Weekly update: Full week ahead

NOTE:
Practice starts at 9:30 a.m. for remainder of week due to temperature

• Burciaga Hosted Clinic in New Orleans Last Saturday
  

• Wizards Host First-Place New England Sunday
  

• Wizards Fan, Philanthropist TJ Widbin to Attend Match
  

• Final 5 Home Games on 5 Different Nights of Week
  

• Catch The Jimmy Conrad Show Live Wednesday
  

• Wizards Weekly on Metro Sports This Week
  

• Vermes, Onalfo Win Soccer-Tennis for Second Time
  

• McMahen, Watson Hosted Clinic Sunday
  

• Dynamo, Konopka Visted Northland Fans Sunday
  

• Defender Nick Garcia Fulfilled Donation Sunday
  

• Supercuts, Wizards Hosting Super Clinic Wednesday
  

• Three Wizards Play Softball for Urban Youth Saturday
  

• Dynamo to Appear at Stroke, Stroll and Run
  

• McMahen to Sign Autographs Prior to Revolution Match
  

• Kansas City Wizards Training Schedule
  
  

  Defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Held Clinic in New Orleans Presented by Passback, Western Union
  

Defender Jose Luis Burciaga Jr., known for his charitable nature, took his soccer skills and ability to work with young people to a new area last Saturday. Burciaga traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana over the weekend for an event presented by Western Union and the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Passback program Saturday morning.

"It was a neat clinic to be a part of," Burciaga said. "With the aftermath of Katrina and the city being destroyed, my being able to make the day or the month or the year of some young people was something special. To spend a day like that with those kids was something I'll always remember."

The clinic, attended by over 100 kids, was designed to teach soccer to underprivileged children ages 6-16 in New Orleans. Burciaga was the only MLS player present, as volunteers from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Western Union and area youth coaches assisted with the program.

"Doing something like this is good for the league and it's good for the Kansas City Wizards," Burciaga said. "That's something we in MLS do a great job of. We don't just play soccer, we do a good job of getting out in the community and giving back. That's something I try to do often."

Burciaga's work in the community this year has been extensive. In addition to the event in New Orleans, Burciaga has made numerous appearances at local schools, the Guadalupe Center in Kansas City, Kansas and started the Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Foundation to encourage young people to stay in school and use athletics as a positive force under difficult circumstances.

Kansas City Wizards Host First-Place New England Revolution Sunday

After a 17-day layoff, the Kansas City Wizards (8-6-5) jump back to action Sunday against the first-place New England Revolution (10-4-6)* in the final match-up between the Eastern Conference rivals in 2007. The game, part of Kansas City Irish Fest Night at the Wizards, begins at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Metro Sports (English) and Time Warner Cable Channel 5 (Spanish). La Gran D 1340 will carry the live Spanish-language radio broadcast. The teams have split two matches thus far in 2007, with the Wizards securing a 4-3 road victory May 26 before falling 2-0 at the Revs in Kansas City's last match on August 2.

Kansas City should be with its full allotment of players, including newly signed Argentinean attacker Eloy Colombano. Colombano, a 24-year-old forward or right-sided midfielder, will push the rest of the Wizards attacking players for space in Head Coach Curt Onalfo's team throughout training this week.

While Kansas City will be in action for the first time in over two weeks, the Revolution is in the middle of a jam-packed schedule. Including a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fixture, the Revs will have played six games over the same stretch the Wizards will have played just two. New England plays Thursday night at the Colorado Rapids on ESPN 2's MLS Primetime.

Sunday is the last of five DiGiorno Ultimate Family Four Pack nights of 2007. Tickets for families of four or more are available through this package here.

Individual tickets are available here for the match-up between two of the best offensive teams in MLS.

*Prior to Thursday's match

Kansas City Wizards Fan, Young Philanthropist TJ Widbin to Attend Match Sunday After Month-Long African Soccer Mission

Twenty-year-old Iowa native TJ Widbin, fresh off a month-long trip to Africa to touch the lives of African children through soccer, will be present at the match against New England Sunday. Widbin will perform the ceremonial coin toss prior to the match.

With the help of the Wizards and many other individual donors, Widbin was able to collect hundreds of items including balls, cones, soccer shoes, jerseys and nets to donate to less fortunate children in various villages and cities across Kenya.

Widbin, who previously visited Africa on a similar trip in 2005 as an 18-year-old, has been featured for his efforts in the Kansas City Star and 90:00 Soccer Magazine. He intends to make further trips in the future.

Wizards to Play Quirky End-of-Year Home Schedule

With five home matches left in 2007, the Wizards are in the unusual position of hosting five games on five different nights of the week in the coming two months. Kansas City has one game on each of the following nights of the week: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Remaining Home Schedule

The Jimmy Conrad Show Live Wednesday

Kansas City Wizards defender and captain Jimmy Conrad and the voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will co-host The Jimmy Conrad Show live from the Plaza 810 Zone Wednesday. The show will be broadcast live at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN Radio 97.3. Guests are still to be determined.

Catch the show on 97.3 FM or streamed live at kcwizards.com.

Wizards Weekly on Metro Sports This Week
Wizards Weekly, the official Kansas City Wizards weekly highlight show, broadcast on Metro Sports Thursday at 11:30 p.m., Friday and 4 p.m. and again Saturday at 11:30 a.m., will feature Head Coach Curt Onalfo and rookie midfielder Michael Harrington.

Onalfo and show host Brad Porter will discuss the upcoming match-up with first-place New England and the Wizards progress two-thirds of the way through the MLS season. Harrington, one of the top rookie performers of 2007, will share his experiences after 19 professional games and his thoughts on his first-ever playoff push.

Technical Director Peter Vermes, Head Coach Curt Onalfo Soccer-Tennis Champions Once Again

Just as they did during a preseason trip to Florida, Technical Director Peter Vermes and Head Coach Curt Onalfo beat all comers in a team soccer-tennis tournament to capture bragging rights over their players.

Vermes and Onalfo defeated the pairing of defender and captain Jimmy Conrad and midfielder/defender Lance Watson to capture their second "trophy" of the 2007 campaign.

McMahen, Watson Hosted Camp for Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy at Sprint World Headquarters in Overland Park Sunday

Who: M Ryan McMahen, M-D Lance Watson

When: Sunday, August 12; 12:00-1:30 p.m.

Where: Sprint World Headquarters, 6200 Sprint Parkway, Overland Park, KS

What: McMahen and Watson taught soccer skills to kids from Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in Overland Park. The players organized the clinic of over 40 participants and ran drills for over an hour on the soccer fields at Sprint World Headquarters. After the clinic, the players were available for pictures and autographs.

Dynamo, Konopka Visited Northland Fans Sunday

Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon, GK Chris Konopka

When: Sunday, August 12; 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Where: Northbrook Neighborhood, Liberty, MO

What: Konopka and Dynamo had some fun in the sun at the Children's Pool Party for Northbrook Neighborhood. Konopka signed autographs while Dynamo handed out high fives with Wizards merchandise available for all in attendance.

Defender Nick Garcia Fulfills Donation to Leukemia, Lymphoma Society

Who: D Nick Garcia

When: Sunday, August 12; 5:00-6:00 p.m.

Where: Private Party

What: Fulfilling his donation to a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Kansas City auction, Nick Garcia made a neighborhood visit to sign some autographs and hang out with local soccer fans. There was a goal set up in the back yard; we are told Garcia had some intense competition.

Supercuts, Wizards Hosting Super Clinic

Who: Kansas City Wizards Coaches, Players, and Staff

When: Wednesday, August 15; 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Where: Swope Park soccer fields, 6310 Lewis Road, Kansas City, MO

What: Supercuts and the Kansas City Wizards are teaming up to hold a SUPER Clinic for children ages 5-15 in the Kansas City area. The players and coaches will instruct for an hour and a half and there will be an autograph session at the end of the clinic. All participants will receive a ticket to a Wizards game, an Adidas mini-ball and a 2007 team poster.

Three Wizards Play Softball to Benefit Urban Youth

Who: GK Chris Konopka, M AJ Godbolt, D Michael Kraus

When: Saturday, August 18; 3:00-5:00 p.m.

Where: Satchel Paige Stadium, 51st Street and Swope Parkway, Kansas City, MO

What: Three players from the Kansas City Wizards will be joining other local athletes to show off their skills during the Back to School Celebrity Softball Game, hosted by Kimble Anders. They will be playing at Satchel Paige Stadium to raise money for Running Back Giving Back - an organization benefiting the urban youth of Kansas City.

Dynamo to Appear at Stroke, Stroll and Run

Who: Mascot Dynamo the Dragon

When: Sunday, August 19; 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Where: HyVee, 12200 State Line Road, Leawood, KS

What: Dynamo will be heading out to Leawood to cheer on participants of the Stroke, Stroll, and Run on the morning of August 19th. He will be entertaining the children and handing out Kansas City Wizards team posters.

McMahen Signs Prior to Revolution Match

Who: M Ryan McMahen

When: Sunday, August 19; 6:00-6:30 p.m.

Where: Arrowhead Stadium, 1 Arrowhead Drive, Kansas City, MO

What: Join Kansas City Wizard midfielder Ryan McMahen on Soccer Celebration outside of Arrowhead Stadium before the game against New England. McMahen will be signing autographs for fans at the Fan Information booth. Make sure to stop by.

Kansas City Wizards Training Schedule:

Tuesday, August 14
Training 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday, August 15
Training 9:30 a.m.

Thursday, August 16
Training 9:30 a.m.

Friday, August 17
Training 9:30 a.m.

• All training sessions are held at the new Swope Park training facility off of 63rd and Lewis. Practice times are subject to change. Please call Sarah Hardy at 816-665-8442 to confirm.
  
  Tidbits From Last Match Against New England
  

• Following the match, Kansas City sits 8-6-5 (29 pts.) in 2nd place in the competitive Eastern Conference, four points behind New England.

• Kansas City is now 3-3-3 on the road and 3-6-2 when allowing the first goal.

• New England beat Kansas City at home for the first time since 1999, a span of 11 matches.

• Kansas City is now 7-1-4 in their last 12 trips to Massachusetts and 5-1-4 all-time at Gillette Stadium.

• Kansas City is now 15-9-7 all-time against New England and 8-4-4 all-time on the road.

• Revolution Head Coach Steve Nicol improved to 3-7-7 in his career against Kansas City.

• The loss ended a four game unbeaten streak for the Wizards (2-0-2) that began July 7.

• Kansas City won the first match of the season series 4-3 at Gillette on May 26 behind a three-goal performance by star striker Eddie Johnson. It was Johnson's first hat trick of the season.

• Johnson went on to record a hat trick in the next match, a 3-2 win over New York June 2 to become the first player in MLS history to record back-to-back hat tricks.

• He is now the Wizards all-time leader in hat tricks recorded (2).

• Jack Jewsbury played in his 100th career MLS match. All have been with the Wizards.

• Sasha Victorine played his 201st career MLS match Thursday. Victorine's first 121 matches came with the Los Angeles Galaxy where he was a teammate to current Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman. Victorine remains 10th on the Galaxy's all-time games played list.

• Victorine was traded to Kansas City prior to the 2005 season and has now played 80 matches for the Wizards over the last three years.

• New England's stoppage-time goal gave them a 2-goal win. Kansas City had not lost a match by more than one goal through the first 18 games of 2007. The Wizards are 6-5-0 in one-goal matches.

• The Wizards last 14 games had been decided by one goal or less.

• Kevin Hartman, facing former Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Matt Reis in goal, made his most saves as a member of the Wizards.

• Hartman and Reis teamed up in the 2007 MLS All-Star game to shutout Scottish power Celtic FC.

• With eight saves on the night, Hartman now has 971 career saves, good for 3rd in the history of Major League Soccer.

• With two goals, the Revolution overtook Kansas City as the team with the most goals in MLS. The Revs now have 33. Kansas City remains on 32.