November 17, 2006
Today, Real Salt Lake will be holding a press conference to announce that beverage maker XanGo will become their kit sponsor starting in 2007.
Reportedly, the deal is for four years and will land Real Salt Lake between $4 and $5 million total.
Real Salt Lake and Xango worked together last season as XanGo was the primary sponsor of the Real Madrid-Real Salt Lake game.
It will be interesting to see how many other MLS teams can get sponsors lined up in time for the 2007 season.
We don't have to worry about Mexico hiring Klinsmann
Former Mexican national team star Hugo Sanchez has been named as the new man in charge of El Tri. There was a rumor floating around that the Mexican federation, as well as US Soccer, had offered the job to former German National Team boss Jurgen Klinsmann.
Sanchez has most recently coached club teams Necaxa and Pumas in Mexico. Sanchez was able to win back to back Mexican league titles during his six year run with Pumas.
While I never really felt like Mexico would go with a European coach this time around, I did breathe a small sigh of relief when I read the headline.
Mock MLS Expansion Draft!
I'm a draft nut, so I'm loving this coverage ahead of today's expansion draft for Toronto FC.
The Serioux and Williams picks were no-brainers. I might want to tweak some of my other choices such as Edson Buddle from NY and perhaps Donnet from DC.
I would be mildly surprised if they passed on Jaqua with Chicago and the two goalkeeper picks late had me scratching my head. Especially since Gaudette and Hesmer are far from the best goalkeepers available to Toronto FC.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author, and not necessarily those of the Rochester Rhinos or SoccerSam.com. Feel free to send any comments or complaints to news@soccersam.com. James promises to read (but not to respond) to all of them.
