League Notes

Kristine Lilly And Hope Solo Discuss Upcoming Debut Of WPS During "Today" Appearance

WPS Boston Breakers MF Kristine Lilly and St. Louis Athletica G Hope Solo appeared on NBC’s “Today” this morning to talk about the debut of the new women's soccer league. Solo said, “It’s the perfect time to kick-start a new league, coming off a Gold Medal (in Beijing).” NBC’s Meredith Vieira asked, “Didn’t we attempt to try a professional league once before?” Lilly: “There was one in 2001-2003 that had some budget struggles. But now they’ve got things together and soccer is still growing and this is a great opportunity.” Meanwhile, the WPS uniforms were formally unveiled yesterday, and NBC’s Al Roker noted, “The costume -- the uniform -- is a skort.” Solo: “Actually, it’s a wrap” (“Today,” NBC, 2/25). WPS Commissioner Tonya Antonucci: "Our spending has been within our plan, where we anticipated. We stayed on budget for the closing of our 2008 books. We're projecting to be within budget for 2009. A big part of our focus is to be disciplined, to manage every line item closely to ensure sustainability. We don't want to overspend" (USA TODAY, 2/25).

STARCAPS TRIAL DATE SET: In St. Paul, Brian Murphy reports U.S. District Court Judge Paul Magnuson yesterday set a June 15 trial for Vikings DTs Kevin and Pat Williams to "ask a Minnesota jury to overturn four-game suspensions the NFL imposed last year" after the two tested positive for a banned diuretic. Magnuson also dismissed an NFL motion "to bar discovery pending an appeal and ordered both sides to complete depositions by May 1, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled for May 14" (ST. PAUL PIONEER-PRESS, 2/25).

BUSINESS AS USUAL? ESPN.com's John Buccigross noted CBC "HNIC" analyst Don Cherry is "celebrating a Soviet-like dourness in goal celebrations" by several young North American-born NHLers. Buccigross: "I wonder whether part of this new seriousness among North American skaters is from Cherry's celebration of the understated player. ... But is Cherry's spotlighting of the player who doesn't raise his stick after a goal creating young curmudgeons? Personality doesn't come with a manual" (ESPN.com, 2/24).