* No, it’s not the NFL, MLB, the NBA or the NHL. It’s Major League Soccer (MLS), and it’s a parallel pro-sports universe in this country. From crowd size and media exposure to revenue streams and political clout.
And here’s another example. The less-than-major league Tampa Bay Rowdies want to enlarge historic Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg as an inducement for MLS to expand into this market. And owner Bill Edwards doesn’t want any public money. That’s not a misprint. And at $80 million, it’s not exactly chump change. And that election that must be held to get residents’ OK to negotiate a long-term lease (should St. Pete be awarded a franchise): He’ll underwrite that.
And parallel sports universe notwithstanding, yes it would be a regional plus to add MLS to Tampa Bay’s (and St. Petersburg’s) growing profile as markets on the move in a variety of ways.
* In the midst of hockey’s playoff push and baseball’s spring training, it was a welcome diversion to read about two other local sports–at the high school level–and the major accomplishments that were their story lines. Congrats to Sickles High School, which won its first state Class 8A basketball championship, and to Brandon High, which won its 17th straight state Class 2A wrestling championship.
* This year marks the fourth World Baseball Classic. No matter how seriously MLB markets it, most American baseball fans–and players–consider it so much spring training subtext, if that. But for other competing countries–from the Far East to Latin America, it’s a big deal. They send their “A” teams, while MLB sends the best available. Most prominent, highly-compensated players, especially pitchers, don’t want to interrupt their pre-season routines. Chris Archer of the Rays, however, is all in and will be a prime contributor to Team USA–even as Rays’ management holds its breath about Archer accelerating his normal spring practice schedule.
BTW, the first three WBCs have been won by Japan (twice) and the Dominican Republic. Also worth noting: For the past 15 years, more than 1 out of every 4 players on MLB rosters has been foreign born. In short, don’t expect the U.S. to win the WBC. Again.