Lights Return to Wacky Marketing Ways, Searching for World’s ‘Most Interesting Player’
By ALAN SNEL
LVSportsBiz.com
You get the sense that Brett Lashbrook was probably having a little marketing withdrawal this being the soccer off-season, so the owner of the Las Vegas Lights FC broke out another zany idea to return to the news.
The United Soccer League team that brought you the sports world’s first marijuana sponsorship, the helicopter cash drop at halftime and the coach who smoked a cigarette in the Cashman Field stands during a game is reserving a spot on its roster for what the Lights are calling “the Most Interesting Player in the World.”
The Lights plan to find this “Interesting Player” at open tryouts scheduled for Cashman Field on Dec. 15. LVSportsBiz.com caught up with the Lights’ new head coach, U.S. soccer icon Eric Wynalda, Thursday afternoon at Cashman Field.
Wynalda told LVSportsBiz.com that the tryout for this most interesting player is part-marketing, part-serious and the Lights will entertain tryouts from women and mascots.
Here’s the coach’s statement: “No other team in history is doing as exhaustive of search for new players as Lights FC. I am ready to sign whoever can help this club — no matter if that is Ronald McDonald, Tony the Tiger, Colonel Sanders or the next Messi & Ronaldo. If someone can help us win games then I want to see them tryout on December 15th.
“I believe there are countless players around the world with interesting attributes that have been overlooked for decades by soccer coaches — and I’m going to convince one of them to move to Las Vegas. And believe me, I won’t be afraid to put them them in a game!”
Well, OK now.
The former three-time U.S. World Cup star, Wynalda replaces colorful Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, who went by “El Chelis.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The person picked to play on the Lights will join a roster that both Lashbrook and Wynalda to be more stable than the litany of players who came and went during the USL club’s first season in Las Vegas.
Here’s Lashbrook’s statement: “As part of our goal to become the next great American soccer success story, Lights FC is constantly seeking big ideas with like-minded people. We live in a one of a kind city — and our team doesn’t do ordinary.
“Coach Wynalda wants to find great new players — and we are committed to helping him however needed. In fact, we’re prepared to break soccer’s gender barrier if Miss Chiquita, Flo from Progressive or the Wendy’s Girl emerges from our tryout. Our club has no boundaries in our thinking. Don’t underestimate our desire to find the most interesting player ever.”
More than 150 players have already registered for the Dec. 15 tryout. Those who believe they are “most interesting player in the world” and want to try out can sign up at LightsFC.com/tryouts or e-mail TalkingSoccer@
*
Follow LVSportsBiz.com on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Contact LVSportsBiz.com publisher/writer Alan Snel at asnel@LVSportsBiz.com
