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Show WWW.NETXNEWS.NET TUESDAY • JULY 25 • 2006 _ r< i u i r i _ T \» i t i l l I i M I i I I 1 1 1 ! Jazz players impress at Rocky Mountain Review Ben Webster Sports Writer Webster's Wisdom Ben Webster Real Salt Lake is only in their second year of existence but it could be extinct before the team can make a big splash on the MLS scene. The Salt Lake County Council voted 5-4 on July 11 against the proposed stadium being built in Sandy City sending RSL owner Dave Checketts into afit.The vote practically killed all the work and effort that had gone on to get the soccer-specific stadium built in Sandy. With the rejection and a just 16 points in MLS play, last place in the league, things don't look good. The proposal called for $30 million of hotel tax money to help purchase land and build infrastructure while the stadium be built using private capital. Checketts - said, "Today's County Council vote against building a stadium in Sandy is a setback for our club. It is, however, not the end of the road.'1 There have been many options offered since the vote but it will be up to Checketts to decide. That decision could mean selling the team to the highest bidder who would most likely would move the club to another market. "The actions of some of the members of the council today coupled with the lack of support by the County Mayor, despite his repeated commitments to us otherwise, puts the future of the club in Utah in serious jeopardy," Checketts said. Real Salt Lake could be gone and Real St. Louis could be born. St. Louis is one of the many cities that desire a MLS franchise. According to the St. Louis Post MLS commissioner Don Garber was in St. Louis for what is being an exploratory visit. The town needs a stadium as well to be considered for an expansion team but they could get RSL. Rochester, New York is also on the market for a MLS team. They already have a soccer-specific stadium all they need is a team. Phoenix, Portland and others are among cities that have people interested in buying RSL. Where they end up is a mystery for now but we should have an answer by August 12. Checketts set that date as the deadline for when he will decide whether to keep the team in Utah or to sell the franchise. Although the idea of selling has interested many suitors in other cities Real Salt Lake isn't gone yet. The State Fairpark is one option but Checketts wasn't too keen on the location when Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson first proposed the idea. LateJuly 14anewSandyStadium was proposed by Salt Lake County leaders, which would give $23 million to the team for the Sandy site. Checketts or anyone from RSL has yet to comment on the revised plan. Downtown is still being floated around as an option. If none of those ideas work how about Real Utah County? The owners of the Geneva Steel land have offered the land, for See WEBSTER-A8 vi- i - y • "( <• The Utah Jazz hosted five other teams during the week-long Rocky Mountain Review at Salt Lake Community College where fans had the opportunity to get their first look at draft picks and young players who are trying to make a NBA roster. The Jazz hope to see a lot of what they saw on the first play of the first game of the Rocky Mountain Review for their summer league team, Deron Williams found former Cougar Rafael Araujo, acquired earlier this offseason by a trade, running past his defender and wide open for an easy layup. The Jazz got the victory over the Atlanta Hawks 98-76 in their first game. The roster for Utah included three draft picks from this year and three from last year with Williams only playing in the first two games young guards Dee Brown and Ronnie Brewer had an opportunity to show their stuff. Williams, the third overall pick last year for the Jazz, outplayed the competition and looked sharp in the two games he did play. In his second goaround at the review Williams was more confident and more prepared. "I knew what was going on with camp and two-a-days and knew what to expect," Williams said. "I just tried to help the other guys out and give them a heads up on what's going on." Summer-league coach and Jazz assistant Tyrone Corbin said, "He's learned a lot from last year. He had a great second half last year and has continued to build on that." He continued, "He's really confident. He's been agreatleaderfor the guys." Williams averaged 22 minutes a game, 15 points, and shot 68.7 percent from the field during his short stint in action. See JAZZ-A8 Chad Clark/NetXNews Ronnie Brewer, along with other Jazz new comers, played in the Rocky Mountain Review to show fans what's to come this season. RSL gets overtime win in Cup play After a 1-1 scoreless match, a rain delay, and a exciting overtime, Real Salt Lake finally kicks out a big cup win Ben Webster Sports Writer It took more than the usual 90 minutes for Real Salt Lake to dispatch United Soccer League first division club, Virginia Beach, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup; with just three <j minutes into overtime " they got the goal they needed to get a 2-1 win. On the same day that RSL suffered a major setback for stadium plans, forward Andy Williams lightened the mood for the organization when he blasted the gamewinning goal in 93 minutes lifting RSL to the fourth round of the tournament. Williams took a free-kick pass from substitute Mehdi Ballouchy, and shot a rocket from 25 yards away straight into the back of the net giving RSL the lead, and set up the match with the Colorado Rapids in the next round. "No team wants to go to overtime, but to come back and get the goal that was great. That goal by Andy Williams was great. It puts us into the next round," Coach John Ellinger said. Williams agreed and said, "It felt great. I wish we could have gotten it before overtime. We got the goal, we defended well and we got the win tonight." It was a win that the team desperately needed coming off a six-game losing streak and the rejection by the Salt Lake County Council for publicfinancingon a 5-4 vote for the Sandy stadium project. RSL forward Jeff Cunningham scored first for Real in the 28 minute on a penalty kick. Highenergy Jamie Watson drew the penalty when he made a run in the box he was tackled by Virginia Beach defender A l a n Woods. The penalty came shortly after Watson just missed a break away opportunity with the keeper. Cunningham took care of the goal when he kicked in a low hard shot to the right that skidded just past the outstretched arms of Mariner goalkeeper Matt Nelson. Virginia Beach got the equalizer in the 37 minute when Tim O'Neill brought in a long pass, eluded two Real defenders and lofted a delay and through regulation. "We tried to remain focused during the delay," Ellinger said. This was the second time this month Real had an extra break due to weather. Only a week and a half before Real lost in Chicago, and blew a lead to the Fire losing 2-1 following a 30-minute lightening break. Last year Real lost in overtime to USL first division team Minnesota in the Open Cup, 6-4, despite Real's only hat trick in their history by Jason Kreis. "Last year we lost in overtime, and it was kind of like the rest of get a goal, the season it hung over our they believe heads," Ellinger said. "I told they can play and try the guys before overtime to to make a make this a catalyst-for the statement," season. Hopefully it does that." RSL had a few chances to said Elput the game away in regulation, but just like the rest of " T h e y played well. the season, they went wide. My hat's Ballouchy took a cross from off to them. Ryan Johnson and hit the They bat- post with an empty net in the tled all the 89 minute. In extra time of way to the regulation forward Atiba Harend. They ris whiffed a second chance were still a bit inside the six-yard box. 'There is something dangerous at the about the six-yard box and end as well. Good our finishing," Ellinger said. credit to them." RSL needs to get it figThe 1-1 tied ured out if they hope to get held through halfwins in MLS play.to an altime, through a 36 ready jam-packed season. minute lightening |