truly call their own); Club America gets to build an MLS team from scratch how it wants (within MLS guidelines, of course) with hardly any negative repercusions; AEG divests itself of yet another MLS team; and MLS gets two new investors into the fold (not including whichever other expansion investor/operators jump in).

Again, everything is still in the very early stages, so it's too early to say much more - though that won't stop BigSoccer posters from doing so, I suppose. :)


-G

[kenntomasch]

I was in no way referring to anything having to do with the Quakes when I said "If that's true, we've all got problems."

[Revolt]

As part of twelve step program to avoid severe depression thinking about the Quakes moving, my "always look on the bright side of life" moment:

Impressive list of articles today. I know one could ever keep track, but I'll bet five years ago, the average Summer Wednesday had maybe five or six articles.

[monster]

As part of twelve step program to avoid severe depression thinking about the Quakes moving, my "always look on the bright side of life" moment:

Impressive list of articles today. I know one could ever keep track, but I'll bet five years ago, the average Summer Wednesday had maybe five or six articles.
But the media hates soccer/is out to kill the sport/does nothing but write stories making funof soccer/shows MLS no respect. :p

[JMU Soccer!]

As part of twelve step program to avoid severe depression thinking about the Quakes moving, my "always look on the bright side of life" moment:

Impressive list of articles today. I know one could ever keep track, but I'll bet five years ago, the average Summer Wednesday had maybe five or six articles.

Those were the days when we only had Jamie Trecker, Graham Jones and another idiot whose name escapes me at this time to read consistently. Then in stepped Grant Wahl and Jeff Bradley and life was merry.

I also feel that Graham Jones has taken some 12 step program.

[stopper4]

Paul Gardener?

[JMU Soccer!]

Paul Gardener?


Yep.

[numerista]

http://www.mural.com/deportes/articulo/393649/

Article adds a bit of strength to the possibility that Palencia and Ramon Ramirez will be the headliners for Chivas USA next year ... probably excellent choices.

[Bill Schmidt]

US Soccer ticket scheme: interesting. I say stick with the best chance for a sell-out for the time being. The team should make it through anyway, and they certainly won't have home advantage once they get there. At least the sell-out at RFK added some serious money to US Soccer.

[Goodsport]

As part of twelve step program to avoid severe depression thinking about whether or not the Quakes might move.
The much-used "Fixed your post". :)


Impressive list of articles today. I know one could ever keep track, but I'll bet five years ago, the average Summer Wednesday had maybe five or six articles.
And NBC was the U.S. soccer fan's only option for televised soccer. :(


-G

[BuffloSoldier]

Excellent piece by Grant Wahl in today's MLS media email.

It's not online, but it lays out the myriad of ways NFL Europe and MLS are blood brothers--beyond the ties that Garber and some others in the NY office brought to the table.

Lots of stuff on Chivas, Vergara, also. He reports MLS was given $15m by Vergara for the use of the HDC and to put Chivas USA in LA.

How will Chivas USA keep its all-Mexican identity in a league that allows no more than three foreigners over age 25 per team? Look for Chivas to fill its foreign slots with Mexicans while stocking up on Mexican green-card holders and players under 25, who don't count against the limit. What's more, Chivas has begun a grassroots recruiting drive called Nueva Sangre (New Blood), holding tryouts in L.A., Chicago and **Houston-and soon in other U.S. Latino strongholds-to find prospects among the thousands of players in ethnic leagues. And as a last option, Vergara says, "We may have some gringos, too."

Will Chivas USA simply be a farm team for Chivas of Guadalajara? No, vows Vergara. "Why should I have a team that will cost me so much money just to float players into Mexico?" he asks. And though there will be an initial infusion of players from the Mexican Chivas, Sisniega says, "we're committed to keeping these players in the U.S. and building their star status in the U.S. market."

The goal, Garber says, is for MLS teams eventually to be involved in interleague play with Mexico, as well as in the Copa Libertadores, the lucrative South American club tournament that is the Western Hemisphere's answer to the European Champions League.

"In the global culture the universal language is soccer," Garber says. "That's the sweet spot. If it weren't for the shrinking world caused by globalization, we wouldn't have the opportunity we have today." Capitalizing on that chance is the key. Garber's future-to say nothing of his league's-depends on it.

[guamster]

Excellent piece by Grant Wahl in today's MLS media email.

It's not online, but it lays out the myriad of ways NFL Europe and MLS are blood brothers--beyond the ties that Garber and some others in the NY office brought to the table.

Lots of stuff on Chivas, Vergara, also. He reports MLS was given $15m by Vergara for the use of the HDC and to put Chivas USA in LA.

Thanks Bufflo for posting the Wahl snippets. Some good stuff there. Grant comes through again.


Will Chivas USA simply be a farm team for Chivas of Guadalajara? No, vows Vergara. "Why should I have a team that will cost me so much money just to float players into Mexico?" he asks. And though there will be an initial infusion of players from the Mexican Chivas, Sisniega says, "we're committed to keeping these players in the U.S. and building their star status in the U.S. market."

Maybe those who were worried about Chivas USA becoming simply a feeder team to the real Chivas can rest a little easier now. This "Chivas USA to MLS" thing may just work. That $25 million buy-in sure helps too. ;)

[Revolt]

That certainly addresses one of my main concerns (feeder team to Mother Club) about Chivas coming to MLS.