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Ten to watch in 2001
Updated: Thursday January 11, 2001 7:04 PM
As we enter a new year and a new millennium, for that matter, who will be the men and women expected to make headlines and some impact as well over the next 12 months? Presenting 10 men and women to watch in 2001: 1. Bruce Arena -- The U.S. national team coach will start the final CONCACAF World Cup qualifying campaign only on a hot seat (and not a cold one at Columbus Crew Stadium) as FIFA rescinded the final game of Arena's three-match suspension. The U.S. needs at least a tie in this encounter to start well, although Arena and company certainly won't turn down a victory. The path to South Korea/Japan won't be an easy one. Will Arena be able to guide the U.S. to an unprecedented fourth consecutive trip to soccer's promised land? Will he pick the right lineups? Will the players perform for him? Will Arena keep his temper and stay away from FIFA sanction under what will be extreme conditions?
2. John Hendricks -- Let's see. As of Thursday morning, there were 88 days until the April 14 league launch and there were was no schedule for the Women's United Soccer Association. League officials said that they should have one any day. But how does a league and eight teams promote themselves and sell tickets without a schedule? We can only hope that the on-field product is a lot more organized than the off-field end. There is little question that Hendricks, the league's chairman and founder and guiding light of the marvelous Discovery Channel, is a visionary. It remains to be seen whether he has hired the right people to put that vision into focus. 3. Don Garber -- The MLS commissioner's tasks sometimes look like the 12 labors of Hercules. Okay, he has patched up the San Jose Earthquakes situation by securing the owners of the NHL San Jose Sharks to operate the team (the ultimate victory will come if Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment decides to buy the team). Garber's challenges are to raise attendance and TV ratings and find investor-operators for the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Dallas Burn and D.C. United. If he can accomplish at least three out of those five tasks, it will be a good year. 4. Clint Mathis -- There were times in 2000 that the MetroStars midfielder-forward was an absolute genius on the field, whether it was setting up teammates or scoring an MLS record five goals in one game. In his breakout season, Mathis scored 16 goals and helped create 14 others, mostly for the MetroStars after joining the club from the L.A. Galaxy. It's easy for Americans to have an outstanding season. Can he put back-to-back years together? Actually, can Mathis even improve on those numbers and not talk himself out of matches gabbing and complaining to referees, and turn into a key member of the national team? 5. Mamadou Diallo -- No one has won back-to-back scoring crowns. After an impressive 26-goal season, the Tampa Bay Mutiny striker claims he can improve on his output. It also will be interesting to see if Diallo has put the Mike Ammann incident behind him. If he can crack the 20-goal barrier again, expect Diallo to be plying his trade somewhere in Europe come this fall. 6. April Heinrichs -- While she is not under the same pressure as Arena, Heinrichs must get the U.S. women's national team back on course. Let's face it, from September on, the year 2000 bordered on a disaster for this team, given its incredible success and great expectations over the past decade. Being outcoached in the Olympic gold-medal match by champion Norway is one thing. But losing to Canada 3-1, barely getting past Mexico 3-2, and tying Japan 1-1 on home turf within five weeks? A rebound is needed soon. Looking way ahead: Remember, U.S. Soccer president Dr. Bob Contiguglia hired Heinrichs as coach. If he loses in his election bid in 2002 and the team hasn't gotten back on track, the new president might want a change. 7. Mia Hamm -- She needs a spectacular comeback in the WUSA in the worst way. After a subpar Olympics, at least for someone who is the women's all-time leading international scorer (127 goals), Hamm needs to rebound. During the Summer Games, more than one member of the media felt there was something seriously wrong. There was all kinds of speculation that was talked away. Perhaps now we know. She didn't complain at the time, but perhaps that shoulder injury slowed her down and was too painful. 8. Tiffeny Milbrett -- For the past several years, Milbrett has found herself in the shadow of Hamm. In 2000, she broke out, becoming a big-time player in the Olympics. Remember, she scored the equalizer against Norway in the gold-medal match with only seconds remaining in stoppage time. There is little doubt that Milbrett will continue her scoring exploits with the New York Power in the WUSA. The big question is, when will Madison Avenue realize this and give Milbrett her due and some money? 9. Landon Donovan -- Arguably the best young U.S. player, Donovan still doesn't get respect at home -- where he was a part-time player on the U.S. Olympic -- and in Germany -- where his only action has been in reserve matches with Bayer Leverkusen. Donovan, who turns 19 on March 4, needs to play and play regularly at the highest possible level. If he isn't finding it in the Bundesliga, perhaps there is another European first division team willing to give him a shot. Or how about MLS? 10. The unknown player -- Will there be a player who no one has written about who will emerge as a player to watch in MLS or even on the U.S. national team. The likelihood of that happening for the latter isn't that great, but miracles do occur in sports, including soccer. Last year's top 10So, how did last year's top 10 fare? Here's a quick look: 1. and 2. Octavio Zambrano and Nick Sakiewicz -- The MetroStars coach and general manager were paired together for obvious reasons. All things considered, you could not have asked for a better season, rebuilding from four years of mediocrity. 3. Mia Hamm -- For someone of her stature, a mediocre year at best. 4. Don Garber -- In his first full season, some big steps were taken (no more shootout and big-name foreigners). Yet, attendance fell a bit. 5. April Heinrichs -- Her lack of international inexperience showed in the Olympics by her unusual and sometimes non-existent substitution pattern. 6. Dr. Bob Contiguglia -- Pretty much a silent year for the U.S. Soccer president, which might not help in his re-election bid in 2002. 7. Ben Olsen -- He had a pretty busy one, playing for D.C. United, the U.S. national team, the Olympic team and now Nottingham Forest in England on loan. He's starting to reach his potential. 8. Sunil Gulati -- The managing director of Kraft Soccer Properties had one hit (the New England Revolution) and one miss (the San Jose Earthquakes didn't). Now with the Krafts out of San Jose, he'll have one less team to lead -- and MLS will have one less potential conflict of interest. 9. Jason Kreis -- The Dallas Burn forward had a decent year, but could not duplicate his 15 goal-15 assist MVP season. 10. Lothar Matthäus -- Do I have to elaborate on all his headaches again? He should thank the heavens for Khodadad Azizi, or he would have been called the MLS bust of the year. Michael Lewis covers soccer for the New York Daily News. He is the author of three books on soccer.
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