Big Weapon Small Field

Mike Adams has an awesome long throw! We should have already scored using it. On the small field it's pretty much like having a corner kick. What do you say we get our bigger players to crash the net off a couple flick ons? It could make a big difference in a tight game!

Scouting

Any scouting info on Real Colima? Either directly or someone with a contact that has played them?

Let's be prepared for this game mentally and physically.

Interesting result for Coloradans vs Kickers

The Coloradans beat the Kickers 3-2 Sunday.

That puts them at 35 points and we are at 30, Advantage sitting on 26 and Real Colima at 24.

We play Real Colima and Coloradans have Advantage, so let's get an all-around team effort and strong win vs Real Colima to make others chase us!

BBQ on May 6th

You are invited to a Team BBQ!

Joyce has graciously agreed to open her house, deck and hot tub for the occasion.

Date Saturday May 6
Time: 5:00pm till whenever (but we have a 9:00 a.m. game at the Kickers on May 7th!)

Please bring swimsuit if you want to hop in the tub…
NO, boxers and briefs do not qualify,
BYOB

Any and all food is welcome, we have a grill and are providing dogs and burgers.
One side dish or dessert each is greatly appreciated !

Please RSVP by Wednesday, May 3rd.

Joyce’s address:
406 E Bexley Street (the street is important)
Highlands Ranch, CO 80126
Please mapquest..

If you get lost, call Joyce at 303.596.1171

Kids are welcome.

Rapids Clinic with John Spencer

The Rapids are offering a free one hour coaching clinic with former Captain John Spencer (now an assistant at Houston) at Invesco Field on April 29th before their game. We'll get to go down on the field to do the clinic and then watch the match versus Houston after (you will have to have a ticket, they are available from $7.00-25.00.) I know that we have a few coaches on this team so if you are interested, call Justin to get on the list at (303) 405-6134. Spenny is a great guy and this should be fun!

We need maximum points this weekend - Shutout and 3+ goals!!!!

If you look at the schedule, REAL Colima is through the tough part of their schedule with the exception of REAL INTER.
Right now from the standings it looks like Kickers and Highlanders are the easier competition. REAL INTER, ADVANTAGE, COLORADOANS, and REAL COLIMA look to be the tougher competition. We have already beaten Advantage and Tied REAL INTER. We still play Coloradoans and REAL Colima and need to win. beyond that.....

Every team plays one team twice:
- We play Kickers twice (and need to max points)
- REAL Colima plays Highlanders twice (and are probable to max points)
- Advantage plays Rockets twice (and could max points)
- REAL Inter plays Coloradoans twice (max points not probable... should take each other out)

If Real Colima defeats Real Inter this weekend (very possible) and we max points this weekend (also possible), then our destiny is in our own hands.

Summer Tournaments

It's never to early to think about summer tournaments, especially if they are invitation only and generally fill-up quickly. I have a call into Vail in case they have a tournament this summer. We should also look at some others, get dates, etc.

Summer Tours, more expected

Barcelona, a UEFA Champions League semifinalist and runaway leader in Spain's La Liga, will travel from coast to coast, playing its first-ever matches in three of the four largest cities in the United States: Los Angeles (Sunday, Aug. 6) and Houston (Wednesday, Aug. 9) versus Mexican clubs, and in New York against the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer (Saturday, Aug. 12). Further details of the games in each city will be announced at a later date.
"This summer's FC Barcelona Tour promises to be one of the greatest soccer events ever to be played on U.S. soil," said MLS commissioner and SUM CEO Don Garber. "Everyone who loves soccer will get to see the magic of Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi with their own eyes. Major League Soccer and Soccer United Marketing are honored to bring Barcelona's exhilarating style of play to our fans. For many, this FC Barcelona Tour will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
FC Barcelona, coached by Dutch midfield legend Frank Rijkaard and recognized for its spectacular brand of attacking soccer, features some of the world's greatest players, including FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho (Brazil), 18-year-old sensation Lionel Messi (Argentina), and African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon). Also in the club's ranks are a host of players who will represent their countries in the 2006 FIFA World Cup: Rafael Marquez (Mexico), Carles Puyol (Spain), Deco (Portugal) and Mark Van Bommel (Holland).
"It is a good moment for FC Barcelona to promote its image in the great country of the U.S.," said FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta. "We are sure that, with the cooperation of MLS, Barca will become more recognizable among the North American public. We also believe that the presence of our team -- and our star players -- will assist the promotion and growth of soccer in the United States."
The Spanish giants will be making their first trip to the United States since 2003 when they played a three-game summer tour on the East Coast of the United States.

USMNT vs. Jamaica

FYI, USA vs. Jamaica Tuesday at 5:00 MT ESPN 2.

PA vs Highlanders FC 4-0

It was a strong win for the away Podiatry Associates / HPFC team as mother nature cooperated and the team posted a strong 4-0 win.

Cris White lead the team with 3 brilliant assists and keeper Craig Rants tallied his second straight shutout.

There were cautious moments mid-way into the 1st half that seemed to press the PA team into action with a goal to move into halftime at 1-0.

Early in the 2nd half, a poor call and frustration moment sent a key midfielder to the sideline and PA was down a man.

Cris and crew then seemingly drove the home "Orange" into submission with goals that smashed their back-line stability and spirit.

Goals, by my recount, were by Brian Crawford (correction) Doug Marx, Tony Clapp and Stefan Lanziner tallied twice.

Kahn not Germany number one for World Cup

'Bitterly disappointed'
Kahn not Germany number one for World Cup

07.04.2006
Germany boss Jürgen Klinsmann has demoted Bayern skipper Oliver Kahn to second-choice goalkeeper behind Arsenal's Jens Lehmann for this summer's World Cup. Klinsmann brought forward the eagerly-awaited decision, originally scheduled for May and headline news in the 2006 host nation for a number of weeks, to Friday after consulting his assistant Joachim Löw and national goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke.The Germany boss personally informed Kahn of his decision on Friday morning. "I'm very surprised and bitterly disappointed," Kahn declared in a statement released by the club. "I'll now be concentrating on my duties with Bayern in the Bundesliga and DFB German Cup over the next few weeks. I'll think over my future in the national team during the coming weeks and make an announcement in due course."

Rapids Home Opener

The Rapids play the Columbus Crew Saturday at 7:00 p.m. we sit in section 106 row 13. If you go stop by and say hello! Go Rapids!!!

Not Sporting, but necessary!

As a reminder, our league is setup more like a tournament than a league as points are accumulated for beating the snot out of the opposition.

We need to focus on maximizing points each week (10). Thus winning is first priority (6), then maximizing goals (3 but as many as possible is best) and then posting a shutout for another point!

Let's crush Highlanders FC - I forcast 7-0.

Also, looks like Barca could use Cris White to take their PK's as Ronaldinho missed one earlier today!

Team Patches

I say we go ahead with the team patches. GQ?

Nice effort today against Advantage!!! Harlow Park F.C. 1 Advantage 0
First rate save (s) by Craig today to keep us even. Look out Keller