...USSF President (Gulati) to be Paid $250,000 Now?

[FC Uptown]

While the big news about this weekend's USSF meeting has been an upcoming proposal for the US to bid on a World Cup, another proposal will also be discussed...

"A proposal to change the position of the United States Soccer Federation’s president from a volunteer to a paid position, at $250,000 a year, will be presented at the group’s annual general meeting beginning Friday in Los Angeles."

(small note at the bottom)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/sports/soccer/21soccer.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

Columbia economics professor, Kraft soccer payroll, USSF President (part-time)

[thespian89]

While the big news about this weekend's USSF meeting has been an upcoming proposal for the US to bid on a World Cup, another proposal will also be discussed...

"A proposal to change the position of the United States Soccer Federation’s president from a volunteer to a paid position, at $250,000 a year, will be presented at the group’s annual general meeting beginning Friday in Los Angeles."

(small note at the bottom)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/21/sports/soccer/21soccer.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

Columbia economics professor, Kraft soccer payroll, USSF President (part-time)
If it becomes a paying job, that might mean the President will take on more. Maybe it's time for Gulati to step down from Kraft soccer or Columbia Uni.

[bltleo]

i don´t understand why such an importnat position like USSF president was not as "normal" job before, but only as voluntary job. I think it is fine that it is paid job now. But I think it would be better if Gulati concentrated on soccer only or only on economics. He should decide which job he wants to do. He seems to have 3 jobs:). He should focus only on one. Or maybe be 50% professor of economics and 50% as USSF president. Anyway, if soccer should become more important sport in your country, then Gulati should do this job more seriously. He seems to make this job only as "hobby":). Why he can not make this job as full time job? Soccer will never that so important sport in your country, until you don´t have strong USSF president with strong personality. Gulati is not right for this job. He is even not able to make deals and find good coach!

[JoseP]

I wonder if that means the Secretary's position of Dan Flynn will be eliminated. Seems redundant to have two highly paid people running the place.

[Maximum Optimal]

It definitely should be a paid job. Having a volunteer in this position is an anachronism from the amateur culture that has pervaded soccer in this country. We've moved beyond that.

[bltleo]

I wonder if that means the Secretary's position of Dan Flynn will be eliminated. Seems redundant to have two highly paid people running the place.

I have never realized that USSF office was so unimportant:)...it seems to be an office without money and power:)...

my proposal:
USSF president should be full time and good paid attractive job!

this way USSF president will concentrate only on big soccer issue

and it will help to increase the importance of soccer in your country!!!

if your office USSF and USSF president is not that so important office and job, don´t wonder that soccer is not so popular in your country.

I had no idea that USSF president was not paid job in your country.

[bltleo]

It definitely should be a paid job. Having a volunteer in this position is an anachronism from the amateur culture that has pervaded soccer in this country. We've moved beyond that.

i was wondering why it was not paid job before. Looks like you had really the amateur culture in your country.

I also think this job should be done from someone who has idea about soccer.

Gulati does not seems to be right person for this job. Definitely not. What he has done for american soccer? I think he took this job as his hobby:)..and now he wants his hobby is paid.

You need another president, maybe someone who was involved in soccer issue in the USA, some strong soccer personality.

Gulati has no power in international soccer.

[FC Uptown]

Anybody have a problem with Gulati getting paid by both MLS and USSF?
Conflict of interest?
(Why is Eddie Johnson starting games...(so he can be sold to Europe)?, etc etc)

Pick one job!
Just like congress - vote for your own raise.
Typically very murky political waters with USSF.
(and announce a bid on the WC to get attention off this topic).

[purojogo]

he better become a FT worker if this is approved... keep the Columbia gig a few hrs a week, but that´s it...everything else....out..if not ..just leave it the way it is.... PT..... no pay,but get to keep your other jobs.....

But this veing USSF...i doubt the best outcome/resolution is the one that will actually happen

[Crazy_Yank]

That's about $250,000 more than Gulati is worth. Maybe we can hire someone with soccer experience above and beyond the youth level. Let Gultai be the commissioner of his son's U8 league.

[Matt in the Hat]

Anybody have a problem with Gulati getting paid by both MLS and USSF?
Conflict of interest?
(Why is Eddie Johnson starting games...(so he can be sold to Europe)?, etc etc)

Pick one job!
Just like congress - vote for your own raise.
Typically very murky political waters with USSF.
(and announce a bid on the WC to get attention off this topic).
Technically, congress cannot vote itself a raise. It can only vote the next congress a raise.

[TimB4Last]

Anybody have a problem with Gulati getting paid by both MLS and USSF?
Conflict of interest?
(Why is Eddie Johnson starting games...(so he can be sold to Europe)?, etc etc)

Pick one job!
Just like congress - vote for your own raise.
Typically very murky political waters with USSF.
(and announce a bid on the WC to get attention off this topic).

I'll be (very happily) surprised if SG steps down from his Kraft gig. I'd like to see him separate himself from his other MLS connections, too - SUM, various committees, etc. I assume he'll just be adding an extra paycheck, though, and it will be business as usual.

The $250K salary is not an issue per se - anyone who thinks it is should read a newspaper every so often - even at a nonprofit.* US Soccer is a big organization, and to attract top people you need to pay nice salaries.

The question is whether we should keep SG or go out looking for new talent.

**********

Don't want to get sidetracked on your very last point - the distraction factor - but am I correct that SG fed the WC-hosting story to Steve Goff? If so, why? Why give someone a scoop (on that big a story) and why Goff?

----------

* Ok, ok, at a 'nonprofit.' ;)

[Ghost]

I know that Gulati is taking a lot of heat here, but let's consider the very real possibiity that Gulati is the person who wants to shake up the organization, hire a big name coach, etc. (Personally, I tend to think that's the case.) It could be that this will give him more power in fighting the embedded interests in the organization.

Beyond that, it's time for this to be a paid position. People can complain about conflict of interest when the time comes.

[FC Uptown]

Gulati needs to quit Kraft Soccer and SUM and whatever other organizations he is working in.
No excuses.

[bltleo]

Gulati needs to quit Kraft Soccer and SUM and whatever other organizations he is working in.
No excuses.

definitely..he need to quit Kraft Soccer..and maybe reduce his job at Columbia University..he should do seriously job as USSF president....

I still don´t understand how Gulati became USSF president....Has he done something special for american soccer?....

Who did vote him?

[Bruce S]

he better become a FT worker if this is approved... keep the Columbia gig a few hrs a week, but that´s it...everything else....out..if not ..just leave it the way it is.... PT..... no pay,but get to keep your other jobs.....

But this veing USSF...i doubt the best outcome/resolution is the one that will actually happen

take a leave of absence from Columbia.

[JoseP]

I still don´t understand how Gulati became USSF president....Has he done something special for american soccer?....

Who did vote him?

I believe any member can run for President. I don't what his membership was from. Maybe, he was appointed as a member. Anyhow, The state associations, youth and amateur, the pros, and so on all have voting members. Well, they voted him in.

[bltleo]

I believe any member can run for President. I don't what his membership was from. Maybe, he was appointed as a member. Anyhow, The state associations, youth and amateur, the pros, and so on all have voting members. Well, they voted him in.

man, if I knew this...I would have candidated for this job:)...and you all would have voted me!!:)

I thought USSF president job was for someone who has experience and good knowledge in soccer....but it looks like it was like hobby for Gulati and he will get money for his hobby:)..I don´t think he will change american soccer so much...he looks so boring and he does not look like right businessman..and USSF president need to be perfect businessman.

[TimB4Last]

I know that Gulati is taking a lot of heat here, and deservedly so, but let's consider the very slim possibiity that Gulati is the person who wants to shake up the organization, hire a big name coach, etc. (Personally, I tend to think that's not the case - SG represents his own status quo power base.) It could be that this will give him more power in further entrenching the embedded interests in the organization.

FYP

Beyond that, it's time for this to be a paid position. People can complain about conflict of interest when the time comes.

I agree that the position should be well-paid. It's a big job. Now, about timing ...

Sunil Gulati: There's gonna come a time, boy, when you will wish you never met me.

TimB4Last: Mister, I'm already there!

**********

Sunil Gulati: You don't think I would've been prepared? 25 years I invested in that volunteer job, 25 years I invested in my life. You couldn't understand the commitment I have. You tried to ruin a man's life's work and you think you can walk away? You got blinders on to the world! But I got your attention now didn't I?

TimB4Last: Why don't you just resign from Kraft?

Sunil Gulati: No this is about ME! This is about money due ME! Which I WILL collect! US Soccer, Kraft, MLS, SUM, Columbia are all my nest egg, Tim, at my age you have to plan ahead.

**********

Sunil Gulati: I'm smarter than you, Tim! I'm smarter! I'm smarter!

TimB4Last: Yeah, well I'm taller!

{Sorry about that one - couldn't resist :o}

**********

{Hope no one missed/mistook the obvious source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/quotes }

[FC Uptown]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/national/2006-05-01-gulati_x.htm?POE=click-refer

Here's an article on SG - he did the numbers for USSF for years.

Shocker, the Economics Professor is a numbers guy.
Shocker, he wants a raise in pay.
Shocker, he is already paid by two other entities.
Shocker, MLS and USSF are a conflict of interest.
Shocker, he attempts to obscure that fact with bottom line revenue results and a new initiative for increased dollars (World Cup).
Shocker, details are few on the levers of power at USSF, but it all goes through him.
Shocker, he claims to be just a "superfan".

Shocker, there are better soccer people out there.