Thank You Lamar Hunt In 1962 when Lamar Hunt watched that Shamrock
Rovers match in Dublin, did he think that he would become so important
to the sport in his home county? Maybe he did, and maybe we should be
thankful for that chance encounter with the game. Lamar knew that when
given the chance the beautiful game can win you over. He also knew that
it will take success by the U.S.A. on the world stage to make that
happen. To have success the U.S. needs to have clubs and stars that the
fans of the game can watch and the kids can emulate. He believed that a
careful and sustained effort in creating a league is the necessary
ground work for building the foundation for success. Ever a stalwart in
support of the game, this lesson was driven home from his experience
with the North American Soccer League (NASL). He learned from his
participation in the NASL and did not abandon the game when the going
got rough-and demise of the NASL was a rough patch for U.S. soccer. He
believed in the game and we can truly thank him for that belief. Thanks
to Lamar Hunt:
* we got to go to the 1994 World Cup, right here in the U.S.A.;
* we can go see division one soccer at our nearest Major League
Soccer stadium;
* many MLS and USL clubs are or will be playing in soccer specific
stadiums (Crew Stadium, Blackbaud Stadium, HDC, Toyota Park, DSG, Pizza
Hut Park, Pae Tec Park, BMO, Red Bulls, ...);
* MLS and U.S. Soccer receives TV rights fee;
* a quaint little tournament, the U.S. Open Cup (USOC) has new
luster;
* success by a player in the USOC can lead to invites to larger
clubs; and
* American kids can continue to dream of professional careers in
soccer right here in the U.S.A.

Thank you, Lamar.


I love the USOC and without Lamar Hunt the USOC would continue to be
some quaint little tournament that goes on unknown for years and is
contested by amateur clubs. No one would bother to discuss the value of
the USOC value in the world of soccer-or in the world of U.S. sport. But
Lamar knew its value and will always be remembered every year that U.S.
clubs compete for the right to hoist the Dewar!

Thank you, Lamar.


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