Sporting Blue Wedding Continues, Sporting Waive 2 More, Will Have New Announce Team

The changes to Sporting KC roster continue, and they've now expanded beyond the field to the broadcast booth as well.

The team has made no formal announcement, but with the waiver draft this afternoon, after the expansion draft, two more Sporting KC players appeared on the list available to be drafted, Christian Duke and Martin Steuble.

Duke, a Sporting KC academy product that the team drafted in the 2013 Supplemental Draft. He never appeared in a competitive game for Sporting Kansas City but has spent part of the last two seasons on loan to Sporting's two USL affiliates, Orlando City and Oklahoma City.

Steuble, a midseason acquisition along with Jorge Claros, made just three appearances for the club after signing, one start. The other two were late game substitutes, totaling just 69 minutes for the club. Recently he's been away with the Philippines national team at the AAF Cup where he'd played every minute of their three group games. In the semifinals, he played 90 minutes in their 0-0 draw with Thailand, but in the return leg was sent off in the 82nd minute as the Philippines fell 3-0.

Williams and Gutierrez Will Not Be Back

The other news today was that Sporting KC's broadcast team of Callum Williams and Diego Gutierrez would not be back next season. Williams had been with the team since the 2011 season, covering play-by-play duties for SKCTV. He'd developed a following of fans in KC and around the league. One thing I've heard consistently was his even balanced commentary that was never too bias for the home team. Whoever replaces him will certainly have some big shoes to fill in the eyes of the fans.

Gutierrez, the former KC Wizards captain, was in his first season in the booth. He'd replaced Jake Yadrich, who moved from the booth to the sideline this season. Gutierrez didn't have as many fans as Williams did, a lot of the comments regarding him was that his commentary was too bias towards Kansas City and that he struggled to stay in the flow of the game. There's been no announcement on who will replace them in 2015.

Former SKC Wizards Update

Here's another week of former SKC Wizards updates. First, there were plenty of former SKC Wizards in Omaha late last week when the US 94 World Cup team played an exhibition against the Omaha Vipers. Alexi Lalas, Preki, Roy Lassiter, and Diego Gutierrez all played for the US team, Tony Meola was supposed to play but couldn't make it due to travel. Chris Brunt played for the Vipers. Preki and Gutierrez both had a goal and an assist, Lassiter had a goal, and Brunt picked up an assist as the Vipers won. In other former player news, it looks like Yura Movsisyan is on his way out of Denmark and potentially on his way Russia. Not sure how much of an upward movement that is for Movsisyan, but that could be an interesting move for Movsisyan.

In former coach and front office news, former GM, Curt Johnson has been named the GM of the Carolina Railhawks of the NASL, but since the league did not get sanctioning from US Soccer yet. Also, former coach Curt Onalfo has been named the new assistant coach for the LA Galaxy and will run the reserve team. He will take over the position vacated by Cobi Jones. Here's the rest of this week's former SKC Wizards update.

Still looking for:
Nick Cardenas
Pablo Escobar
AJ Godbolt
Willy Guadarrama
Pete Marino
Ryan McMahen
Akeem Priestley

Indoor soccer.
Jamar Beasley - Missouri Comets - Scored a goal in Missouri's 15-13 loss to Baltimore. Scored two goals and an assist in Missouri's 21-20 win over Omaha, he also was given credit for the 3 point winning goal, though it was an own goal.
Chris Brunt - Omaha Vipers - Played in Omaha's 21-20 loss to Missouri.
Pat Healey - Baltimore Blast - Had an assist in Baltimore's 14-6 win over Milwaukee. One goal in Baltimore's 15-13 win over Missouri.
Boris Pardo - Missouri Comets - Did not play in Missouri's 15-13 loss to Baltimore. Picked up the win in Missouri's 21-20 win over Omaha.
Nelson Pizarro - San Diego Sockers - Beat Last Vegas 10-9
Paul Wright - San Diego Sockers - Beat Las Vegas 10-9

International
Eloy Colombano - Ferrocarril Sud - Argentina - Did not have a game this week.
Herculez Gomez - Pachuca - Mexico - Came off the bench and played 3 minutes in Pachuca's 1-1 draw with Santos Laguna.
Santiago Hirsig - Quilmes - Argentina - Clausura does not start until February.
Jermaine Hue - Harbour View - Jamaica - Tied St. George's SC 0-0.
Will John - NK Vinogradar - Croatia - On winter break.
Eddie Johnson - Fulham - England - Did not dress in either of Fulham's games this week.
Carlos Marinelli - Györi ETO - Hungary - On winter break.
Yura Movsisyan - Randers FC - Denmark - On winter break.
Matt Taylor - Rot Weiss Ahlen - Germany - Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Weiss' 3-2 loss to Koblenz. Started and played 90 minutes, scoring a goal in Weiss' 3-1 loss to Werder Bremen II.
Diego Walsh - Wellington Phoenix - Australia - Did not play in either of Wellington's games this week.

Soccer America MLS All-Decade Team

With the end of 2009 lots of people are putting together lists on the "best of the decade" stuff. Soccer America has put out their MLS All-Decade team. The Wizards are represented pretty well on the list, with 2 current and 2 former Wizards on the team.

The only representative on the Best XI team is the Wizards current captain, Jimmy Conrad. Conrad was selected to the Best XI team 3 times and earned one Defender of the Year award in the decade. Goalkeepers Tony Meola and Kevin Hartman were named to the reserve squad. Meola was MLS MVP in 2000 and was a consistent performer for both KC and New York. Hartman became the MLS all time leader in most goalkeeping categories during this decade. Also on the list is the best player in Wizards history (and I don't think anyone can argue that point), Preki. While Preki was an MVP in this decade his only playing in half the decade is why he's likely not on the first team. There is one former Wizard who did not make the list that I thought probably deserved a mention. That player is Nick Garcia who has been in the league since 2000 and while he hasn't brought in the awards has been a strong defender in the league.

UPDATE: Had this pointed out to me as I missed it originally, but Diego Gutierrez is on the list as well. While he's only listed as being on Chicago, Gutierrez played for the Wizards from 02-05. During that time he was the club captain in 04 and 05 and won the US Open Cup.

Former Wizard to Hall of Fame

I was going to wait until Wednesday's former Wizards update for this, but decided it was too big of news to not touch on, on it's own. Former Wizard, Diego Gutierrez, is going to be receiving a big honor on Thursday. Gutierrez, who retired at the end of last season will be inducted into the Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise Idaho. For the past few years, Gutierrez has worked with the "Nothing but Nets" program to help with the malaria problem in Africa. Gutierrez's induction even made national news, as it was discussed by Kevin Blackistone in his "30 seconds of face time" on Around the Horn today on ESPN. You can listen to Blackistone's comments on the podcast for September 22nd (the part about Gutierrez starts at the 22:20 mark).

Congratulations Diego, you deserve it, and you do all Wizards' fans, soccer fans and Kansas Citians proud.

Former Wizards Update

MLS
Nick Garcia - San Jose - Started and played 90 minutes in San Jose's 2-0 win over Toronto.
Scott Sealy - San Jose - Started and played 54 minutes in San Jose's 2-0 win over Toronto.
Jose Burciaga Jr. - Colorado - Dressed but did not play in Colorado's 1-1 draw with RSL.
Chris Klein - LA - Started and played 90 minutes in LA's 2-2 draw with Dallas.
Dave van den Bergh - New York - Played all 90 minutes recording an assist in New York's 5-2 loss to Chicago.
Carey Talley - Chivas USA - Started and played 90 minutes, playing in the ball that ended up leading to Chivas' goal in their 1-1 draw with Houston.
Shavar Thomas - Chivas USA - Started and played 45 minutes in Chivas 1-1 draw with Houston.
Alex Zotinca - Chivas USA - Dressed but did not play in Chivas 1-1 draw with Houston.
Sasha Victorine - Chivas USA - Missed this week's game with an injury.
Diego Gutierrez - Chicago - Started and played all 90 minutes, recording an assist in Chicago's 5-2 win over New York, Diego's final regular season game.
Brandon Prideaux - Chicago - Started and played 90 minutes in Chicago's 5-2 win over New York.
Will Hesmer - Columbus - Started and played all 90 minutes getting the shut out in Columbus' 1-0 win over DC United.
Yura Movsisyan - RSL - Started and played 90 minutes, recording the tying goal in Salt Lake's 1-1 draw with Colorado that put them into the playoffs for the first time.

USL
Yomby William - Puerto Rico Islanders - Started and played all 90 minutes last Thursday in the Islanders 1-0 loss to CSD Municipal. Is starting tonight for the Islanders in their last group game against Tauro FC in the CONCACAF Champion's League.

Rest of the World
Khari Stephenson - Aalesunds FK - Norway - Started and played 51 minutes in Aalesunds 3-0 loss to FC Lyn.
Chris Konopka - Bohemian FC - Ireland - On the bench but did not play in Bohs 3-1 win over St. Pat's Athletic in the Ford FAI Cup.
Eddie Johnson - Cardiff City (Fulham) - England - Dressed but did not play last Saturday in Cardiff's 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest. Came off the bench to play 11 minutes in Cardiff's 2-0 win over Blackpool Tuesday.
Ryan Raybould - Gefle IF - Sweden - Did not dress in Gefle's 3-0 win over Hammarby. Did not dress Wednesday in Gefle's 3-1 loss to Kalmar FF.
Matt Taylor - TUS Koblenz - Germany - Started and played 58 minutes in Koblenz's 1-1 draw with Nurnberg over the weekend. Came off the bench today and played 18 minutes in Koblenz's 1-0 loss to 1860 Munich.
Diego Walsh - Adelaide United FC - Australia - Started and played 90 minutes in United's 2-1 win over the Perth Glory.
Will John - FK Čukarički Stankom - Serbia - Did not play in Čukarički's 1-0 win over FC Partizan.

Diego Gutierrez's Last Season

Former Wizards captain, Diego Gutierrez, will play his final season in the league this year in Chicago. Drafted by the Wizards in 1996 out of Rockhurst University, Gutierrez missed the entire 97 season and was left exposed in the expansion draft in 1998. He was picked up by the Fire and played with until being traded back to KC before the 2002 season. He then ended up being traded back to Chicago after the 2005 season. Gutierrez has 4 Open Cup titles in his career (98, 00, 04, & 06), 1 MLS Cup (98), and was runner up in 2 more MLS Cups (00, 04).

Wizards Fantasy Draft Rounds 5 and 6

We're back with rounds 5 and 6 of the fantasy draft. Rounds 1 and 2 are here. Rounds 3 and 4 are here.

5(1). Team Shook - Diego Gutierrez - With the first pick of the 5th round, Team Shook selects Midfielder Diego Gutierrez

Gutierrez was an original member of the Wizards in '96 starting 24 games and all 5 playoff games then, after a injury and a stint in Chicago, Diego returned to the Wizards in 2002. Over the next four seasons, Diego established himself as a key cog for the Wizards and a fan favorite. Diego and Kerry Zavagnin formed a formidable pair in the defensive midfield, the pinnacle of success being the 2004 run to the US Open Cup championship and the 2004 MLS Cup final and gave up the fewest goals in the league. Diego also chipped in on offense that season with 3 game-winning goals and 4 assists.

5(2). Team DTB - Mark Chung - With the second pic of the fifth round, Team DTB select midfielder Mark Chung

Under appreciated during his time with KC, Chung was a mainstay in the early Wizards lineup, scoring 21 goals in the three seasons with the team mainly playing out of the left midfield spot. The highest point of his KC career was a Best XI appearance for his play in the 97 season.

5(3). Bravado FC - Richard Gough - With the final pick of the fifth round, Bravado FC harkens back to the 1997 season (and it took our management that long to make this pick) with the selection of Richard Gough. Although Gough - an allocation signed from Glasgow Rangers - spent just one year in the rainbow shirt, he was a solid defensive influence that helped the Wizards compile a 21-11 overall record on the campaign and a first-place finish in the Western Conference. He was named to the MLS Best XI squad as well.

6(1). Bravado FC - Igor Simutenkov - With the first pick of the sixth round, Bravado FC selects Igor Simutenkov. Acquired during the 2002 season, Simutenkov provides another solid punch to the attack for Bravado. He scored a free-kick goal in extra time to give Kansas City the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, and has tallied 12 goals and eight assists in his 49 regular season appearances for the Wizards.

6(2). Team DTB - Uche Okafor - With the second pick of the sixth round, Team TBA select Uche Okafor. The Nigerian international was a staple in the back for the Wizards from 96-99, helping to anchor the backline. He even appeared at World Cup 98 for the Nigerian national team. He was penciled in to be the starter on the back line of the 2000 MLS Cup winning side, but due to being ill to start the season lost his starting spot.

6(3). Team Shook - Sean Bowers - With the third pick of the sixth round, Team Shook selects Defender Sean Bowers. Bowers started over a hundred games on the Wizards backline from the inaugural season of 1996 through 1999, and paired with Uche Okafor to form the backbone of early Wizards defenses.
Bowers was the Wizards team captain for the 1999 season and was twice named team defender of the year.

After leaving the Wizards following the 1999 campaign Bowers went on to play in Major League Indoor Soccer and National Professional Soccer League and captained the US Futsal team to the second round of the 2004 Futsal World Championship.

All Competitions Scorers Through 2004

Getting another one done today.

1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, & 2003


1. Preki - 79 (69 league, 8 playoff, 1 open cup, 1 international) (-)

2. Chris Klein - 36 (32 league, 3 playoff, 1 open cup) (+1)

3. Mo Johnston - 32 (31 league, 1 playoff) (-1)

4. Vitalis "Digital" Takawira - 31 (28 league, 2 playoff, 1 open cup) (-1)

5. Chris Brown - 22 (15 league, 1 playoff, 2 open cup, 4 international) (-)

6. Mark Chung - 21 (20 league, 1 playoff) (-)

7. Igor Simutenkov - 20 (12 league, 3 playoff, 5 open cup) (+1)

8. Matt McKeon - 18 (13 league, 3 playoff, 1 open cup, 1 international) (-1)

9T. Davy Arnaud - 17 (12 league, 2 playoff, 3 open cup) (N/A)

9T. Miklos Molnar - 17 (12 league, 5 playoff) (-1)

11. Francisco Gomez - 15 (11 league, 2 playoff, 1 open cup, 1 international (-1)

12T. Josh Wolff - 13 (12 league, 1 playoff) (N/A)

12T. Chris Henderson - 13 (12 league, 1 playoff) (-2)

14. Paul Wright - 11 (11 league) (-2)

15. Roy Lassiter - 10 (7 league, 3 international) (-2)

16. Dario Fabbro - 9 (6 league, 1 playoff, 1 open cup, 1 international) (-2)

17T. Onandi Lowe - 8 (4 league, 2 playoff, 2 international) (-2)

17T. Frank Klopas - 8 (7 league, 1 open cup) (-2)

19. Gary Glasgow - 6 (5 league, 1 international) (-2)

20T. Diego Gutierrez - 5 (4 league, 1 open cup) (N/A)

20T. Jimmy Conrad - 5 (5 league) (N/A)

20T. Eric Quill - 5 (3 league, 1 playoff, 1 open cup) (-2)

20T. Stephen Armstrong - 5 (5 league) (-2)

20T. Kerry Zavagnin - 5 (5 league) (-2)

20T. Paul Rideout - 5 (4 league, 1 open cup) (-2)