Former USMNT player Landon Donovan said he has had "early conversations" with people "who have a very serious interest" in bringing an MLS team to San Diego. In San Diego, Tod Leonard notes Donovan "moved to San Diego from L.A. because he and his wife, Hannah, recently had their first child and her parents, the Bartells, are prominent hoteliers" there. Donovan "has a goal for his adopted city: get an MLS team." Donovan: "If I can be a part of that, it would be tremendous. I would love to see this area have a USL team or MLS team. This is a crazy soccer market." It was reported last week that Padres co-Owner Peter Seidler and private equity investor Mike Stone are "part of a group looking to bring an MLS franchise" to the city (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/30).
HOUSE CALL: In Pittsburgh, Gene Collier writes there "probably isn’t a sports franchise or an ascendant politician or a graduate school left in America that couldn’t use" Penguins President & CEO David Morehouse’s insight, and they are "all going to be disappointed." Morehouse: "I wouldn’t know how to operate any other way than I have under this ownership. They’re as committed to winning as any ownership I’ve seen in sports, except maybe with the Pittsburgh Steelers." The uncertainty associated with a potential sale of the club "appears to have all but evaporated in the foreseeable term." The fact that Morehouse "isn’t actively examining his next career move is probably as good an indicator as any" that Penguins co-Owners Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle "remain willing and able [to] retain the Penguins" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/30).
LEADERS OF THE PACK: In Green Bay, Richard Ryman reported U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk Marcia Anderson "will be considered" for the Packers' BOD at the annual shareholders meeting. Anderson is the "only new director to be considered at the meeting," scheduled for July 21 at Lambeau Field. Fourteen others are "up for re-election." If all are elected, the board "will have 43 members." No directors "resigned or reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 this year." Election of directors will be the "main business of the meeting" (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 6/29).
