The Fans Speak Out

Soccer Digest, August, 2001

Metro times

Alex Thompson complained that MLS favors the big-market teams ("The Fans Speak Out," July 2001). So what? These teams are essential to the league's success. If there isn't sustained interest in and exposure to the league in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York you may as well kiss MLS goodbye.

Joseph Daudish Westchester, Ill.

Battle of the sexes?

The WUSA's Atlanta Beat is running a commercial showing a middle-aged man being peppered with soccer balls. Also, since the inception of the WUSA, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has greatly reduced its coverage of men's soccer in favor of covering the Beat. Clearly, women's soccer poses a threat to men's soccer.

W. Keith Watkins Atlanta

The future is now

How could you take a look at the top young American stars and not include Nick Rimando? The young Miami Fusion star has been MLS's best goalie so far this year and yet he doesn't even rate a mention? I reckon that in a few years it will be Rimando and not the Colorado Rapids' Adin Brown or the Chicago Fire's Zach Thornton who will be the heir to the U.S. national team's goaltending throne.

Barbara Allen Nashville

Well, Rimando didn't make it into our look at the top up-and-comers because, as you can see from this issue's cover, we had bigger and better things planned for him.

Land of opportunity

There are clear lessons to be learned from the fates of Eddie Lewis and Marcus Hahnemann in Fulham ("West End Boys," July 2001). Why are we so insistent on sending our players to Europe in order to play in those leagues? MLS should drop the inferiority complex. Our homegrown stars are doing just fine, thank you.

Francis Landon Annapolis, Md.

Francis, nobody is "sending" these players overseas, they are leaving on their own. Interestingly, despite the setbacks, both Lewis and Hahnemann have declared their intentions to stay in England. Lewis is aiming to transfer to another English First Division side and Hahnemann wishes to stay with Fulham, even if it means a drop on the depth chart.

SOCCER DIGEST welcomes letters from readers. Name, city, and state must be included. Mail to: The Fans Speak Out, SOCCER DIGEST, 990 Grove Street, Evanston, Illinois 60201-4370. E-mail to: soc@centurysports.net