A quick look at the Los Angeles Galaxy headlines for the week of October 10, 2005 ...
2005 MLS REGULAR SEASON CONCLUDES WITH GALAXY - EARTHQUAKES BATTLE AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: The Los Angeles Galaxy conclude the 2005 MLS Regular Season this weekend when they host their Northern California rivals, the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday, October 15, 2005 at The Home Depot Center on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills. Heading into the regular season finale vs. the Earthquakes, the Galaxy could be fighting for anywhere from second to fourth place in MLS' Western Conference. The 7 pm game, presented by RadioShack, will be televised live throughout the Southland on FSN West 2, beginning with Galaxy GameDay pre-game show at 6:30 pm. The game can also be heard live in Spanish on KMXE 830 AM and English on KMPC 1540 AM.
GALAXY AND VERIZON WIRELESS TEAM UP TO PROVIDE A LINE OF HOPE TO VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: The Los Angeles Galaxy and Verizon Wireless, owner and operator of the nation's most reliable wireless network, are teaming with fans to help curb domestic violence in the community. The first 500 fans to donate a used wireless phone and/or accessory to the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program will be awarded a Buy One Get One Free ticket voucher for the first Los Angeles Galaxy playoff game. HopeLine drop boxes will be located at the gates of the Home Depot Center prior to the start of the match. Through the Verizon Wireless HopeLine program, used wireless handsets, batteries and accessories from any service provider are refurbished, or recycled and sold. Proceeds are used to fund grants for non-profit domestic violence advocacy organizations and to purchase wireless phones for use by victims. During the past two years, Verizon Wireless has awarded more than $400,000 in HopeLine grants and donated more than 2,000 wireless phones and free airtime to California domestic violence agencies to aid survivors. Wireless phones and equipment can also be donated to the HopeLine program year-round at any Verizon Wireless Communications Store across the country.
SOCCER ... IT'S VAN-TASTIC RAFFLE CONTINUES AT THE HOME DEPOT CENTER: Earlier this year, five local artists were commissioned to express their creativity on five unique cars. These rolling works of art are a celebration of L.A.'s culture and personalities. The cars appeared at events all over Los Angeles and at the end of the summer, four of the five cars were presented to L.A. charities to utilize as fundraisers. The Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation generously donated the "Soccer Mom" vehicle as a prize to be raffled off. Raffle tickets will be sold at the front desk of The Home Depot Center, Monday - Friday (9 -5 pm) as well as at booths located near the Northwest and Southwest Entrances and at the Galaxy Foundation booth on the Main Concourse of The Home Depot Center during Saturday's Galaxy-Earthquakes game and through the first half of the Galaxy's Western Conference semifinal match, slated for later this month. The van is available for display on game days near the Southwest Entrance of The Home Depot Center. Raffle tickets are priced at the following: One (1) ticket for $20.00 or Three (3) tickets for $50.00. Proceeds shall benefit the Los Angeles Galaxy Foundation and The Home Depot Center Charitable Foundation with a portion of the proceeds going to the Del Amo Rotary Club of Torrance.
GALAXY PLAYERS EXPERIENCE MIXED RESULTS WITH RESPECTIVE NATIONAL SIDES ON THE WEEKEND: The resumption of CONCACAF Qualifying to 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany last Saturday was yet another chance for some the Galaxy's best players to display their skills on the international stage. Both midfielder Chris Albright and goalkeeper Kevin Hartman were called in for the USA's match at Costa Rica, featuring their Galaxy teammate, defender Michael Umaña - Albright earned a cap in the match. The 3-0 victory for the home side ensured the ticos of CONCACAF's third automatic berth in the World Cup, which means that Guatemala, led by Galaxy midfielder Guillermo Ramirez, despite a 5-2 loss at Mexico Saturday, is still in the running for fourth place in the region and a chance to meet the winner of the Uzbekistan - Bahrain series in a two-leg, home-and-home playoff in November to determine whether the chapines would qualify for the first World Cup finals in their nation's history. Though not playing in a qualifier, Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall was also called to international duty for Jamaica as the Reggae Boyz met Australia in England, playing all 90 minutes as his side was dealt a disappointing 5-0 result at the hands of the socceroos.
CONCACAF QUALIFYING TO 2006 FIFA WORLD CUP GERMANY CONCLUDES THIS WEEK: The final matches in CONCACAF Qualifying to 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany will be played this Wednesday, October 12 when the following matches are played: Panama @ USA, Costa Rica @ Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago @ Mexico. Though there is little at stake, with all three of the region's automatic entrants (CRC, MEX, USA) into the final field of 32 already determined, Ramirez, Umaña and Albright will remain with their respective national teams for their final qualifying matches.
PLAYOFF PICTURE STILL MUDDY AS MLS HEADS INTO FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON: Heading into the final week of the 2005 MLS Regular Season, the Galaxy still do not know their first round playoff opponent thanks to a log-jam in the Western Conference standings - just two points behind FC Dallas for second and three ahead of the Colorado Rapids. The Galaxy's 2-2 tie on September 17 in Kansas City, combined with FC Dallas' 2-1 defeat of Real Salt Lake, ensured that the club clinched a berth in the 2005 MLS Cup Playoffs. In doing so, the Galaxy became the only team to qualify for the postseason in each of MLS' first 10 seasons.
PLAYOFF 4-PACKS ALREADY ON SALE THROUGH THE CLUB: Purchase the Galaxy Playoff 4-Pack and be a part of the Galaxy's 2005 MLS Cup playoff run! Buy four (4) great seats to the Western Conference Semifinal playoff match (Sat., Oct. 22 or Sun., Oct. 23 or Sat., Oct. 29) and get four (4) Galaxy Gold knit caps, for as low as $100! Playoff 4-Packs are currently on sale and great seats are moving fast, so be sure to reserve your today by visiting lagalaxy.com or by calling 1-877-3GALAXY.
MAS GALAXY THIS AND EVERY WEDNESDAY: Más Galaxy, the club's Spanish-Language radio talk show, will focus on the Galaxy's final 2005 regular season match against the San Jose Earthquakes. The program, hosted by Troy Santiago, the Spanish-language voice of the Galaxy alongside www.MLSnet.com reporter and local soccer journalist Rene Romano, features an in-depth look at the Galaxy and their opponent(s) each week. Remember Galaxy fans, for the latest news on your favorite team, tune in every Wednesday night to Más Galaxy, only on KMXE 830 AM.
GALAXY DEPORTIVO BREAKS DOWN ALL THE ACTION SATURDAY: Galaxy Deportivo, The weekly, half-hour Spanish language television show devoted to the Los Angeles Galaxy, can be seen this Saturday, October 15 at 3:30 p.m. on KWHY - Channel 22. Galaxy Deportivo, hosted by Los Angeles area personalities Jaime Motta and Elmer Polanco, can be seen at the same time each and every Saturday on Channel 22.
Galaxy Weekly Training Schedule
Date: Time/Location
Tues. Oct. 11: 9 am - T4
Wed. Oct. 12: 10 am - T4
Thurs. Oct. 13: 9 am - University Field # 1
Fri. Oct. 14: 10 am - Track & Field Stadium
Sat. Oct. 15: 7 pm - Galaxy vs. Earthquakes - The Home Depot Center
Sun. Oct. 16: 10 am - Galaxy reserves vs. Earthquakes reserves - The Home Depot Center Track & Field Stadium
Mon. Oct. 17: TBD
NOTE TO MEDIA: All practice times are listed in Pacific Time and are subject to change without notice.
Galaxy Injury Report
OUT - Ben Benditson (sports hernia)
DOUBTFUL -
QUESTIONABLE - Landon Donovan (Left ankle sprain), Paulo Nagamura (contusion on right leg)
PROBABLE -
Did you know ... The Galaxy has three players with at least three goals in MLS reserve division play? They are Mamba Chisoni (5), Joseph Ngwenya (4) and Herculez Gomez (3)?
