The popularity and future of soccer in the U.S. was
examined by FSN's Tom Murray on "Goin' Deep." Soccer writer
Paul Gardner said that MLS needs to pay top salaries to
attract world class int'l players: "It comes down to money,
obviously. You're not going to tempt most players to come
in unless you can offer them salaries comparable to what
they can get in Europe or South America. At this stage, MLS
can't even come close." MLS Commissioner Don Garber, when
asked how his league will "create heroes": "Look at some of
our players. You've got players that are college-educated,
that are good looking, that are easily identifiable to the
average kid out there, to the average sponsor out there, to
the average movie studio." Garber, speculating where MLS
will be "five, 10 or 15 years down the road": "We'd be in
most major markets. We'd have in excess of 20, maybe 24
teams. We'd have a day of the week when people turn to
their television sets and turn to their stadiums where they
know soccer is going to be played." Pilson Communications
President Neal Pilson: "I've heard that soccer is right
around the corner to go to the next level. I didn't believe
it 30 years ago, 40 years ago, I don't believe it now."
FSN's Murray concluded, "I think we have to believe Neal
Pilson" ("Goin' Deep," Fox Sports Net, 10/17).
