Update on the New Site...

Rapids Fans –

We want to give you an update on the progress of the team’s new website. Yes, for those that haven’t heard, we will be launching a new ColoradoRapids.com shortly. We’ll be joining the League network of sites, which we’re very much looking forward to.

Last Thursday, Major League Soccer launched the new League site, MLSsoccer.com (formerly MLSnet.com). As some fans that visited the website in the first few days may have experienced, the debut of the new site was not without glitches and elements that needed ironing out.

The next day, three other MLS teams launched their new sites. The Rapids were also in the queue to launch last Friday, however during our testing and reviews of the new site, we decided to wait until a few more of the bugs were cleaned up before giving the go ahead to launch.

MLSsoccer.com issued a statement on Monday evening explaining the reasons behind some of the major problems the sites were experiencing, and reiterating their commitment to delivering fans a great web experience. We fully believe this, because we know how hard the crew at MLS headquarters have been working on this project.

We’re confident that in short time, possibly as soon as Wednesday, we’ll be able to launch the new ColoradoRapids.com. It’s a major task that has been taken on, and we’re confident that in the not too distant future, all the pieces will come together.

We appreciate your support and understanding.

Sincerely,

The Rapids Front Office

Update on the New Site...

Bulldog Supporters Bus Info

Great showing by Rapids fans at The British Bulldog for the Rapids first viewing party last Friday (photo)! We also heard there were great turnouts at the viewing parties at Conor O'Niell's and Katie Mullens Pubs.

If any fan wants to join like-minded Rapids fans for the home opener, the British Bulldog is organizing a bus / ticket offer:

This Saturday, April 3rd, the Bulldog Supporters Group will be hosting a tailgate and bus trip to kick off the 2010 Rapids campaign. Cost for the bus and a ticket to the match is only $26. So come and join us in supporting the Rapids as they take on the Chicago Fire at Dick's Sporting goods Park! The bus will depart the Bulldog at 11:15am, for a 2pm kickoff. The Bulldog Supporters Group will be serving chili (veggie & meat) and keg beer before the match. You must RSVP via email asap if you would like a spot on the bus and a ticket to the match. Please send email to britishbulldogfc@gmail.com.

Bulldog Supporters Bus Info

Jabulani Hunt Update

The Rapids adidas Jabulani soccer ball scavenger hunt is underway. We hid a bunch of these soccer balls throughout the Denver area. Anyone that finds one can keep it. But, we've also placed labels in each ball with instructions on how to claim additional prizes.

The balls were hidden on Saturday morning and we started hearning from fans that found some by Saturday evening. A few more were claimed on Sunday. And today, Monday, quite a few more have been found and claimed.

Among those claimed were the Jabulani's that were hidden at: Dick's Sporting Goods in Southglenn; on the statue at Civic Park (see photo above); at the Westminster Rec Center; in a wagon at the Denver Zoo (Below); at the Westminster Sports Center; at the Jeffco Athletic Fields; at Long Lake Ranch Park; the British Bulldog; and at the Cherry Cricket.

We realize some people may have found some of these Jabulani's and not followed through with the instruction to claim additional prizes. So, we checked the hiding spots this morning and saw that many were still in their original places. We'll be going around over the next couple days to check the remaining locations so we can either give more clues or let you know if they've all been found.

Jabulani Hunt Update

Notes from Opening Night...

Some notes following the 1-0 win over Chivas USA on Friday night to kickoff the 2010 season.

* It was the Rapids first-ever road victory to start a season in 15-year franchise history.

* Colorado has won 3 of their last 4 against Chivas at the Home Depot Center.

* Captain Pablo Mastroeni added to his franchise most 8 season opener appearances, 7 starts.

* MID Colin Clark made his first start since tearing his left ACL in August last season.

* MID Jeff Larentowicz, DEF Marvell Wynne and DEF Danny Earls made their first appearances (and starts) for Colorado. Wynne in line-up after being acquired by the Rapids just over 24 hours earlier.

* MID Wells Thompson made his first appearance for the Rapids as a second half sub coming in the 67th minute.

* Tonight's game was Danny Earls first career MLS appearance.

* Marvell Wynne started at center back for the first time in his professional career.

* 2010 second round SuperDraft pick MID Ross LaBauex made his first MLS appearance coming in for Colin Clark in the 78th minute.

* In FWD Omar Cummings last five games against Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center, he has 3 goals and 1 assist.

* The Rapids had four changes to their starting 11 tonight compared to the season opener against Chivas USA last season (three along the backline).

* This was the Rapids first road win since 3-2 win over New York on May 30, 2009.

* Colorado has won 3 of their last 4 season openers after going 0-9-2.

Notes from Opening Night...

Coach Smith on the Opening Night Victory

Rapids Head Coach Gary Smith talks about the Rapids opening night win at Chivas USA and about newly acquired defender Marvell Wynne's first match with the club. Watch the videos below.

Coach Smith on the Opening Night Victory

Omar Cummings Scores in 1-0 Win

The Rapids defeated Chivas USA 1-0 on Friday to earn their first-ever season opening victory on the road. Watch the video below to hear Omar's initial thoughts on the game.

Omar Cummings Scores in 1-0 Win

Marvell Joins Rapids in LA

Thursday was a busy day for the Rapids and newly acquired Marvell Wynne, who comes to the Rapids in a trade with Toronto in exchange for Nick LaBrocca. The team finalized the trade hours before leaving for Los Angeles, and then Wynne started his trek from Toronto to California shortly after. After a long day, he met his new team at the hotel on Thursday night in LA. Go to our Youtube page or watch below for a short interview with Wynne...

Marvell Joins Rapids in LA

Rapids Kickoff Tonight at Chivas USA

The guys have put in a lot of hard this preseason, and tonight they finally get to go out and play for something that counts. While the League started Season 15 last night with Seattle defeating the expansion Philadelphia Union 2-0, the Rapids kickoff tonight vs. Chivas USA in California (8:30 pm MT).

The game will be broadcast live and in HD in the region on KWGN-Channel 2. If you're not in the area, or don't get Channel 2, you can watch the game on MLSsoccer.com's MatchLive, or on the DirectKick Package on DirectTV, Dish Network, or check you cable company.

Some Notes:

• Marc Stout will be the play-by-play voice and Brian Crookham the color commentator on tonight's broadcast.
• The Official Viewing Party for tonight's game in Denver is The British Bulldog on Stout St. In Boulder, the Official Viewing Party is at Connor O’Niells on 13th Street.
• Click here for the Denver Post's story on the season opener, with comments from coach Smith and Conor Casey. The Post also brings readers up to speed on yesterday's trade, WC break, and TV partnership. And, they give fans a snapshot on each player.
• There have been a bunch of previews and predictions posted through the soccer blogosphere. For a quick glimpse on each MLS team, check out the Associated Press preview.
• We're working closely with many people in New York to launch our new coloradorapids.com. Fans can go to the new MLSsoccer.com to get an idea of what's to come.
• In the meantime, you can read the game notes for tonight's game here.
  

Rapids Kickoff Tonight at Chivas USA

Roster Compliant...

The League earlier in the week mandated that all teams be roster compliant by 5 pm on Wednesday. This came on the heels of the newly announced CBA between the League and Players Union, which called for some changes to the roster specifics.

We'll try to condense what classifies as a compliant roster, with at least the most popular or common classifications...

* Teams can have no more than 24 eligible players on their rosters. Twenty players are classified as Senior Roster players, and four are classified as 'Supplemental' roster players (these players were formerly known as Developmental). Supplemental players must be under age 25, and their salaries don't count towards a team's salary budget (announced by MLS as $2.55 million for 2010).

* Eligible players must be signed to contracts and have all necessary paperwork completed and received by MLS, such as: loan agreements; International Transfer Certificate; appropriate work visa; or legal paperwork that permits them to work in the U.S. - such as permanent residence or refugee status.

* Teams may have a certain number of International players among the 24. These are non U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card). All International player slots are tradable, therefore a team may have more than or less than the eight International players slots that were originally assigned prior to 2009. The Rapids have nine slots available.

Here's the Rapids official compliant roster as of today's deadline:

Goalkeeper: Matt Pickens, Steward Ceus^, Ian Joyce
Defenders: Danny Earls*, Julien Baudet*, Michael Holody^, Kosuke Kimura, Drew Moor, Oscar Murillo*, Scott Palguta, Rob Valentino^.
Midfielders: Mehdi Ballouchy*, Colin Clark, Jeff Larentowicz, Ross LaBauex, Nick LaBrocca, Pablo Mastroeni, Ciaran O'Brien^, Jamie Smith*, Wells Thompson.
Forwards: Andre Akpan, Conor Casey, Omar Cummings*, Ross Schunk

^ Supplemental (4)
* International (6 of 9 available)

Roster Compliant...

Mastroeni and Larentowicz on the CBA

MLS today unveiled some of the details of the new five-year Collective Bargaining Agreement between the League and the MLS Players Union that was agree to last weekend. After Tuesday morning's practice, we caught up with Pablo Mastroeni and Jeff Larentowicz to hear their thoughts on the process and reaction to the final agreement.

Undercurrent: Talk about the decision for you and the other MLS players to go to Washington D.C. last weekend to meet with MLS; what you think of the new CBA that was agreed to by the League and MLS Players Union…

Pablo Mastroeni:

"I think we were running up against the clock and we needed to get a deal done. I think both sides wanted to avoid a strike at all consequences, and in order to really hash that out we needed to have a group of people making decisions on the spot, and not having to get on conference calls and having people wait by their phones.

So, it was important that our reps got out there and more importantly that we found middle ground where both camps came away happy with the result and the progress that we’re making. And more importantly, both sides came away understanding that it’s going to take both of us to grow the league, and that one can’t do it without the other."

Undercurrent: On the influence of veteran players like yourself being part of the meetings…

Pablo:

"Having been the league for a while, you realize no change can happen overnight. I think the improvements that we’ve made in the league since I first started in 98 have been small, but none the less have progressed in the right direction.

This CBA, obviously, we were miles apart at one point, but we realized that too much change to any ecosystem would disturb it. All the while we want to make progress in the right direction so that in five years we can then look at how far we’ve come and then make the appropriate changes to further grow the league."

Undercurrent: Jeff, you were part of the CBA negotiations as a member of the NE Revolution, and continued that role after joining the Rapids. What were the differences in the discussion a few months ago, compared to this past weekend when the agreement was reached.

Jeff Larentowicz:

"I think that what it came down to was that both sides wanted to play this season, and they realized that if there was a work stoppage that it would take some time to heal what was done.

But I think in the last couple of negations, that like any collective bargaining, both sides had to find a common ground. I think that although the players union were for the longest time were pretty solid on their stance of what they wanted, I think that the League finally realized that it was probably time to make some changes and they did."

Undercurrent: What was the gap that was bridged from months ago?

Jeff:

"Sometimes it takes, in collective bargaining, to get close to or even reach the threshold where you’re standing on the edge of the cliff. As you walk forward you know that it’s approaching and it’s easier to say we can handle it later. There wasn’t as much of a strict deadline staring us in the face a few months ago.

When things were extended in February, it was easy to say, “Oh, we’ll do it later,” or “we’ll push it on a little bit more.” I think it was also a case of the folks at the league testing our resolve and testing how unified the players were. And once they realize that in the end, it was time for them to move."

Undercurrent: On the importance of MLS veterans participating in the negotiation...

Jeff:

"I think the changes that have come have allowed the league to reward players who have been in the league for a while and have shown some commitment to the league. The problem with the league was retaining high profile and talented players; players that would leave for more money and more rights elsewhere. At this point, what the league has done is found a way, slowly and incrementally, to reward those players who have been around for a while, and I think that that’s good."

Undercurrent: Did you see any difference from the players point of view from New England to Colorado?

Jeff:

"No. I think there was very little difference from team to team, and I think that was part of the reason that the league felt that they needed to change. It was not an instance where three or four teams got together and thought that things needed to change; it was across the board that there were 15 teams and now 16 teams new that they needed to stand together to really affect change in the process."

Mastroeni and Larentowicz on the CBA