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Don't send Mathis to Europe yet
Updated: Wednesday May 16, 2001 6:02 PM
This month's survey |
Quote of the week Just because MetroStars striker Clint Mathis is the hottest U.S. player in years, MLS doesn't want its fans to assume he'll be on the next flight to Europe. If the 24-year-old Mathis continues his torrid pace (an MLS-leading seven goals in six games this season), he might fetch a $4 million bid on the Euro transfer market this summer. That's when things could get interesting. Sources at MLS HQ tell me that when Mathis stopped by the league office last week, commissioner Don Garber told him the league would do "whatever it takes" to keep Mathis (whose contract runs through the end of 2003) in MLS. Though European clubs could start inquiring about Mathis' services as soon as July, MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis tells me that there's "no chance" Mathis will be moved this summer. "You can't put a price tag on what Clint contributes to the league, the kind of excitement he creates," Gazidis says. "We're not even thinking about a transfer for him. We've been successful in making MLS the first choice of bright, young American players, and the next step as we develop is to make sure we can offer those players a career in MLS that's competitive with what they can achieve around the world." That's big talk, but now the league will have to back it up. If Mathis continues leaving defenders (and crowds) breathless in his wake, look for his case to be the first real test of whether MLS is willing to ante up a high six-figure/low seven-figure salary for an American player. Can MLS hold on to the home-grown stars it develops? It's no exaggeration to say that the future of the league will depend on the answer. Diallo wears out his welcomeI made a mistake last weekend. I voted for Tampa Bay's Mamadou Diallo, MLS's top goal-scorer in 2000, as the league's player of the week. Sure, Diallo had scored five goals in two games for the Mutiny. Trouble was, when I voted on Sunday morning, word hadn't yet gotten out that Diallo had been involved in an ugly incident after Saturday night's game against Colorado, in which he had thrown a punch at a Rapids fan. Thankfully, Diallo didn't connect. (The Rapids fan staved him off with an umbrella.) But the scene was only the latest in a series of outbursts that make me wonder if the league would be better off without the temperamental Senegalese striker. According to eyewitnesses, here's what happened on Saturday: After the Mutiny's 2-1 loss, Diallo had to be restrained from confronting game officials as they walked off the field. Then, according to Rapids director of public relations Mark Saunders, as Diallo was about to enter the tunnel, he encountered a heckler in the stands, who was standing five feet away from the scene. "Diallo flew at the gate and lunged at the guy," Saunders says. "He tried to grab the guy with his left hand, and then he threw a right overhand roundhouse punch." For his part, Diallo told The Tampa Tribune that the fan had allegedly directed racial epithets at him as he left the field. There are two important points to make here: 1) Even if the taunts occurred, Diallo had no right to attack the fan. 2) Diallo's honesty should be called into question, considering he told the Tribune that he didn't attempt to climb into the stands to confront the fan. Not so, according to a video of the incident that was witnessed by the entire Rapids team. "He jumped up to the railing and punched at a fan," said one Rapids player. "He's out of control. I hope the league comes down on him very hard for it. The tape doesn't lie." Late on Wednesday, Gazidis announced the damage: a four-game suspension for Diallo (three MLS games plus Wednesday's friendly against Fulham); a $5,000 fine; and league-mandated anger-management counseling. Let's hope we've seen the last of Diallo's antics, but I'm not holding my breath. Nor, eventually, may the Mutiny and MLS, who have now seen one of their stars suspended for nearly as many league games (five) as he has played this season (six). This month's survey: In the eye of the beholderFor this month's survey, 17 MLS players responded to the following question: Which MLS team plays the most attractive soccer? And which plays the least attractive soccer? While polling 17 voters ain't exactly scientific, the choices were nevertheless revealing. (Players weren't allowed to vote for their own team.) MOST ATTRACTIVE MLS TEAM A couple of things stand out. First, Chicago appears to be the most admired team in the league by a longshot, outdistancing the MetroStars by a larger margin than I would have expected. Second, the antipathy for Kansas City is greater than I had anticipated. Then again, as the 1982 Brazil World Cup team could tell you, there's a big difference between style and success. Garth Lagerwey quote of the month
Fear not, folks. Garth lives. Our favorite third-string goalkeeper is no longer on an MLS roster, sadly, but did you think that would stop us from checking in with the most quotable athlete we've ever encountered? Of course not. MOST ATTRACTIVE: "New England. You get the most scores for your buck. These guys give away chances at goal like the Atlanta Gold Club girls (allegedly) did in the VIP lounge. Though the girls, I am told, are technically more attractive." LEAST ATTRACTIVE: "Chicago. Those Eastern European men just never did it for me. The big tough boys dive so often, one starts to think the underground irrigation system at Soldier Field has begun to harbor pearls." (In case you're wondering, Garth gave me his 411. After pulling a groin, he was cut by the Fusion during the preseason. Recently he had surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle, and he's out until mid-July while living in Washington D.C. and rehabbing with D.C. United. Garth's first semester at Georgetown Law School starts on Aug. 25, and while he's considering joining an A-League team for the month before that, or (if the chance arises) hooking up with an MLS team, he's focused mainly on his new career as a law student. "Hopefully, I can stay busy enough not to miss soccer," he says. Godspeed, Garth. But no matter how deep you are in torts, we'll keep hitting you up for quotes.) The MailbagSend me a question. I just might answer it. If the U.S. men qualify early for the World Cup, would Bruce Arena be better
off playing some of the younger MLS players, or is it more important to have an
experienced team playing more games together for consistency's sake? I say play
the young guys and deepen the pool!
Well, Robert, if the U.S. qualifies with three or four games to spare, it would surely give Arena a lot more breathing room with his call-ups. My strategy would be simply to do everything possible to have the best lineup ready for Japan/South Korea. That means giving youngsters who have a chance of playing there (Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Bobby Convey) the experience of competing in World Cup qualifiers against teams that need to win. But it also means letting some Euro-based vets (Claudio Reyna, Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller) stay home during the fall qualifiers, the better to call them up for important pre-Cup friendlies next spring. At the same time, you want the likely World Cup starters to stay in tune with each other. It's up to Arena, of course, to find that balance. What can the New England Revolution do to save their season?
Play Columbus a lot? (Bygones.) I think the Revs took a positive step by trading John Harkes and Eric Wynalda, two players who were invaluable in their prime but had lately been reduced to being negative locker-room presences. If New England is to save its season (and by that I mean somehow make the playoffs as the No. 8 seed) it's going to rely on several players, not just one savior, and the additions of Caté, Ted Chronopoulos and Braeden Cloutier appear to be helping. The biggest step would be for the Revs to actually score a goal off an offensive build-up, something that hasn't happened yet this year. When they start doing that on a more regular basis, then we should start paying attention. Random thoughtsSee you next month ... Sports Illustrated senior writer Grant Wahl covers soccer for the magazine and files Inside U.S. soccer each month. To send him a question or comment click here.
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