MISL Gives Stars, Sting Until Friday to File Letters of Credit

The Chicago Sting and Tacoma Stars, like the Sockers, will have until next Friday to post a $400,000 letter of credit to the Major Indoor Soccer League, it was announced Friday.

Ron Fowler, whose bid to buy the Sockers won’t be ruled on by a federal bankruptcy judge until then, informed the league he would withdraw his offer if it didn’t allow Chicago and Tacoma extensions.

“Mr. Fowler doesn’t want to put any more money into this thing if there are only going to be six teams in the league next season,” Socker President Ron Cady said.

The league has received letters of credit from six teams. It is believed that Tacoma and Chicago want to wait and see if the Sockers will be in the league before they post their bids.

The original deadline for letters of credit was Friday. But Peter W. Bowie, a federal bankruptcy judge, issued a restraining order against the MISL Thursday, keeping the Sockers alive as a franchise until he rules on Fowler’s bid.

The league also announced that the players from the defunct St. Louis Steamer franchise will become free agents. None of St. Louis’ players were picked in a dispersal draft held Friday morning.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Angelica Gavaldon of Coronado and Kirsten Dreyer of Rancho Palos Verdes gained the wild-card berths for the Virginia Slims of San Diego qualifying round by winning matches in the Opportunity Open.

Gavaldon defeated Jami Yonekura of Bonita, 6-1, 6-1. Dreyer beat Julie Grummel-Wirth of Huntington Beach, 6-3, 6-3. They and a group of professionals are scheduled to compete July 30-31 at the San Diego Tennis and Racquet Club in qualifying for the Virginia Slims, to be held Aug. 1-7.