Weekend Recap: Playoff Race Gets Tighter
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MLS Week 27: A Look Back
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MLS Week 27: Reaching into My Bag of Cliches (+ CCL Update)
Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update
* Weekly Schedule – Wizards Close Gap on Pack for MLS Cup Playoffs
* Wolff Continues Torrid September with Goal of the Week Nomination
* Colorado Rapids Visit Wizards September 26 on School Night
* Wizards Kick Off Greener Goals Event Tuesday With Player Reading, Book Donation
* Wizards, Metro Sports to Host College Doubleheaders Before MLS Games
* Kansas City, Arrowhead Stadium Make Short List for USA Bid to Host FIFA World Cup™
* The Jimmy Conrad Show Runs Wednesday at New Time
* Spanish-Language Coach’s Show Airs Thursday
WEEKLY SCHEDULE:
The Kansas City Wizards play their second straight match at home after posting a dramatic 3-2 win over FC Dallas last Saturday to move closer to the pack in the race for the MLS Cup Playoffs. The Wizards fought back from a 2-1 deficit with a pair of late goals to earn three vital points. The Wizards are currently six points back of the final playoff team (D.C. United) with five games to play. The Wizards will train at 10 a.m. CT each day Tuesday-Friday this week, with the team’s weekly press conference held at 12 p.m. CT on Thursday.
Date Time Location
Tuesday, September 22 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center
Wednesday, September 23 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center
Thursday, September 24 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center (Weekly Press Conference)
Friday, September 25 10 a.m. CT Swope Park Training Center
Saturday, September 26 7:30 p.m. CT CommunityAmerica Ballpark vs Colorado Rapids
Eight teams qualify for the playoffs. Playoff berths will be determined by points in the standings upon the completion of the regular season. All 15 teams will have played 30 games. The top two teams in each conference qualify and are seeded 1 & 2 in their respective four-team playoff conference brackets. The four MLS teams with the next most points, regardless of conference, receive “wildcard” berths:
The four wildcard teams will be seeded according to conference first.
If more than four teams qualify from one conference, the team(s) finishing lower than fourth in its conference will shift over to the other conference bracket.
A team switching conference brackets will be seeded below all other teams in its new conference playoff bracket.
As of today, the top two teams in each conference and four wild card teams that would qualify for the playoffs (bold print), the order in which they would be seeded, and their total Points (in parentheses), and Games Remaining [in brackets] is as follows:
Eastern Conference: Western Conference:
Rk Team Pts GR Rk Team Pts GR
1. Columbus (43) [5] 1. Houston (43) [3]
2. Chicago (40) [4] 2. LA (41) [4]
3. D.C. United (36) [4] 3. Seattle (38) [4]
4. Toronto (34) [4] 4. Colorado (37) [5]
5. New England (34) [6] 5. Chivas (37) [6]*
6. Kansas City (30) [5] 6. RSL (34) [4]
7. New York (17) [4] 7. FC Dallas (27) [5]
8. San Jose (21) [7]
* As the fifth qualifier from the West, Chivas USA would move over to the Eastern Conference bracket for the playoffs.
WOLFF CONTINUES TORRID SEPTEMBER WITH GOAL OF THE WEEK NOMINATION:
Striker Josh Wolff continued his excellent September form Saturday with his 4th goal of the month in a come-from-behind win over FC Dallas. Wolff started the month by winning MLS Player of the Week honors after scoring two goals and creating two more in a 4-2 win at the New England Revolution. He has since scored in a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls and Saturday’s 3-2 win over FCD to help the Wizards climb back into the MLS Cup Playoff picture. Wolff’s strike Saturday is up for the MLS Goal of the Week award. Fans can watch the goal here and vote for Wolff at: http://web.mlsnet.com/sights/goal_of_the_week/.
Wolff is closing in on 200 MLS games after playing in his 198th career contest Saturday against FC Dallas. Should Wolff play Saturday night against Colorado, he would be on track to reach the 200-games milestone Sunday, October 4 at Houston.
WIZARDS HOST COLORADO RAPIDS SEPTEMBER 26 ON SCHOOL NIGHT:
The Colorado Rapids come to town Saturday for a 7:30 p.m. CT contest on School Night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Students who bring a test with a grade of a “B or Better” and receive a FREE Wizards t-shirt at the game. Students can also send essays to the Wizards detailing what makes their teacher great. One lucky winner will receive a Wizards player meet and greet and a FREE catered lunch for their class in addition to having their teacher named the winner of the Wizards Teacher Appreciation Award at halftime of the game.
All teachers nominated will be recognized on the field during the Wizards match. The first 400 students that order tickets get the opportunity to high five the players on the field as part of the “Human Tunnel” before the game. For more information about purchasing tickets through this package, call the Wizards at 913-387-3400. School groups of 50 or more will receive free bus transportation to and from the game.
For only $20, the School Night Package includes:
One (1) bleacher ticket to the Wizards vs. Rapids match
One (1) Wizards drawstring backpack
One (1) 2009 Wizards Sticker Book compliments of State Farm
One (1) Hot Dog
One (1) Soda
Email all Teacher Appreciation Essays to customer.service@kcwizards.com. Please title each email “Teacher Appreciation”.
WIZARDS KICK OFF GREENER GOALS EVENT TUESDAY WITH PLAYER READING, BOOK DONATION:
The Kansas City Wizards will kick off their “Greener Goals” program Tuesday with a book reading by defender Matt Besler at New Stanley Elementary in the KCK School District. Following Besler’s reading Tuesday, the Wizards will donate copies of The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to students of New Stanley Elementary. Next Tuesday, Besler, his teammates and Wizards staff members will visit Ruby Park in KCK along with students from New Stanley Elementary to conclude the two-part “Greener Goals” event.
Who: D Matt Besler
When: Tuesday, September 22; 1:15-2:15pm
Where: New Stanley Elementary, 3604 Metropolitan, Kansas City, KS
What: Matt Besler will be visiting Stanley Elementary to talk to the students about “greener goals” in the community. He will be reading the Dr. Seuss book, The Lorax, and then working with the students to make individual “green” pledges on how they can help the environment. Following, Matt and the Kansas City Wizards will be making a donation of The Lorax to almost 100 students, and the Kansas City Soccer Foundation will be donating 100 Kansas City Wizards tickets to the students for that Saturday.
Who: KCW Players, KCW Staff, and New Stanley Elementary Students
When: Tuesday, September 29; 1:15-4:15pm
Where: Ruby Park, Kansas City, KS
What: The entire Wizards family will be holding the 1st Annual “Greener Goals” clean-up event at Ruby Park in KCK and have invited children from New Stanley Elementary to participate as well. The group will be picking up trash, cleaning up the park, painting benches, fixing up the playground, and painting a soccer mural over graffiti on the bridge. This annual event will be held to improve local parks and create “green” awareness.
WIZARDS, METRO SPORTS TO HOST COLLEGE DOUBLEHEADERS BEFORE MLS GAMES:
The Wizards and Metro Sports have partnered to present opportunities for college doubleheaders prior to Wizards Major League Soccer games at CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Fans can purchase tickets for $20 that grants access to the college games during the afternoon and the Kansas City Wizards MLS match that evening. The games will be filmed by Metro Sports and broadcast at a later date. The college doubleheaders continue September 19 and 26, when the following games will take place at CAB prior to Wizards games:
September 19
William Jewell College 1-0 Sterling College (men’s)
Graceland University 0-2 Kansas Wesleyan University (men’s)
Kansas City Wizards 3-2 FC Dallas
September 26
University of Saint Mary vs Central Christian College (women’s) at 1:00 p.m. CT
University of Saint Mary vs Central Christian College (men’s) at 3:00 p.m. CT
Kansas City Wizards vs Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. CT
KANSAS CITY, ARROWHEAD STADIUM MAKE SHORT LIST FOR USA BID:
The USA Bid Committee Inc. announced August 20 that Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium are one of 27 cities and 32 venues, down from 70 initial stadia in 52 cities, on the short list to be included in the United States’ bid to host the FIFA World Cup™ in either 2018 or 2022. The USA Bid Committee will submit their bid to world soccer’s governing body, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), in May of 2010. FIFA will select host countries for the 2018 and 2022 events in December of 2010. The Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee is Co-Chaired by Kansas City Chiefs Chairman of the Board Clark Hunt and Cerner Corporation’s Chairman and CEO and Kansas City Wizards co-owner Neal Patterson. Fans are encouraged to show their support for the bid by visiting http://www.goUSAbid.com and signing the petition to bring the FIFA World Cup™ to the United States.
The 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany announced a total economic impact of approximately $6.2 billion and the creation of 50,000 new jobs, while recording that two million tourists spent approximately $766 million. The USA Bid Committee is currently undertaking an economic impact study for an event in the United States in 2018 or 2022.
Kansas City’s bid committee also includes Kansas City Wizards Technical Director/Interim Head Coach Peter Vermes, a former FIFA World Cup™ participant who represented the United States 67 times at the international level. Vermes helped lead a young squad to an improbable qualification in the 1990 World Cup in Italy, the first trip for the United States in 40 years. The United States has qualified for each of the next four FIFA World Cup™ tournaments, one of the longest active streaks in the world.
“Appearing in the FIFA World Cup™ was the highlight of my playing career, and helping to bring the event to my adopted hometown of Kansas City would be a highlight of my post-playing career,” Vermes said. “The FIFA World Cup™ is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event, and I hope everyone here in the Heart of the Continent will experience the energy in either 2018 or 2022.”
The Kansas City / USA Host City Bid Committee features members and expertise from a wide range of Kansas City metropolitan area public and private entities from both sides of the state line, including: The Kansas City Chiefs; Kansas City Wizards’ ownership group OnGoal, LLC; the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation; the Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association; the City of Kansas City, Missouri; the Unified Government of Wyandotte County, Kansas City, Kansas; and POPULOUS, formerly HOK Sport Venue Event.
JIMMY CONRAD SHOW AIRS WEDNESDAY AT NEW TIME:
The Jimmy Conrad Show, presented by Budweiser, will move to a new time this Wednesday from 8-9 p.m. CT. Jimmy Conrad hosts the show each week with guests from the Wizards and around Major League Soccer. The show will be broadcast live from Fox and Hound in Overland Park, Kan. again during the month of September. Fans are always encouraged to call in to talk Wizards, MLS or U.S. National Team soccer at 913-3-810-810.
Fox and Hound – Overland Park
10428 Metcalf Ave
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 649-1700
Google Maps Link
In 2009, the Wizards will take registrations from fans at each edition of the Jimmy Conrad Show for month-end drawings. Prizes will include Field Side Reserved tickets, a clinic from a Wizards player, a Football/Futbol double-header package and a VIP Meet & Greet session after a training session. Each fan can enter that month’s drawing each time they attend The Jimmy Conrad Show.
Month Prize
September 2 Field Side Reserved tickets to Kansas City Wizards vs. Colorado Rapids Sept. 26
October Autographed Wizards jersey and on-field VIP experience at 2009 playoff game
Fans can download archives of The Jimmy Conrad Show from the podcast page at kcwizards.com.
ZONA WIZARDS AIRS THURSDAY ON 1480 AM:
Wizards Interim Head Coach Peter Vermes will join Enrique Morales each Thursday at a new time from 1-2 p.m. CT for the weekly Spanish-language coach’s show Zona Wizards on Ke Buena 1480 AM. This week, Spanish-speaking fans are encouraged to listen for a recap of last week’s three-game road trip to the East Coast that featured wins at New England and New York.
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