An original gift... MLS prepares for second season with few changes By Brian Trusdell, Associated Press writer
NEW YORK Less than a day after Major League Soccer was sued by its players, NBA commissioner David Stern ran into MLS counterpart Doug Logan.
"Congratulations," Stern said facetiously, "you've finally arrived."
Starting its second season Friday, MLS has a few changes this year, but no new international stars at the top of their games.
Walter Zenga, the 37-year-old former starter for Italy's national team, was acquired to play goal for New England, and Carlos Alberto Parreira, who coached Brazil to the World Cup title three years ago, was hired to coach the New York-New Jersey MetroStars.
Italian midfielder Roberto Donadoni, who plays for the MetroStars, and Colombian midfielder Carlos Valderrama, who plays for the Tampa Bay Mutiny, remain the best known players in the league along with Los Angeles Galaxy goalkeeper Jorge Campos, the starter for Mexico's national team.
MLS increased the number of foreigners allowed on each team from four to five, and has shifted most of its games to weekends when it averaged 19,000 per game last season, twice what teams drew on weeknights.
More than nine of 10 games will be on weekends this season. | |
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