It seems this week’s “seriously, you can’t be for real” soccer moments aren’t only reserved for the men. FIFA’s decision to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar was good. The discovery that ExPro member Chuck Blazer did not vote for his own country was better. But neither of these absurdities can top the revelations brought to light by Jeff Kassouf in his interview with new Washington Freedom owner Dan Barislow.

The Freedom’s identity has seemingly been gutted as of late, what with the departures of majority owners John and Maureen Hendricks, the team’s long-standing coach Jim Gabarra, General Manager Mark Washo and players like Sonia Bompastor, Ashlyn Harris and Allie Long. The diaspora may have left fans (and bloggers alike) wondering what would be left of the Washington Freedom.

After reading the interview, perhaps absolutely nothing other than the team’s stadium and possibly Abby Wambach. Even the team name may be axed in favor of magicTalk FC. (That isn’t a joke, it’s actually in print). Barislow, founder of the telephone company magicJack, apparently sees fit to name the team after his company’s likeness.

That’s just one of several points to chew, laugh and perhaps cry over.

Additionally, Barislow intends to split the team’s home games between the Maryland SoccerPlex and a venue in South Florida. You know, the Florida that’s four states removed from Maryland. And the South Florida that’s claimed the lives of nearly every professional soccer team that’s ever set up shop there. Perhaps you can still visit the watery grave sites of MLS’ Miami Fusion, the NASL’s Miami Toros, Miami Gatos, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and the ASL’s Miami Sharks and (not making this up) Miami Freedom. The USSFD2side Miami FC played its last game in early October before a crowd of just 1,684. The team will still exist but possibly under the moniker of the Miami Kickers.

If FC Gold Pride folded partly due to the lack of interest in a city home to two of the most passionately followed college teams in the country, what chance does South Florida have of being a bastian for women’s soccer?

WPS’ newest owner says that the possible venue split has something to do with promoting the league’s Hispanic players.

So, it could be a pretty good place to put on games with some of the Hispanic players that are in the league so we wanted to give it a shot and see how we do on attendance down here as well.

…all three of WPS’ Hispanic players, and I’m including Amy Rodriguez in that tally.

Barislow also has his sights set on signing Marta. The high price tag that will inevitably come part and parcel with the world’s best player doesn’t seem to be much of an issue. Apparently the only thing that could be a deterrent is whether or not her salary will cause other players to feel jealous.

The only risk I have is how the other players feel about it. I think if the players want to play with Marta than they have to know what comes with it.

That’s pretty thoughtful and all but perhaps other players would be more concerned with the fact that the previous two WPS teams Marta has suited up for no longer exist and the Swedish club she departed from is in a state of financial distress.

These changes probably still have to be approved by WPS and assuming the Board of Governors vetted Barislow before allowing him entrance into the league, perhaps these details have always been in the cards. For a league that has long struggled to retain some semblance of credibility, fielding a team called magicTalk FC and entertaining an owner who’s interested in the league because “It’s really the love of soccer and the ability to expand my brand name into the soccer community” likely isn’t going to help matters.

This probably speaks to the desperation of the league more than anything else. In all fairness, Barislow probably saved the league from extinction. Without his infusion of cash into the lifeless shell that was the Washington Freedom, WPS would have had just five teams ready to go for 2011. Given the Chicago Red Stars’ current limbo status, five teams wasn’t a viable number.

Barislow’s ideas sounds like a far cry from the stewardship of the John and Maureen Hendricks who will apparently still be involved with the club in some manner.

Not that the annals of women’s soccer history are particularly voluminous, but the Hendricks family have certainly played a sizeable role. There would also probably be a shelf or two dedicated to the Washington Freedom.

The Women’s Soccer United Association was pretty much launched under John Hendrick’s tutelage. It was Hendrick’s contacts, purse strings, and fanatic belief in women’s soccer that got the league $40 million in verbals to get things moving. The Mia Hamm-led WUSA Freedom made it to two of the three Founders Cups, winning the final edition in 2003. The Freedom also led the league in attendance each year. Lest we overlook the mismanagement and gross over-expectation that brought upon the WUSA’s demise after year three but the Hendricks family stuck around regardless.

The Freedom then played in USL’s W-League, topping the Northeast division twice and lifting the W-League championship trophy in 2007. The WPS Freedom appeared in the playoffs in both the 2009 and 2010 seasons, before being vanquished in the First Round both times. Perhaps the continued loss of millions of dollars each year was enough to make the Hendricks lose sight in WPS’ long-term vision and ultimately, withdraw their majority stake in the team.

Hopefully Barislow’s ambition is rooted in pragmatism, reason and frugality; all principles that have guided WPS thus far. Hopefully he knows exactly what he’s getting into and has some basic understanding of WPS and the women’s game in general. His presence may have saved the league but at what cost?

View Original Post at allwhitekit.wordpress.com

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