CHICAGO - Major League Soccer today announced the list of 121 players from 71 schools who are eligible for selection in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, which takes place tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 20 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA. The four-round SuperDraft will be held for the fourth consecutive year in conjunction with the annual NSCAA Convention.
The Chicago Fire enters tomorrow's MLS SuperDraft with five of the draft's 48 selections, including one first round pick, the 10th overall selection. The Fire currently holds three slots in the draft's second round - the 14th, 20th and 22nd overall selections - but will be forced to hand over one of those picks to FC Dallas to complete last year's draft day deal that sent goalkeeper Henry Ring to Dallas in exchange for last year's 29th overall pick. Chicago will round out the draft with its natural third round (34th overall) and fourth round (46th overall) selections.
Fox Soccer Channel, with hosts Allen Hopkins and Dave Dir, will broadcast the first hour of the MLS SuperDraft live beginning at 11:00 a.m. CT. Fans can also follow the entire SuperDraft live on MLSnet.com through streaming video and the SuperDraft Tracker.
Prior to the SuperDraft, adidas will unveil the +Teamgeist MLS match ball and team jerseys in a presentation that will be held from 11:00am ET to 11:45am ET at the Philadelphia Convention Center Ballroom. ESPN on-air personality Rob Stone will host the presentation.
Through the partnership between adidas and MLS, the 2006 season marks the first year that adidas will supply the official team apparel and uniforms for all 12 MLS clubs, as well as the League's official match ball. The new MLS team jerseys will be showcased and modeled during the unveiling event by a player from each team including MLS stars Clint Mathis (Colorado Rapids) and Arturo Torres (CD Chivas USA), as well as Generation adidas standout Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire) and Gatorade MLS Rookie of the Year Michael Parkhurst (New England Revolution).
To kick off the event, MLS Commissioner Don Garber will be presented with the first +Teamgeist MLS match ball by Klaus Filbry, Head of soccer for adidas America. The +Teamgeist MLS features the same technology and unique panel shape design as the +Teamgeist, official match ball for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Major League Soccer will be the first professional soccer league in the world to use the new +Teamgeist ball.
