Jurgen Klinsmann’s Quest to Remake Soccer in US

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Since taking over as coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, Jurgen Klinsmann has been on a mission not just to guide the USMNT to the World Cup but to remake soccer in this country. His success as coach will not be judged solely by his team’s performance in Brasil or even in Russia in 2018. Sam Borden writes:

"“Klinsmann knows that winning the tournament is not the only way for him to be considered a success. His time as the leader of American soccer will instead be judged with more nuance. Are there more consistent performances by the American junior national teams? Is there a more uniform coaching philosophy guiding the different programs? Can the U.S. produce a single homegrown American superstar to carry the flag for the country on the sport’s biggest stages, the way Gareth Bale, say, does for tiny Wales at Real Madrid? These things, and more, matter.”"

A.J. Reed is widely expected to be selected in the first round of the MLB Draft on Thursday night. And when he is, it’ll be the culmination of years of hard work. But for his mom? Kyle Tucker writes:

"“When A.J. Reed’s lifelong dream comes true Thursday night — the University of Kentucky’s two-way star is widely projected to be taken in the first 40 picks of the Major League Baseball Draft — his mother imagines she’ll feel something like a tug-of-war inside her chest.‘It’s exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time,’ Debbie Reed said. ‘It just kind of makes my heart hurt every time I think about it.’”"

Momentum for an early signing period in college football appears to be building. The ACC is in favor of it; the SEC opposes it. But what about the Big 10? Brian Bennett writes:

"“Michigan is one school that could have benefited in recent seasons from an early signing period. The Wolverines have sewn up the majority of their classes under Brady Hoke in the summer before the prospects’ senior year of high school. Hoke’s staff could have locked up those commitments and focused on filling out the final few spots or moving on to the following year’s class.Hoke would like to see an early signing date, but with a caveat.‘If there’s an early signing period, there probably needs to be an early visitation period for those kids,’ he told ESPN.com. ‘Maybe the first two weeks in June to get on your campus.’”"

Pay for play continues to pick up steam. But how should college athletes be compensated? Jon Solomon writes:

"“But say the NCAA and its schools lost the O’Bannon case and the inevitable subsequent appeals, or lost the Jeffrey Kessler lawsuit that essentially seeks a free market for athletes when they’re receiving scholarships. What might “pay-for-play” — the ubiquitous term often used without explaining what it means — actually look like?CBSSports.com broached that question with four people who are critics of the college sports system. The overriding question to Ken Feinberg, Jeffrey Kessler, Ramogi Huma and Jay Bilas: What models could work to compensate college athletes beyond their scholarship?”"

I’ve written in the past who would replace John Calipari when Coach Cal decides to call it quits. It’s a fun debate to discuss who would replace the Kentucky coach one day. But that debate can be extended to a host of major programs. Jason King writes:

"“Given the power, this is who I would choose as the next head coach for some of college basketball’s most coveted jobs. Again, this isn’t a prediction—only an opinion about who I think would be the best fit. But I certainly hope athletic directors are paying attention. I’ve got a good feel for these things.”"