HIGHLY-REGARDED DON GARBER SET FOR CHALLENGE IN NEW MLS ROLE

          NFL Int'l Senior VP/Managing Dir Don Garber "has been
     hired" as the new commissioner of MLS, replacing Doug Logan,
     according to sources of Steven Goff of the WASHINGTON POST,
     who reports that Garber will be introduced today and
     "receive" a three-year contract.  Goff writes that Logan was
     "forced out after losing the support" of MLS' "major"
     investors such as Lamar Hunt and Robert Kraft.  Garber is an
     "experienced marketing" exec but has "no experience in
     soccer."  Former USSF President Alan Rothenberg said that he
     "first spoke" with Garber a year ago.  Rothenberg: "We saw
     the writing on the wall with Doug.  We didn't offer [Garber]
     anything but we wanted to check him out.  Robert Kraft was
     his most vocal proponent. ... It became increasingly clear
     that Doug was losing support."  Goff, on the transition:
     "The shake-up comes at a time when MLS, in its fourth
     season, is struggling to improve attendance and television
     ratings."  Goff adds that Garber "managed" NFL Europe and
     "may consider re-hiring" former MLS Deputy Commissioner
     Sunil Gulati (WASHINGTON POST, 8/4).  In Boston, Frank
     Dell'Apa writes that Garber has "been on the fast track
     toward becoming a candidate for NFL commissioner."  One
     source, on Garber: "This is a huge coup for MLS.  He walked
     away from a great job in a league which anyone in sports
     management would kill to be involved in.  He also turned
     down the presidency of NHL Properties and he believes the
     MLS is a tremendous product."  Dell'Apa cites another
     source, on the move: "This is not a sign of instability. 
     They had somebody to take his [Logan's] place, and it's
     early enough so that he can begin working on next year"
     (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/4).  In Chicago, Bob Foltman notes that MLS
     is "losing an estimated" $15M-20M a season.  Rothenberg, on
     Garber: "His talent in terms of running a business, in terms
     of sponsorship and licensing and grass-roots marketing, are
     tremendous.  It's what the league can really use right now"
     (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/4).  In N.Y., Alex Yannis writes that
     MLS' "lack of progress" cost Logan his job.  Rothenberg, on
     Garber: "I believe he has the potential to be the second
     coming of Pete Rozelle" (N.Y. TIMES, 8/4)
          LOGAN COULDN'T GET OVER THE HUMP: In N.Y., Michael
     Lewis writes, "Three major factors led to Logan's demise --
     stagnating TV ratings and attendance and the February firing
     of deputy commissioner Sunil Gulati."  One "highly placed"
     source, on replacing Logan "midway through the season": "The
     timing of it would be based on his successor.  You don't
     want to wait several months and then he's not available"
     (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/4).  USA TODAY's Jerry Langdon noted
     that Hispanic support of MLS, "responsible in large part for
     the first-year spike, has faltered" (USA TODAY, 8/4).  MLS'
     average Nielsen rating on ESPN has "dipped" from 0.45 in '98
     to 0.37 in '99, while the rating on ESPN2 has "increased"
     from 0.22 in '98 to 0.27 in '99 (CNNSI.com, 8/3).  In Tampa,
     Bill Ward writes that Logan was "criticized by fans and
     observers for a variety of reasons, most often for what they
     considered poor promotion, direction and marketing."  Mutiny
     GM Nick Sakiewicz: "I'm a little surprised at the timing.
     ... I think Doug did a fair job given the size of the task
     he had but I suppose there's always someone out there who
     thinks they can do better" (TAMPA TRIBUNE, 8/4).