MLS: The fallout continues over MLS Commissioner Doug
Logan's decision to re-assign Carlos Valderrama to the
Mutiny (See THE DAILY, 4/26). Logan said that "he is not
concerned that other teams with unhappy players will try to
use his office for a quick solution" (AP, 4/29). But CBS
SportsLine's Michael Lewis wrote that "the wrong message is
being sent" with the move, and "vibes concerning Major
League Soccer aren't very positive." Lewis: "MLS might not
be facing immediate trouble, but if the early returns from
its fourth season are any indication, there could be future
problems" (CBS SportsLine, 4/28). In Ft. Lauderdale, Jeff
Rusnak, under the header, "'The Year Of No Excuses' Off To A
Bad Start," wrote that this season "has sputtered from the
gate in almost every way imaginable" (SUN-SENTINEL, 4/25).
TENNIS NOTES: In N.Y., Robin Finn examines the WTA Tour
players' efforts to ensure equal prize money in the Grand
Slam events. Venus Williams: "The ladies need to get
together on this one." Finn reports that WTA Tour CEO Bart
McGuire is "aware that players are judging his performance
-- under scrutiny as well for the tour's trouble in landing
a title sponsor -- on the response his pleas for parity
inspire from Wimbledon. But McGuire made it "clear that now
is not the time for the players to be threatening boycotts."
Billie Jean King adds, "This probably isn't the right time
to go for the girl-cott" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/29)....The
Australia-USA Davis Cup quarterfinal match July 16-18 at the
5,342-seat Longwood Cricket Club in Chestnut Hill, MA, sold
out yesterday "in a record 81 minutes" (USA TODAY, 4/29).
