No seminal event caused change

Former U.S. Soccer president and MLS founder Alan Rothenberg feels MLS has taken a sharp turn in the right direction with the selection of Don Garber as new MLS commissioner.

SOCCER AMERICA: Why aren’t you the new league commissioner? AR: I’m happy with my current life, with where I’m living, I love my law practice and I love my family. All of those things would be sacrificed or put in some jeopardy if I considered making a move. I’m very happy not only with my situation, but with our decision. SA: Why make this move during the season? AR: Especially because of the late end of the season [Nov. 21], if we waited, we would perhaps jeopardize all of next season, and decisions with respect to television and sponsorships will have already been made. Once we concluded a change had to be made, and we had identified the person we wanted to have in there, let’s do it now and give him a couple months to find out what’s going on. SA: When did this process begin? AR: I think this has been brewing for some time. SA: Since the departure of Sunil Gulati? AR: No, I don’t think there was any seminal event that caused it. SA: What does Don Garber bring to MLS that Doug Logan didn’t? AR: I’m not going to talk about the past and I’m not going to talk about Doug. Don has a proven record as an excellent marketer, and with grassroots sponsorship and licensing. He’ll be of instant assistance in that regard, and he also has a track record in operating a sports league. There are broader things that have to be done, and it will take a little longer for him to learn his way around, but I truly think the guy has the potential to become a second Pete Rozelle. SA: So why would he leave the NFL? AR: We gave him a unique opportunity. He has a lot of confidence in the future of our league. In the NFL, there are a lot of people already in place, and I don’t think [NFL Commissioner] Paul Tagliabue is going anywhere. SA: This is a radical shift from the days when the NFL and NASL fought in the courts. Did you try to hire NFL people back then? AR: Mr. Rozelle would have dealt with any such ideas harshly. by Soccer America Senior Editor Ridge Mahoney