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A missed opportunity for U.S. soccer

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Posted: Friday August 06, 1999 05:47 PM

The next time you wonder why soccer hasn't grown as quickly as you might expect, you might want to remember want happened in the Confederations Cup in Mexico in the wake of 40 million people watching the U.S. women getting crowned world champions several weeks prior.

It's a crying shame these games were not more widely available on television.

Word has it that the U.S. Soccer Federation supposedly could have paid $750,000 to put the games on the air. It might have been worth the investment in the wake of the U.S. men's success, finishing third and upending Germany again.

There still was another option to see it -- through pay-per-view on cable, though many cable companies did not want to take a chance, showing definite shortsightedness on their part. I think they could have made a pretty penny on it.

Unless you had a dish or were willing to go to a pub, bar or restaurant on a regular basis, many soccer fans were forced to watch highlights or read one of the meager accounts in a newspaper the next morning.

Take the analogy of the tree falling in the forest and whether it made a sound because there was no one there to hear. Like it or not, this is the cold truth in journalism these days: Because the games were not readily available to the public, in many respects they did not exist. That's why they were ignored, by and large, by media across the country.

Logan's final run

Former MLS commissioner Doug Logan got what many fired executives don't get -- a send-off in front of his employees and a chance to say his peace.

His farewell address on Wednesday was eloquent. He could have just as easily hidden in the background, but Logan left with his head held high.

Fueled by his self-described macabre sense of humor, Logan gave some "advice" to his successor, Don Garber, saying he would give him three envelopes. During his first crisis, Logan said, Garber should read the message in the first envelope, which would say, "Blame me." In his second crisis, Garber should open the second envelope, against saying, "Blame me." In his third crisis, Garber should open the final envelope with the message: "Take out three envelopes."

Logan gave his farewell before Garber was introduced.

"Yesterday I was an 'is.' Today I am a 'was.' Tomorrow, I assure you, I'm going to be an 'is' again," he said. "What is transparent is that I've lost the confidence of the board of governors, and it's time to move on.

"I have no bitterness. I have no regrets. I did my best. I have no excuses. Thanks very much."

He left the room to applause, much of which came from MLS office workers who attended the press conference.

Logan said that he isn't going to go away; he owns considerable equity in the league and will stay an interested investor. He left the MLS competition committee a confidential letter on July 9, advocating some drastic changes. He wouldn't say what they were, but you can be certain that one was to eliminate the shootout.

Looking in the mirror

Several MLS owners have to take a good, hard look in the mirror and figure out why they are in the situation they're in.

It wasn't Logan's fault that the front office situation in Miami has been a mess for the past two seasons.

It wasn't Logan's fault that the MetroStars have employed five coaches in only four seasons and have woefully underachieved on and off the field. And it wasn't Logan's fault that the Kansas City Wizards have drawn 93,087 over 12 games, which is only slightly more than what filled the Rose Bowl (90,185) for the Women's World Cup final last month.

A fan celebrates after the U.S. beat Saudi Arabia and won the third place in the Confederations Cup. AP

Their problems weren't caused by the league or Logan, but by poor business decisions on their part.

Triple play

Ironically, several days before one of his pet projects would be unveiled on television, Logan was fired. Last year he had talked about having a triplecast -- three MLS matches on three networks on the very same day.

It will come to fruition on Sunday. At 1 p.m. (all times Eastern), the Colorado Rapids will square off at the Chicago Fire on Univision. An hour later, ABC presents D.C. United hosting the Tampa Bay Mutiny. And at 6 p.m., espn2 will televise the Kansas City Wizards-Columbus Crew game.

A couple of things about the D.C. game. Raul Diaz Arce, who has enjoyed a revival with the Mutiny, will return to RFK Stadium, where he filled the net for his first two seasons in the league. It will be interesting to see how many fans from the local El Salvadoran community will come out for the game, and if stadium officials are ready for a huge walk-up crowd. When Diaz Arce

visited United as a member of the San Jose Clash, there were huge lines outside the stadium because there were not enough ticket sellers.

The numbers game

When Jason Kreis scored for the Dallas Burn in its 2-0 triumph over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars on Wednesday, it was the fifth consecutive time he has scored the game-winning goal over that team.

And this just might explain why the MetroStars have not had much success in their four-year history: They're 0-47 in games they have trailed after 75 minutes. They're also 48-67 lifetime in regular-season matches.

Just desserts?

Is Miami Fusion forward Diego Fusion the dirtiest player in the league? While he tussled with Columbus's Todd Yeagley last week, he took down the Crew player. Yeagley fell on top of Serna, who has been lost for the season with a torn knee ligament.

Serna, by the way, is tied with United defender Geoff Aunger for the most fouls committed (remember Serna is a forward, not a defender trying to stop an attacking player) and led in fouls suffered (65), a good margin over Wizards midfielder Preki (50).

What comes around, goes around

Things have a way of evening themselves out in the end. Saul Martinez was offside on the Fusion's game-tying goal against the Tampa Bay Mutiny in its 3-2 shootout win last week. But did everyone forget how Miami was robbed of a tying goal when Serna's goal was unjustly called offside in what turned into a 3-2 shootout loss to the MetroStars in the team's season opener? Even the league admitted the assistant referee blew the call.

What made matters worse was that Jay Heaps scored the tying goal minutes later, and the home team very well could have walked away with a 3-2 triumph and three points. Instead, the Fusion walked away empty handed.

Knock on wood

Don't know if this is a league record, but I know don't see this often -- a team hitting the woodwork four times in a game, including three times in the opening half. The Wizards paid for it dearly in a 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire on Thursday night.

In fact, what transpired almost immediately after those two close encounters changed the course of the match.

Alex Bunbury started the Wizards' grand slam by hitting the crossbar with a four-yard header with the game barely two minutes old. Chris Klein's 12-yard shot from the right side bounded off the bar in the 32nd minute. Brian Johnson's 25-yard blast bounced off the right post in the 38th minute, seconds before the Fire countered for their first goal.

And Mo Johnston's close-range shot ricocheted off the right post in the 88th minute. The ball deflected back to Johnston, who fired the ball into the right corner past goalkeeper Zach Thornton. But the goal was called off because K.C. defender Alexi Lalas was offside.

Years ago in an indoor game (that was called the Major Indoor Soccer League -- MISL -- not to be confused with MLS), I remember the New York Arrows hitting the woodwork something like eight times in a road loss to the Buffalo Stallions. And forward Fred Grgurev led the way with three hits -- both posts and the crossbar. He had enough of a self-effacing personality that he joked about it afterward. With the Wizards trying to claw their way into a playoff spot, I don't think anyone was laughing on Thursday night.

Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News and is editor of Soccer Magazine.

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