L.A. TIMES' JONES WRITES ON MLS SOPHOMORE JINX

          MLS' second season was profiled by L.A. TIMES soccer
     writer Grahame Jones, who wrote that MLS players returning
     to court to file another "even more misguided" legal action
     and the failed referendum in Columbus, OH, over a new
     stadium were both "setbacks for a league that is grappling
     with the usual sophomore jinx problems -- lower attendance,
     fewer goals, inadequate players."  Jones calls the decision
     by MLSPA to follow up their lawsuit challenging MLS' single-
     entity structure with a request that FIFA's int'l player
     transfer rules be declared illegal "short-sighted at best." 
     Although "highly unlikely," Jones notes that FIFA could
     react by "tossing" the U.S. out of int'l soccer, or MLS
     clubs could push to end the "ludicrous" quota system that
     says team rosters have to be 75% U.S. (L.A. TIMES, 5/28).