Found this over on the Quakes board. One of their posters e-mailed Bob Wagman. Here is the person's question, and Wagman's response. Given the reference to United, and our speculation about ownership last week when KP returned, I thought it was germane here. I wrote Bob Wagman at soccertimes.com, pleading for him to write an article to give us more info on the Club America situation. He elected to respond directly to me, and here is his message, copied and pasted: This what I understand. CA is very interested in the quakes. MLS at the same time is very unhappy with the stadium situation in San Jose. Essentially what MLS wants is for the new owner of the quakes to buy the stadium from whoever owns it (the city the University, I don’t know), and to upgrade it substantially. I guess it is possible the team could be moved if it is bought and nothing happens with the stadium. Moore quit because he felt the CA purchase is a done deal. Meanwhile, Phil Anschutz personally has become quite close to the people who run Bayer Leverkusen during the long and sometimes contentious talks over Landon. Bayer has expressed interest in getting into the soccer market over here. But the parent company Bayer the drug company is having some financial difficulties that are reducing its level of support for the soccer team. My own guess right now is that Anschutz sees Bayer as a possible buyer of DC United. He eventually wants to get down to two teams – LA & NY, because he needs to be in those markets. Bob Wagman Senior Correspondent SoccerTimes Bayer United, anyone?
Hmmm... My immediate reaction is Bayer Leverkusen wants DCU as a development team. Let's see, who could they groom for later inclusion in their Bundesliga side? Freddy Adu, maybe? Very, very smart move (if he pans out, that is).
Blech. I doubt Wagman is correct, and I sincerely hope that anyone who buys United is an American person or entity. I want to build MLS and DC United as an American team and league, not a farm team for a European league, nor an ugly stepchild of another team or country. DC United doesn't not have an attendance problem. DC United has the best and strongest history of any American Top Flight soccer team (including the Cosmos), and as a symbol of American soccer, we are the flagship franchise. I would really really really hate to see anyone own it that wasn't 100% committed to making American soccer the greatest soccer in the world, and making DC United successful. Leverkusen ... if you want in, expand to Philadelphia, St. Louis or some other city. Leave DC alone. -Digital
With what money? Anyone read Bayer AG's financials lately. Let's just say it went down faster than Meola at the buffet table. Sachin
Another evil foreign investor want to buy (and destroy) a team from your precious league... And no sky is falling-dirty germans-nuke them attitude so far? Maybe because they aren't mexicans?
I take it from your broad brush of a post you're trying to equate us to the San Jose fans. I think any new investment in the league is good regardless, but I also agree with Digitals post for the reasons he cited. Fans here have a right to be cautious and protective of their teams. We helped make them and the league what it is today. I think you might feel the same way if George Steinbrenner tried to buy your precious Pumas.
Bob Wagman is certainly a very respectable person and journalist, so this is not a smack at him at all. It's just an affirmation that I think he was totally guessing as he stated in the email. I wouldn't make more of it than that unless a lot more information comes out. MLS is a vicious league in a way in that there's lots of sources with lots of different ideas, all of them as true as they can be, but yet the final analysis is difficult to pin down. It's easy to think some rumor is a fact because it tally's with some reasonable thoughts of your own, but then you're burned because, of course, your whole house of cards collapses. Bottom line, I'd bet Wagman has a good theory and was relating an idea to a fan and it got more play than it should have. Just some observations, take it as you will. Which of course you will with or without my permission
This is old rumor. It's basically nothing more than a variation of the scenarios he wrote about at the link below. I wouldn't take it very seriously at all. http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2003/nov08.htm
No disrespect, but I think it's because he has more contacts and inside info than any of us on these boards. I don't think he'd just blindly put out a theory unless there was some validity to it...but that's just me.
Well then he should give some evidence. He says Bayer is cutting down it's soccer business, then says that "his guess" is that Anschutz is eying Bayer to take over United. Given Anschutz's low profile, I don't know where the hell Bob Wagaman comes up with that.
1. Because it is at best informed speculation, that does not appear to be close to coming into fruition. 2. Because their is no evidence that they want to change the name of team and adopt a racist policy regarding their players. Instead of trolling our boards with the same worthless crap that can be found on several different boards spend your time reading the majority of the posts on the subject who have no problem and indeed welcome mexican investors but do not want to see all mexican teams, name changes and mls pandering to them.
Perhaps of BL buys/operates United they'll feel like they might have the inside track on signing Adu when he becomes of age. Just a hunch, not fact.
Well, $20 million is a bit steep as a transfer fee for an unproven forward/midfielder who is only 14... Reasons that Bayer acquiring DC United would be a good thing: 1) Free aspirin 2 pack with every ticket - whether you need it due to the alcohol consumed or the bad play - you will need it! 2) DC United would finally have a jersey sponsor again - unless of course, MLS charges Bayer an additional fee of $5 million for the sponsor rights... 3) Even 3rd divison teams in Germany have better merchandise - maybe we would finally be proud of DC United's store. 4) New money means the league does not rest on the shoulders of Hunt and Anschutz. 5) Off season training for DC United players in Germany against Bayer's amatures. 6) DC United would then be a part owner of Landon Donovan... 7) Germans know a thing or two about beer!
I'd like Bayer to purchase DC United just so they could give out free pain killers instead of off-gasing plastic. Too bad it didn't happen in 2000, then maybe we'd all feel a little better now. Tim
Yeah, you're cute. My pre-game meal at the Galaxy press box runs me $5. But, I must say, it's usually quite good.
First: Wagman is guessing. Second: because Anschutz see Bayer as a possible buyer doesn't mean that Bayer sees themselves as possible buyers...
Maybe, if for some reason this does happen, we could get some of their rising stars in a loan deal or something like that.
If you read Bob on a regular basis, you will see that he has a real hard time discriminating between what he knows and what he thinks. He isn't as bad as the Treckers, but he isn't much better. If done with respect for the fact that it is a US league, designed to develop US players, I don't mind foreign investors. But until I saw Bob's information either sourced in his article or supported by another article, I'll bring my salt shaker, thank you very much.