Firm foothold took time

After the 1994 World Cup, the Kraft family bought into Major League Soccer for $5 million. And though the Revolution and the rest of the MLS started with a bang, until recent months the Krafts were realizing little direct gain on their initial investment. But things have changed. The MLS sold television rights for $8 million to ESPN and the Revolution dealt forward-midfielder Clint Dempsey to Fulham FC for a league-record transfer fee of $4 million.

The MLS is not in the big leagues of soccer, yet. But these numbers indicate the potential.

Part of the reason for the progress is persistence and planning. Unlike previous domestic soccer leagues, the MLS is well organized and controls spending through a single-entity setup.

The league will start its 12th season today with 13 teams, seven of which play in MLS-owned, soccer-specific stadiums. But the league will not make a quantum leap in attracting attention until later this summer, when David Beckham arrives in Los Angeles from Spain and Cuauhtemoc Blanco in Chicago from Mexico.

The Beckham deal could be worth $250 million, and the league already has received millions of dollars worth of publicity surrounding his move from Real Madrid. Blanco's acquisition from Club America could open the doors to Latin America. And the MLS is not forgetting its northern neighbors -- expansion team Toronto FC capped its season-ticket sales at a league-record 14,000 to accommodate single-game buyers.

Coach: Dominic Kinnear (fourth year).

Last year's record: 11-8-13.

Outlook: The Dynamo are built for efficiency, a key to success in the long, hot Houston summer. They will defend and play for set pieces on the road and attack with power at home. Actually, this is a good formula for success for any team confronting the long-distance travel and varied climates of the MLS. Dwayne De Rosario provides the creative midfield force, supported by Ricardo Clark and wingers Brad Davis and Brian Mullan. The Brian Ching-Paul Dalglish-Alejandro Moreno trio is effective up front. The Dynamo defenders are not only physical in their own half, but they are dangerous on set pieces. Zach Wells is pushing Pat Onstad for the starting goalkeeper position.

Comings: F/M Corey Ashe (North Carolina), D Justin Douglass (Missouri State), M Eric Ebert (California), M Nick Hatzke (California), M John Michael Hayden (Indiana), F Mike Sambursky (South Carolina), M Eric Ustruck (Santa Clara). Goings: M Chris Aloisi (Rochester Rhinos), Adrian Serioux (FC Dallas).

Last year's record: 15-7-10.

Outlook: United are probably the best team on the ball. The additions of Brazilian forwards Luciano Emilio and Fred provide the finishing touches missing last season. Christian Gomez is effective shooting from distance and has an excellent understanding with Jaime Moreno. Brian Carroll and Ben Olsen provide support, with Joshua Gros on the wing. United should control possession in most games, but can be vulnerable defensively.

Comings: D/M Bryan Arguez (West Kendall), F Marc Burch (Columbus), M Kasali Yinka Casal (Fulham FC), G Shawn Crowe (Florida International), F Luciano Emilio (CD Olimpia), F Fred (Melbourne Victory), F Guy Kpene (Dowling College), D/M Jay Needham (Southern Methodist), G Jay Nolly (Real Salt Lake), F Brad North (Northwestern).

Goings: M Freddy Adu (Real Salt Lake), M Matias Donnet (Belgrano de Cordoba), F Alecko Eskandarian (Toronto FC), M Dominic Mediate, F Andy Metcalfe, M Matt Nickell, D Brandon Prideaux (Colorado), G Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake), F Robert Ssejjemba (Richmond Kickers).

Last year's record: 12-8-12.

Comings: M Bryan Byrne (Cal-Santa Barbara), F Adam Cristman (Virginia), D Gary Flood (Hofstra), D Kyle Helton (Duke), M Amaechi Igwe (Santa Clara), G Brad Knighton (N.C.-Wilmington), F/M Chris Loftus (Duke), M Ryan Solle (Wake Forest), M Wells Thompson (Wake Forest).

Goings: F Jose Manuel Abundis (Queretaro), F Kyle Brown (Real Salt Lake), M Jose Cancela (Toronto FC), F/M Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), M Jani Galik, D Pat Haggerty, G T.J. Tomasso, M Adam Williamson, M Danny Wynn.

Last year's record: Expansion team.

Outlook: This is Canada's club, the home-grown players providing a nucleus that should negate many of the growing pains. Toronto has loaded up with defensive midfielders in support of Jose Cancela and Ronnie O'Brien. There will be questions about the chemistry between attackers Edson Buddle, Conor Casey, and Alecko Eskandarian.

Comings: F/M Rich Asante (Syracuse), D Andrew Boyens (New Mexico), D Adam Braz (Montreal Impact), M Jim Brennan (Sunderland), F Edson Buddle (New York), G Jon Busch (Columbus), F Conor Casey (FSV Mainz 05), G Tomer Chencinski (Fairleigh Dickinson), M Maurice Edu (Maryland), F Alecko Eskandarian (D.C. United), M Jeff Gonsalves (Rhode Island), M A.J. Gray, D David Guzman (Louisville), M Tyler Hemming (Hartwick), F Abdoulaye Ibrahim (New York), D Ritchie Kotschau (Colorado), F Andrea Lombardo (Perugia), D Stephen Lumley (NTC Ontario), M Richard Mulrooney (FC Dallas), M Paulo Nagamura (Los Angeles), M Ronnie O'Brien (FC Dallas), D Chris Pozniak (FK Haugesund), D Marco Reda (Sogndal), M Carl Robinson (Norwich City), G Greg Sutton (Montreal Impact), M Andy Welsh (Sunderland AFC).

Last year's record: 10-9-13.

Outlook: Chivas is becoming less Mexico-oriented; the addition of Englishman John Cunliffe, Cuban Maykel Galindo, Honduran Amado Guevara, and Romanian Alex Zotinca could compensate for the loss of Francisco Palencia. Claudio "El Emperador" Suarez, 38, keys the defense, with Jonathan Bornstein providing cover in the back or up front. Jesse Marsch keeps the midfield together. Ante Razov provides the goals.

Comings: F David Arvizu (New York), M Jorge Barrera (CD Chivas), M Raul Batista (San Diego State), D Desmond Brooks (St. Mary's College), F John Cunliffe (Fort Lewis College), D Cameron Dunn (Cal-Irvine), F Maykel Galindo (Seattle Sounders), M Amado Guevara (New York), F Anthony Hamilton (Cal-Irvine), F Lyle Martin (Cal-Bakersfield), M Eder Robles (Pateadores), M Erasmo Solorzano (Cal-Riverside), M Alex Zotinca (Kansas City). Goings: D Johnnie Garcia, F Juan Pablo Garcia (Tigres), M Jesus Morales (CD Chivas), F Francisco Palencia (UNAM Pumas), D Tim Regan (New York), D Brent Whitfield.

Last year's record: 11-13-8.

Outlook: Clavijo has collected most of the right parts; now he has to make them fit together. The Rapid defense is almost completely revamped with Mike Petke the only holdover. Terry Cooke was the league's most dynamic right wing last season. Pablo Mastroeni guides the midfield behind Kyle Beckerman. Panamanian Roberto "El Bombardero" Brown, Argentine Nicolas Hernandez, and Jovan Kirovski are the scoring threats.

Comings: F Roberto Brown (Tacuarembo), M Jose Cancela (Toronto FC), M Nico Colaluca (Virginia), F Omar Cummings (Cincinnati), M Greg Dalby (Notre Dame), M John DiRaimondo (St. Louis), F Herculez Gomez (Los Angeles), G Justin Hughes (Wake Forest), D Ugo Ihemelu (Los Angeles), M Kosuke Kimura (Western Illinois), M Nick LaBrocca (Rutgers), M Yherland McDonald (Fredrikstad FK), F Riley O'Neill (Kentucky), D Brandon Prideaux (D.C. United), G Zach Thornton (Chicago), D Greg Vanney (FC Dallas). Goings: G Joe Cannon (Los Angeles), D Eric Denton, D Hunter Freeman (New York), F Luchi Gonzalez (Miami FC), F Sasha Gotsmanov (Minnesota Thunder), G Matt Jordan, D Aitor Karanka, F Aaron King, D Richie Kotschau (Toronto FC), F Thiago Martins (Bodo Glimt), F Clint Mathis (New York), F Fabrice Noel, F Melvin Tarley.

Last year's record: 13-11-8.

Outlook: Cuauhtemoc Blanco will not arrive until July, possibly too late to compensate for the loss of Andy Herron and Nate Jaqua. Tony Sanneh's experience will be missed in central defense, leaving the leadership role to C.J. Brown and Gonzalo Segares. The Fire do have plenty of skillful, swift players in front of midfield leader Chris Armas, 34. The attacking threats include Chad Barrett, Calen Carr, Ivan Guerrero, Justin Mapp, Chris Rolfe, and Thiago Gaucho.

Comings: M Mike Banner (Southern Illinois), F Cuauhtemoc Blanco (Club America), F Ryan Coiner (Columbus), G Nick Noble (West Virginia), F Jerson Monteiro (Alabama-Birmingham), M Nate Norman (Notre Dame), F Simon Omekanda (Penn State), F Asmir Pervan (St. Leo College), D Bakary Soumare (Virginia), D Osei Telesford (Liberty), M Mark Totten (James Madison), D Daniel Woolard (Midwestern State). Goings: M Craig Capano, D Leonard Griffin, F Andy Herron (Columbus), F Nate Jaqua (Los Angeles), M Ryan Johnson, M Jaren Montz, D Tony Sanneh, G Zach Thornton (Colorado), M John Thorrington (Los Angeles).

Last year's record: 9-11-12.

Outlook: Arena is getting things together, but it could take time to revamp the Red Bulls. Meanwhile, the team should be better balanced with young defenders such as Todd Dunivant, Hunter Freeman, and Marvell Wynne supporting veterans Claudio Reyna and Markus Schopp, both 33, Dave van den Bergh, 31, and goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus, 36. Clint Mathis is a gamble up front.

Comings: M Sal Caccavale (American U.), G Danny Cepero (Pennsylvania), D Hunter Freeman (Colorado), D Hugh MacDonald (Monmouth), F Clint Mathis (Colorado), F Randi Patterson (North Carolina-Greensboro), D Tim Regan (Chivas USA), M Claudio Reyna (Manchester City), F/M Dane Richards (Clemson), F/M Sinisa Ubiparipovic (Akron), M-Dave van den Bergh (Kansas City), G Ronald Waterreus (AZ Alkmaar). Goings: F David Arvizu (Chivas USA), F Edson Buddle (Toronto FC), M Peter Canero, F Jordan Cila (retired), F Youri Djorkaeff (retired), M Amado Guevara (Chivas USA), M Chris Henderson (retired), F Abdoulaye Ibrahim (Toronto FC), D Steve Jolley (retired), M Mark Lisi (retired), G Tony Meola, M Danny O'Rourke (Columbus).

Last year's record: 11-15-6.

Outlook: If Landon Donovan holds things together until David Beckham arrives in August, the Galaxy should be fine. Chris Albright and Tyrone Marshall provide continuity in defense. Alan Gordon, Nate Jaqua, Cobi Jones, and Santino Quaranta will be counted on for scoring. Beckham could form an effective pairing with Peter Vagenas; but after he arrives, the Galaxy will contend with a back-loaded schedule of 18 games (11 away) from Aug. 4 to the end of the season.

Comings: M David Beckham (Real Madrid), F Bobby Burling (Loyola-Marymount), M Tyler Canel (Cal-Northridge), G Joe Cannon (Colorado), F Robbie Findley (Oregon State), G Tally Hall (San Diego State), F Josh Hansen (Southern California Seahorses), D Ty Harden (Washington), F Nate Jaqua (Chicago), D Gordon Kljestan (Seton Hall), D Kevin Long (San Francisco), D Kiel McClung (UCLA), D Steve Purdy (California), D Mike Randolph (Portland Timbers), M Ian Russell (San Jose), D Shavar Thomas (Kansas City), M John Thorrington (Chicago), M Josh Tudela (Indiana). Goings: F Michael Enfield, M Josh Gardner, F Cornell Glen, F Herculez Gomez (Colorado), M Memo Gonzalez, M Josh Hansen, G Kevin Hartman (Kansas City), D Ugo Ihemelu (Colorado), M Stefani Miglioranzi (Columbus), M Paulo Nagamura (Toronto FC), G Josh Saunders.

Last year's record: 10-14-8.

Outlook: Onalfo, who grew up in Ridgefield, Conn., has plenty of experience as an assistant with D.C. United and the US national team. His first major move was to bring in Kevin Hartman to replace Bo Oshoniyi in goal. The rest of the team seems set, with Jimmy Conrad and Nick Garcia leading the defense and Jose Burciaga providing a long-range threat from left back. Sasha Victorine and Kerry Zavagnin hold the midfield together. Davy Arnaud and Scott Sealy are dynamic in attack, but Eddie Johnson has underachieved.

Comings: F/M Edson Elcock (Old Dominion), M Eric Frimpong (Cal-Santa Barbara), M A.J. Godbolt (Maryland), F Willy Guadarrama (Campbell U.), D Michael Harrington (North Carolina), G Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles), D Aaron Hohlbein (Wisconsin), G Chris Konopka (Providence College), G Eric Kronberg (California); F/M Michael Kraus (Creighton), F Kurt Morsink (James Madison), F Michael Todd (Hofstra). Goings: G Will Hesmer (Columbus), G Bo Oshoniyi, D Brian Roberts (retired), D Shavar Thomas (Los Angeles), M Dave van den Bergh (New York), F Josh Wolff (TSV Munich 1860), M Alex Zotinca (Chivas USA).

Last year's record: 16-12-4.

Outlook: Dallas had nearly everything going for it the last two seasons, but squandered what could have been the home-field advantage through to the MLS Cup. Ramon Nunez will guide the midfield and Kenny Cooper Jr. and Carlos Ruiz will handle the scoring.

Comings: F Andrew Daniels (Brown), M Sandi Gbandi (Alabama-Birmingham), F Ryan Guy (San Diego), F Abdus Ibrahim (US U-17s), M Scott Jones (North Carolina-Greensboro), F Tommy Krizanovic (Jacksonville), M Pablo Richetti (Quilmes), M Adrian Serioux (Houston), M Juan Carlos Toja (River Plate), D/M Anthony Wallace (South Florida), M Chase Wileman (Southern Methodist). Goings: M Justin Moore, M Richard Mulrooney (Toronto FC), M Ronnie O'Brien (Toronto FC), M Alex Smith, M Simo Valakari (Turun Palloseura), D Greg Vanney (Colorado).

Last year's record: 8-15-9.

Outlook: The Crew have missed the steadying influence of New Zealander Duncan Oughton, who played only nine games in the last two seasons. Ezra Hendrickson, 35, and former Revolution defender Rusty Pierce add experience. Jason Garey, Eddie Gaven, and Joseph Ngwenya are the scoring threats and Ricardo Virtuoso creates from the left wing.

Comings: M Ryan Burns (UConn), F Aaron Chandler (San Francisco), F Brad Evans (Cal-Irvine), F Andy Herron (Chicago), G Will Hesmer (Kansas City), D Ryan Junge (Creighton), M Stefani Miglioranzi (Los Angeles), M Danny O'Rourke (New York), F Ben Hunter (North Carolina), M Ted Niziolek (Seton Hall), M Robby Rogers (Heerenveen), M Tonci Skroce (Illinois-Chicago). Goings: D Jose Becerra (Portland Timbers), F Marc Burch (D.C. United), G Jon Busch (Toronto FC), F Knox Cameron, F Ryan Coiner (Chicago), D Chris Leitch, G Noah Palmer, M Jose Retiz, F Sebastian Rozental (Maccabi Petah Tikva), D Eric Vasquez (Miami FC), G Jonny Walker (retired).

Last year's record: 10-13-9.

Outlook: Still acting like an expansion team. Freddy Adu and Panamanian striker Luis Tejada should help the attack. But Salt Lake has questions in goal without Scott Garlick and could be relying too heavily on Jason Kreis, 34, who has been playing in midfield in the preseason, and on Eddie Pope, 33, in central defense. Jeff Cunningham continues to produce goals and Andy Williams is a dynamic attacking midfielder.

Comings: M Freddy Adu (D.C. United), F Kyle Brown (New England), M Steven Curfman (Wake Forest), D Dustin Kirby (Ohio State), D Chris Lancos (FC Kaiserslautern), G Kyle Reynish (Cal-Santa Barbara), G Nick Rimando (D.C. United), G Chris Seitz (Maryland), F Luis Tejada (Plaza Amador). Goings: D Jacob Besagno, G Scott Garlick (retired), D Cameron Knowles, D Kevin Novak, D Douglas Sequeira (Tromso IL), F Jafet Soto (CS Herediano), M Seth Trembly .