MLS: USA TODAY's Peter Brewington writes that "after
tons of media hype" around the U.S. debut of former German
star Lothar Matthaeus, "only" 10,482 fans attended Sunday's
MetroStars-Fusion game (USA TODAY, 3/27). In N.Y., Charlie
Nobles notes that the announced crowd was "probably double
the actual number" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/27). In NJ, Tim Leonard
writes that Matthaeus, who signed a deal estimated at $1M
this season, was "welcomed to MLS ... by apathy and
disappointment" (Bergen RECORD, 3/27). Matthaeus: "I knew
the crowd would not be so big, I knew what to expect" (MIAMI
HERALD, 3/27). The Fusion ran a promo which offered "free
admission to anyone named Lothar." Matthaeus: "I look
forward to hearing how many Lothars will be at the game"
(MIAMI HERALD, 3/25). For the record, two Lothars took
advantage of the promo (THE DAILY).
MORE ON MLS: In DC, Michael Wilbon wrote on the state
of MLS: "After many years of trying to convince people
unfamiliar with professional soccer to give the game a
chance, five-year-old MLS is going to try to give the
traditional game to a diverse international population of
people who already valued it. That represents a major shift
in philosophy." United President & GM Kevin Payne said MLS
"doesn't have to trade elbows with the Final Four and the
NBA Finals to find its niche": "We were kidding ourselves
and going down the wrong path, looking for this Eureka!
moment where we go from being what we are to the NBA"
(WASHINGTON POST, 3/25)....16-year-old United MF Bobby
Convey "became the youngest [player] to appear" in an MLS
game Sunday against the Galaxy (USA TODAY, 3/27).
LPGA: LPGA Tour Commissioner Ty Votaw told the L.A.
TIMES' Thomas Bonk that comparisons between the LPGA and PGA
Tours are not fair: "You can't compare the WNBA to the NBA.
It pales in comparison. We're very much closer to the PGA
Tour than the WNBA to the NBA. And the WTA, it doesn't have
higher purses [than the LPGA] and doesn't have higher TV
[rating]. And their No. 50 player is not at all on par with
our No. 50 player. Compare us to ourselves or to other
women's sports. We're an amazing success" (L.A. TIMES,
3/24)....USA TODAY's Jerry Potter writes that Nabisco
Championship winner Karrie Webb "upstaged everyone" at the
event but Naree and Aree Song Wongluekiet, 13-year-old twins
who "played as special invitees." The twins, who are
natives of Thailand and came to the U.S. two years ago,
"were an entertaining addition to a tournament that has been
in transition" (USA TODAY, 3/27).
