WESTERN DIVISION
COLORADO RAPIDS
Investor/operator--AEG.
MLS championships--None.
Stadium--Invesco Field, Denver.
Coach--Tim Hankinson.
2001 record--5-13-8.
Top players lost--Marcelo Balboa, Paul Brave, Raul Diaz Arce.
Top players gained--Mark Chung, Chris Henderson, Pablo Mastroeni.
Outlook--Judging by the players they have added, the Rapids should not repeat their miserable 2001 season. In Chung and Henderson, they have added speed and creativity, while the addition of Mastroeni makes the defense infinitely better. If Scottish striker John Spencer can again score 14 goals as he did in 2001, Colorado could make the division race interesting. The new stadium might help, but will 40-year-old Carlos Valderrama?
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DALLAS BURN
Investor/operator--Hunt Sports.
MLS championships--None.
Home--Cotton Bowl.
Coach--Mike Jeffries.
2001 record--10-11-5.
Top players lost--Lubos Kubik, Ariel Graziani.
Top players gained--Ronald Cerritos, Steven Morrow.
Outlook--The Burn has never missed the playoffs but has never done much once it got there. The loss of Graziani is huge and raises a question about where the goals are going to come from. Jason Kreis and Cerritos will be counted on to deliver. Oscar Pareja and Joselito Vaca are the keys in midfield.
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KANSAS CITY WIZARDS
Investor/operator--Hunt Sports.
MLS championships--One (2000).
Home--Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.
Coach--Bob Gansler.
2001 record--11-13-3.
Top players lost--Onandi Lowe, Mo Johnston.
Top players gained--Stephen Armstrong, Diego Gutierrez, Preki.
Outlook--The Wizards look rather ordinary and somewhat past their expiration date. If goalkeeper Tony Meola is selected for the U.S. World Cup squad, as expected, they could be very vulnerable on defense. The return of Preki is an interesting experiment, but forwards Roy Lassiter and Gary Glasgow might not be able to take full advantage of his midfield skills.
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GALAXY
Investor/operator--AEG.
MLS championships--None.
Home--Rose Bowl.
Coach--Sigi Schmid.
2001 record--14-7-5.
Top players lost--Paul Caligiuri, Luis Hernandez, Greg Vanney.
Top players gained--Chris Albright, Tyrone Marshall, Carlos Ruiz.
Outlook--A three-time MLS finalist but never a league championship winner, the Galaxy is coming off a runner-up finish in 2001. Albright comes in to replace Sasha Victorine up front, with Victorine moving into a midfield role. Marshall replaces Vanney on defense and Guatemalan striker Ruiz already has done better than the man he replaced, Mexico’s Hernandez.
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SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Investor/operator--AEG and Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment.
MLS championships--One (2001).
Home--Spartan Stadium.
Coach--Frank Yallop.
2001 record--13-7-6.
Top players lost--Ronald Cerritos, Junior Agogo.
Top players gained--Ariel Graziani.
Outlook--The Earthquakes were surprising and deserving champions last season, and the addition of Graziani and NCAA college player of the year Luchi Gonzalez from Southern Methodist should keep them in the hunt this year too. Defender Jeff Agoos and forward/midfielder Landon Donovan are certain to make the U.S. World Cup team, which will hurt San Jose at both ends of the field while they’re gone.
