Headlines for the week of May 7, 2007:
* Kansas City Wizards in First Place in MLS Standings
* Wizards to Honor Lamar Hunt Saturday
* Wizards Pitch in to Help Jacobo Family
* Conrad Out Saturday due to Fractured Jaw
* Jimmy Conrad Show Live Wednesday
* Wizards Weekly on Metro Sports: Lamar Hunt Tribute
* Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Foundation Launched
* Kansas City Wizards Busy in Community
* Garcia Look-Alike Contest Locker-Room Hit
Kansas City Wizards in First Place in MLS Standings
After five games played, the Kansas City Wizards are in first place atop the MLS Eastern Conference Standings. The Wizards (4-1-0) lead the conference with 12 points, while the New England Revolution and New York Red Bull are tied for second place with 11 points. In addition, the Wizards lead all of MLS in points.
First-Place Wizards to Hold Lamar Hunt Night Saturday
This Saturday, May 12, the first-place Kansas City Wizards take on FC Dallas at 7 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium in the first Saturday night match of 2007. The Wizards will hold a special tribute to former owner and MLS founder Lamar Hunt.
Players will wear special uniforms featuring a Lamar Hunt Commemorative Logo. Wizards and FC Dallas jerseys will be auctioned off on kcwizards.com after the match for charity. Additionally, the first 5,000 fans through the turnstiles at Arrowhead will receive Mr. Hunt's favorite treat, a chocolate chip cookie. Fans will also be given 2007 Wizards team posters.
Wizards players and executives will be on the air discussing Hunt and his contribution to Kansas City soccer throughout the week. A picture of the kit honoring Lamar Hunt is attached.
Wizards Pitch in to Help Jacobo Family
In addition to Lamar Hunt Night activities, the Wizards are stepping in to help a very deserving Kansas City family. In early March, ABC's Extreme Makeover Home Edition came to Kansas City, touching the lives of the 12-member Jacobo family. The show is set to air Sunday at 7 p.m. CT, with KMBC Channel 9 broadcasting a local recap show one-hour prior.
Unfortunately, the Jacobo family's mortgage has not yet been paid off. To help solve this problem, builder Kevin Green and the Kansas City Wizards are teaming up to help out the Jacobos.
The Kansas City Wizards will donate 25 percent of the proceeds from this special ticket offer toward the payment of the Jacobo family's mortgage. When purchasing tickets online, fans should use the password EXTREME. A portion of the money collected from the special Lamar Hunt kit auctions will also go toward the mortgage.
Volunteers from the show are encouraged to attend the game wearing their dark blue Extreme Makeover shirts to support the Wizards and the Jacobos. Those wearing their shirts will be put in a special section to cheer together.
Defender Jimmy Conrad Out Saturday Due to Fractured Jaw
Kansas City Wizards defender and captain Jimmy Conrad suffered a fracture in his jaw Saturday in the Wizards 1-0 victory over Columbus. The injury, sustained in a collision with the Crew's Ricardo Virtuoso in the 8th minute, will keep Conrad out for at least one week. In lieu of surgery, Conrad has agreed to eat soft foods for a month. He will be re-evaluated May 16.
"Every team has to deal with injury and adversity," Head Coach Curt Onalfo said, "but we are confident that both Aaron Hohlbein and Tyson Wahl can fill in for Jimmy for the time being."
Conrad missed seven weeks due to a broken jaw last year after former Revolution midfielder Clint Dempsey struck Conrad in the face with an elbow. Dempsey was suspended for two games and fined $1,000 for the incident.
Despite missing so much time, Conrad was a finalist for MLS Defender of the Year in 2006. He won the award in 2005 and was a finalist in 2004. Conrad has played in 104 matches for the Wizards over the last five seasons, scoring nine goals and recording three assists over that span.
Conrad has become a stalwart on the U.S. National team as well, appearing in 22 career matches and scoring one goal. He has played in all three National Team matches thus far in 2007, starting each game and playing a vital role for a defense that has allowed only two goals. Conrad's only career goal came in a 2-0 victory over archrival Mexico when Conrad converted a header in the 52nd minute that proved to be the game winner. Conrad has worn the captain band twice for the United States.
Midfielder Davy Arnaud will replace Conrad on Wednesday on The Jimmy Conrad Show, details below.
Jimmy Conrad Show Live Wednesday
Midfielder Davy Arnaud, filling in for injured Jimmy Conrad, and voice of the Wizards Sean Wheelock will co-host the Jimmy Conrad Show live from the Plaza 810 Zone Wednesday. The show, broadcast live at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN Radio 97.3, will feature rookie midfielder Michael Harrington and forward Kenny Cooper of FC Dallas as guests.
Wheelock, Arnaud and Harrington will discuss the rookie's fast start and the adjustment to professional soccer, as well as the upcoming match Saturday against FC Dallas at 7 p.m. CT at Arrowhead Stadium.
Harrington scored a goal three minutes into his MLS career, breaking the record for quickest goal to begin an MLS career previously held by D.C. United's Jaime Moreno. Harrington has one goal and two assists so far through five MLS matches and has contributed both offensively and defensively.
Catch the show on 97.3 FM or streamed live at kcwizards.com.
Wizards Weekly on Metro Sports: Hunt Tribute
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 a.m., will feature defender Nick Garcia and Technical Director Peter Vermes as special guests this week in addition to show regular, Head Coach Curt Onalfo. Coach Onalfo will break down the Wizards 1-0 victory over Columbus last Saturday and talk about the upcoming matchup with FC Dallas.
Garcia and Vermes will join host Brad Porter to discuss Saturday's Lamar Hunt Night match and the impact Hunt had on the team and the sport during their time in Kansas City.
Garcia played for 6+ seasons under Hunt, helping the squad win two major championships during that span. Vermes played in Kansas City for three seasons, winning the 2000 MLS Defender of the Year award en route to helping Kansas City capture the first and only MLS Cup won by a Hunt-owned team.
FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew are still owned by Hunt Sports Group. Jerseys from both teams will be auctioned off on kcwizards.com following the match with proceeds going to charity.
Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Foundation Officially Launched
The Jose Luis Burciaga Jr. Foundation, geared towards assisting Hispanic youth and underprivileged students in promoting involvement in sports, education, community service, and cultural awareness, officially began Saturday, May 5.
"I want to reach out to kids and let them know that it can be done. I am living proof. My parents made many sacrifices to help me get to where I am today," Burciaga Jr. said. "Through my foundation, I want to provide resources to assist others, to give them the hope and the tools they need to become successful."
"La Fundación de Jose Luis Burciaga" aims to provide adequate resources for students to develop key skills learned both on and off the soccer field such as teamwork, discipline, respect, a competitive attitude, and determination.
"It has been Jose's dream to open up such a foundation, give back to his community and benefit kids from all walks of life," Director of Latino Relations Leobardo Prieto said. "Jose is a living example that your dreams can come true. He feels it's not simply his responsibility but his obligation to give back and serve as a role model. I am honored and proud to be a part of Jose's vision."
Burciaga celebrated the launch of his foundation with a 90th minute goal that gave Kansas City a 1-0 victory over the Columbus Crew. His parents were in Kansas City from Texas to watch the match.
Kansas City Wizards Busy in Community
Five players from the Kansas City Wizards roster participated in Truman Medical Center's "Fashion for a Cause" Sunday at the Hyatt Recency downtown. AJ Godbolt, Willy Guadarrama, Chris Konopka, Sasha Victorine, and Tyson Wahl walked down the runway modeling Hudson and Jane apparel to help raise money for TMC's Women's Health Resource Center to purchase new isolette units for premature babies.
Upcoming Events:
Who: M Kurt Morsink
When: Tuesday, May 8 2:30-3:15 p.m.
Where: Central Elementary, 324 South Water St., Olathe, KS
What: Kurt Morsink will share the importance of reading in one's life and career to about 150 children at Central Elementary. In addition, he will be read a few books (about soccer) to the group.
Who: M-F Edson Elcock
When: Thursday, May 10 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Where: Plaza Middle School, 6501 NW 72nd Street, Kansas City
What: Plaza Middle School students will welcome Edson Elcock to their school, where he will speak about working hard, setting goals, and self determination. He will talk to the 6th grade students about how these qualities have helped him accomplish things in his life.
Garcia Look-Alike Contest Locker-Room Hit
Last Saturday, the Kansas City Wizards celebrated Cinco de Mayo, in part, with Nick Garcia masks and a Nick Garcia look-alike contest held prior to the match and judged by Nick's wife, MeLinda. The players seized the opportunity to deliver some good-natured ribbing to their beloved teammate. Midfielder Kerry Zavagnin, however, would not identify the culprit.
"I think there's a cone of silence we have to keep around things like that," Zavagnin said. "I think Nick enjoys it. Anytime he can get his face on TV or in the newspaper, or a on the wall, he's all for it."
Zavagnin does not feel that was the best prank ever pulled in a locker room setting.
"That was a 3 on a scale of 1 to 10. I'm sure we could have gotten a little more ruthless with it," he said. "Maybe next time."
Garcia faces adorned clocks, lockers and the rest of the locker room. Apparently, the rest of the squad wanted to be just like Garcia too. Garcia was unavailable for comment on this story.
