The following are quotes from the July 8 MLS All-Star media teleconference, which featured MLS commissioner Doug Logan, Kansas City All-Star defender Alexi Lalas and D.C. United All-Star defender Jeff Agoos. Doug Logan Opening Remarks “First, I would like to congratulate both of our featured speakers today, Kansas City defender Alexi Lalas and D.C. United defender Jeff Agoos, both of whom are returning for their fourth All-Star Games … They have one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States a week from Saturday, trying to play defense at an MLS All-Star Game.” Logan on 11 of the 22 All-Star players coming from the Chicago Fire and D.C. United “When the fate of the All-Star Game is with the fans you get ardent supporters of popular players and popular teams … Fan voting is great, but it is truly as much a popularity contest as an axiom of skill players … I am a big advocate of fan voting … These are the most popular players in the league and these are the guys fans want to see.” Lalas on U.S. Women’s World Cup team’s success and the male players being in the background “We understand that the circus comes to town and then it leaves … It is a wonderful event for soccer, but it is an event that comes and goes … It’s what you do with the notoriety that is generated that determines how successful you are … The difference will be the results between the short term and long term — what’s going to happen when it’s done? Competition between men and women is not what this is about … It is about women competing against women … the speed and pace and physical difference are evident when you compare.” “We [the men’s national team and MLS] feel that we have a job to do … We are in a different situation with regards to where our program is compared to the rest of the world.” Agoos on U.S. Women’s World Cup team’s success and the male players being in the background “From the men’s national team, I’d like to congratulate the women… To compare [the men and women] you do a disservice … What they have accomplished is extraordinary, and those are the things the men’s national team are trying to do.” Logan on exposure of the game from the Women’s World Cup “I don’t think there will be a direct trickle down effect, I believe that good soccer begets soccer fans and soccer viewing … The Women’s World Cup has done so spectacularly well … MLS is in its fourth season and we have seen a significant increase in television ratings and attendance … It [the Women’s World Cup] has been good for the sport.” “Any talk of women in the men’s game is very shallow and insulting to the women’s game … There is a very big difference between event marketing and developing sports fans … We are in the business of developing fans for a 32-week season … The two are not necessarily transferable.” “I don’t necessarily think that Women’s World Cup fans in our cities translate into more fans at our games … We are grateful for having these events associated with our league contests … Our job, men or women, is presenting a great game played by fantastic athletes and putting it on the table of American life.” Lalas on preferring the East-West format or that of USA vs. World “It doesn’t matter … It was fun last year with the USA vs. World … I’ve played for the East and the USA and now I’m with the West … All that matters is that fans get the chance to vote … They’re the most important thing in sports, and a lot of times their voice isn’t heard in today’s sports age … But in the case of MLS their voice is heard, so that’s what I support.” Agoos on the preferred format “I prefer the East-West, since it promotes and creates a rivalry between conferences … Last year the World stars didn’t get a fair shake, with the league being based in the U.S. and the fans rallying around that.” Logan on Tab Ramos being selected as a starter (Ramos has been injured and played in just three games this season) “I don’t have a problem with that … The All-Star Game is an opportunity for fans to get directly involved and vote to see who they want to see … All it says is that more fans wanted to see Tab on the field in San Diego than another player … The current system affords direct input from the fans and my hat goes off to Tab for being that popular.” Logan on ticket sales for the All-Star Game “We don’t have a firm total due to the fact we have a significant number of consignment tickets out … If we do 22 – 25,000, we’ll be happy.” “What we are doing with these neutral site games is to try and take the game to other areas of the country to expose fans to our game and create a good environment … We are also trying to provide the opportunity for our players, coaches, sponsors, investors to enjoy destination spots around the country.” “The U.S. national team against Mexico is a contest that anywhere in Southern California or other parts of the country in real competition is different than the fun format where we showcase our players … It’s not to be construed as a serious competition … We’re trying to have realistic expectations as to what it should do … It’s not construed as a championship game or anything else close to that.” Logan on San Diego as a site for MLS expansion “It moves to the top of the list once Qualcomm becomes available … The city has a rich legacy of soccer participation and phenomenal fans … A great deal of the lore of soccer in this country has taken place in San Diego … As far as expansion goes, it’s not a matter of if, only a matter of when.”