10/22/04: This Preview has been rated G for everyone

[GPK]

Rapids aiming for flood of offense-Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~94~2483810,00.html)

Rapids make bid to host Gold Cup-Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~94~2483809,00.html)

Rapids look beyond history with Galaxy-Rocky Mountain News (http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/rapids/article/0,1299,DRMN_51_3273070,00.html)

Spotlight dims-Washington Times (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20041022-122529-7447r.htm)

RFK due to retain prime soccer seating-Washington Times (http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20041022-122534-2603r.htm)

MLS Postseason Preview-Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52873-2004Oct21.html)

MLS prefers a big-city final-KC Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/soccer/mls/kansas_city_wizards/9981912.htm)

Hamilton Wants More From Galaxy-LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-galaxy22oct22,1,6574454.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)

Galaxy enter playoffs in a rut-Carson Daily Breeze (http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/1122941.html)

Galaxy eyes Rapid repair on road mark-Pasadena Star News (http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/Stories/0,1413,206~28779~2483742,00.html)

Wolyniec leads Metros into playoffs against United-Star Ledger (http://www.nj.com/metrostars/ledger/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/109842070121620.xml)

A familiar feeling with this Crew: Pierce recalls '02 playoffs-Boston Herald (http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=50261)

Revs show fighting spirit in practice-Boston Herald (http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=50260)

Revolution in fighting mood-Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2004/10/22/revolution_in_fighting_mood/)

Quakes ready to defend title-San Jose Mercury News (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/soccer/9985396.htm)

Crew streaking into MLS playoffs-AP (http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cctimes/sports/9986210.htm)

Galaxy, Rapids to get reacquainted quickly-USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/mls/2004-10-21-galaxy-rapids-playoffs_x.htm)

Best of the MLS-Press Enterprise (http://www.pe.com/columns/bueno/stories/PE_Sports_Local_soccer_column_22.a0c95.html)

MLS playoff preview-Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/102204dnspomlspreview.1da7d.html)

Hardened for the playoffs: After tough season, Revs confident they can make some noise-MetroWest Daily News (http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sportsNews/view.bg?articleid=81167)

Firm hired to build stadium-Daily Southtown (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/south/211syt5.htm)

[nyrmetros]

The Knight News (http://www.qcknightnews.com/news/2004/10/19/Sports/Sportswire-774259.shtml) - Here's a small plug for the Metro - DC game from a college paper

[Etienne_72772]

MLS prefers a big-city final-KC Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/soccer/mls/kansas_city_wizards/9981912.htm)



Now, Newman admitted that Gulati's quote about the league not wanting Columbus or Kansas City in the final was hearsay. But if Sunil did say this, he is a tool. If there is anything that MLS needs is the appearance of legitimacy (even if it is not true--they at least have to appear like they are impartial). For a league honcho to come out and actually state which teams they don't want in the final is assinine.

If the league didn't want the smaller teams in the finals, they shouldn't have established teams in the smaller markets. They could have had 3 teams from the very beginning: LA, NY and Chicago, and the entire season could have been played to eliminate one team, thereby ensuring that every final had a big market team in it. [/sarcasm]

But there hasn't been much that Gulati has ever done that has filled me with any feeling that he knows what he is doing. Isn't he now the talent scout for the Revs? Seems like he's doing a fine job over there...

[GPK]

I believe that quote was from quite a few years ago....

[denver_mugwamp]

[QUOTE=GPK

Rapids make bid to host Gold Cup-Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~94~2483809,00.html)
[/QUOTE]

This might not seem like much to the rest of you guys, but to us in Denver it's a sign that someone at Kroenke's organization has finally woken up and realized that they own a soccer team.

[Etienne_72772]

I believe that quote was from quite a few years ago....

Yes, I realize that--when Gulati was a league honcho, and not working for the Revs--which makes the quote even worse. The league should never, under any circumstances, have allowed even the slightest whisper that some teams were favored over others.

[numerista]

FWIW, the Mexican newspaper Mural cites a source inside MLS as saying that the league is hopeful about having a team called "Tigres" in either San Antonio or Houston in 2006. There would be an affiliation with the Mexican League team from Monterrey, but I'm not sure if it would be full ownership (I can't access the article right now).

We've now had stories about Aguilas-USA, Toluca-USA, Atlas-USA, Pumas-USA*, and Tigres-USA. What we actually have in place are a long-running partnership between Monarcas and the Fire, plus a well-funded Chivas-USA franchise being led by MLS veterans Whit Haskell and Thomas Rongen.

It's great to see that Mexican clubs are interested in our league, and that our league continues to make contacts with them. Despite initial concerns, it's also great to see that so far, no one has rushed into anything.

*Actually, I think someone on BigSoccer made this one up.

[stinky]

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/south/211syt5.htm

that's the link for the chicago stadium story.

its great news. is it me or is this stadium being built with the least amount of bs. first we hear they approve it, now they're almost done demolition of the current site and hired a construction company.

its the complete opposite of what's going on in metroland.

good for the fire.

[metros11]

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/yrtwn/south/211syt5.htm

that's the link for the chicago stadium story.

its great news. is it me or is this stadium being built with the least amount of bs. first we hear they approve it, now they're almost done demolition of the current site and hired a construction company.

its the complete opposite of what's going on in metroland.

good for the fire.
Things get done when you have Tony Soprano working for you and not against you.

[John_Harkes_6]

Yes, I realize that--when Gulati was a league honcho, and not working for the Revs--which makes the quote even worse. The league should never, under any circumstances, have allowed even the slightest whisper that some teams were favored over others.

It had nothing to do with favoring teams. Every league will tell you they want LA or NY in their finals every year - its about exposure. Ask MLB if they would like anyone other than the Yankees in the Series (of course this year the feel good Sox might be a bit better than last years Anaheim). No one will go on the record and say it but if you for one second don't think it is true you are deceiving yourself.

[Blitzz Boy]

Santos & Pachuca show up in MFL finals a lot more than America & Chivas, and the MFL is doing OK.

And their fans don't whine if Pumas & Tigres play on gridiron lines.

[rocketeer22]

This might not seem like much to the rest of you guys, but to us in Denver it's a sign that someone at Kroenke's organization has finally woken up and realized that they own a soccer team.

That, and the fact that Kroenke bought into SUM at the same time he purchased the rapids. And, has he put together his regional sports network yet? But, a good sign nonetheless...

[Etienne_72772]

It had nothing to do with favoring teams. Every league will tell you they want LA or NY in their finals every year - its about exposure. Ask MLB if they would like anyone other than the Yankees in the Series (of course this year the feel good Sox might be a bit better than last years Anaheim). No one will go on the record and say it but if you for one second don't think it is true you are deceiving yourself.


I'm not an idiot. Of course I know that all leagues want to maximize exposure. Of course I know that the best way to maximize exposure is to have the teams in the biggest markets playing each other. But to have Sunil Gulati, an agent of the league, come out and actually vocalize it is an act of idiocy. It implies a certain level of league-fixing, which MLS needs to try to stay as far away from as possible, considering that with single entity they have very powerful means to achieve said league-fixing.

[Huss]

Was this missed?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=cnnsi-mls150millionsh&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns

[Stan Collins]

*Actually, I think someone on BigSoccer made this one {Pumas} up. Really? I thought that one was the second team in Chicago rumor, that I was pretty certain I saw in a reputable media outlet.

[tab5g]

Was this missed?
http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=cnnsi-mls150millionsh&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns

just wanted to bump this and invite everyone to read an excellent article if they haven't taken the time to do so yet..

[numerista]

Really? I thought that one was the second team in Chicago rumor, that I was pretty certain I saw in a reputable media outlet.

Thanks for the info ... it's entirely possible that I missed this article.

[numerista]

A bit more information on the Tigres story ...

-- In Dallas on Monday, MLS execs met with the Tigres team president, VP, and a lawyer for Sinergia Deportiva. A source within MLS says the league is "very interested in having a team called Tigres in Houston or San Antonio for 2006 or 2007."

-- In September, San Antonio mayor Ed Garza went to Monterrey and said that he wanted a team that would follow the model of Tigres.

-- Claudio Suárez says he declined an offer from Chivas-USA but if it were Tigres, he'd reconsider. [rolleyes]