beatleboymatt
15 Feb 2006, 02:13 PM
I found this older article on the MLS in Cleveland and I thought I'd share.
Does Cleveland fit in MLS picture?Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH)
July 30, 2005
Author: Bob Roberts; Plain Dealer Reporter
Estimated printed pages: 4
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ALL-STAR GAME
Freddy Adu, arguably the most recognizable face in U.S. soccer, is here. But he’s not playing.
Drew Carey will be at Crew Stadium, but he doesn’t want to hide out in a luxury box. Cleveland’s best-known comic since Bob Hope, and an average Joe if there was one in Hollywood, is so crazy for soccer that he’s requested a photographer’s pass so he can be close enough to the action to snap it.
And what about Cleveland? Could professional soccer, much like today’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game that pits the MLS best against Fulham of the English Premier League, be headed for northeastern Ohio?
MLS All-Star weekend kicked off Friday with league Commissioner Don Garber’s mid-season state of the league address that included talk of expansion.
“Our plans call for the addition of two new teams in 2007,” he said. “There remains very strong interest in MLS expansion in Canada [in Toronto] and in American cities Houston, Cleveland, Milwaukee and St. Louis. Our ultimate goal is to be an 18-team league.”
The MLS currently is a 12-team league.
“Cleveland’s bid is real estate focused,” said Garber, meaning the team needs a soccer specific stadium. “We are talking with Scott Wolstein and there is talk of Drew Carey being involved. He’s a big soccer fan. Drew has a suite for all Los Angeles Galaxy matches, he was in Washington D.C. last [Thursday] night for the D.C. United-Chelsea match, and he’s traveled to Trinidad and Mexico City to see the U.S. national team play. He’s even addressed the team in the locker room.”
Wolstein is the son of the late Bert Wolstein, a Cleveland-area developer who also tried to bring an MLS team to the area.
Crew General Manager Mark McCullers is hoping greater Cleveland lands a franchise.
“We would love to have that rivalry,” he said. “Cleveland is an intriguing market, certainly for us.”
While he was fifth in fan voting, Adu, the 16-year-old sensation, didn’t make the MLS All-Star team. Used mainly as a substitute this season, he failed to gain enough votes from the players, media and MLS front office personnel, which also participated in the balloting. Still, Adu, who reportedly makes $550,000 a year, will be at Crew Stadium to promote a soft drink company he represents. The MLS All-Stars and Fulham practiced at Crew Stadium on Thursday night and Friday morning.
For Brian McBride the scene left him with some strange feelings. A former Crew player and the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 50 goals, McBride has been playing for Fulham since winter 2004. He will be the team’s captain in tonight’s game.
“It’s been an emotional week for me,” said McBride. “But this is more about the team. It’s not about me.”
Fulham, coached by Chris Coleman, is owned by Mohammed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died in the 1997 Paris car crash that also claimed the life of Britain’s Princess Diana, as well as the car’s driver.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: broberts@plaind.com, 216-999-5754
Caption:
JAY LAPRETE ASSOCIATED PRESS Fulham gets in some warmups with its own version of Simon Says during practice Friday in preparation for today’s game against the MLS All-Stars.
Copyright, 2005, The Plain Dealer. All Rights Reserved. Used by NewsBank with Permission.
Record Number: MERLIN_4022085
Does Cleveland fit in MLS picture?Plain Dealer, The (Cleveland, OH)
July 30, 2005
Author: Bob Roberts; Plain Dealer Reporter
Estimated printed pages: 4
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER ALL-STAR GAME
Freddy Adu, arguably the most recognizable face in U.S. soccer, is here. But he’s not playing.
Drew Carey will be at Crew Stadium, but he doesn’t want to hide out in a luxury box. Cleveland’s best-known comic since Bob Hope, and an average Joe if there was one in Hollywood, is so crazy for soccer that he’s requested a photographer’s pass so he can be close enough to the action to snap it.
And what about Cleveland? Could professional soccer, much like today’s Major League Soccer All-Star Game that pits the MLS best against Fulham of the English Premier League, be headed for northeastern Ohio?
MLS All-Star weekend kicked off Friday with league Commissioner Don Garber’s mid-season state of the league address that included talk of expansion.
“Our plans call for the addition of two new teams in 2007,” he said. “There remains very strong interest in MLS expansion in Canada [in Toronto] and in American cities Houston, Cleveland, Milwaukee and St. Louis. Our ultimate goal is to be an 18-team league.”
The MLS currently is a 12-team league.
“Cleveland’s bid is real estate focused,” said Garber, meaning the team needs a soccer specific stadium. “We are talking with Scott Wolstein and there is talk of Drew Carey being involved. He’s a big soccer fan. Drew has a suite for all Los Angeles Galaxy matches, he was in Washington D.C. last [Thursday] night for the D.C. United-Chelsea match, and he’s traveled to Trinidad and Mexico City to see the U.S. national team play. He’s even addressed the team in the locker room.”
Wolstein is the son of the late Bert Wolstein, a Cleveland-area developer who also tried to bring an MLS team to the area.
Crew General Manager Mark McCullers is hoping greater Cleveland lands a franchise.
“We would love to have that rivalry,” he said. “Cleveland is an intriguing market, certainly for us.”
While he was fifth in fan voting, Adu, the 16-year-old sensation, didn’t make the MLS All-Star team. Used mainly as a substitute this season, he failed to gain enough votes from the players, media and MLS front office personnel, which also participated in the balloting. Still, Adu, who reportedly makes $550,000 a year, will be at Crew Stadium to promote a soft drink company he represents. The MLS All-Stars and Fulham practiced at Crew Stadium on Thursday night and Friday morning.
For Brian McBride the scene left him with some strange feelings. A former Crew player and the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 50 goals, McBride has been playing for Fulham since winter 2004. He will be the team’s captain in tonight’s game.
“It’s been an emotional week for me,” said McBride. “But this is more about the team. It’s not about me.”
Fulham, coached by Chris Coleman, is owned by Mohammed Al Fayed, whose son Dodi died in the 1997 Paris car crash that also claimed the life of Britain’s Princess Diana, as well as the car’s driver.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: broberts@plaind.com, 216-999-5754
Caption:
JAY LAPRETE ASSOCIATED PRESS Fulham gets in some warmups with its own version of Simon Says during practice Friday in preparation for today’s game against the MLS All-Stars.
Copyright, 2005, The Plain Dealer. All Rights Reserved. Used by NewsBank with Permission.
Record Number: MERLIN_4022085