Lamar Hunt, a great patron of American soccer, is fighting for his life in a Dallas hospital. The 74-year-old, who has battled cancer for several years, was hospitalized a day before Thanksgiving with a partially collapsed lung. Doctors then discovered that the cancer had spread.

Hunt, an original investor in MLS with the Columbus Crew and the Kansas City Wizards, later purchased FC Dallas and sold the Wizards. He also financed the league's first soccer-specific stadium (in Columbus) and followed up with Dallas' Pizza Hut Park.

Hunt, a National Football League pioneer who came up with the Super Bowl name, began his soccer ventures as owner of the NASL's Dallas Tornado in 1967, the league's first year.