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My Phil Anschutz encounter
This week's question(s) | Quote of the week | Game of the week There was an intriguing sight in the lobby of the Westin Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, last Friday afternoon. Sitting speechless on a circle of sofas were MLS power brokers Don Garber, Ivan Gazidis, Sunil Gulati, Mark Noonan and Alan Rothenberg . They were listening to a man -- a man in a khaki suit, carrying a rolled-up architect's drawing -- as though he were the Oracle of God. I didn't recognize the man at all, and so I knew exactly who it was. "That's Phil Anschutz, isn't it?" I asked Noonan as the meeting dispersed. He said yes. And I tore off after the most important man in American soccer.
Anschutz, 60, is merely the 20th richest man in the world, according to Forbes, with a wealth of $15.5 billion amassed in several industries: oil, railroads, real estate, telecommunications and sports. He owns MLS's Los Angeles Galaxy, Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids, in addition to the Staples Center, hockey's L.A. Kings and 25% of basketball's L.A. Lakers. He also politely refuses to have his picture taken, and he hasn't given an interview in more than 20 years. There's not even a bio of him in any of his teams' media guides this season. Which is why I made finding Phil Anschutz the No. 1 goal of my All-Star weekend. I had all sorts of soccer-related questions for him. Why do you support this sport anyway? What's the skinny on the soccer stadiums you're building in L.A., Denver and Chicago? Are you really bankrolling a feature film on soccer for American audiences? And since MLS has mega-wealthy owners like you and the MetroStars' John Kluge (No. 28 in the world, $11.9 billion), why don't you take on AC Milan magnate Silvio Berlusconi (No. 23, $12.8 billion) and buy the biggest soccer stars on the planet? Even Rupert Murdoch -- whose billion-dollar bid for Manchester United was nixed by the British government -- ranks all the way down at No. 36 ($9.4 billion). I reached Anschutz as he was climbing the steps to the second floor. "Mr. Anschutz?" I said. He turned. I introduced myself and explained that it would be great for fans to hear American soccer's biggest financial proponent talk about the sport and his plans for the future. Garber even came over and put in a good word for me. Anschutz smiled, listened and told me I should talk about the L.A. stadium complex with Galaxy president Tim Leiweke. So I tried the full-court press. I'm from Kansas too, I said. (Anschutz was born in Russell.) I went to college with your daughter, I said. No luck. "I don't think I want to break my precedent," Anschutz explained. So I gave him my card and said to call any time. As Anschutz and Garber walked to their next meeting, I found out later, Anschutz asked, "Do you think he was lying about going to school with my daughter?" No, sir. And while I respect your wish for privacy, it would still be fun to talk soccer sometime. Call it a plea on behalf of soccer fans. In any case, Mr. A, you know where to find me if you change your mind. Akers proves old dinosaurs can still playAfter missing almost an entire year from the U.S. women's team, the best American player from World Cup '99 says she'll be ready for September's Olympics. "It's been a helluva long haul these past six months," says Michelle Akers, who got her first game action since January during a recent tour of Germany and Norway. "To be honest, I didn't think I was going to make it with the shoulder presenting so many obstacles." Though Akers had surgery on her right shoulder after the World Cup, she says she'll need more after the Olympics. Hers is a long list of ailments. Her right biceps anchor is torn. She's suffering from nerve damage that has caused her right triceps to atrophy noticeably. (It's so small that she calls the arm "T-Rex," comparing it to the puny arms of a dinosaur.) Worst of all, Akers still has a fracture at the top of the humerus in her right arm. "It looks like somebody took a hatchet to the top of the bone," she says. "It's jagged and it catches on everything. The more I use it, the more painful it gets." The solution for now? "You just suck it up and play," says Akers, who guarantees she'll be in Australia. "Never count me out. I'll be there, and I'll be on the field. I shoved T-Rex into a couple of Norwegian faces during the game last weekend, so I know I'm back on track." This week's question(s)Maybe it was the hangover from All-Star weekend, but only 16 guys got back to me on this week's questions, all of which addressed the U.S. national team. And while the results are hardly scientific -- like they ever are! -- there's enough to let us draw a few conclusions. First, the questions: 1) Who is the most indispensable U.S.
player?
Most indispensable U.S. player No big surprise here, though anyone who's slagging Claudio Reyna should bear these results in mind. Then again, which two players were missing when the U.S. played its best soccer of the Arena Era at last year's Confederations Cup? That would be ... Reyna and Chris Armas. Go figure. Reyna ...
8.8
Least deserving recent U.S. starter If anything, the random response confirms a few things. One, that the players aren't that dissatisfied with any specific selection by Arena. Two, that defense is the consensus problem lately. And three, that non-national team players tend to vote for the guys who play their position. Imagine that. David Regis ...
2
MLS player most deserving a call-up No consensus here either, which re-emphasizes the notion that no grave injustices are being done. (FYI, I told guys not to vote for Tony Meola, since word's already out that he's coming in for the Barbados game.) Chris Henderson ...
2
Garth Lagerwey quote of the weekMost indispensable U.S. player: Claudio Reyna "Without him the U.S. midfield is as naked as I was when I met his wife. (Don't get too excited, I was just running around a bonfire in a parking lot in front of several thousand people. You get more than an education at Duke, at least until that Wellesley feminist took over.)" Game of the weekLos Angeles (10-7-7) at Kansas City (12-5-5). Sat., Aug. 5, 4:30 ET, Telemundo. MLS's No. 1 and No. 4 teams meet in the match that will set the tone for the rest of the Western Division race. If the Wizards can pull off the win (and first beat Colorado on Wednesday), they'll have a 10-point lead and a game in hand against L.A. -- enough to make the West winner a foregone conclusion. Prediction: K.C. 2, L.A. 1. Sports Illustrated staff writer Grant Wahl will keep you up to date on U.S.
soccer teams and players each Wednesday. To send him a question or comment click here.
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