Finally...Major League Soccer

(Editor's note:  The following is reprinted from the Premier Sports Management website, www.premiersportsonline.com.)

It may be hard to remember, or even fathom, but for one 30-day period almost 20 years ago this summer, the U.S. was the focal point of the world—not just sports…the world.

In 1994, nine U.S. cities hosted matches as part of World Cup USA 1994, the most-watched sporting event in the world on a quadrennial basis.  Beginning with the opening in Chicago on June 17 and culminating in the Brazil-Italy final a month later in the Rose Bowl, American stadia hosted sellout crowds and boisterous fans from across the globe.  The U.S. squad even pulled off a stunning upset, beating Colombia 2-1, in an early round match.  Players like Tony Meola, Marcelo Balboa, Eric Wynalda and John Harkes were stars of that U.S. roster and the grand plan, for the U.S. Soccer Federation, was to use the success and visibility of the World Cup to propel soccer to its rightful place as a major American sport.  Major League Soccer was formed in 1993 and the league used World Cup as the forum for reaching out to prospective sponsors and key media.

It’s been a long 19 years since that heady time of ’94.  MLS sputtered out of the gate in the post-World Cup world of American soccer and only recently has found growth given the construction of soccer-specific venues across the league, and the success of franchises in markets like Seattle, Portland and…Kansas City. 

“Kansas City” you say!?  Yes, here in the good ol’ Midwest, none other a media outlet than The New York Times has realized the success story of Sporting Kansas City and Major League Soccer as the fourth professional franchise in town.  (Kansas City boasts the NFL Kansas City Chiefs, Major League Baseball Royals, and two NASCAR events each season at Kansas Speedway.)

Yesterday’s article in the Times, written by Sam Borden, correctly identified the key strategic move made by the owners of Sporting Kansas City—define your target, i.e., the 18-35 young professional demographic, and intentionally reach out to that technologically connected audience.  It helped, of course, that this audience was one who had experienced little to no postseason success via the Royals and the Chiefs.

Sporting engaged with this connected audience via social media to determine likes/dislikes and to help guide franchise decisions.  That fan data helped influence the naming and branding decisions of the club.  And, the local owners designed a venue, Sporting Park, that began to address the needs of those attending live events today—strong WiFi, social media connectivity during the match, and advanced camera systems for appealing videoboard activity.  It’s that sort of fan experience that is so appealing to the young professional demographic that Sporting covets.

Have there been missteps along the way?  Of course, with the Livestrong naming rights being one questionable move coupled with issues raised by some season ticketholders about customer service.  Overall, though, the franchise has been a roaring success off of the field coupled with the quality of play on the pitch over the past three seasons.  The success story has enough across sports appeal that 200 different franchises have sent executives to Kansas City to see Sporting Park and to talk to the team’s ownership and management team.

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-07-18/sporting-kansas-city-makes-the-stadium-more-like-your-couch

Next week, Kansas City will host the MLS All-Star Game, a fitting tribute to the work of this very successful local franchise and ownership group.  It will be a time to acknowledge what’s been built here in Kansas City and also to reflect back on that seminal worldwide event of 19 years ago and think “finally.”

Is there a more humbling sport than golf?

Is there a more humbling game than golf?  Seriously.  If so, what is it?

Today we witnessed the magnificence of one of the truly "good guys" in golf and in sports--Phil Mickelson won his fifth major championship and his first British Open championship, closing with a 66 to pull away and win by three strokes.

Yet it was this same Mickelson who self-proclaimed himself a "dope" for his colossal collapse at the 2006 U.S. Open when, up by one stroke on the 18th hole, he hit driver and what had to be the worst shot of his professional career.  How bad was the shot?  Let's just say that there were fans in hospitality tents who had a better lie and line than Mickelson did for his second shot.

Fast forward to this summer's U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club where, once again, Mickelson collapsed in grand style, causing many media members to very publicly question the golfer's ability to win another major and, more caustically, question if he had what was between the ears for our nation's championship much less "The Open," which has been around for 142 years.

The beauty of Mickelson is that he was humbled and has come back.  Yet, for every Mickelson (and there are few), there is a Greg Norman, a Jean van de Velde, or an Ian Baker-Finch who has very publicly struggled to win a major, infamously blown a lead, or faded into obscurity because of the dreaded yips.

Yes, golf is the most humbling of games given the individuality of the sport and the fact that every round and every shot is different--none occur at the same place on the same course over the course of a career.

Today's British Open is ultra-fulfilling because a golfer who had been humbled has shown he still has what it takes to be defined as one of the game's greats.  As for Norman, van de Velde, Baker-Finch and the others, their names are there with the countless golfers who few remember...those who have been humbled.

The lost generation

My son is 26.  During his lifetime he's experienced and witnessed the following:

- The internet.
- Apple becoming a half-trillion dollar company.
- Five presidents.
- Wireless networking.
- Three wars in the Middle East.
- Windows, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
- The adoption of the DVD, CD, Blu-Ray and now, digital and on-demand media.

What my son hasn't witnessed:

- Major League Baseball playoffs in Kansas City.

Seriously--is there a more stunning data point about the futility of this franchise?

Welcome to Kansas, Mr. Wiggins!

A bit over 24 hours ago, Bill Self, Kurtis Townsend and the rabid fan base that bleeds crimson-and-blue found out what few expected--Andrew Wiggins, the consensus number one recruit in the U.S., had committed to the University of Kansas.

The resulting hue and cry from those giddy with anticipation to those wronged by the slight caused #Kansas, #kubball, and #Wiggins to trend on Twitter.  A few misguided Kentucky fans took their anger out on Wiggins, sharing threats of injury and other epithets via social media.  And, Kansas basketball was suddenly thrust back in the sports news--46 days removed from that 25 foot three point dagger by Michigan's Trey Burke in the NCAA Tournament's round of 16.

What do we make out of all this?  Well, on this day after, cooler heads are acknowledging that Wiggins will be hard-pressed to live up to the hype.  Yet, who suddenly isn't intrigued by the impact Wiggins will have on Kansas' program and the unbelievable Champions Classic in Chicago, November 12, which will feature Kansas versus Duke and Kentucky versus Michigan State.

Here's the impact that "the decision" by young Mr. Wiggins will have on Kansas and his new teammates:

- The addition of Wiggins cements this year's Kansas recruiting class as the school's best ever--not just under Self but...ever.  Self and staff (giving major props to Townsend for his role in landing Wiggins) have arranged a class full of guys who can play right away, from McDonald's All American Wayne Selden to Joel Embiid, now the top center prospect in this class, to sharpshooters Brannen Greene and Connor Frankamp, to speedy PG Frank Mason.  There's even the possibility that Tarik Black, a Memphis transfer who's immediately eligible, could commit and provide further reinforcements to Self's frontcourt.  Of course, the cherry on top is Wiggins--a certifiable talent who not only is the best finisher in the class of 2013, but also the best defender, which has to make the defensive-minded Self just salivate.

- The Jayhawks very likely will struggle early, given the wholesale changeover in the roster and the murderous non-conference schedule.  In addition to Duke in Chicago, KU travels to play Florida and Colorado; hosts New Mexico, Georgetown and San Diego State; and travels to the Bahamas for a tournament there.  That isn't exactly the type of schedule built for team who doesn't have one returning starter.  Yet, Self acknowledged that Wiggins is an "alpha dog" and the type of kid who will provide an "assassin's" mentality to the team, thus giving his coach reason for optimism even with a very difficult schedule looming.

- Yes, Oklahoma State will be very formidable with the return of Marcus Smart, Markel Brown and LeBryan Nash.  But, seriously--who's betting against Kansas now to take their 10th consecutive Big 12 title?

- While the hype machine will go into overdrive once Kansas begins play in November, the good news for Wiggins is that KU has other offensive weapons--notably Perry Ellis.  Wiggins' arrival will take pressure off of Ellis, who exploded late in the season, and vice versa.  Throw in Wayne Selden at the two guard spot and the Jayhawks have three scoring threats combined with a PG, Nadiir Tharpe, who turned into an excellent distributor by season's end.

- Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the decision by Wiggins is Self's biggest commitment ever at Kansas.  There have been mutterings about Self, who is widely considered as an excellent recruiter, inability to get "the guy."  The known courting of kids like Kaleb Tarczewski, Josiah Turner and Julius Randle, among others, who all spurned KU was causing some to wonder if Self had lost his touch with top 10 recruits.  Yesterday's decision was an emphatic "no."  Self connected with Wiggins more than any other of the four coaches and ultimately pulled off the recruiting coup of 2013.

Yesterday was fun but it will pale in comparison to the fun of watching Wiggins play under the banners in Allen Fieldhouse come this November.

Wrappin' it up in Atlanta

Madness is ending in about five hours and thus begins the most bittersweet sports night of the year.  Let's wrap it up here in Atlanta, a wonderful host for this 75th Final Four.

- Worst attire:  Michigan fans need to figure out that this is college hoops--football jerseys are not appropriate attire.

- Best fans:  The fan count, at least downtown, was as close as the betting line for tonight's game.

- Best exhibit:  Bracket Town, the NCAA's fan festival, was open for the last day today and continued to draw great crowds.  The LG presence, in particular, was well done with a fan interactive tour through an LG "house," complete with phone, television, washer-dryer and kitchen appliances.

- Worst TV:  Speaking of LG, the television section of their exhibit included old models.  The 1957 triple overtime thriller, where North Carolina beat Kansas, was showing on one of the old boxes.

- Best song:  Michigan's "Hail to the Victors."

- Creepiest mascot:  The Wichita State Shocker.  Dude...the facial expression.

- Best scheduling:  For the first time ever, the championship games of the NCAA Division II and Division III tournaments were held in the same city as the Final Four.

- What's up with the licensing:  It's a battle of two Adidas schools here in the final--Michigan and Louisville.  But, don't look for the actual sideline wear of either team in your local sporting goods store--they only sell the replica model.

- Worst cheer:  "Go Blue."  Sure, it's a fine cheer but have you all noticed that your team is wearing neon yellow all the time?  (The last time I checked, maize is defined as the color of corn, which is a far more muted yellow.)

- Best coach:  Rick Pitino.  If Pitino wins this evening, he'll have guided two schools to a national title.  And, irony of ironies, those two schools reside in the same state and are bitter rivals.

- Who'll be the X factor tonight:  If I were a betting man, I'd put my money on Nik Stauskas of Michigan who will open up the offense by hitting from outside.

- Most obvious quote:  Mike Slive, Commissioner of the SEC, in the elevator, "I wish we had a team here."  Every coach, every athletics director, and every commissioner who's not involved with these four schools is thinking the same thing.

- And, the winner is:  Michigan.  Why?  Just because...

The view from the Georgia Dome

The dust has settled from Semi-Final Saturday and methinks we couldn't have asked for a more entertaining match-up than what we'll get on Monday night between Michigan and Louisville in the national championship game.  Here's a breakdown of Saturday from my view inside, and outside, the Georgia Dome.

- Pre-game:  Ludacris entertained fans in Centennial Park, close by the dome, at a concert preceding the first game between Louisville and Wichita State.  I determined, though, that my place at Stats at the CBS pre-party  was just fine--a cold beverage, food and a seat overlooking Marietta Street, on a 65 degree day, seemed the better play.

- How were your seats:  The announced attendance was 75,350--keep in mind that about 10% of those in attendance sat in decent seats with reasonable sight lines.

- Air Thompson:  Before there was Air Jordan there was David Thompson, the sky walker from North Carolina State, who unfortunately played in the college age where dunking was not allowed.  Thompson sat in the row ahead of us and sported a Wolfpack polo shirt and cap.

- Best jersey:  The best jersey of the night belonged to a 60+ year old gentleman who sported a top that had "Hickory" on the front and "Chitwood" on the back.  (Fans of Hoosiers will get it...)

- Random sightings in the crowd:  Will Ferrell (isn't he a USC guy?) and Denard Robinson, Michigan's star quarterback.

- Former bench player who now may be a lottery pick:  Mitch McGary of Michigan.  McGary's motor doesn't stop--he had 10 points, 12 boards, 6 assists and 2 blocks last night.

- Second half cool down:  C.J. Fair of Syracuse had 18 points at half but was held in check in the second half, finishing with 22.

- What happened, MCW?  Michael Carter-Williams of Syracuse wilted under Final Four pressure, going one for six from the field, accounting for five turnovers and fouling out, all the while bitching at the officiating crew.

- The mid-major effect:  It will be very interesting to track what Wichita State's Final Four appearance does to school enrollment, and to coach Gregg Marshall's recruiting efforts.  The Shockers return stud Cleanthony Early next year, along with Fred VanFleet, Ron Baker, Tekele Cotton, Chadrack Lufile and Jake White.

- Most vocal fans:  Michigan gets the nod as the most vocal fans, as they were into it from the time the first game ended.  But, seriously, can you all please spend $20 and buy a basketball-related t-shirt versus wearing Michigan football jerseys?  I get the whole Big House tradition and such, but this is hoops, people!

The view from Atlanta

The best day in sports has arrived.

Yes, semi-final Saturday at the Final Four is the best day in sports.  There is no event that provides the drama and excitement that is felt by the teams and fan bases of these four schools as all think that they are two wins away from a national championship.

In this Final Four town, excitement rose dramatically yesterday as Friday is typically the big fan arrival day.  Unlike New Orleans and San Antonio, or Indianapolis, a host city like Atlanta does not offer the convenient, compressed areas where fans gather so it's hard to judge who's winning the fan attendance battle, but my money's on Louisville.

Here are some odds-and-ends observations from the Peach State thus far:

- Atlanta's downtown hotels are feeling very dated.  The Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis, Hilton and Westin were all built in the mid-1970's to mid-1980's and feature that architectural design of the time--the large, expansive atrium.  All of these hotels are dark, concrete and brick.

- Curious how to find a coach in Atlanta?  Look for the guys in sweat suits.  As is the custom, the coaches mingle in their hotel lobbies, all adorned in their respective team sweats.  Thankfully, Kurtis Townsend of Kansas broke the mold this morning, looking very dapper at breakfast in suit and tie.

- Final Four alumni are always present, it seems, at this event.  Spottings thus far include Christian Laettner (Duke), Mateen Cleaves (Michigan State), Jim Harrick (UCLA), Eddie Fogler (South Carolina) and many other former coaches and administrators.  Maybe that's one reason fan tickets are so hard to come by.

- The Georgia World Congress Center, close by the Georgia Dome, is the site of this year's Bracket Town, a fan festival sponsored by the NCAA's Corporate Partners.  The event has grown huge since its inception as Fan Jam and Hoop City in the 1990's.

- If you're wondering whatever happened to Bonnie Bernstein, the CBS journalist who famously had Roy Williams respond "I don't give a *!#t about North Carolina" in response to her question in 2003, she's a host on IMG's Campus Insider television show, which broadcast live last night from IMG Learfield's Final Four Party.

- Basketball Times, not exactly a mainstream publication, is being distributed to primary hotels in Atlanta this week.  This issue (April) of the publication included their ranking of the Top 60 College Coaches and the Top 50 Assistant Coaches.  Not surprisingly, they chose Mike Krzyzewski of Duke as number one.  The remainder of the top ten were Rick Pitino (Louisville), Larry Brown (SMU), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Roy Williams (North Carolina), Bill Self (Kansas), John Calipari (Kentucky), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), Billy Donovan (Florida) and Mark Few (Gonzaga.)  (No specific criteria was offered on how the selections were made.)  Other coaches and their rankings:  Bob Huggins (West Virginia) - 12, Lon Kruger (Oklahoma) - 24, Scott Drew (Baylor) - 25, Bruce Weber (Kansas State) - 27, Shaka Smart (VCU) - 30, Rick Barnes (Texas) - 38, Mark Turgeon (Maryland) - 39, Frank Haith (Missouri) - 40, and Mike Anderson (Arkansas) - 41.  Travis Ford (Oklahoma State) was number two in the "Next 55" and Fred Hoiberg (Iowa State) was number three on the list of "Up-and-Coming Coaches."  (Dave Rice of UNLV topped the up-and-comers list.)  As for Assistant Coaches, Kansas was well represented with Joe Dooley (one), Norm Roberts (six) and Kurtis Townsend (eight.)