MLS Colorado Rapids

Rapids Weekly Report

Published on January 20, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Colorado Rapids News Release


1.) RAPIDS TRADE DEFENDER ROBIN FRASER TO COLUMBUS CREW

The Colorado Rapids announced last week the acquisition of a second round draft pick in the 2004 MLS Draft (16th overall) and a conditional draft pick in the 2005 MLS Draft from the Columbus Crew in exchange for veteran defender Robin Fraser. Fraser played in 26 games for the Black and Blue during the 2003 season.

The 36-year old defender ranks eighth in MLS all time games started category with 199 and 9th all-time in MLS in games played with 203. To read the whole story, click here: http://www.mlsnet.com/content/04/col0114fraser.html

2.) RAPIDS SELECT SIX PLAYERS IN 2004 MLS SUPERDRAFT

The Colorado Rapids selected midfielder Adolfo Gregorio with the team's first pick (15th overall), defender Adrian Caan (16th overall), defender Kevin Taylor (25th overall), defender Kevin Richards (35th overall), defender Gary Sullivan (45th overall) and midfielder John Pulido (55th overall), during the 2004 Major League Soccer SuperDraft that took place Friday in Charlotte, NC. Read the bio's of the new Rapids players below, and check out the entire final MLS 2004 SuperDraft list of team-by-team selections by clicking here: http://mls.ampmsports.com/mls/draftday/tracker_byPick_asc.html

3.) RAPIDS SUPERDRAFT PICK PLAYER PROFILE: ADOLFO GREGORIO

Gregorio, a three-time first team All-PAC 10 midfielder and 2003 Hermann Trophy candidate led UCLA in assists with 14 during last season. He also ranked third in scoring with 22 points. The 21-year old athlete has represented the United States playing for the Under-23, Under-20, and Under-17 National Teams. He was a part of the U-17 National Team which finished a best-ever fourth at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Position: Midfielder Born: Oct. 1, 1982 (21) Height: 5-9 Weight: 165 College: UCLA High School: Hilmar High School Hometown: Hilmar, Calif.

2003: M.A.C. Hermann Trophy candidate ... First team All-Pac-10 for the third consecutive year ... Ranked third on the team in scoring with 22 points and led the team with a career-best 14 assists, the third-best single-season assist total in UCLA history ... His 29 career assists rank ninth (tied) on UCLA's career chart

2002: College Soccer News second team All-American ... Third team NSCAA All-Far West honoree ... Named to the College Cup All-Tournament team ... Ranked third on the team in goals scored (nine) and points (24)

2001: Started eight of UCLA's last nine games and 10 games overall ... Ranked fifth on the team in scoring (eight points) and second in assists (four)

2000: Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors despite sitting out the last six games of the year with an ankle injury ... Scored a goal in his first collegiate game against Butler

PREP: First team Parade All-American in 2000 ... Two-time NSCAA All-American ... League MVP in 1998-99 and all-league selection in 1996-97

USMNT: Member of the U.S. Under-23 National Team that placed second at the Vale do Tejo Tournament in Portugal ... Member of U.S. Under-20 National Team and the Under-17 Team which finished a best-ever fourth at the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championships ... Recorded 20 career caps and two assists with the Under-17s ... Also earned three caps with the U-18 National Team

PERSONAL: Admires Portuguese National Team star Figo ... Speaks Portuguese ... Younger brothers Andrew and David play for Fresno State ... Full name is Adolfo Sousa Gregorio ... Born Oct. 1, 1982 in Turlock, Calif. ... Sociology major

4.) RAPIDS SUPERDRAFT PICK PLAYER PROFILE: ADRIAN CANN

Cann, the University of Louisville 2003 defensive player of the year, is the only Cardinal player to be named first-team All-Conference USA in four consecutive seasons. The 6-3 defender will bring considerable size to Colorado's defensive line.

Position: Midfielder Born: Sep. 19, 1980 (23) Height: 6-3 Weight: 180 College: University of Louisville High School: St. Robert High School Hometown: Thornhill, Ontario (Canada)

2003: The Cardinals' top defensive player ... Named Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season ... Only Cardinal player to be named first-team All-Conference USA for four consecutive seasons ... Saw action in 15 games, starting in all ... Had to sit out five games because of eligibility requirements from his summer league play

2002: Started in all 22 games for the Cardinals ... First Cardinal to be named Conference USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year ... Named first-team All-Conference USA ... Named second team All-Great Lakes Region ... Named team Most Valuable Player and Defensive Most Valuable Player ... Scored his first goal against IPFW ... Dished out an assist against Saint Louis in the Conference USA semifinals

2001: Started in all 19 games for the Cardinals ... Named first team All-Conference USA...Named second team All-Great Lakes Region ... Named Most Valuable Player and Most Dedicated 2000: Started in 20 games for the Cardinals ... Helped the Louisville defense to a school record 10 shutouts ... Named first team All-Conference USA ... A second team NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region selection ... Named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team ... Recorded two shots on the season

PREP: Named athlete of the year in 1998 and 1999 ... Team captain for six years ... Named Ontario All-Star Team Captain in 1998 and 1999 ... Named most valuable player the last two seasons ... Played in the Canadian National Championships ... Played in the Capital Cup in 1999 ... Ontario Cup Finalist in 1999, finished second ... Played in the Dallas Cup in 1998 and 1999 in the Super Group ... Helped lead team to the 1998 Ontario Youth Soccer League Cup Championship PERSONAL: Parents are Chelsey and Hermina Cann ... Major is Business

5.) RAPIDS SUPERDRAFT PICK PLAYER PROFILE: KEVIN TAYLOR

After trading a conditional draft pick in 2005 to the Columbus Crew for the 25th overall pick in the 2004 Draft, the Rapids selected Kevin Taylor. The 6-5 defender anchored the University of Michigan defense, starting all of the 21 games he played in. The 2003 All-Big Ten Conference first team selection also tallied a career-high 14 points with six penalty kick goals and two assists.

Position: Defender Born: Nov. 4, 1982 Height: 6-5 Weight: 180 College: University of Michigan High School: Gulliver Preparatory Hometown: Miami, Fla.

2003: Played and started in all 21 games at defender ... All-Big Ten Conference first team selection ... Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 9) ... Tallied career-high 14 points with six penalty kick goals and two assists ... Converted the first of U-M's four penalty kicks in its 4-3 PK advantage at No. 3 Notre Dame (Nov. 30) to earn a spot into the Elite Eight ... On the season took 24 shots, 17 shots on goal

2002: All-Great Lakes Region third team ... All-Big Ten Conference second team ... Started 19 games for the Wolverines ... Anchored defense that posted a record of 5-0-1 in last six regular season matches ... Tied for scoring lead among defenders with three points ... Registered 10 shots, with four shots on goal

2001: All-Great Lakes Region third team ... All-Big Ten Conference second team ... Started in 14 matches ... With three goals on the season, he set program's career mark for goals scored by a defender with six ... Anchored a defense that registered a U-M record six shutouts, three in Big Ten play 2000: Played 15 games, starting 14 ... Had a career-high five shots against Drury College (Oct. 22) ... Tied for team lead with two game-winning goals ... Had 24 shots, three goals and two assists on the season

PREP: Gulliver Preparatory (2000) ... 2000 All-America second team ... Four-year letter winner ... Four-time all-conference (1997-2000) ... Three-time all-county (1998-2000) ... Two-time all-state (1997, '98). PERSONAL: Enrolled in Division of Kinesiology ... Undecided in his major

6.) RAPIDS SUPERDRAFT PICK PLAYER PROFILE: KEVIN RICHARDS Richards, who scored the game-winning goal for the Fighting Irish in the 2003 Big East Championship final against St. John's spent last summer training with the Bermuda National Team.

Position: Defender Born: Dec. 23, 1981 (22) Height: 5-8 Weight: 147 College: University of Notre Dame High School: St. Andrews, College Hometown: Warwick, Bermuda

2003: Third team all-BIG EAST selection ... Scored the game-winning goal in the BIG EAST Championship final vs. 4th-ranked St. John's, his first goal since 2000 ... Named to Soccer America's Team of the Week on Nov. 19 ... Spent the summer of 2003 training with the Bermuda National Team

2002: A starter in the Irish lineup for all 21 of Notre Dame's games ... Credited with three assists on the season ... Named BIG EAST Co-Defensive Player of the Week for the week of Oct. 21 in leading Irish to wins over Michigan State (2-0) and Connecticut (3-1)

2001: Started all 18 games he appeared in during the 2001 season ... Had three assists on the season.

2000: Tallied one goal in 17 appearances during his rookie season ... Earned two starts in 2000 ... Came off the bench for the first five games of the season before earning his first career start against Cleveland State

PREP: Led St. Andrew's to two consecutive league titles, while registering back-to-back undefeated seasons ... Finished as the team and league's top scorer with nine goals and eight assists ... Three-time team MVP ... Member of the Pembroke Hamilton club team ... Three-year standout on basketball team ... Two-time basketball team MVP ... Captained both soccer and basketball squads in his senior season ... Also played high school rugby ... Named to the BIG EAST Academic All-Star Team for the 2002-03 school year

PERSONAL: Son of Bob and Pauline Richards ... Enrolled in the College of

7.) RAPIDS SUPERDRAFT PICK PLAYER PROFILE: GARY SULLIVAN

Sullivan, a 6-1 defender who started in 17 games for Adelphi University, was nominated for the 2003 MAC Hermann Award. Position: Defender Born: Jun. 24, 1982 (21) Height: 6-1 Weight: 195 College: Adelphi University High School: West Islip High School Hometown: West Islip, N.Y.

2003: Team Captain ... A first team All-ASC selection ... First team All-New York selection ... M.A.C. Hermann Award Nominee ... ASC Player of the Week (10/05) ... Started 17 games ... Scored two goals and had an assist ... Scored game-winning goal in 2-1 overtime victory against Syracuse (9/12) ... Sixth on the team in scoring with five points

2002: A first team All-ASC selection ... Started in 17 of 18 games ... Recorded a career-best two goals in 5-1 victory over Seton Hall (9/25) ... Sixth on the team in scoring with three goals for six points

2001: Started in all 17 games ... Picked up one goal in Adelphi's 4-1 victory over Iona (11/7) ... Named Second team All-Region and Second team All-Conference ... Named team MVP

2000: MVP of regional team in Fegenord Cup tournament in Holland PREP: A 2000 graduate of West Islip ... A four-year varsity soccer letterwinner ... Received Rookie of the Year and All-League recognition as a freshman ... named All-County as a sophomore, junior and senior PERSONAL: Son of Linda and Jim Sullivan ... Majoring in physical education

8.) RAPIDS SUPERDRAFT PICK PLAYER PROFILE: JOHN PULIDO

Pulido, a midfielder from Florida International University, led the Golden Panthers to their second-straight ASC crown and third in the four years of the conference's existence. Position: Midfielder Born: Oct. 3, 1981 (22) Height: 5-10 Weight: 165 College: Florida International University High School: American High School Hometown: Miami, Fla.

2003: Earned Atlantic Soccer Conference Player of the Year and first team All-Conference honors after leading the FIU men's soccer team to their second-straight ASC crown and third in the four years the conference has existed ... Led the nation's 10th-ranked scoring offense in points (21), shots (59) and goals (9) ... Ranked among the ASC's leaders in points per game and goal per game, finishing the season with 0.96 points and 0.41 goals an outing ... Started in all 22 games for the Golden Panthers 2002: Earned first team All-Atlantic Soccer Conference accolades ... One of six players to see action in all 20 contests ... Led the team with nine assists

2001: Saw action in 18 games, starting ten ... Scored first collegiate goal in a 1-0 win over Hartwick (10/7)

2000: Battled back from a sprained knee to play his first intercollegiate match versus Albany (10/13) ... Saw action in seven matches, starting the final game of the season against nationally-ranked South Carolina (11/12) ... Took four shots on the year. PREP: Played with the 1999 national and state championship American High School team ... Voted the Florida Player of the Year as a senior in addition to earning all-state and all-county accolades ... In club play, earned all-state and all-region honors and was selected to compete in the Olympic Development Program.

PERSONAL: Born Oct. 3, 1981 ... Son of William and Ligia Pulido ... Has one sister, Jessica, and one brother, William, Jr ... An international business major

9.) ONLINE SOCCER STORY OF THE WEEK

Brian Jennings wrote a great article on how the Rapids were sizing up the 2004 SuperDraft and whether they got what they were looking for out of it. Read it online by clicking here: http://www.soccer365.com/US_NEWS/Breaking_News/page_131_65562.shtml

10.) RAPIDS STAT OF THE WEEK

A special SuperDraft statistic: Of the 9 different players drafted first each year in the history of Major League Soccer, 4 have played for the Rapids (the highest number of any team in MLS):

YEAR 1ST PLAYER DRAFTED PLAYED FOR RAPIDS
1996 Brian McBride ---
1997 Tahj Jakins 1997-2000
1998 Leo Cullen ---
1999 Jason Moore 2000-2001
2000 Steve Shak 2001-2002
2001 Chris Carrieri 2001-present
2002 Chris Gbandi ---
2003 Alecko Eskandarian ---
2004 Freddy Adu ---

11.) RAPIDS OFFERING "FAMILY-FRIENDLY" SEASON TICKET PRICES FOR 2004

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 in Denver" 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 entertainment value for your family than Rapids Season Tickets, so get your order in today! The different Season Ticket Options for 2004 include: Full-Season, Half-Season, Flex-Plan, Fieldside, Suite, and Club Level Packages. To select your seats today, for pricing information, or for details on any of the 2004 Rapids season ticket packages, call the Rapids Ticket Hotline at (303) 825-GOAL or click here: http://www.coloradorapids.com/site/goal.asp?cid=219

12.) RAPIDFIRE QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Today's RapidFire quotes of the week come from Rapids Head Coach Tim Hankinson and new signing Adolfo Gregorio, on how the Rapids made out with their picks in last week's SuperDraft:

Tim Hankinson:

"We were very pleased to see Adolfo Gregorio of UCLA. We think he has special qualities. He has great creativity in his midfield game and can play central, right or left. So I think we've helped ourselves there in adding something to the attack. Defensively we want to regroup and re-strengthen our approach to things and so we picked a number of defenders. We think that Cann from Canada showed great poise and experience for his age. We know that we're going to be losing Nat Borchers to the Olympic Program as well as Pablo Mastroeni to the National Team and it was very important to make sure that we revamped and are well covered next year."

Adolfo Gregorio:

"It's a great honor to get picked up by Colorado and I'm just looking forward to working out with the team. At UCLA, I played a little bit of inside midfielder as well as on the right. I was pretty heavily marked, so I just liked to attract players to me, and dish off to the open man. I really like to swing some good balls in and beat my man one-on-one, so I'll just give the team what I can. Hopefully, my style of soccer fits in with what the Coach is looking for and the team."

13.) BIGSOCCER.COM TOPIC OF THE WEEK

A new feature on RapidFire, starting this week, RapidFire will send out our selected BigSoccer.Com Topic of the Week. This will be the online discussion board thread with the most fan responses or the most newsworthy or controversial topic each week. This week's most stimulating topic: "RUMORED NEW RAPIDS PLAYER".

Click here to read this week's featured topic on the Rapids Discussion Boards on Big Soccer: http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=18

Check out the Colorado Rapids Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 20, 2004


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