SoccerAmerica - Win-win move for Chivas USA and Portland 02/13/2013

[MLS SPOTLIGHT] The deal that sent midfielder Ben Zemanski from Chivas USA to the Portland Timbers for the rights to Jonathan Bornstein plus allocation money fits into the category of a win-win move for both teams. The trade sheds Chivas USA of another non-Hispanic player with the potential of adding a Mexican-American -- Bornstein's mother is Mexican -- and gives Portland coach Caleb Porter another of the players he had at Akron.

Chivas USA, which is seeking to return to its roots as a Mexican-American club, comes closer to bringing back Bornstein, who won the 2006 MLS Rookie of the Year award out of UCLA and spent five seasons with Chivas USA before signing as a free agent with Tigres. Unfortunately, he has rarely played in the four-plus torneos since his move to Monterrey.

Zemanski, 24, played in 72 regular-season matches in three seasons with Chivas USA. Also at Portland are Darlington Nagbe, David Meves and Michael Nanchoff with whom Zemanski played at Akron. The Timbers acquired the right of first refusal to Nanchoff from the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2015 MLS Supplemental Draft.

4 comments

Dan Phillips

commented on: February 13, 2013 at 6:36 p.m.

They need to move to San Diego. They will never get undet the shadow of the Galaxy in LA. San Diego with the large Hispanic population makes perfect sense. I don't know why MLS does not see this!

Albert Harris

commented on: February 14, 2013 at 11 a.m.

I agree with you but isn't it more Chivas' decision rather than MLS. If they want to move, I can't see MLS saying no.

Ric Fonseca

commented on: February 14, 2013 at 2:05 p.m.

Dan & Albert, you must see the trees for the forest vis-a-vis Chivas "moving" to San Diego just because of its "...large Hispanic polulation makes perfect sense...." though I agree with you they must get out of the LAG shadow. But consider that the San Diego Surf, even with the likes of at one time Hugo Sanchez on their roster couldn't cut the cake and with the rise of the Xolos in Liga MX in next door neighbor Tijuana, it is highly unlikely they'd move. Consider also, that the Los Angeles and other adjacent counties is called home for a incredibly large number of actual expatriates from Guadalajara and the state of Jalisco, residing in Chivas's backyard! All that Mr/Mrs Vergara, Coach Chelis and the team's GM and front office personnel need and must do, is to conduct an all out marketing/public relations campaign and go after the Guadalajara expatriates and eventually convince LA County and the state - as well as USC to build a soccer only venue where the LA Sports arena now sits. And now as to bringing in Bornstein, well, nice guy, but why was it he saw little or action in Mexico? Just the same, Buena suerte CHIVAS LOS ANGELES!!!

Frank Cardone

commented on: February 16, 2013 at 5:18 p.m.

Paul, I resent the wording that shedding another non-Hispanic player is a "win' for Chivas USA. So, one must assume that this outfit views any non-Hispanic player on its roster as a "loss". Why don't they just ang up a sign that says "Non-Hispancis Need Not Apply". Please don't tell me that their "rebranding" effort (I'm a professional marketer and I hate that phrase) justifies their actions or your insensitive wording. Rememeber the Toronto Metro-Croatia? Are we heading backwards in time?

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