June 12, 2007 9:02 PM

Rapids Reserves to play doubleheader

A doubleheader is a done deal!

About two weeks ago, FC Rocky proposed that the Rapids Reserves play a doubleheader with the big boys.

Today, the Rapids announced just that.

The reserve team has rescheduled its game against the Red Bull Reserves; it now will be played July 8 following the first team's MLS fixture against New York.

Usually, the reserve team plays on the Rapids' training field the day after the Rapids play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. This doubleheader, however, will allow fans to watch the Rapids Reserves without making two trips to the complex.

It also allows the reserves to play in the stadium proper, and in front of a crowd of fans.

I have no idea if the FC Rocky blog entry influenced any decision-making by the Rapids, but I do know that this is a great idea. Glad to see the Rapids making a move that's a win-win for the fans and the players.

Also, the Rapids Reserves will travel to St. Louis on Aug. 12 to take on Southern Illinois University in an exhibition match.

ANOTHER DOUBLEHEADER: The Rapids will host a W-League game and soccer clinic before their home game June 23 against FC Dallas at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. The game will feature the Fort Collins Force and the Real Colorado Cougars. It will kick off at 3:15 p.m. in the stadium. Following that game is a 5:15 clinic with U.S. national team veteran Tiffeny Milbrett and members of the playing teams. Tickets for the doubleheader start at $15, and tickets for both games plus the clinic start at $35. Visit the Rapids' Web site or call (303) 825-GOAL for more information.

BLACK PANTHER MOVEMENT: Allen, the blogmeister-in-chief at Black Panther, has a passionate, well-reasoned discourse on the Rapids and Real Salt Lake prohibiting fans from displaying support for Taiwan or Tibet during the two MLS teams' exhibitions with the Chinese national team. Keep up the good work, Black Panther.

RAPIDS REVISITED: Geoffrey Urland, of MLSnet.com, has a fairly extensive game report from the Rapids' 2-1 loss to China on Sunday.

WHAT IF THEY HELD AN ALL-STAR GAME AND NO RAPIDS CAME? MLS Underground calculates that if the current fan voting were to hold up as the final tally, there would be no Rapids starting at the MLS All-Star Game at Dick's Sporting Goods Field. The Rapids player with the best chance is midfielder Pablo Mastroeni. But online fan balloting makes up only 25 percent of the final vote for the starters; the rest is determined by coaches, GMs, players and the media.

VIEWING PARTY: The official viewing party for Saturday's Rapids game will be at Casey's Bistro and Pub, 7301 E. 29th St. The game against Chivas USA is scheduled to start at 8:30 p.m.

BOLIVIAN CALL-UP: Jaime Moreno was recalled by the Bolivian national team, delaying his attempt to become the MLS all-time leading scorer. The D.C. United forward was recalled Tuesday to play for Bolivia in the Copa America in Venezuela from June 26 to July 15. Moreno will miss United’s next four games and as many as six, depending on how far Bolivia advances in the tournament.

SIR BECKS: There’s speculation that David Beckham could be knighted. That would mean that the former England captain, who has played 96 times for his country, would become “Sir David Beckham.” His wife, Victoria, would become “Lady Beckham.”

NOT-SO-FRIENDLY FRIENDLY? Brucio, the all-seeing blogger at du Nord, posted a rumor today of a U.S.-Mexico match Sept. 9 in Mexico City. If that's true, might we see the Nats at Dick's Sporting Goods Park for some altitude training?

HOOPS HURT: Dallas' Kenny Cooper broke the tibia in his right leg during Saturday's 3-1 victory over the Galaxy and will miss the next eight weeks. Also, Roberto Mina probably will be out for the rest of the season with a knee injury.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Red Bulls striker Juan Pablo Angel has scored in five consecutive games and needs goals in his next two games to tie the MLS record shared by Raul Diaz Arce (1997), Wolde Harris (2000) and Carlos Ruiz (2006). Angel has scored seven goals in his first six games in MLS.

FINALLY, A FUNNY: A soccer-bashing friend of mine sent me the following photo. He labeled it "soccer made interesting." Regardless on your view of the game, the field in the photo would, indeed, make for an interesting game.

(Sources: The Associated Press, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, The New York Times)

Posted by George Tanner at 9:02 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack