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| Friday, August 2, 2002 19:07 EST |
Commissioner talks about league's impact on U.S. soccer
[Associated Press]
GERMANTOWN, Md. -- Major League Soccer won't be adding teams
until 2004 at the earliest, wanting to get better before it gets
bigger.
``There is no doubt the league needs to expand,'' MLS
commissioner Don Garber said Friday in a state of the league
address, a day before the All-Star game. ``We will expand when we
have the right market, the right owner, the right facilities and
not before.''
After the 2001 season, the league eliminated the Miami Fusion
and Tampa Bay Mutiny, going with 10 teams this year.
Garber said MLS must make more progress on getting new stadiums
financed and constructed in Dallas and Kansas City.
New England, with a new stadium, will play host to the MLS Cup
in October, and the Los Angeles Galaxy is the host next year for
both the All-Star game and the MLS Cup, to be played in a new $200
million stadium.
Saturday's All-Star game at Washington's RFK Stadium has the MLS
All-Stars playing the U.S. national team, which is bringing back
veterans of the last four World Cup teams. No European-based
players were called in.
``I think it's interesting,'' said Alexi Lalas, a defender on
the 1994 and 1998 World Cup teams. ``I think it will make it a more
interesting game, and there's certainly players on the other team
who would certainly want to be involved in a World Cup. It's a free
weekend, it's a party and a good time. If they're going to bring me
out here, I'll go.''
At the World Cup, the United States advanced to the
quarterfinals, its best performance in 72 years. Leading the way
were MLS stars such as Landon Donovan and Brian McBride, who scored
two goals each.
``Major League Soccer made a very loud statement,'' Garber said.
``We've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that Major League Soccer
in seven short years can, has and will continue to produce
world-class talent.''
Twelve players on the 23-man World Cup roster visited President
Bush at the White House on Friday, and Bush told the team of
compliments he has heard.
``He talked about his meetings with European leaders, and what
they wanted to talk about was how far U.S. soccer had come,''
Garber said. ``It was a great opportunity to bring our guys to the
forefront, as other leagues do and other sports do.
``This was a guy who really seemed like he cared and spoke to
them about how proud he was, and how proud the country was, of the
great World Cup run this summer.''
U.S. coach Bruce Arena, the former coach of D.C. United, expects a
fun time from a game that means little but can showcase individual
talent. Arena is negotiating a new contract, and many players on
the field figure to be key in qualifying for the 2006 tournament,
which starts in two years.
``I think the two teams are committed to go out there and play a
good game,'' he said. ``Obviously, the MLS All-Stars are comprised
with some young players with incentives to do well. Our team, which
is comprised of veterans of a number of World Cups, doesn't want to
step on the field and be embarrassed.''
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