With all due respect, saying Mia Hamm has sold plenty of products is like saying, and I quote from Marlene [Increasing numbers of women play and watch, too] and 'being associated with the Washington Freedom is good for public image'. All true statements but it's a matter of how many and how much. What's the leverage to corporate America? Does corporate America decide or does WUSA's need for $20 million per year set the price? If Phoenix spent tax dollars on pro sports to promote its image in order to compete with other cities for economic growth, I'd call it an investment. If they did it to support men's pro sports for social reasons and at a net loss to the city, I'd call it a social program. It's a question of intent and maybe it's just semantics, but I see a difference. Some statements in the article made me wonder what Marlene was actually trying to say: [But the actions of corporate America nationally say sports are only valuable when men play them and when men watch.] I'm not sure I can take this statement at face value in the first place but it appears Marlene believes pro sports sponsorships are based more on gender than market size. And that WUSA is a victim of a sexist corporate America value system, otherwise WUSA wouldn't have so much trouble getting money. [The women in the WUSA came from around the world. They have played their sport since childhood, and some of these athletes are reaching middle age. They spent their off-field hours reading to children in schools, teaching youngsters to play soccer and inspiring the belief among young girls that they, too, are valued in our modern world. But these girls aren't valued by corporate America. They aren't valued as athletes, as contributors to society or as customers. Their dreams aren't worth what amounts to pocket change in the world of men's professional sports.] Marlene brought these points up for a purpose. Is she saying women are deserving of corporate America's sponsorship for these reasons? Is she implying that corporate America should fund the WUSA dream for reason of social value? I realize this was just one article and not the whole WUSA story but I can see where some people might wonder what the WUSA brass is thinking.
Exactly -- how much. The U.S. can obviously support professional women's soccer if we're only talking about 25 players in the national team pool. It's a little trickier to get support for an eight-team league. So what's the magic number? Should it be a mix of pro and semi-pro, with a $5M asking price instead of $20M? Semantics indeed. If I'm a sponsor, and I talk the WUSA down from its asking price, have I made a sound investment? Sure, this article isn't the best-stated argument. But I also wouldn't judge MLS from Harkes' book.
Funny you should mention that. Last year I tried to get the lyric opera here in Austin, Texas to do John Adams' "Nixon In China". For those who haven't heard it, it's a wonderful opera. I have it on CD. In any event, the head of the opera company said FORGET IT. So I said "What's the matter? You got something against Dick Nixon?"
Nothing changes. I've been off the boards for a couple of weeks. Upon my return, I can see that nothing has changed. That doesn't matter for TF, because he is not dependent upon anyone liking his views for a living. It does not bode well for women's soccer, however, because using the same guilt trip pitch as before will not be successful. You defenders of the faith can rationalize and justify all you wish - it will not cause anyone to change their mind about women's soccer. We need a female Lamar Hunt; not a bunch of whining mullet wearing crybabies
Joe Cummings has resigned from WUSA: http://sports.chron.com/default.asp?c=chron&page=soc-mls/news/AHN3094013.htm
No surprise. I was wondering why he hung around "WUSA II" for so long after WUSA shut down.. I got my answer. He hung around "WUSA II" until he was able to find his next gig.
Can't he maybe serve as a consultant to the league? Hey...maybe Katy Button is available!?!? I'm joking.
So long... Maybe he figured out that "business as usual" wasn't going to get it, or, maybe his vision wasn't selected, or, maybe he needed a paying job. Whatever the reason, it's WUSA's and our loss.
Does this mean that WUSA 2005 is dead again? I mean - he was one of three folks I seem to remember leading the charge. DiCicco and the lawyer were the other two. Not sure how this plays out to any sponsors that were on the hook - to have one of the guys they were talking to - opt out for a different job. If a third festival city isn't announced - I'd stick a fork in WUSA. Maybe WUSA will repeat it's WWC 03 marketing mistake and make an announcement before the Olympics.
But it DOESN'T say he resigned! It DOESN'T say "former whatever of WUSA". It says he accepted a position as technical director for the Revs. Is there any reason he can't do that and still work for WUSA?? There are plenty of execs that wear multiple hats (he himself being GM for both the Breakers and Power last year) and there is no conflict of interest here. As Fear asked, who said he can't be a consultant with WUSA, if nothing else? Who said he resigned???
The corporate entity WUSA, LLC should have been dissolved by now. There is no need for anyone to "resign" from WUSA, LLC.
Here's a better, more specific article on Joe Cummings' current career path. http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/sportsNews/view.bg?articleid=62660
It also didn't mention that he is current and acting president of the NSCAA. It's not like his WUSA duties are a 40 hour/week job.
Most employment contracts will limit your ability to hold down two jobs at the same time - if they are related - or if there is the potential for a conflict of interest. Would the CEO of Nike be permitted to work for Adidas in his spare time? Come on - Cummings - is on to bigger and better things. About the best thing that can come out of this - is that the Cummings throws a few business cards to the Revs of sponsors he spoke with while trying to drum up WUSA2 business.
Hey Flannigan...I think this is just the beginning of Foudy taking over the USOC!!! : Foudy chosen to help select new USOC board JOHN MARSHALL, AP Sports Writer
I wouldn't count Joe out of the WUSA loop. It's no different than the CEO of one company serving on the board of directors of several others. The WUSA and MLS are not in direct competition. Especially not this year. The position with the Revs allows Joe to have a steady income. His NSCAA and WUSA duties are likely part of the deal. It'll all come out when we interview him. I'll let you know.
This is one of the reasons Julie is my favorite player on the WNT. She has been asked and is willing to serve in various functions in activities supporting sports. She has been a two-year president of the Womens Sports Foundation, served on the Title IX Review Commission, and now this. I'm assuming these are non-paying, time-consuming positions. She could have been out giving speeches at several thousand dollars a pop. Would all of us be so public-spirited.
The Olympics? Aren't they going to broadcast them on Lifetime Television for Women? You know, endless interviews about how evil American men are with a little bit of synchronized swimming thrown in around Donna de Verona's screed. The USOC is already so far gone, with women's boxing and ballroom dancing pushing out men's sports that have been popular for centuries, I am not sure how much more damage she can do. The real damage will be to the USWNT. How can she be captain (I thought she was co-captain), while doing this? Last year, she stopped training for some time and spent lots of time hammering nails into the Title IX coffin, and other ventures. Male walk-ons are banned because of her, breaking the hearts of thousands of young men. It was a good year for Ms Foudy, but, in my opinion, she played terribly for the WUSA and for the USWNT. For some reason she kept getting starts, substitutions to spell her and PK opportunites. You saw what happened in Portland. Just my opinions.
Hey Fear! He took the bait! LOL!! Yet another brilliant post by this guy. There is so much "wrong" with this post on so many levels, I don't know where to begin... But... just my opinion! LOL!!
Lies. Women's boxng may be added for 2008. Ballroom dancing - also known as DanceSport - will not be in until 2012 at the earliest. So far, no program of sports for Beijing has been established, from what I could find. If sports are dropped, the primary candidates were baseball and softball. If I am not mistaken, one of those is a female sport. The additions would be golf (men's and women's divisions I believe) and rugby sevens. Again, if I am not mistaken, the histories of golf and rugby dwarfs that of baseball and softball. Other sports have been mentioned, including modern pentathalon. Just the facts.
http://www.21bowu.com/english/News/shownews.asp?newsid=100 No sports will be dropped or added until after the Athens Games.
There is nothing wrong with Ms. Foudy pursuing a poltiical career and trying to get on TV all the time. But she should retire from the USWNT and devote her energies to feminist politics and let somemone who has the time be the captain and play on the team.