MLS Cup Notebook

Published on October 18, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release

PROVIDENCE, RI (Friday, Oct. 18, 2002) - The following are the latest news and notes from the camps of the two MLS Cup 2002 finalists: the New England Revolution and Los Angeles Galaxy:

FROM THE REVOLUTION CAMP:

Training Recap: Training for the Revs shifted from their usual training ground at Wrentham State School just outside Foxboro to Brown University's Stevenson Field this morning. Despite another cloudless day in the northeast, it took a little longer to warm up during the 75-minute training session, as the temperature had yet to creep out of the 40's by the time New England took the pitch shortly after 10:00 am. The mood at the weekend's first official practice was very light, as was the actual training itself, with the New England coaching staff focusing on giving the players plenty of time to warm up due to the cool conditions. The Revs went through a few drills, focusing on playing the ball quickly in traffic, as well as working on getting the ball into the box from the wings, a tactic New England has victimized many an opponent with in 2002. After suicide drills to end practice, a few New England players decided to test out the Revs' newest third-string 'keeper... veteran midfielder Jim Rooney. Despite his unique form, it's safe to say that, even in an emergency, the New York native won't be seeing time in between the pipes on Sunday.

Fritz Feeling Relaxed: With all the attention given to forward Taylor Twellman's right knee over the past week, some credit should be given to the man who helped the Budweiser Scoring Champion rehab the injury and get back in time for the last MLS game of the year- Revolution trainer Mike Fritz. He said that Twellman would be officially listed as probable for Sunday's match, even though the player is confident he'll be on the field without a problem.

With the "Twellman Watch" now history and the rest of the Revs ready and raring to go for Sunday, that doesn't give Fritz many duties between now and the final. And that's just fine by him.

"When I'm not working that means the guys are healthy, so it works out for myself and the team," Fritz quipped. "It makes my job a whole lot easier."

Fritz also gave credit for his reduced workload to the Revolution coaching staff, which has done all they can to reduce the stress and strain involved with a long run in the playoffs.

"The staff has done an excellent job of giving the team enough rest after games and knowing when to push them and when to relax them," said Fritz. "With the schedule we've had, playing every three to four days for the last month after a long season, preparing for these games has been very important and we've been able to make the right choices in regards to our workload."

FROM THE GALAXY CAMP:

Training Recap: With the time difference, it may have felt like a noon practice for the Galaxy, but in reality Los Angeles took the Stevenson Field pitch at Brown University at 3:00 EST for its first training session of the MLS Cup 2002 weekend. The Galaxy seemed a little more business-like than the Revolution, but the club was anything but tight, with the mood lightening up as the 90-minute session progressed. Los Angeles went with a different approach compared to the Revs as the team spent most of the practice in drills that focused on going to goal. After training together for the first three-quarters of the session as a group, the squad broke into two drills at the end, with one half of the team working on finishing crosses against reserve goalkeeper Matt Reis while the other half peppered starter Kevin Hartman with shots from straight on at the top of the box and beyond.

Friend, Then Foe: For one more match this season, defender Tyrone Marshall and forward Carlos Ruiz will work together to achieve one goal - winning MLS Cup 2002. However, later this month the two players may square off against one another in a friendly match between their two countries, Guatemala and Jamaica, on October 30 - if both are called up. Perhaps after squaring off against Ruiz in practice every day, nobody knows better how to stop the 2002 Honda MVP award winner than Marshall. But the Jamaican says there is no way to stop him.

"You can only try to contain him," said Marshall. "All you can do is try to limit his chances ... the less chances he has, the better it is for you. If you can do that it increases your chances of winning, but he's still dangerous because all he needs is one chance to beat you."

Perhaps only Ruiz knows the answer, but it might take a little while to get in touch with him regarding that. After being named the League's Honda MVP at a press conference earlier in the afternoon, Ruiz had to answer 55 congratulatory messages left on his cell phone.

The Answer Is...: While the book might still be out on Ruiz, Galaxy defender Danny Califf believes he has the answer on stopping New England's and MLS' Budweiser Scoring Champion, forward Taylor Twellman. Perhaps nobody should know more about the 2002 Budweiser Scoring Champion than Califf, especially since the two 22-year-olds have moved up through the soccer ranks together during their teenage years. Not only did the two play together on the U.S. Under-17 squad in the late 90's, but they also attended the University of Maryland for two years in 1998 and 1999. "He's great in the box and he just works hard, that's one of his biggest attributes," said Califf of Twellman. "He's fighting tooth and nail to get to the ball. He's good in the air and he's got good timing, but I think if we can control him in the box then we'll be able to shut him out. I'm not so much worried about him getting the ball in midfield and running at us, I'm concentrating more on how I'm going to play him in the box."

Califf believes that going up against his friend Twellman will make the day that much more special.

"I think that if you have that friendship and bond it makes the game more fun and more meaningful in the end," he said.

Been There Before, But Not Here: Much has been spoken about how Ruiz has exploded onto the MLS scene in his first season in the League. "El Pescadito" has conquered League foes during the season and in the playoffs, but will he melt under the pressure of the finals spotlight? Not likely, as Ruiz has played in several championship matches with famed Guatemalan club CSD Municipal during his professional career in his native land.

"I grew up in soccer in Guatemala with a very successful team, so I am used to winning championships and I know what the pressure is," he said on Friday. "I won three championships in Guatemala and one international title, so I am used to being in this situation."

While Ruiz has big-game experience under his belt, he will admit to this being possibly the biggest match of his club career. He looks forward to making history for a Galaxy squad that has yet to take that final step in three previous MLS Cup finals.

"This is a bigger responsibility, a bigger pressure, because now I'm playing for a team that has never won the championship," stated Ruiz, "So I feel the pressure of changing history for this club and for its fans who have been waiting for a title for a long time."

If It's Not Broke, Don't Fix It: Late in the afternoon after training, Galaxy Head Coach Sigi Schmid and his team watched an edited game film of the last meeting between the two championship combatants, a 2-1 win for the Galaxy on August 10 at the Rose Bowl. Fans watching on Sunday can expect to see a similar approach by the Galaxy, with the attacking trio of Ruiz, Cobi Jones and Alejandro Moreno, who took nine shots in the match with both goals notched by Jones. Schmid is especially confident in trotting out the rookie Moreno, who will be playing in his first professional championship match.

"I'm not worried about it. He's started for us a different times and he's a pretty level-headed kid. There's always going to be a little bit of nerves," Schmid said. "Everyone will have some butterflies, if you don't you shouldn't be playing. His might be a little bigger than others, but once he gets that first touch and goes in for that first tackle he'll be fine."

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES:

CIENFUEGOS LEGACY TO LAST LONG AFTER MLS CUP: L.A. Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, one of MLS' most active players when it comes to community involvement, is currently working with a Los Angeles-based group called "El Piche" to build a field for a poor area of the country, 80 miles away from his hometown of San Salvador. Cienfuegos, who has donated several items of memorabilia to the effort, has been working to raise funds for the project, which has seen several companies donate money for the right to have plaques placed on the field in their name. In just over four months the funds collected have totaled more than $50,000. Cienfuegos hopes to raise several more thousand dollars for a locker room at the facility.

"We don't have good fields in my country," he said. "I've been working with many people in L.A. and I like it because I owe myself to the people."

Cienfuegos, who helped raise more than $100,000 last year for rebuilding projects in his native El Salvador after the effects of a devastating earthquake, says the construction of the field is set to begin in November and last through February with the opening of the facility planned for March 5, 2003. More information can be found on the internet at www.elpiche.com.

On the playing field, the 34-year-old Cienfuegos will next likely be answering questions about his soccer-playing future following MLS Cup 2002. The intentions of the Galaxy's No. 10 midfielder, however, are clear:

"I want to play one more year next year and then sit down with my family and wife and think about whether I can play one more year," he said. "But for sure I want to play next year. My future is in the U.S. I'm going to stay here long term. My family is happy, my children too and I think I have more opportunities to become a coach here. That's my idea."

WITH A VICTORY NICOL WOULD JOIN ELITE COMPANY: Steve Nicol replaced Fernando Clavijo after the seventh game of the 2002 season, making his 2002 debut on May 25, with a 3-2 victory over the Galaxy at Gillette Stadium (known at the time as CMGI Field). With an MLS Cup victory on Sunday, he would join a small, elite group of coaches who won league championships after taking over teams in mid-season. Only one manager in the history of major league baseball did so: Bob Lemon led the Yankees to a World Series victory in 1978 after Billy Martin was fired in late July.

Two coaches led their teams to NBA titles after mid-season changes: Paul Westhead with the Lakers in 1980, after he replaced Jack McKinney; and Pat Riley with the Lakers in 1982 -- after he replaced Westhead!

Three NHL coaches won Stanley Cups after mid-season changes: Dick Irvin with the Maple Leafs in 1932 (replaced Art Duncan); Al MacNiel with the Canadiens in 1971 (replaced Claude Ruel); and Larry Robinson, with the Devils in 2000 (replaced Robbie Ftorek).

No NFL head coach has won a Super Bowl after being hired during the season. But Wally Lemm led the Houston Oilers to an AFL title after replacing Lou Rymkus after five games of the 1961 season. (Courtesy: Elias Sports Bureau)

TWO HOTTEST TEAMS IN MLS CUP: The Los Angeles Galaxy and New England Revolution are the hottest teams in the League going into MLS Cup 2002 on Sunday. Over their last ten regular season matches, the two compiled the best records in MLS with the Galaxy putting together an 8-2-0 mark and the Revolution standing right behind them, going 6-3-1.

WHEN DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS: The L.A. Galaxy statistically own MLS' best regular season defense (League-low 33 goals conceded) while the Revolution allowed the most goals in MLS during the regular season (49 goals). However, New England enters the championship game with the League's best back line over its last 12 games, including the postseason. New England's 0.58 goals-against-average over its last 12 matches is better than that of any other team in MLS.

The solidity of the back line coincided with the arrival of rookie Daouda Kante, who was acquired on July 19 and made his first start on Aug. 10 against Los Angeles at the Rose Bowl. In that match the 24-year-old Mali native was able to shut down Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz for the most part but "El Pescadito" still punished the Revs with an 86th minute game-winning assist, Ruiz's only helper of the season.

STAPLES CENTER TO SHOW THE GAME LIVE IN LOS ANGELES: The L.A. Galaxy fans who are unable to make the cross-country trip to Foxboro, Massachusetts will have the chance to watch their team play the Revolution together with other fellow supporters at the live viewing party at the Staples Center. A big screen TV will be set up in the Grand Reserve Room for an expected crowd of 500 fans comprised of L.A. supporters clubs Ultras, the Riot Squad and the Galaxians. The last time the Staples Center held a soccer viewing party was when it hosted 18,000 South Korea supporters for the nation's third-place match at the 2002 World Cup.

REGGAE BOYZ INVADE GILLETTE STADIUM: Sunday's match will feature three Jamaican internationals and a fourth player who holds a popular element of Jamaican culture close to his heart. In the New England ranks are Kingston, Jamaica's own Wolde Harris and Winston Griffiths of Clarendon, Jamaica. Both have been called up regularly to play for the team affectionately called the Reggae Boyz. On the Los Angeles side of the field, the Galaxy will field another Kingston, Jamaica native Tyrone Marshall, a regular on the international scene. The Galaxy's right midfielder, Ezra Hendrickson, is captain of the St. Vincent's & the Grenadines National Team but regularly wears a Bob Marley t-shirt under his jersey which he displays on goal celebrations.

THE MINUTEMEN BEHIND THE REVOLUTION EVERY STEP OF THE WAY: If the Revolution succeed in scoring a goal on Sunday in MLS Cup, the crowd and television audience will hear a loud noise followed by a cloud of smoke coming from behind the goal closest to the light tower. It would be a sign that the Revolution's Minutemen (whose numbers will be bolstered to 12 men from the usual six-man troop) just blasted black powder blanks from their privately owned muskets. The Minutemen have been a staple of Revolution games since the 1996 Inaugural Season. The individuals of the group, who are also involved in "revolutionary" re-enactments, are responsible for their own attire, assembling their suits themselves or having them tailor-made.

FOURTH TIME THE CHARM?: The Los Angeles Galaxy will be making their fourth trip to MLS Cup in the League's seven-year history, but they are still looking for their first title. Among the other major U.S. pro leagues, there are 10 other teams that lost three championship games or series before ever winning one. Of those, only three won on their fourth try:

(1) New York Knicks: won NBA title in 1970 after losing in the finals in 1951, 1952, and 1953 (2) Detroit Pistons: won NBA title in 1989 after losing in the finals in 1955, 1956, and 1958 (known as Fort Wayne Pistons prior to 1957) (3) New England Patriots (NFL), won Super Bowl in February 2002 after losing AFL title game in 1963 and Super Bowls following the 1985 and 1996 seasons.

The following are the teams that lost at least four shots at the title before winning one:

(1) 7, Brooklyn Dodgers: MLB (won World Series in 1955) (2) 4, Detroit Tigers: MLB (won World Series in 1935) (3) 4, Denver Broncos: NFL (won Super Bowl following 1997 season) (4) 4, Minnesota Vikings: NFL (lost Super Bowls following 1969, 1973, 1974, and 1976 seasons, never won one) (5) 4, New York Liberty: WNBA (lost finals in 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2002, never won one) (Courtesy: Elias Sports Bureau)

GOING BACK TO HIS ROOTS: On the day Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz was elected MLS' best player in 2002, the Guatemalan nicknamed "El Pescadito" reflected on his early soccer days, as a goalkeeper in Guatemala City, Guatemala. Ruiz's Bellos Horizontes apartment complex team, Juan de Dios, was a local powerhouse and Ruiz won several awards as the best netminder during those days of playing on makeshift dirt fields set up between buildings. However, the team was so good that the nine-year-old Ruiz barely ever touched the ball while in goal. So he informed his coach that he needed more action. During the regular season Ruiz often put the gloves on when in the mood, and although his goalkeeping touch is gone for good, his ability to fool them is still very intact.

"It's a real great feeling (winning the Honda MVP award) which I dedicate to my family," he said. "I don't have any secrets. It simply comes down to hard work and effort."

POSITIVE FORECAST FOR SUNDAY: The Weather Channel is forecasting dry conditions for the MLS Cup championship game on October 20 in Foxboro. The outlook calls for a daytime high of 59 degrees under partly cloudy skies with no precipitation. In the last championship match played at Foxboro on November 21, 1999 the weather was a similar 63 degrees and sunny.

A QUESTION OF FAVORITES: With a League-best 16-9-3 record (51 points) the Galaxy can be considered to be the favorites of MLS Cup 2002 on Sunday.

"They're the favorite and No. 1 team coming in," Twellman said. "We just have to do what we've been doing the last eight weeks of the season and into the playoffs: we have to make it ugly for them and make it hard for them because once they get the ball moving they're fun to watch."

But Los Angeles Galaxy veteran defender Alexi Lalas is not about to gloat. In fact, he thinks that with the home team playing in the final, the tables are turned.

"Who's the underdog them or us - are you kidding me?," Lalas said to reporters on Friday. "They've got 60,000 people coming. How are they the underdogs? Have you ever tried to play in that situation? We're dosing this the hard way this year. We're facing the hottest team in MLS right now and an incredibly adverse environment to emerge from. We've got our work cut out for us."

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