Rough Riders hope for smooth sailing
By MICHAEL LEWIS
SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
The Long Island Rough Riders could soon have new owners.
The club has reached agreement with Globall F.C. and Jim Kilmeade to run the daily operations the Pro Select League team for the next two years with an option to buy. Globall, owned by former pro goalkeeper Peter Zaratin, trains and develops youth teams to compete at the national and international levels.
Frank Boulton, who owns the Long Island Ducks baseball team, has been the Riders owner since 1997.
Kilmeade was general manager of the 1995 Riders championship team that boasted such future MLS stars as Chris Armas, Giovanni Savarese, Tony Meola and Jim Rooney. Now the team is looking to move back up to the A-League, the second division in American pro soccer's pecking order.
"Whatever league we play in we want to be the best on and off the field," Kilmeade said.
Paul Riley, who has coached several future MLS players (MetroStar John Wolyniec and the Columbus Crew's Edson Buddle), is expected to return as coach.
HEAD OF THE CLASS: St. John's captain and defender Chris Wingert, a finalist for the Hermann Trophy (college soccer's Heisman), was named men's college scholar/athlete of the year (3.82 GPA).
ARENA FOOTBALL: The U.S. national team, under the guidance of coach Bruce Arena, will play the Netherlands in its first visit to the Amsterdam ArenA on Feb.18. The ArenA, a domed stadium with grass, is one of soccer's modern wonders. It has a retractable roof that allows games to be played in inclement weather.
NEDVED TOP EURO: Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved (Juventus) won the Golden Ball as the European Footballer of the Year in a poll of European soccer journalists by France Football magazine. Nedved, 31, led Juve to the Champions League final, but could not play against A.C. Milan due to a yellow-card suspension. Milan prevailed on penalties. Nedved finished fourth in FIFA player of the year (as voted by coaches).
Originally published on December 23, 2003
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