When the Fort Lauderdale Strikers decided to trade midfielder Wálter Restrepo, the NASL franchise wasn’t looking for an established veteran or a top prospect in return -- all they wanted was a free ride and a place to stay.
On Tuesday, Restrepo was traded to the San Antonio Scorpions in exchange for “free lodging and transportation during Fort Lauderdale’s two road trips to San Antonio in 2014.”
Shark Limo will provide free bus service and the Crockett Hotel will handle the lodging. Both businesses are sponsors of the Scorpions.
“The Scorpions reached out to us to see if we could be creative,” Crockett general manager Bill Brendel told Sports Illustrated. “It was kind of a win-win for everyone.”
Restrepo had six goals and a league-leading eight assists in 2012. He is only 25.
San Antonio team president Howard Cornfield says he wishes he just mentioned “cash considerations” in the deal’s press release, but he’s not entirely upset about the buzz the unconventional trade has caused.
“I’m a believer that no publicity is bad publicity,” Cornfield said, “unless somebody gets murdered or something.”
[90 Minutes Strong] [Sports Illustrated]
