From: tfragala@cs.ulowell.edu (Tom Fragala)
Subject: Re: US Soccer News
Organization: University of Massachusetts at Lowell Computer Science
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 06:11:40 GMT

In article <1993Jan5.075249.26226@leland.Stanford.EDU> melcat@leland.Stanford.EDU (Melind Joseph John) writes:
>What is the best solution to establishing soccer teams in the US?  When
>I hear the term "national league" I envision something akin to the NASL, 
>a large league in which the teams really do not have any substantial tie
>to the community in which they play.  To me, at least, this does not appear
>to be a profitable solution.
>
>Instead, it seems to me that a better solution would be the establishment
>of several regional leagues.  The US is too big a domain for one league-
>the travel costs are just too high, especially since soccer, as of yet, 
>does not generate sufficient attendance to pay for this.
>My thought is this:  would it not be best to establish several regional 
>leagues.  This would 1) minimize expenses and 2) help to create a tie 
>with the community.  Perhaps the winners of the leagues could meet in some
>sort of US Championship (a la EC 1).
>To sum up:  my logic is this-  the US is roughly the size of Europe.  If 
>Europe can sustain several leagues, why can't the US?  To make a league
>that lasts, we should start small and let it grow naturally.  In other
>words, not be in a hurry to have a NATIONAL league (the European leagues
>did not spring up overnight, did they?)
>
Absolutely! I had the same thoughts. Are we missing something or doesn't
this just make sense?!? Every point made above is valid and right to me. In
fact, there are some good regional leagues right now. There's even a decent
one up here in MA/RI which I happen to play in. It is a Portugese league in
that every team is sponsored by a Portugese club. Every player receives some
gratifications ($) and the top players get around $300-$500 per game. We have
former pros from Europe, S. America, and a lot of former college players. 
The league's been around for decades and everybody's happy and it works. I know
if USSF got off their ass and organized small regional leagues with small local
clubs it would work. Overhead would be low, a small fan base would grow, it 
would be a great foundation for US soccer etc. Its not friggin rocket science. 
I'm not saying its trivial but with hard work I think it could be done.
  But it seems the USSF has stars in their *$%#! eyes and want to wait until
AFTER (friggin brilliant) the World Cup and start a national league like
NBA, baseball, etc. with billion dollar clubs with huge travel and payroll
expenses and playing in 50K+ size stadiums. The NASL all over again dammit.
I want a huge league more than anything but lets be logical about it. Besides
I don't want to wait until 1995 for a true soccer league. Non-americans reading
this: as you can imagine, it TOTALLY SUCKS not having soccer here in US and
being a second class citizen because I happen to love soccer. I grew up being
ridiculed because I played soccer and not the REAL sports. And I like baseball,
football, b-ball, etc. Now I'm pissed because the powers that be are jerking
off and screwing up a great chance to start a solid league in US. Maybe I'm
wrong and we should just wait, but I had to get this shit off my chest.
  Thats it...sorry to drone on so so long. Please post opinions pro/con.

--Tom Fragala

-- 

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| Tom Fragala  +  Univ of Massachusetts-Lowell  +  tfragala@cs.ulowell.edu |
| "To conclude, I announce what comes after me...                          |
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer