MLS
Bill Pardue
Westmont, Ill.
I went to high school in Wall, N.J., with George Gelnovatch and was pleasantly surprised to see that he was playing for D.C. United against Kansas City. With respect for the fact that Arena seems to like recruiting Virginia players, is it a little odd that he’d recruit his own successor as head coach to play for him in the majors? Is this just to give Gelnovatch some pro playing time during the college off season (it really is a shame there wasn’t an MLS during his prime)? While we’re at it, Wall had more than a few good players in the late ’70’s, Gelnovatch and Tom Kain among them. Are any of our alums still active on the field or behind the scenes in MLS, USISL, etc.?
RM: Gelnovatch — a forward in college — played 135 minutes as a central defender before suffering a groin pull and being dropped from the D.C. roster. I guess Arena thought he had no better options, especially with Eddie Pope and Clint Peay away with the Olympic teanm. As for Tom Kain, he is now the head of soccer for adidas. If you submit names of other prominent Wall alumni, we can try to track them down.
Eduardo Pezo
Arlington, Va.
Do you think there is a chance that in the near future MLS & Mexican teams could play the South American Libertadores Cup?. The USA & Mexico play the Copa America.
RM: There have been inquires about allowing the MLS and Mexican champions into the Copa Libertadores, but the logistics and finances are quite complicated. Plus, the South American confederation is very provincial about its prestigious club tournament, and would never consider allowing outside teams unless sound reasons could be found — like money.
Nick Larimer
Omaha, Neb.
What are the chances of any of the following things happening with MLS in the near future (or ever)? 1) Eliminate the shootout, and use ties. 2) New, more traditional uniforms. 3) No more single entity system. 4) The USISL and A-League unite and become a second (and maybe third and fourth) division to MLS. If this did happen, what is the chance of a promotion/relegation system forming with these other divisions? 5) The East and West divisions are dropped, there is one group of teams, the first place team is crowned league champion at the end of the regular season, and the top eight teams playing in a league cup tournament (similar to the European leagues). 6) All of the American soccer leagues (MLS, A-League, USISL, etc.) play in a single elimination tournament similar to the F.A. Cup in England. 7) A tournament is started in which the top teams from MLS, the Mexican First Division, and other Caribbean or Central American leagues play for a cup.
These are some ideas used in other parts of the world, and I was just wondering how possible these were in America.
RM: 1) Lots of fans are grumbling about the shootout, although a lot of owners still don’t like ties. The shootout might be dropped, but don’t bet on it.
2) There will be new uniforms next year, but designed — again — for the skateboard, surf-shop crowd most likely. Most owners still don’t believe there’s a soccer-savvy group of fans in this country that know the difference between Eric Cantona and Scott Cannon.
3) I think single-entity is doomed, to be replaced by a salary cap as in other pro sports. But single-entity might well persist for a year or so as the league cautiously projects revenues for the second and third seasons. Runaway player salaries are the greatest danger to MLS.
4) You must be psychic. The A-League and USISL just agreed to merge to form a Second Division (the number of teams has yet to be determined) with promotion and relegation. MLS teams, though, will not be subject to relegation.
5) The MLS conferences will remain as they are, and at least for next year, I don’t foresee expansion or teams moving. (There are plans to add a team in Long Island, perhaps for 1998.) As for playoffs, this is America, and playoffs rule.
6) MLS wants four of its teams to compete this year in the U.S. Open Cup, the champion of which advances into CONCACAF play. CONCACAF tournaments comprise the countries and regions you referred to. The Open Cup is — as the name implies — open to all USSF-registered teams, whether they be MLS, A-League, USISL, or USASA adult teams, just like the FA Cup.
7) CONCACAF would object to an outlaw tournament, but there’s talk of perhaps the MLS champ meeting the Mexican League champ in an exhibition.
Marc Chapman
Bismarck, N.D.
How does the overall financial situation of MLS work? Does each team operate its finances separately? or is the whole thing run by one bureaucratic institution? If they are autonomous, how then are player rights determined?
RM: Major League Soccer is a limited-partnership run as a single-entity, which means the league owns all the teams and the players.
Operator-investors share ownership with seven of the teams (Columbus, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., New York/New Jersey, Colorado and New England) as well as the league, and those individuals are responsible for operating expenses outside of player salaries, which are paid by the league. The other three teams (San Jose, Tampa, and Dallas) are owned and run by the league. A management committee, of which Alan Rothenburg is chairman, comprised of nine individuals votes on most league-wide business matters.
Revenues are split according to formulas: Ticket sales are split between a team and the league 50-50, whereas MLS merchandising and licensing income above a certain amount is shared equally among the teams. The league and teams share production costs for televised games. A team keeps all the revenues from its local sponsorship deals.
The league owns all the players’ rights. Nearly every player’s contract includes one or two option years in addition to the duration of the current deal (in most cases, one or two years).
David Phillips
Mableton, Ga.
Why are pro soccer teams so afraid of advertising? I live near Atlanta, and one the Ruckus’ major problems is that they have almost zero advertising, and even less outward exposure. I feel that this is the biggest reason they are in danger of folding. Do soccer people deliberately ignore what other sport do to get people to the ballpark? Also, what is the status of futsal in this country? I have heard nothing about it in a while.
RM: The Ruckus is barely a pro team, and doesn’t have the money to advertise in the expensive Atlanta market. MLS teams will spend between $250,000 and $750,000 this season in advertising.
Futsal (five-a-side indoor soccer) is championed in America by a man named Alex Para. You can call him at (510) 642-9010 or (800) 5-FUTSAL.
Michael Vraney
Little Chute, Wis.
Is there any chance for MLS expansion for the 1997 season, and if not, will there be any franchises moving to new cities due to lack of fan support?
RM: No expansion plans are on the docket, and since every team is drawing better than the projected first-year attendances, all 10 teams will likely stay put for 1997. But the league is receiving expansion inquiries from certain cities: Cincinnati, Chicago, Miami, Charlotte.
Mario Dramis
Queens N.Y.
Could you please tell me what the rationale is behind the MetroStars decision to not offer the MetroStars vs. Italian National Olympic Team (Friday, July 12) as a Giants Stadium event open to the general public? Why MetroStars management would opt to hold this as a “closed” event on a training camp in Hazlet, N.J., is beyond my comprehension. Am I missing something here?
RM: Any number of reasons, all of them valid ones. The ‘Stars are putting on a blockbuster event July 14 at the Meadowlands, and have more than enough to do staging that event. Also, have you considered the Italian team, which a week later plunges into a demanding tournament fraught with pressure? The Italian team wants to play a practice match to get ready for the Olympics, and not battle hordes of media and hoopla at Giants Stadium.
U.S. National Teams and Atlanta `96
Chris George
Arlington, Va.
Why isn’t John Harkes on the U.S. Olympic Soccer Team? I would have thought that he would be one of the three exempt players.
MW: That’s a question best posed to Coach Bruce Arena, who knows John Harkes better than anyone, having coached him at Virginia and now D.C. United. My guess is that Arena wished to use only one wild-card spot on a midfielder, and preferred a playmaker (Reyna) to a workhorse (Harkes).
Ejim Achi
Philadelphia
What do you think about the Nigerian soccer team: That’s including their potential, individual team exploits abroad, and their obvious position as Africa’s leading soccer nation?
MW: Obvious position as Africa’s leading soccer nation? If that’s its claim, it should have shown up for the African nations’ Cup, from which it is now banned.
On paper, Nigeria has one of the most talented teams of the 1996 Olympic field and certainly one of the most entertaining. But will it fall apart defensively and opt for the reckless tackling we saw from it against Argentina in the 1994 World Cup? Or can it iron out organizational problems — i.e. let one coach run the team without interference — and live up to its potential?
It would be wonderful to see the national team succeed after having seen Nigerian stars, such as Jay Jay Okocha in Germany, enhance foriegn leagues for years.
S. Germon
Ypsilanti, Mich.
I was just wondering, realistically when do you think Joe-Max Moore will be able to play soccer again? It’s such a shame he can’t play!
MW: Moore is expected to return to action around the time of the start of the German Second Division season in August. He has moved from FC Nuremberg to Kaiserslautern.
CONCACAF
Edwin Molina
Boston
How are the standings in the CONCACAF qualifying rounds? Who are the favorites? Who are the darkhorses? How does the Honduran national team look ?
MW: The favorites to grab the three World Cup spots from CONCACAF, in my opinion, are USA, Mexico and Trinidad & Tobago. (Soccer America assessed all the team’s chances in its Dec. 25, 1995 issue, following the qualifying draw.) T&T have a fine squad now, with such foreign based stars as Dwight Yorke (who scored 22 goals for Aston Villa in the English Premier League this year), and Russell Latapy(FC Porto). Honduras will have to improve a great deal over the dismal showing they had in the Gold Cup.
The CONCACAF schedule should appear in the July 29 issue of SA, and will be available on SA Online.
Manuel Rosales
Miami, Fla.
I need your help. I’ve been looking to buy the national team jersey from my home country, Honduras. The problem is — it’s been impossible to find it. I don’t know where to look. I would appreciate your help very much and would be proud to wear the Honduran national team jersey on me!
PB: Hopefully, you are fluent in Spanish. I called the Federation this morning and it appears that one can purchase a national team jersey. However, the process was too complex for them to explain over the phone in broken English, and too difficult for me to understand with my limited Spanish knowledge. (although we’re attempting to find a go-between). For now, my suggestion would be to contact the Honduran Soccer Federation — write to them at this address.
Federacion Nacional Autonoma de Futbol de Honduras
Apartado Postal 827
Costa Oeste del Est. Nac.
Tegucigalpa DC Honduras
The phone number is: 011-504-31-14-32-6
If I’m able to get the information in the next week or two, I will post it in our next online Q&A.
College
Mike Jacobs
New Rochelle, N.Y.
As a young coach at a rising Division 1 men’s program, what would be good opportunities to get my team more press and/or PR opportunites nationally (other than win, of course)?
MW: The NSCAA is publishing a college marketing manuel that should be available within the next month. To get more info, or to order a copy, call them at (800) 458-0678.
Andrew Way
Missoula, Mont.
About 1/3 of the way through last fall’s college soccer season, I was fortunate enough to see a couple of UCLA games while visiting friends in the LA area. They most certainly had great team with a solid defense and extremely potent offense. I enjoyed seeing some of their key players featured in your weekly such as Chris Snitko, Ante Razov, and Eddie Lewis. However, what struck me as a bit strange was the lack of recognition of Rob LaBelle. In watching those games, he struck me as the most integral player for the UCLA attack. Nearly every ball played out of the back or midfield went directly to his feet and usually somewhere quite productive from there. I was extremely shocked not to see his name on the draft lists of any of the MLS teams. Surely a player who combines an amazing work rate with style and flare such as Mr. LaBelle would be a valuable asset to any of these teams, especially those lacking play-makers. Perhaps I saw a few stellar games in a mediocre collegiate career, but the abilities and character LaBelle displayed in those late September and early October games warranted at the very least a closer look by SA and MLS scouts. Any insight as to the reasons behind these decisions (even if it is my own inability to accurately appraise talent) would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
MW: Be careful when you try to predict a players’ professional prospects after watching him at the college level, which is for all intents and purposes youth soccer.
College players who get a shot at the pros have to also shine against men and international competition. LaBelle had stints with youth national teams, but it seems scouts and coaches do not think he has progressed at a suitable rate He is presently living in the L.A. area and coaching in youth leagues.
Players who did not go straight to MLS and still want to go pro, can try to work their way up by getting noticed in USISL.
We do, of course, have in the USA one of the largest selection of mediocre players to be found anywhere in the world.
International
Paul Dembeck
Laurel, Md.
What do the two Latin phrases on the English Premier League team Arsenal’s logo mean in English? They are “Victoria concordia crescit” and “Deus per omnia.”
PB: I consulted my friend Dave “The Greek” Phillips, who is studying for a PhD in Classics at the University of Michigan (he is also a big Kansas City Wiz fan). He says: Victoria concordia crescit can mean one of two things (depending on which noun is in the nominative case and which is in the ablative). (a) “victory grows with harmony” or (b) “harmony grows with victory.” I suspect it is the latter. Deus per omnia literally means “God through all things.” This one is sort of interesting because it reminds me of a slogan of one of the Greek teams (perhaps A.E.K.?) “gia panta mazi”, which means “together through all things”
Shawn “Careca” Ward
Colorado Springs, Colo.
I have heard a rumor that the Brazilian national team is changing from Umbro to Nike. Have you heard anything. What about Nike trying to get Germany away from adidas?
PB: Nike is interested in taking over the CBF contract at the end of its agreement with Umbro, but no formal agreement has been announced. Meanwhile, adidas beat out Nike’s challenge to get the Germany contract.
Miscellaneous
Janice Abarbanel
Portland, Maine
Will you be reporting on the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team which will play in Atlanta?
PB: We will have something about the U.S. Paralympic team in Atlanta.
John Spofford
Wayne, Pa.
I run a soccer program, and we have soccer balls and slip-in shin guards that we don’t use. We are looking for a program, inner-city or other, that is in desperate need of these types of things. We are collecting shoes and old t-shirts that we would like to send also. Do you know of any program in or around the Philadelphia area that could use this equipment?
PB: Here are two possibilities:
Soccer in the Streets — a nationwide inner-city program. Call Carolyn McKenzie at (770) 477-0354 for more information.
Soccer Start — this program is associated with the SA Fanzone in Richmond, Va. Contact Dave Hillgrove at (804) 794-9364 or (804) 794-3598; or write to him at:
12200 Planters Row Ct.; Midlothian VA. 23113-2270.
Maxiewex
Minnetonka, Minn.
I am working with a high school to build an artificial turf soccer field with an air dome for the winter months in Minneapolis. Do you know of any other such facilities or where there may be information on used air structure domes?
PB: We’re not sure — you might want to contact recreational facilities management magazines. The place to start in contacting the recreation division of the physical education department at a local university.