The Clarion Call

Go ahead -- see how many soccer fans have signed the World Cup petition since Terry took to the airwaves to rally the troops. As I write this, we are nearing 4,000 and closing the gap with our DC neighbors. (Remember -- The DC bid is actually a Maryland bid too, as Fed Ex and several proposed training facilities are in Prince George's and Montgomery Counties.)


Although we still lag behind some of the larger markets, the sudden surge has been duly noted by the US Bid Committee who were impressed with our communication network and media contacts.

So many thanks to those who helped us get the word out -- our beat reporters from the Business Journal, Sun and Daily Record, WJZ-TV and our teammates, Visit Baltimore (responsible for a significant bump when Tom Noonan sent an e-gram to the hospitality industry) and Kevin Healy of the Blast and the Bays, who is wired into all things soccer.  Pete Medd of Crystal Palace stopped in for a visit and activated his data base, too.


We still think the committee plans to meet this weekend to finalize the 18 locales included in the US Bid. Terry assured the Merry Marketeers that a mere blizzard is no deterrent. They have a mission.


So if you're reading this while holed up with your toity paper and milk (the twin staples of Maryland snow survival,) go to your email directory and send a brief note to your fellow sports fans and ask them to sign. After you've done so yourself, of course.

The game is in us, and Maryland is here to play.