MLS Conference Call Guests: MLS Deputy Commissioner Ivan Gazidis Kansas City midfielder Chris Klein MetroStars goalkeeper Tim Howard Chris Klein’s Opening Statements: “We’re off to a 1-1 start and we felt at this time we should really be 2-0 or 1-0-1 but we didn’t really get the result we wanted in D.C. The game against Los Angeles was really a pivotal game for us, a game at home against a division rival. The Los Angeles Galaxy is a team we feel we’re going to battle for the Western Division title when all is said and done. The weather conditions didn’t really let us play the way we wanted. We figured out that there was probably about 25 or 30 minutes that you could play actual soccer. We were fortunate enough to get two goals and we gave up a penalty kick but we held on to win in conditions that weren’t really favorable to playing actual soccer.” “That leads us to Wednesday — the return of Chris Henderson and Preki to Kansas City. Regardless of those two coming back, this is a big game because Miami is 2-0. They’ve gotten off to the best start in Major League soccer. They’re a team that’s on top right now and on top is where we want to go. It is early in the season but we see Miami as a tough opponent and we look forward to playing them on Wednesday.” Tim Howard opening comments: “Last weekend we tied 1-1 in Colorado. We’ll take the one point although I think we played well enough to get three. That’s the way the game is sometimes. Looking ahead to this weekend, we’re wishing Chris (Klein) and Kansas City the best of luck because Miami is in our division. They’re at the top so we hope Kansas City gets a win. It should be a big weekend in New York with the NASL reunion and to see what type of uniform we’re going to wear. We should have a big crowd and they should be excited to see all the former NASL stars come back. That’s what started soccer in America.” Ivan Gazidis on attendance in the home openers: “What we’re trying to achieve is progress and that doesn’t just mean attendance but in all areas of our business. The most important area of our business and the area we’re trying to focus on primarily is the product we’re offering to people and the level of play on the field. That’s where our focus is this year. It would be a good thing to show improvement in attendance but I don’t want that to become a recurring theme where every week we’re looking at attendance and judging ourselves being up or down. We’ve had 12 games so far and we feel very good about the way our attendance is looking. I feel better about the product and about the way we’re playing and I’d prefer that that’d be the focus of our attentions rather than a weekly analysis of attendance and where we stand compared to last year. We hope to show progress on the attendance side as well. What that means, we haven’t set a firm figure on. Progress on the field comes first and other things will follow from that.” Gazidis on the league’s target for attendance: “We really didn’t. I’m not sure how you would make an assessment of whether you’ve progressed or not? Are you comparing opening day to opening day. If you do that, we’re very well up. If you’re comparing home openers market to market with last year, then you’re comparing games this year that all took place on April 7 and April 14 to games last year that took place on staggered basis through the beginning of the season. Weather factors and the small number of games that we’ve played so far, only 12, mean that statistical analysis at this point to me aren’t hugely meaningful one way or the other. At the moment they show we’re up and I think that’s great but I couldn’t honestly tell you that I can draw any statistical conclusions from that given the small number of games that have been played so far.” Howard on the absence of Daniel Hernandez: “No question that Daniel is a huge part of our team. Anyone who knows the MetroStars knows that. As far as what’s going to go on from here, that is for the coach to sort over for the next couple of days.” Tim Howard on what Daniel Hernandez brings to the team: “He doesn’t have a ton of experience but he seems to play with a lot of confidence and a lot of composure. In the back he brings a security blanket for the other backs and also the defensive midfielders. Everyone looks up to him to hold it down for us in the back.” Klein on whether the missing Fusion players will affect the Wizards’ strategy: “I don’t know if there is going to be a change in strategy. When we’re at home, I’d like to think that we can go out and impose our style on other teams. Now in saying that, we’re not ignorant to the fact that the Miami Fusion is missing four key players. I learned about the guys they left home for disciplinary reasons. That is going to change the face of the game. They do have other weapons that can beat you. Without the four guys they are a different team but we still feel the Miami Fusion is a team that can play good soccer and a team we have to be ready for so we can get our three points.” Chris Klein on the Los Angeles Galaxy and their present situation: “I don’t think the Los Angeles Galaxy is ever an easy team to get past. The weather did really play a factor in the game but also, we were able to get out and attack them. The Galaxy are a team that if you sit back and let them come at you, they’re going to do well and they like to have their way. They’re off to an 0-2 start but we’re under no assumption that the Galaxy are going to struggle this year. We feel that this is just a slow start for them. When it all comes down to it they’re going to be battling out to go to MLS Cup this year and we have to be aware of them.” Tim Howard on what the Galaxy can expect from the Colorado Rapids this Saturday: “They’re real tough in the air. They’ve got two boys in the air who like to battle. They like to go forward and they are a team that’s going to get better as the season progresses. As in past years where they seemed to play the same style they’re a little bit revamped and they have some new players and they’re going to be a good side.” Tim Howard on the MetroStars’ attitude and the NASL reunion weekend on Saturday: “Definitely we’re excited. It’s the first time in the history of the team that we have the same lineup and the same boys in the locker room with a few new pieces. We don’t have to take time to get to know new players. We have a good chemistry going on right now and I think that’s the biggest positive for us. Morale is good and I hope we keep going forward.” “Regarding the NASL reunion. It’s just exciting. It’s good for the fans. I’m sure we’ll get a lot of people coming to this game who were in the stadium when the Cosmos were playing. I’m looking forward to it. These are some of the heroes that I looked up to who are going to be at the stadium. It’s a privilege that these players are still around and they’re coming out to support us.” Klein on the atmosphere at national team camp: “The biggest difference when you’re going into a national team camp getting ready for a big qualifying game is that you have so many different players from so many different teams and you have to get to know each other really quickly. Once that comes together, then you have to work on your game plan. Coach Bruce Arena has done an excellent job of bringing in guys who mesh together and who can focus on the goal of winning soccer games. As far as the games go, there are only 10 games for the United States to qualify for the 2002 World Cup and the national team really carries a lot of the burden of soccer in this country on their shoulders. We need to qualify for this World Cup. On the MLS side, each game is also important. There are 28 games in a season and you want to get off to a good start. I would say that the focus of both is result-oriented but you have different guys from different teams on the national team level whereas you’re with all the same guys on the MLS level.” Chris Klein on his prediction for the Costa Rica game: “Three points would obviously be my prediction. I think any time you get a game on home soil you want to get three points. In saying that, Costa Rica is a team that has really played our national team very tough over the past few years. It’s going to be tough but we’re hoping for three points.” Tim Howard on his performances as MetroStars’ new starter: “It definitely presents a new challenge for me. I’m excited and I feel very comfortable. Last year when I came in as a reserve keeper I felt like I had to prove my worth. I also had to prove my worth as a starter but in making me a starter, I think a lot was proven there. Whenever we don’t get a shutout I feel real bad. I feel we’ve been playing good as a unit and we’re only going to get stronger. We’re young in the back and we’re excited to see where we go from here.” Gazidis on MLS and the history of the older leagues: “We’ve tried to structure our league in a different way than the NASL was structured. We’ve never had the intention of saying that everything to do with the NASL or everything that happened with the NASL was bad. If that’s the impression we’ve given it certainly is not an accurate one. We’re trying to deal with the business realities of today and the sports marketplace we find ourselves in. That’s why we set ourselves up the way we did. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the NASL which really formed the foundation of soccer in this country. I don’t think we should consciously or unconsciously try to divorce ourselves from that past. We should be proud of it. I think the players that are coming to Giants Stadium are owed an enormous debt of gratitude by all of us who have the privilege of making our living working in this game.” “When we set up we were looking for a new start for soccer and we wanted to come out with our own identity. I think it was important that we did that. I don’t think it would have been an accurate depiction about what we were about. We’re a new young, growing league based primarily on American players and that’s very different to the NASL and I think it would have been a mistake to be misrepresenting ourselves to the public.” Gazidis on the USA Today feature about teenagers in MLS: “We’re not trying to recruit 16 or 17-year-old players into professional soccer and lure them away from college. What we are talking about with the young players who sign with Nike Project-40 are players who have made the decision to go professional. Their decision is whether they are going to do that in the United States or whether they are going to do that overseas. Once we’re in that realm with the young player, then we try to give them a nurturing environment which is a little bit different than the type of environment they may find in Europe. That is not necessarily to say that it’s the right thing for every player. I passionately believe that for most players, what we offer is a very attractive way to begin their professional career.” “Every team that takes a high school age player is required to give us a plan of how that player’s social needs are going to be addressed as well as how his technical and professional needs are going to be addressed. With young players who are 16 and 17-years-old you have a different range of issues you have to be very conscious about. Even from a 19 and 20-year-old. We’re very sensitive about that. Bobby Convey has been living with Kevin Payne in his basement since he was signed with us. We spend an enormous amount of time with every player, the player’s parents and with the team that he is drafted by making sure that we’re doing everything we can to support him. With the younger players, frankly, their schooling comes first. You see that for example with Seth Trembly. He’s attended his high school prom rather than playing with the Colorado Rapids. That’s a good indication of where our priorities lie with the younger players.” “At the same time, we’re offering them an opportunity to develop their game in a professional environment and the only other way that these players could do would be by going overseas. For a young player there are a lot of challenges in that and with Landon Donovan coming back, he’s recognizing from different aspects that Major League Soccer is a good place to develop his game. From a personal standpoint off the field, Landon was finding it difficult to adjust to the lifestyle he was being asked to live in Germany.” “DaMarcus Beasley’s progress over the past 12 months has been extraordinary. He really has a great future ahead of him. The same can be said of Bobby Convey and I’m sure the same will be true of Ed Johnson and Santino Quaranta and that group of players. The future for us is brighter than it has ever been. With younger players, the priority is getting the schooling in place and making sure that they have a solid basis on which to build their professional soccer career.” Tim Howard on what has helped him in his development: “Right now if I went to college for four years, I would have come out as a rookie and I don’t think I would have near the same ability that I have now. Being in a professional environment day in and day out for three and a half years has allowed me to learn from the best ‘keeper that America has ever produced in Tony Meola. Nike Project-40 gave me a great ‘in’ in this league and I’m very grateful for it.”