NOT JUST FOR KICKS: U.S. STARTERS HOLD OUT IN MONEY DISPUTE

     The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team is in "turmoil,"
according to Grahame Jones of the L.A. TIMES, because starting
players are holding out in a dispute over the amount of bonus
money paid to players for national team appearances.
Negotiations between the U.S. Soccer Federation and its players,
via their agents, "are at an apparent impasse, with neither side
willing to budge."  In a statement issued last Friday, the
federation said "the time for negotiating is over."  The USSF
then named a 21-player team made up of second-and third-string
players to travel to Peru for warmup game before World Cup
qualifying games begin November 3.  The USSF statement added that
agents have "rejected our efforts which would have produced
national team soccer players who would have been among the most
highly compensated in the world" (L.A. TIMES, 10/16).