This should make for some good discussion. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=398679&root=mls&cc=5901 Quotes: "ESPNsoccernet: Some would go so far, Alexi, as to say that you're more concerned with self-promotion than promoting the club or the league. AL: That might be a fair criticism, but part of my job is bringing as much attention to the team as possible, and I'm going to use every asset I have. Unlike other GMs, I'm in the unique position of being able to generate interest because of my playing background. If that's what it takes to get more butts in seats, then I'm gonna do it. " ... "ESPNsoccernet: You were always known as a showman, on and off the field. Who in MLS right now brings that type of excitement to the league? Is MLS lacking in that department? AL: Hell yeah, it's lacking. For the most part, we've created a generation of players who are unwilling or unable to show any personality. At times it's mind-numbing. Somebody do something. Grow some Valderrama hair! Date a supermodel! Clint Dempsey isn't everyone's poster boy just 'cause he scored in the World Cup. He made a rap video and plays with that attitude he's got. It's great. Like it or not, controversy, rumor and speculation are good for the game, and we don't have enough of it. So, like I tell my players: Don't bore me. Have an opinion. Make me and everyone else interested in who you are as a player and person. Make an impression. " Paul.
He makes some very good points. His job is get the Galaxy in the news. It would be better if the news was about the team and not about him, but he's got to start somewhere. It'll be interesting to watch RSL this season. All those microphones in the dressing room will slowly shift from Adu to Cunningham as the media realize that Jeff will say just about anything.
Fans: I Tell My GMs "Don't Be Douchebags." Yeah, he's got some points, but I wish he'd shut his piehole for a bit. The act is getting tired. His job is to help the Galaxy win. The PR guy's job is to get the team in the news.
I don't think there's a journalist that regularly covers MLS that doesn't know Jeff is good for a quote.
I like what he had to say about players. About his role, well, he can be a clown all he wants. Whenever I read his quotes, this song comes to mind: http://pages.prodigy.net/area512/dumbo.mid
The bolded portion is the key. Right now, there simply aren't that many journalist covering MLS games except for this small specialized group. Hopefully with ESPN beginning to produce some of these games this year, everyday sportsfans will be able to turn on Sportscenter and actually hear some of these guys comments after the game.
is alexi that dumb or is there genius? here we are, january, and how many months till the start of the season and we're talking about him? maybe that question on self-promotion is spot-on afterall.
I don't know that there's a soccer fan in America who's met who doesn't know that. He had some fun stuff to say when I met him in Hartford after the USA - TnT match.
Alexi sure is a douchebag. But he is right about more than a few things. the league does need characters, and villains. And the more Alexi talks the more attention he brings, love or hate. I hope he keeps it up.
At MLS Cup he stopped by the supporter's meet and greet to try to get some votes for the 2007 MVP award.
We may be talking about him, but is anyone else? When Lalas went on Steven A Smith, he joked about how it's a big change for him to be wearing a suit and having to shave regularly. The host gave him a "who the ******** are you" look and told him he had no idea what he was talking about. That was also when Garber left Alexi hanging and he had to explain that MLS will become a world power because top players will be attracted to it's business model.
Yeah, I'm sure the reporters have committed to memory as well Adu's comment about Jeff getting '30 goals this year' w/Adu pulling the strings. Good job hanging yourself kid, before you even get there...
The guy is just funny. What interviewer wouldn't love this stuff? - - - > Quotes: "ESPNsoccernet: Alexi, you may not know this, but MetroFanatic -- a site dedicated to all things Red Bull/MetroStars -- selected you as bum of the year based on your tenure with the team as general manager. How warranted is this selection? AL: It's amazing just how eager folks are to let you know when someone has ripped you a new one. I was indeed informed of the honor bestowed upon me. I just hope they spelled my name right. ESPNsoccernet: Finally Alexi, make a prediction for the next coach of the national team or whether Bradley gets the job permanently. AL: I think it'll be a man. Although personally I would go in a different direction."
If Beckham is interested in playing for LA, I dearly hope someone high up in AEG is handling the deal, and not Lalas. How can anyone take him seriously?
I believe I read long ago that the top AEG Sports Executive responsible for all their teams has been handling the Beckham relationship all along going back to before they opened the Beckham camps in LA several years ago. Lalas has very little part in any potential negotiations from what i understand.
Part of ESPN's conversion into the televized equivalent of sports radio - where attitude, sound bites, and smackdowns replace analysis, discussion, and humor. It's really a shame. Steven A. Smith used to be an articulate, smart analysts, but somewhere he found out that if he played the "too smart for school"/"all up in here attitude"/"style over substance" buffoon he'd make a whole lot more money. Sports television has always been somewhat dumb, but somehow it seems to keep finding ways to keep getting dumber and dumber.
The interviewer (Kristian Dyer) comes across very amateurish. I found myself thinking that a 16 year old won a contest to interview a celebrity and chose Alexi Lalas, and then got that posted on ESPN.com
I agree.The league has gotten a lot of mileage out of guys like Lalas,Arena and Wynalda.We need more like them not less.