a straight reprint of an email TO: Soccer/Thunder Fans FR: Jim Froslid, Thunder general manager (Arden Hills native) Buzz Lagos, Thunder head coach (St. Paul native) RE: St. Paul Pioneer Press Pulls Plug After eight straight years as the Twin Cities leading newspaper for "soccer" coverage, the St. Paul Pioneer Press recently decided to cease their coverage of the Minnesota Thunder, stating as one of their main reasons "there is not enough interest in soccer." The purpose of this correspondence is to rally soccer fans, especially those who subscribe to the Pioneer Press, to voice their opinion, and demonstrate to the new sports editor, Mike Bass, that there is great interest in the coverage of the Thunder! Whether you send an email, mail a letter, place a phone call or cancel your subscription, we need a large number of people to react in order to change this decision. Coach Lagos has already informed the subscription department that if there is no Pioneer Press beat writer at Sunday's home opener in the Metrodome, then he will cancel his subscription of over 30 years on Monday morning. Following are the two people to whom to direct comments: Mike Bass, Pioneer Press Sports Editor, phone 651-228-5108, mbass@pioneerpress.com John Shipley, Pioneer Press Deputy Sports Editor, phone 651-228-5599, jshipley@pioneerpress.com Pioneer Press, 345 Cedar St., St. Paul, MN, 55101 You should also copy the Publisher, Harold Higgins, hhiggins@pioneerpress.com Here are some statistics to consider: (1) The Thunder's attendance has increased 12 of their 13 seasons, with its largest spike coming in the last two years. (2) More kids play soccer (80,000 registered players) than hockey (70,000 registered players) in the state of Minnesota. (3) The Thunder will be on national television (Fox Sports World) on two occasions this year (May 16 and Aug. 8). (4) WMNN AM 1330 will broadcast six Thunder games live this year. (5) The Thunder is one of Minnesota's most successful pro teams - advancing to the league final in five of the last nine seasons, winning it all in 1999. (6) Half of the Thunder roster is from Minnesota, including many that currently live and/or grew up in the St. Paul Pioneer Press subscription area (Amos Magee, Evan Richardson, Buzz Lagos, Don Gramenz, Marshall Morehead, Greg Wheaton). (7) The Thunder spends more than 200 days of the calendar year in the community, teaching soccer, reading to kids, conducting clinics and speaking at school assemblies. (8) Four of the Thunder's largest supporting youth organizations reside in St. Paul (Blackhawks, HGRA, White Bear Lake, Woodbury). we should swamp this idiot with complaints - cmon help out the minnesota folks - some of the nicest people on the planet
Sending an e-mail only gets you an auto response. Basiclly stating that the paper will still provide coverage, just not send a reporter to the game. Or in other words, send the info and we'll print it if we have space. High school softball gets more interest.
My article - although I did take a liberty on one thing that will need corrected sometime next week. http://www.soccer365.com/_365_Features/page_121_51203.shtml
Are you referring to the fact that the Thunder did not make the playoffs in 1997? Good article though, as always.
Just an idea.... Would it be a good thing if someone posted a similar thread on the Business and Media section? It might be a way of getting more people to write/complain.....