Comcast SportsNet successfully broadcast the first of 19 D.C. United games Saturday night when the Black-and-Red defeated the Columbus Crew 3-1 at RFK Stadium. The 2005 season marks the ninth year Comcast SportsNet and D.C. United have partnered.
Highlights to the current agreement, a multi-year deal, include pregame elements, a live post-game show, and high definition production of home telecasts. Veteran broadcaster Dave Johnson and D.C. United's inaugural captain John Harkes will continue to provide insightful commentary throughout the season.
Comcast SportsNet, a division of Comcast Corporation, is a service of Philadelphia-based Comcast Regional Sports Television serving more than 4.7 million homes in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Washington D.C., via more than 200 cable systems in the mid-Atlantic region and major satellite services.
Gros Goal earns top play recognition
Second-year winger Josh Gros found more than the back of the Columbus net with a picturesque diving-header on Saturday night. Gros's second score of the year finished No. 3 on Saturday night's version of ESPN SportsCenter's top plays.
"I still have work to do. After all, I was beaten by a horse," quipped Gros in response to Kentucky Derby Winner Giacomo who was No. 1 on SportsCenter's Top Ten plays. The spectacular finish is also one of five goals nominated for Major League Soccer's Sierra Mist Goal of the Week.
Another Black-and-Red sophomore, Freddy Adu, set up the goal when he slipped the ball between defenders to find Olsen on the right flank. Gros's timely run through the penalty area connected him with Olsen's right-wing cross which bulleted into the upper corner past Jon Busch.
Adu would later add a tally of his own, which is also nominated for the Sierra Mist Goal of the Week. Click here to view all the nominees and cast your vote.
Adu re-signs with Pepsi
Pepsi Corporation recently announced it has extended its endorsement deal with Adu for two additional years, through 2007. The 15 year-old is progressing quickly, having earned his first Honda MLS Player of the Week honor for the week ending May 8, 2005 (Week 6).
In his second start of the season, Adu tallied two assists and his first goal of the year helping United defeat the visiting Columbus Crew 3-1 last Saturday at RFK Stadium. At age 15, Adu becomes the youngest player ever to win the award and the first teenager since 2001, when DaMarcus Beasley (19-years-old) (Week 21), Landon Donovan (19) (Week 19), and Santino Quaranta (16) (Week 15) each won once.
Man of the Match jerseys up for auction
D.C. United fans again have the opportunity to own a game-worn, autographed jersey of their favorite Black-and-Red players. Following every game, the United "Man of the Match," as determined by the fans, will sign his jersey.
The jersey will then be auctioned off on eBay. There are currently four jerseys up for auction: Christian Gomez's No. 10 from the April 2 season opener against Chivas USA, Bobby Boswell's No. 32 from United's home opener on April 9, Freddy Adu's jersey from his first start of the 2005 season against Columbus and Captain Jamie Moreno's jersey from his two-goal performance against New England on April 23.
All auction proceeds support the activities of United for D.C., the non-profit arm of D.C. United. For more information on this auction or United for D.C. in general, please call Catherine Marquette, Executive Director, at (202) 587-5443 or Amy Tessier, Program Coordinator, at (202) 587-5434.
