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MLS Real Salt Lake

Real Salt Lake and Soccer Unites Utah to Hold MLS Jersey Online Auction in February

January 29, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Real Salt Lake News Release


SANDY, Utah (Thursday, January 29, 2009) - In conjunction with today's bone marrow match drive at Rio Tinto Stadium, Real Salt Lake and Soccer Unites Utah have announced that the organizations will sponsor an online auction during the month of February featuring 25 player-worn MLS jerseys from throughout the League's history. All proceeds from the auction, which will launch on Valentine's Day, Saturday, February 14, will go directly to Soccer Unites Utah, a grass roots charitable group raising funds to offset medical costs for Marcia Williams - the wife of RSL MF Andy Williams - who has waged a fight against a rare form of Leukemia since being diagnosed with the disease last summer.

Beginning on Valentine's Day, RSL and Soccer Unites Utah will put up two jerseys a day for auction on eBay, with every jersey available for bidding for seven days. Real Salt Lake's official team blog, Behind the Shield - found online at www.RSLtotheCore.com - will preview each jersey the day before they appear for auction and will also provide direct links to the eBay pages where the auctions will be housed.

"Soccer Unites, and everyone involved with us, would like everyone to keep the Williams family in your prayers," said Deb Harper, Founder of Soccer Unites Utah. "While this auction is taking place, Marcia will be undergoing aggressive chemotherapy, and the funds raised through this jersey auction will become available just in time for her to start the next step, the marrow transplant. The costs for the transplant procedure will be very costly, and we are just hoping that everyone can find it in their hearts to bid on these one of kind jerseys to help contribute to this life-saving procedure."

Real Salt Lake and Soccer Unites Utah would like to recognize FC Dallas equipment manager Marcus Owens, who donated the expansive collection of jerseys that includes kits from 11 different MLS teams. Owens was an equipment manager during Andy Williams' tenure at both Miami Fusion F.C. and the MetroStars, and upon hearing the news of Marcia's diagnosis, felt compelled to do what he could help the family's cause.

The expansive collection of uniforms includes five players with Real Salt Lake ties (Williams, Jason Kreis, Clint Mathis, Eddie Pope and Freddy Adu), some of the League's all-time great midfielders (Marco Etcheverry, Cobi Jones and Preki), a trio of National Soccer Hall of Famers (Jeff Agoos, John Harkes and Tab Ramos) and current U.S. National Team stalwarts (Carlos Bocanegra, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard). The full roster of 25 jerseys is listed below.

"On behalf of Real Salt Lake, I would like to thank Mr. Owens for his generosity in donating this impressive collection of jerseys, and to Soccer Unites Utah for their continuing support and tireless efforts on behalf of the Williams family," said Real Salt Lake President Bill Manning. "This auction is yet another testament to both the caring nature of the people of Utah and the special, collective spirit that binds the players, staffs, and supporters of soccer in this country."

This MLS jersey auction is just the latest in a series of events and fundraisers hosted by Soccer Unites Utah and the American soccer community at large to not only help the Williams family during difficult times, but also to raise awareness in regards to bone marrow donation. If you are seeking more information, head over to www.DKMSamericas.org for more on what it means to be a bone marrow donor or visit www.SoccerUnitesUtah.com for more ways in which you can help assist the Williams family. For any questions regarding the online auction, please contact John Koluder in the RSL Soccer Media Services Department at jkoluder@RealSaltLake.com or 801-727-2716.

RSL/Soccer Unites Utah MLS Jersey Auction Roster

Freddy Adu - D.C. United #9 (away / white, L/S) - autographed

Jeff Agoos - San Jose Earthquakes #12 (2004 away / white)

Chris Armas - Chicago Fire #14 (2005 home / red)

Carlos Bocanegra - Chicago Fire #4 (2003 home / red)

Dwayne De Rosario - San Jose Earthquakes #14 (home / blue)

Mamadou Diallo - MetroStars #15 (away / black & white)

Youri Djorkaeff - New York Red Bulls (2006 home / red)

Landon Donovan - Los Angeles Galaxy #10 (2005 home / gold)

Marco Etcheverry - D.C. United #10 (home / black)

Amado Guevara - MetroStars #20 (home / red & black)

John Harkes - New England Revolution #6 (away / white)

Chris Henderson - Colorado Rapids #19 - (home / black & blue)

Chris Henderson - Miami Fusion F.C. #19 (2001 away / white)

Tim Howard - MetroStars #18 (orange GK, L/S)

Cobi Jones - Los Angeles Galaxy #13 (white / away) - autographed

Cobi Jones - Los Angeles Galaxy #13 (warm-up top / gold)

Jason Kreis - Real Salt Lake #9 (2006 away / white) - autographed

Pablo Mastroeni - Colorado Rapids #25 (home / black & blue)

Clint Mathis - MetroStars #13 (home / red & black)

Ronnie O'Brien - Dallas Burn #6 (home / red, L/S) - autographed

Eddie Pope - Real Salt Lake #23 (2005 away / white)

Preki - Kansas City Wizards #11 (away / white)

Steve Ralston - New England Revolution #14 (home / blue)

Tab Ramos - MetroStars #10 (home / red & black)

Andy Williams - New England Revolution #7 (away / white) - autographed

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Major League Soccer Stories from January 29, 2009


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