MLS Experiencing a Sophomore Jinx

There was bad news on two fronts for Major League Soccer in the last couple of weeks.

First, MLS players went back to court, filing another--and this time even more misguided--legal action.

Second, voters in Columbus, Ohio, turned down a three-year, half-cent tax increase that would have helped finance construction of the nation’s first soccer-only stadium.

Both developments are setbacks for a league that is grappling with the usual sophomore jinx problems--lower attendance, fewer goals, too many inadequate players.

The decision by MLS players to follow up their lawsuit challenging the league’s single-entity structure with a request that FIFA’s international player transfer rules be declared illegal, is short-sighted at best.

Taking their cue from the 1995 “Bosman ruling” in Europe, in which the courts forced free agency upon European teams after a successful lawsuit by Belgian player Marc Bosman, MLS players this time targeted soccer’s international governing body.

The players, including the Galaxy’s Paul Caligiuri, accuse FIFA of participating in a conspiracy to violate U.S. antitrust laws.

“The Fraser litigation [named after MLS player Iain Fraser] was brought on behalf of all Major League Soccer players to strike down those agreements which have eliminated competition for professional soccer players in the United States,” John Kerr Sr., a spokesman for the players, told the Associated Press. “The players feel quite confident that the United States court will follow the lead of Bosman and swiftly rule that the FIFA transfer fee system is unlawful.”

Maybe so, but has Kerr told the players the possible consequences of such a ruling?

Although it is highly unlikely, FIFA could react by simply tossing the United States out of international soccer. So much for World Cup ’98.

In another scenario, MLS clubs could push for the abandonment of the ludicrous quota system that says team rosters have to be 75% American.

If American players want to be free to move from club to club without restrictions, it is only fair that clubs be allowed to field whatever players they like without restrictions.

After all, major league baseball, the NFL, the NBA and the NHL have no quota system limiting the number of foreign players they can field.

Why should MLS be any different?

THE BRIGHTEST AND BEST

Confirming yet again that it is the best team ever assembled in the United States, Coach Tony DiCicco’s U.S. women’s national team swept through its six-match Nike Victory Tour, defeating France, South Korea and England by a combined 30 goals to four.

The results, which improved the defending Olympic gold medalists’ and former world champions’ all-time record to 115-28-10, were as follows:

U.S. 4, France 2.

U.S. 2, France 1.

U.S. 7, South Korea 0.

U.S. 6, South Korea 1.

U.S. 5, England 0.

U.S. 6, England 0.

Mia Hamm, who played in only the final four matches after the death of her brother, Garrett, scored nine goals. Julie Foudy of Mission Viejo joined an elite club when she made her 100th national team appearance in the first game against France.

DiCicco was absent for the second game against South Korea, so former national team player and current assistant coach Lauren Gregg became the first woman to serve as head coach in the team’s 12-year history.

Three of the 1991 world champions and 1996 gold medalists--striker and Navy Coach Carin Gabarra and defenders Carla Overbeck and Joy Fawcett, the UCLA women’s coach--are expectant mothers, but all three say they will return to the team.

Next up for the women is U.S. Women’s Cup ‘97, a four-national tournament in June also featuring the national teams of Australia, Canada and Italy. The USA-Italy game at RFK Stadium in Washington on June 8 will be broadcast live on ESPN.

SEVENTEEN FOR ST. LOUIS

Had Columbus gone ahead and built a new facility for the Crew, St. Louis might have disputed Columbus’ claim to having the first soccer-only stadium in the country.

After all, the city has St. Louis Soccer Park, a tiny stadium that seats about 7,500. That’s where the U.S. men’s national team is headed next.

Coach Steve Sampson has named 17 players to his squad for the match against Paraguay in St. Louis on June 4.

The game, which will serve as a warm-up for the U.S. team’s World Cup qualifier against El Salvador in San Salvador on June 29, could match two France ’98 teams. Paraguay is almost assured of qualifying and the U.S. should make it. The roster:

Goalkeepers--Brad Friedel, Juergen Sommer.

Defenders--Jeff Agoos, Marcelo Balboa, Mike Burns, Thomas Dooley, Alexi Lalas and Eddie Pope.

Midfielders--Chad Deering, John Harkes, Michael Mason, Claudio Reyna and Mike Sorber.

Forwards--Roy Lassiter, David Wagner, Eric Wynalda and Dante Washington.

COSTA RICA THREATENS

Two goals by Paulo Wanchope and another by Allan Oveido earned Costa Rica a 3-1 victory over Jamaica in its latest World Cup ’98 qualifying match and moved it past the United States into second place in the six-nation group.

Mexico (2-0-2) leads the group, from which the top three teams go to France.

Costa Rica (2-0-1) can increase its advantage by beating hapless Canada (0-2-2) on June 1, and El Salvador (1-0-1) also can move past the U.S. (1-1-2) by defeating Jamaica (0-2-2) in its next game.

YES, IT’S A GOOOL!

Not content with producing an increasingly popular nationwide soccer radio show in Spanish, Alejandro Gutman and Andres Cantor have turned to publishing.

Their latest venture, which made it debut in March, is a 24-page newsprint magazine containing news, features, interviews and statistics from around the “futbol” world.

Naturally enough, it’s name is “Goool!” after Cantor’s signature call on Univision soccer games.

COPA AMERICA ’97

Viewers whose cable providers carry Fox Sports Americas--not all cable operators do, to the unending frustration of soccer fans--will be treated to a full slate of South American Championship games in June.

The latest edition of Copa America will be played June 11-29 in the Bolivian cities of Cochabamba, Sucre, Santa Cruz and La Paz. All 25 matches will be broadcast on Fox Sports Americas, 17 of them on a pay-per-view basis.

The United States, which finished fourth in the 1995 tournament in Uruguay, declined to take part this time, Sampson citing the World Cup and MLS commitments of its players.

However, Costa Rica, under Coach Horacio Cordero, and Mexico, under Coach Bora Milutinovic, will take part, thereby strengthening those teams’ international experience ahead of France ’98.

The Copa America will impact MLS in a negative fashion since MLS teams will be required to release their Central and South American players for the duration of the tournament.

DOOLEY HEADS WEST

German-born defender Thomas Dooley, a U.S. national team player since 1992, is leaving his Bundesliga club, Schalke 04, to join the Columbus Crew. His MLS debut is expected to be June 7 against Tampa Bay.

“For me, it will be a new experience, a new starting position in my soccer career,” Dooley, 35, told the Associated Press. “I just want to play 2 1/2 more years, play great soccer, have success with Columbus and then move to Los Angeles with my family and enjoy a good life.”

In Los Angeles? Gelsinkirchen must be really dull.

QUICK PASSES

Among those missing the U.S.-Paraguay game will be forward Ernie Stewart, who is getting married June 6 in the Netherlands. . . . Those wondering how far MLS has to go to catch the rest of the world might consider this: Spanish League leader Real Madrid has turned down an offer of $40 million for 19-year-old striker Raul. The MLS player budget is $1.3 million per team.