The U.S. men's national soccer team tied Iran 1-1
before 50,181 fans yesterday at the Rose Bowl in a
international friendly match (U.S. Soccer). In L.A., Mike
Penner writes that the announced crowd of 50,181 "seemed to
be low by about" 10,000 (L.A. TIMES, 1/17). In N.Y., Jere
Longman puts the largely pro-Iranian crowd at 49,212.
Afterward, U.S. men's team coach Bruce Arena said, "We need
to get behind soccer in this country. It's disappointing we
don't have more people out here today supporting soccer in
the United States" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/17). In Phoenix, Jim
Thomas writes that on the field, "The Americans showed they
still have a long way to go before being on equal terms with
the world's top teams" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/17). But in
Toronto, Doug Saunders writes, "The game was of little
significance other than to show once again that the U.S.
team has improved its offensive game since its embarrassing
1998 World Cup showing" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/17).
APRIL, COME SHE WILL: Reports have that former U.S.
women's soccer team member April Heinrichs will be
introduced as the coach of the U.S. women's national soccer
team today. In N.Y., Jere Longman writes that the USSF
"passed over" longtime team assistant coach Lauren Gregg.
USSF Secretary General Hank Steinbrecher, on criticism
toward the USSF in selecting a coach and the current
contract dispute with the Women's World Cup team: "I've been
called the last bastion of chauvinism since Bobby Riggs.
We're confident we've done what we are able to do" (N.Y.
TIMES, 1/17). Meanwhile, USSF President Dr. Robert
Contiguglia said that a "new contract offer would be made"
January 24 to the women's soccer team, "paving the way for
their return against Norway, if accepted" (USA TODAY, 1/17).
A ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH editorial stated, "The stone-age
leadership of the [USSF] has rocks in its head. ... The USSF
continues to lowball, stiff-arm and otherwise mess with the
women's team." The editorial concluded, "The women should
think about walking out on the USSF altogether and forming a
league of their own" (S.L. POST-DISPATCH, 1/15).
