Robert Kraft's ownership of the Revolution has “occasionally
generated criticism from frustrated fans, with some insisting his focus
is too squarely trained upon the gridiron, with the soccer franchise
cast as the forgotten stepchild,” according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. But with the Revolution on Sunday playing for the club's first MLS Cup title in its 18-year
history, “such complaints should be put to rest.” The “driving force behind the Revolution's involvement in this season's MLS final is one that stems directly from Kraft's own pocketbook,” as the team signed U.S. men's national team MF Jermaine Jones as its designated player in August. Kraft said, “We have always resisted getting fancy names who would just be a nice moniker. We wanted the kind of player to have an impact both on the field and in the locker room.” Rogers notes for Kraft, victory on Sunday “would be the highest point of an understated but admirably long soccer journey, with his family having owned the Revolution since the inception of MLS” (USATODAY.com, 12/4).
