LALAS TO LALA LAND? Rumors and sources say he will leave Red Bulls
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Like clockwork, the rumors that New York Red Bulls president and general manager Alexi Lalas will leave the MLS team and join the Los Angeles Galaxy keep resurfacing daily.
They were persistent last week and throughout the weekend, including on Saturday, when the Red Bulls' inaugural home game at Giants Stadium drew 35,793 spectators, less than what the Red Bull New York management had hoped.
The rumors started around the time of the stunning and tragic death of Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton last month and were reinforced after the club last week hired an assistant GM -- Tom Payne -- although it has no GM.
Several sources around the league and close to the team said over the weekend that Lalas would be heading west soon and join the Galaxy in some capacity, perhaps as the GM. Some other sources claimed the move could happen as early as this week.
The Red Bull management still wants to make some front office changes, sources said, regardless who was in charge. They want to put their own man to run the show.
If it does happen, it will be the third GM for the club in less than a year. Lalas took over for Nick Sakiewicz last June. Sakiewicz is president of Anschutz Entertainment Group Soccer for New York/New Jersey.
Lalas also has been considered for a World Cup announcing position by ESPN in Germany this June, reliable sources said.
Lalas was unavailable for comment on Monday, wanting to take the day off after a long week and be close to his family, a team spokesman said.
