Olympic Flag Bearer in Sochi.

My friend Valery was one of the 8 flag bearers of the Olympic Flag at the opening ceremony in Sochi.  I am very proud of him and was thrilled by the honor bestowed during the opening ceremony.

A wonderful man and a great loss to many...

Phil Woosnam's Desk...

Sometimes physical items possess the energy of their owners.  At least that is how I have felt about Phil Woosnam NASL Commissioner's desk which has been with me through most of my domestic and international career. Phil, a mentor, passed away on Friday.

In 1985, Ted Howard called me and said they were putting up Phil's desk for sale, which was more recently occupied by Howard "the Horse" Samuels and Clive Toye.  I bought it on my own while the insolvent US Soccer was still located at the Empire State Building.

Phil Woosnam

USSF then moved to JFK airport in a suite of hotel rooms prior to their big move to the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs.  The desk only spent a couple of months there before it moved home to Westchester.

By the end of 2006, the desk was the foundation on which Clive Toye, Gordon Bradley and I formed the new ASL (American Soccer League). Months later, we opened offices in Eastchester with Clive as Chairman and me as Commissioner.

The desk moved home while I temporarily lived in Miami to run the Miami Sharks.  The Brazilian owner ran out of money.  I missed Phil's desk and returned home to it in New York.

Following Miami, I stepped away from soccer and got involved in banking. So, the Desk made its move to Fifth Avenue, where it has lived on that famous Avenue ever since.  

In the 24 years since its move to Manhattan, the Desk witnessed the birth of the Gold Cup, the CONCACAF Champions League, the FIFA RAP (Referee Assistance Program), the Women's World Cup, CONCACAF Women's and Youth Tournaments, the growth of the membership base, pioneering the streaming of live matches free on the internet while growing the value of the treasury.

Phil would have been proud that the Desk played a roll in chairing more World Cups than any other elected at FIFA.  On its wooden surface hundreds of decisions were made or considered on Players Status or as Single Judge. As the desk of the Chair of the FIFA Marketing and TV, FIFA's values rose to record breaking levels.  

For six years, my Deputies sat behind the Desk and equally were imbued by the creative environment which was so important in arriving at today's popular state of American Soccer

At the end of 2011, the desk moved home where its next great projects were put on the table.  Phil, thank you for the inspiration of your desk. Thank you for what I learned from you in the 80's. Rest in Peace.

Remembering Elaine Kaufman...

Thinking of Elaine on her birthday. We still miss her.

Time to blow out the candles...

Following a great dinner at The Dutch, a hot New York eatery at 131 Sullivan Street in SOHO, it was time for Guillermo Cañedo White to blow out the candles on his birthday cake. Accompanied by his wife Adriana and their 3 sons, Mary Lynn and I had a great time introducing them to one of the city's 'top ten' restaurants.

FIFA Players' Status Committee

1. The Players’ Status Committee shall set up and monitor compliance with the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players and determine the status of Players for various FIFA competitions. Its powers of jurisdiction are governed by the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players.

2. It shall also be responsible for the work of the Dispute Resolution Chamber in accordance with the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players and the Rules Governing the Procedures of the Players’ Status Committee and the Dispute Resolution Chamber.



Theo Zwanziger takes the chair for the first time. In addition, six new members were added to the committee, meeting for the first time since appointments were made in December. Geoff Thompson and myself, immediate past chairman and deputy chair respectively, were designated as Single Judges to handle routine cases on an individual basis for the upcoming term. Both Geoff and myself have served in that capacity already and appreciate the confidence of the committee, having now been formally re-appointed by the new chairman.

Super Bowl Sunday...

Curtis Martin, newly elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, Chuck Blazer and Curtis' brother Jason in the NFL Hall of Fame Suite at the Super Bowl in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Pre-game coin toss with introduction of newly elected Hall of Famers. Curtis got the biggest around of applause from the audience at the game.

Don Shula watching the Halftime Show from the Hall of Fame suite as Madonna performs onstage in a spectacular performance after which Shep Messing and Curtis take time out to pose for a pix.

Wrapping up the day, Curtis gave it all a big Thumbs Up. Congratulations Curtis for a spectacular career and the worthy recognition of your accomplishments.