It's funny enough when athletes like Alex Rodriguez say, "It's not about the money." But when members of the YankeeNets and Manchester United tried to say the other day their marketing merger "wasn't about the money," it was downright hilarious. Actually, I think they tried to say it wasn't about selling merchandise and television advertising (translated: money), but the point is, why are they apologizing?

It's all about the money, isn't it? Are the Yankees the Yankees without their TV contract? Uh, no. And is United United without its merchandising? Again, no. And what's wrong with a little transcontinental business deal? One that will make the interlocking NY a recognized symbol at Old Trafford and the MUFC crest fashionable in the Bronx?

Nothing. So, why try to act like this isn't about the money? Please, we're not stupid. Man U has shown it can successfully market itself in places like Malaysia and China. I was over in Manchester in '98, during United's run to the Treble, and came back to New York telling anyone who would listen, "They're coming to America soon," probably in the form of a TV show and merchandise-mover. I fully expect to see a little MUTV slotted into the MSG television schedule soon. And there are already rumors of a Man U theme restaurant in Manhattan. Gut feeling? All major credit cards will be accepted.

But since the Boot Room tries to be a soccer column, we should talk about what the soccer implications of the deal might be. Well, first off, if Man U pulls off the 2003 North American Tour they're talking about, I'm predicting here it will be like the Beatles touching down in the States in the '60s. Really, with the amount of hype-money at their diposal, the number of Man U fans already in place in America's big cities and the number of United supporters who will come to the U.S. on holiday, it will be huge.

Will it be some defining moment in American soccer history? No, it will just be another big event -- the kind of soccer show the U.S. has demonstrated for the last decade it can support.

And that's cool. Anything that brings people out to see games is fine by me. Just don't tell me it's not about the money. Because we know that's what it's all about.

In tight space

·  For those unaware, former MetroStars GM Charlie Stillitano was the driving force behind the Man U-Yankees deal. His startup company, Champions World, operating under the YankeesNets umbrella, had been working for well over a year on this partnership, and guess what? They're not done yet. American marketing and promotional deals are already in the works with powerful clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan. Yes, the world's biggest soccer clubs know there is money to be made in the States.

·  Can't blame Metro goalkeeper Mike Ammann and D.C. United defender Jeff Agoos for being upset over their trades. In Ammann's case, the keeper figured to cash in on the popularity he gained last season when he came back from the injuries suffered in his collision with Mamadou Diallo. According to a friend of the keeper, Ammann had been hooked up with about $20,000 in soccer camp appearances for this coming summer -- any middle-class adult can empathize with having to relocate and give up that much cash.

·  As the Galaxy await word from Cobi Jones on whether he's going to stay in MLS or hook up in England, Robin Fraser waits and wonders where he'll play in 2001. The Rapids are known to be interested in the L.A. captain and, if Jones stays in MLS, could have him for a pick or two. Chicago was very interested in Fraser, but would have to clear significant cap room before they could even think of adding the veteran defender.

·  No one in MLS is ready to say anything on the record, but let's just say there are heavy tremors coming out of the league office that the commissioner and key investors want to bring Landon Donovan home. I wrote last week that, in my opinion, it would happen. I feel even stronger about that opinion today and now prepare myself for the "Landon Lottery," the anticipated "mechanism" to decide what team he will join.

·  Here are a few senior international players in MLS who should rent and not buy: Junior Agogo, Henry Zambrano, Mauricio Ramos, Mauricio Solis, Alex Comas, Welton, Sebastien Vorbe. Not saying they're all moving, but none should get too comfy.

·  Hristo Stoitchkov was recently giving Fire assistant coach Denis Hamlett a tour of his new home in suburban Chicago. He took the coach down in the basement to a finished bedroom, pointed to a pair of twin beds and said, "The night before games, one is for Dema [Kovalenko] and one is for DaMarcus [Beasley]." Hamlett laughed and Stoitchkov said, "I'm not joking." Last season, Kovalenko and Beasley were Stoitchkov's pet projects.

·  Everyone in and around MLS is anxious to see just what the MetroStars selected with their first pick in the SuperDraft. His name is Rodrigo Faria and all we know for sure is he played a season at Concordia College in Westchester County, N.Y., and played last year for a Metros youth team. He did not impress anyone at the combine and a few observers wondered if he might be sandbagging after a promise from the Metros that he'd be picked. If they did manage to hide a budding star ... more power to them. All's fair in love and soccer.

Pub talk

·  Commissioner Don Garber mentioned at the start of the MLS SuperDraft that he thought the event was soon going to be "ready for TV." One word of advice for MLS: Right now, the excitement of draft day is not the picks but the trades. However, if we're going to keep hearing "player to be named later" because the GMs and coaches haven't been able to reach the players to inform them they've been dealt, a lot of the excitement is lost. Maybe next year, teams can tell their players to stay by the phone on draft day. If you think I'm being insensitive to the players, let me just tell you that my brother, Scott Bradley, a former major league catcher, learned he was traded from the Yankees to the White Sox when a talk show host called him in Florida. It wasn't that big a deal.

·  If you support a Kappa-outfitted team in MLS -- Colorado or Tampa -- have fun trying to squeeze your fat gut into one of those skin-tight replica jerseys. They may look fine on the likes of Francesco Totti, but you ... you don't look like Francesco Totti.

·  Empire FC, or Empire SC -- those are said to be the front-running team names for the new New York franchise that will launch in 2003. Let's hope these rumors are true.

·  I read in Soccer America's excellent "confidential" e-mail that the agent for Miami's Diego Serna is saying that his client is disappointed that coach Ray Hudson is looking in England for players. I think the agent should tell Diego, "Show up for practice on time once in a while -- then maybe Ray will listen to your player suggestions."

Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail jeff.bradley@espnmag.com.