Onstad starring in MLS - Rochester Democrat and Chronicle Mando travels New Path for Local Soccer - Eureka Times-Standard Rhinos in 1999 Top Local Upset - Rochester Democrat & Chronicle Fire suffers First Loss of Season - Chicago Daily Herald United gets Goal but not Win - Washington Times Numbers tell European Story - South Florida Sun-Sentinel Burn settles for another Tie with Galaxy - Dallas Morning News A small Goal is Achieved - Washington Post In Seven Goal Affair Quakes beat Crew - San Jose Mercury News Quakes scratch to Remain Unbeaten - San Francisco Chronicle Struggling Rapids dig 0-4-1 Hole - Denver Post Saint or Sinner - N.Y. Post (on Anschutz) Burn continues tying Ways against Galaxy - Ft. Worth Star-Telegram No Way San Jose would be denied Victory against Crew - Columbus Dispatch Still a rough Road for L.A. - L.A. Times England is no Match for US - L.A. Times Metros tame Rapids - North Jersey Herald News Metros rout Rapids - Morris County Daily Record Clint, Metros win 4th in a Row - N.Y. Daily News Revs fire Away - Boston Herald Razov presents Heaps of a Challenge - Boston Herald Revolution on Fire - Boston Globe He uses his Head without Thinking - Boston Globe Revs swallow Fire - South Coast Standard-Times Red Hot Revolution have come Full Circle - Providence Journal Joseph makes Play happen at the Midfield - Providence Journal Quill, Davey make Names with Big Goals - Houston Chonicle Italy flaunts Champions - Miami Herald
Homecoming game: Popik back for a visit - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Preview: Wave United vs Galaxy - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
" $550 million: The estimated debt being carried by teams in the top two divisions in Germany. $1.84 billion: The estimated debt being carried by first- and second-division teams in Spain" These numbers should really put MLS financial struggles in perspective (even if unlike these leagues, we cannot ask the government to bail us out)....
Re: Re: 5/18/03: REM Yes and no. For example, selling Real Madrid will bring in enough money to wipe out half of the estimated debt in Spain, whereas there is hardly a market for MLS teams.
What a dumb example. Just because two numbers esixt does not mean they can or will cancel each other. 1)Putting aside the issues of RM's actual worth, debts, and at what price RM in fact could be sold: the proceeds (assuming there are any) of the sale would not go to the league. 2)Suppose utopia existed and #1 happened, that in no way solves the real problem of teams spending beyond their means. Net effect is that the same problem will exist in the future. 3)FIFA will not allow deflation in football, it costs them too much money. The pot of gold for the largest teams will continue to increase. Teams will continue to mortgage the future to reach for the pot. Fans will continue to be raped of public money for stadia and have to pay continually higher cable rates, PPV fees, and ticket prices to support the whole thing. Unfortunately, it has been proven that we will pay...grudgingly, but the option is no football. Net effect is the only winners are the highest paid players and the brass everywhere collecting the fees for everything. None of this is news, it's just Corporate football.
Re: Re: Re: 5/18/03: REM Football is a source of pride (to all citizens) in places like Spain and Germany....According to a report i saw on CNN (CNN en espanol of course), they said all clubs in Spain are asking the gvt. to help them reach financial stability...No clubs would have to be sold (not that any team's fans would allow this in the first place)....IIRC Real owes about 100 million of the 1.8 billion debt
The part about teams spending beyond their means is the only line you have to read in this thread. Look at MLB as another example. 27 of 30 teams last year lost $$$.