But soccer moms tend to stop being soccer moms when the people playing aren't counting on them to bring treats at the end of the game. And while it's true many people along the Wasatch Front aren't far removed from countries where soccer is the undisputed champion, they don't tend to be the kind of fans who will put their name on the list for a loge in the new stadium so they can treat their client base to nacho trays at about $19 per nacho.

From my view as a former sports writer, Dave Checketts is a brilliant sports executive. In that regard, his record speaks for itself. And he's a very nice man.

But in his exuberance to show his hometown fans — and the man who helped get him started, Larry H. Miller — just how capable he is at running a first-class sports franchise, he brought a strange date to the party.

If he really wants to see a stadium deal sail through the County Council, if he really wants to see taxpayer money coming in by the truckload, if he really wants to challenge Larry H. Miller as Utah's premier sports franchise owner, he should use his contacts, his expertise, his magic and his checkbook to bring in a major league baseball team or an NFL football team.

He would own this American town.

New York Post: King David!

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Lee Benson's column runs Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please send e-mail to benson@desnews.com and faxes to 801-237-2527.