MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Weekly Report

Published on November 11, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


1.) MLS REVEALS JOHN SPENCER UP FOR THREE LEAGUE YEAR-END AWARDS

Rapids captain John Spencer added today two more nominations to his Major League Soccer's 2003 Most Valuable Player nomination, when he found himself among the finalists for 2 other MLS Year-End Awards, as announced by the League office. Spencer is also a contender for the 2003 Pepsi Goal of the Year, as well as the ACE Comeback Player of the Year award.

MLS unveiled the list of finalists for four of the League's annual year-end awards. It marks the second in a series of announcements leading up to the honoring of the winners at the 2003 MLS Gala Awards Ceremony on the eve of MLS Cup 2003 on Saturday, November 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California. The League's championship game, MLS Cup 2003, will be played on Sunday, November 23 at The Home Depot Center (1:30 p.m. MT - live on ABC Sports).

Five World-Class goals are in contention for the 2003 Pepsi Goal of the Year award. The show-stopping efforts eligible for the honor were voted on by the fans via online voting on the multimedia section of MLSnet.com: Honda MVP finalist and Team Captain John Spencer (Colorado Rapids - July 9), rookie sensation Damani Ralph (Chicago Fire - Aug. 13), last year's Honda MVP Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy - Aug. 9), striker John Wolyniec (MetroStars - Sept. 20), and consummate captain Joe Franchino (New England Revolution - Sept. 28). Online voting for the Pepsi Goal of the Year continues through midnight on Nov. 21 on MLSnet.com's multimedia section as the winner from the final group of five is determined.

Spencer will also contend for the ACE Comeback Player of the Year award, along with midfielder Chris Armas (Chicago Fire) and Ben Olsen (D.C. United), all three having overcome injury or great adversity to experience measurable success during the 2003 campaign. To see the capsules on each Award Finalist, as well as the dates each award will be unveiled, click here: http://www.mlsnet.com/special/mlscup/2003/mlscup1110awards.html

2.) BORCHERS, BECKERMAN CALLED IN TO U.S.A. U-23'S FOR OLYMPIC QUALIFYING

U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team Head Coach and former Rapids Head Coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick announced that Rapids players Kyle Beckerman and Nat Borchers were invited to join an 18-player roster for the team's second round CONCACAF Olympic Qualifying playoff versus St. Kitts & Nevis. The team has already gathered in Ft. Lauderdale, where they'll train for four days before heading to the tiny Caribbean island of St. Kitts on Thursday evening. The first match of the home-and-home series will be played on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 7 p.m. local time (6 p.m. ET) in Bassaterre, St. Kitts, with the USA's home leg to be played on Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, Md., at 7:30 p.m. ET. Read the entire story and see the U-23's Roster, by visiting the US Soccer Federation website by clicking here: http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=46331

3.) ZIZI ROBERTS LEAVES FOR AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFYING

The Rapids announced that forward Zizi Roberts has been called in to join the Liberian National Team that is currently attempting to clinch a ticket to the 2004 African Cup of Nations. Roberts, who finished third in the Rapids goal scoring department with five goals during the 2003 season, has represented Liberia more than 35 times, scoring eight goals with his national team. The Lone Stars will take on Gambia on Sunday, November 16th in Liberia's capital, Monrovia. Qualification continues for the 2004 African Cup of Nations, which will take place in Tunisia next summer. The Nokia African Cup of Nations is the biggest national team tournament in the African Football Confederation.

4.) RAPIDS 2004 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

The Rapids have announced that Family-Friendly Pricing on Rapids Season Tickets will return for the 2004 MLS Season at Invesco Field! Named "One of the Best Bargains" by 5280 Magazine, Rapids Season Tickets provide kids ages 6-16 with half-priced season tickets, and kids 5 & Under get Free Season Tickets when their parents buy one! There is no better Holiday Gift for your family than Rapids Season Tickets, so get your order in today! Here are the different Season Seat options for 2004:

FULL-SEASON TICKETS:

Reserve your seat for 18 exciting Rapids home games at INVESCO Field at Mile High. In addition to receiving the best family entertainment value in Denver, you'll receive the following plan holder benefits:
-Up to 50% savings over day of game gate prices!
-Flexible ticket exchange policy!
-Exclusive Planholder Gifts!
-Free Kids Club membership for each Youth Ticket!
-Preferred Discount parking (limited availability)!
-Guaranteed premiums on select premium giveaway nights!
-Ability to purchase discounted priority tickets!

HALF-SEASON TICKETS:

If you're incredibly busy and can't make it to all 18 Rapids home games, reserve your seat for 8 games! In addition to the same Family Entertainment Value, you'll receive these plan holder benefits:
-Up to 50% savings over day of game prices!
-Ability to customize the plan by picking any 8 home games! -Same great seat for all 8 games!
-Free Kids Club membership for each Youth Ticket! -Ability to purchase discounted priority tickets!

COLORADO RAPIDS FLEX-PLAN:

The Rapids Flex Plan allows you to choose the games you want to see at your convenience and save money off day-of-game gate prices. You receive 16 vouchers that can be used in any increment for any of our 18 home games!

FIELDSIDE SEATS:

The Colorado Rapids also offer great field side seating for the Full Season. You can watch all 18 home games from down on the actual Field on the Sidelines, directly behind the field boards! These seats will sell out quickly so order your today!

CLUB LEVEL SEATS:

If you are looking for a high quality luxury seat then look no further - the Club level at INVESCO Field at Mile High offers a great view of the field with added amenities like the Club Level Lounge, featuring a Full Bar, Private Concessions, and more!

To select your seats today, for prices, of for more information on any of the above 2004 plans available, call the Rapids Ticket Hotline at (303) 299-1599 or click here: http://www.coloradorapids.com/site/goal.asp?cid=219

5.) FINAL STANDINGS FROM RAPIDS DIVISION OF 2003 MLS FANTASY SOCCER

Congratulations to LASSITER, the Winner of the Rapids Division of the 2003 MLS Fantasy Soccer contest! Lassiter (also known as John Blum) will receive the Grand Prize gift from the Rapids for winning the division, as he finished the season with a division-high 18,945 points. Here are the final standings of the top 40 participants in this year's contest, and congratulations to all!:

TEAM NAME & FINAL POINT TOTAL:

Lassiter 18945 unknown losers 14445 Rapid Toad 13760 Charleston - SC 13365 Bizket Eaters 12190 panzers 11585 kickBRETTSbutt 11340 Scurvy Knaves 11140 Bailey Force 11040 HHIC 10710 Sweetwater FC 10205 FC Denver 10105 FNG 9960 Calcio31 9955 rapids-place 9880 Brealy SC 9765 Zman Rapids 9575 Chi-town bomber 9520 Yellowjackets 9510 Colorado United 9120 force of bailey 9000 SuperStar79 8905 throds thumpers 8855 fc emetic 8740 Dumfries Highlanders 8680 1 Man Brew Crew 8620 1st Place Team 8540 FlashBang 8450 Wonder Dogs 8415 American Idols 7915 Inter Hitch 7510 Juve25 7345 shred bettys 7130 MeansVision 7105 RapidsRule 7065 Rapid fan 6940 D-Town Crew 6470 Angus 6145 Cmich Chips 6120 Drag Queens of Soccer 5470

6.) RAPIDS TO SPONSOR BIGGEST THANKSGIVING OUTREACH IN THE WEST

The Colorado Rapids announced today that once again they will be sponsoring the COMPA Food Ministry's Annual Thanksgiving Outreach, the largest Thanksgiving Meal Donation program of its kind in the West and possibly the USA. The Annual Outreach feeds 17,500 needy families (around 60,000 individuals) who could not normally afford a Thanksgiving meal. Rapids players, staff and RapidMan will be on hand on Saturday, November 22nd to help bag and deliver Thanksgiving meals to those in need. Rapids fans are encouraged to volunteer as well! For more information, contact the Rapids Community Relations Dept. at (303) 299-1598, or for more info. and photos on COMPA, click here: http://www.compafoodministry.com/

7.) GET FREE TICKETS TO THE 2003 MLS CUP AWARDS GALA

Want to see John Spencer take home the 2003 MLS M.V.P. Award live and in person? The MLS Gala Awards Ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood will be open and free to the public. Requests for complimentary event tickets can be made by sending a note to the following e-mail address: 03galatickets@mlsnet.com. All ticket inquiries should include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Tickets are limited to a maximum of four per request and are based on availability with notification made via e-mail. So get your order in today!

8.) TRAINING SCHEDULE FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR

The Rapids players have the rest of 2003 off from organized training. Players will train at the Westminster Training Center individually, but there will be no organized training sessions that will be open to the public until early 2004.

9.) RAPIDS ARTICLE OF THE DAY

The Rocky Mountain News reports today on the successes of the DU and CU Womens' Soccer Programs. Pick up a Rocky Mountain News today or read the article online by clicking here: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/college/article/0,1299,DRMN_40_2418572,00.html

10.) RAPIDFIRE QUOTE OF THE DAY:

Today's RapidFire quote of the day comes a Denver Post article, quoting Rapids players John Spencer and Wes Hart, following the playoff game in Kansas City, on the blown call by referee Ricardo Valenzuela that called back a Rapids goal and cost the team the match and ultimately, the season:

"Trailing 1-0, the Rapids thought they had tied the game in 50th minute when Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola, teammate Diego Gutierrez and Hart all converged on the ball at the right of the goalie box. Hart collided with the two Wizards, but he managed to slip the ball to the middle of the field to wide-open John Spencer, who put the ball in the net. However, referee Ricardo Valenzuela called a foul on Hart. The Rapids were incensed and said Valenzuela didn't blow his whistle until the ball was in the net.

‘I think it was an absolute travesty, a terrible decision,' Spencer said. ‘That's what changes games and he made a serious, serious mistake.

Added Hart: ‘He said it was a foul, which kind of blows my mind. I looked up at replay ... he kind of bailed them out and got them off the hook.

Read the entire article by clicking here: http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~94~1755005,00.html

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 11, 2003


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