New MLS Commissioner Don Garber held his first
teleconference yesterday and reminded the media that "he is
still getting his feet wet and offered few new solutions" to
the league's attendance and TV ratings issues, according to
Peter Brewington of the USA TODAY. However, Garber did say
that "media coverage is a priority" and he is "planning
visits to newspaper editors and reporters" as part of the
effort. Garber: "We will work with ... the powers that be to
get more [media] coverage. I don't have the answer. It's a
big challenge for us." During the call, Garber was asked
whether he can be "an advocate for a game he knows little
about." Garber: "If I did not know enough, I would not have
taken the job" (USA TODAY, 8/11). Garber: "The two biggest
issues I face are my lack of experience with the sport of
soccer and the fact that I don't speak Spanish. ... I just
wish I had paid more attention in my high-school Spanish
class." Garber added that hiring a Spanish-speaking person
"respected by the soccer community" is a "major priority."
Garber will visit South FL and "explore the challenges" the
Fusion face. Garber: "One problem I see is that there's
confusion in the way the team is branded. It's called the
Miami Fusion but doesn't play in Miami" (MIAMI HERALD,
8/11). Garber also said he is "obviously very concerned
about not being successful in New York," although further
expansion within the N.Y. market "could appeal to differing
ethnic groups and areas while creating a natural rivalry"
(BOSTON HERALD, 8/11). In Ft. Lauderdale, Dave Brousseau
writes that Garber "will work to ease any public perception
of league instability" by planning to "go forward" with the
league's expansion planned for 2001 (SUN-SENTINEL, 8/11).
