Galaxy Thinks Sky’s the Limit
Alexi Lalas and Peter Vagenas were in their cars before 4 a.m. Friday, driving to Staples Center to represent Galaxy players at a party where some 600 people watched the U.S. team’s World Cup loss to Germany.
Tonight, Lalas, Vagenas and the rest of the Galaxy will be at the Rose Bowl to play the Dallas Burn as Major League Soccer begins life after the U.S. team’s historic run to the World Cup quarterfinals--once again hoping a burst of interest can be sustained.
“Those of us who have been around long enough understand that when the World Cup’s involved, the circus comes to town, and then it leaves. And that’s OK,” Lalas said. “You still have to capitalize on the momentum and the attention that this incredible feat has brought to soccer.”
Cobi Jones, the Galaxy midfielder who played for the U.S., was tentatively scheduled to arrive back in Los Angeles today but isn’t expected to be in uniform until July 4 against San Jose.
“We want to give him some time basically to recover, because it’s mentally and physically a pretty straining tournament,” said Coach Sigi Schmid, who postponed Friday’s practice from 9:30 a.m. to noon so players could watch the game. “He’ll be with us for sure by the Fourth of July.”
That July 4 game against the Earthquakes could be a big one for the MLS in L.A., not only because of Jones, but also because of San Jose’s Landon Donovan, the 20-year-old forward who landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated after the U.S.’s victory over Mexico.
It might be a good idea to catch Donovan in the MLS soon. On loan to San Jose from the German team Bayer Leverkusen, he will probably return to Europe after the MLS season.
Lalas--who played in the world’s top professional league in Italy after the 1994 World Cup--has experienced the lure of European glamour and money as well as the comfort of playing at home.
“We talk about things like keeping the stars here. It’s easier said than done,” he said. “People want to see the players they saw in the World Cup. It’s difficult when you’re competing with great leagues around the world.
“Some players feel their future is in Europe, more power to them. But there are some that really enjoy playing here in the United States and value the league and understand that their commitment to the league will enable soccer to grow here.”
Vagenas, a former UCLA star who played for the U.S. team that finished fourth at the Sydney Olympics, witnessed how the international stage broadens the game’s audience.
“Obviously the World Cup’s a grander scale,” Vagenas said. “But the Olympic team doing so well, it definitely caught the people’s imaginations. People still come to Galaxy games so they can see me take a penalty kick, I’ve been told.”
It might be that the World Cup will help the MLS. But many contend the MLS already helped the U.S. in the World Cup.
“I have no doubt it goes hand-in-hand,” Vagenas said. “It’s not like all of a sudden we’ve birthed greater soccer players in America. I think the fact they have somewhere to perform day-in and day-out and play at the top level helps them get to that level.”
Lalas, Vagenas pointed out, played in the World Cup before he ever played a professional game.
Now, Lalas said, the MLS “has made kids that are 18, 19, 20 years old into professionals.
“And that’s not just about kicking the ball. It’s how you conduct yourself on and off the field. It’s how you prepare yourself mentally and physically. It’s things you can’t get from playing a college season or playing in a travel league.
“It’s obvious in the results--not just from the actual scores, but from the way the U.S. team is playing--that MLS has been a critical part of that.”
