Colorado Rapids
Shi is a 15 year old new player for the Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Soccer Team. Shi has never played on a competitive soccer team and he is very excited to start. He is hoping to be able to try all of the positions and hopes he can score some goals for his new team. He is open to new opportunities and enjoys meeting new people. In school Shi has played football and basketball as well as participated in school wide soccer activities.
Shi heard about Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Team from one of his teachers in school. As soon as he talked to his mom, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. Shi is most excited about meeting his new teammates. He doesn’t currently know any of his teammates but he knows he will make a lot of friends this summer. He is also looking forward to meeting all of the Special Olympics Sounders players when they come to play in Denver.
Sarah is a coach for the Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Soccer Team. She is from Denver, Colorado and attended the Art Institute of Colorado. Sarah enjoys photography and owns a photography and floral company. Her favorite athlete currently is Abby Wambach. Sarah says she “loves her intensity”.
Sarah looks forward to becoming part of the Rapids All Star Soccer family and says that “this is a great opportunity because I can take my love of soccer to these kids and see the happiness on their faces. The best part is the smiles from it all”.
Gabe is a 17 year old player for the Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Soccer Team. Gabe began playing soccer when he was ten years old. Though he says he “got a late start”, he caught on quickly. He took after his older brother and has now fallen in love with the sport. Gabe played soccer all four years in high school and also played on a club team this past spring. His favorite positions are center mid-fielder and forward. At Thomas Jefferson High School Gabe also played football and track. His favorite major league soccer players are Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. Donovan and Dempsey were two great soccer players for the USA team.
Gabe has been involved with Special Olympics Colorado for a few years now. He assisted young athletes in a soccer training camp at Dick’s Sporting Goods two years ago. He heard about the Rapids All Star team from his former high school soccer coach and thought it would be a great opportunity. Gabe wants to take his passion for soccer and helping others to his new Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Team. Gabe says he enjoys “helping other people. When I can make someone else happy, that makes me happy”.
Belen is a 20 year old new player for the Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Soccer Team. Belen’s two major soccer positions are forward and defense. She has been playing soccer since she was 9 years old; she began playing soccer because of her older brother. Belen soon found that soccer was her passion. At Thomas Jefferson High School she played soccer all four years for the varsity team. She also played club soccer in the summer and now Belen plays soccer for fun through Denver Parks and Recreation.
Belen heard about the Special Olympics Colorado Rapids team through her high school soccer coach. She thought it sounded like a lot of fun and a great cause. She is excited to become a part of the team and meet all of the players. Belen already has one friend on the team, Gabe DaSilva. Gabe is also a new member; they played soccer together at Thomas Jefferson High School. She can’t wait to play soccer with Gabe again and have a great time playing with and meeting her new teammates.
Aaron is a 16 year old addition to the Special Olympics Colorado Rapids Soccer Team. Aaron has been involved in several sports over the years and is excited to get another opportunity to make new friends and have a good time playing a new sport with his teammates.
In high school Aaron got a taste of just about every venue there was to offer. He participated in track and field, basketball, baseball, soccer, horseback riding, skiing and other activities sanctioned through his school. Aaron is always open to try something new and the Rapids All Star Team will now be another activity he can add to his long list.
Within Jefferson High School and Jefferson County Aaron has been able to be a part of several organizations, clubs, and activities within the area. One of the organizations that Aaron was a part of was Sports Made Possible. He flourished here and has been trying out other organizations and activities to meet other people and have a good time with his friends.
It's hard to believe that it's been 10 years since the U.S. Men's National Team made that incredible run all the way to the Quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.
On June 5, 2002, eight of us from the front office met at one's apartment in the middle of the night and watched our own Pablo Mastroeni start in the USMNT's 3-2 upset of a heavily favored Portugal side. Later games would fill up large establishments all over the country, including a huge showing at our viewing party in the Club Level of INVESCO Field at Mile High.
Prior to the 2010 World Cup, I sat down with Pablo and a few other former Rapids players to talk about their World Cup experiences. Watch below as Pablo talks about how he made the U.S. team and his memories of the 2002 World Cup. (Click here to watch on Youtube).
CLICK HERE TO WATCH PART II: THE 2006 WORLD CUP AND LEADING INTO 2010
If you've been to a Rapids home game this year, you've likely looked up at the scoreboard and watched some of the videos the Game Entertainment crew produces. We'll be posting some of these on here throughout the summer - after they've aired in the stadium.
Here's the first video: "This or That with Marvell Wynne:" (WATCH ON YOUTUBE)
Long-time MLS journalist Steve Davis posted on the NBC Sports' ProSoccerTalk.com website that he was recently asked to nominate six players from each MLS team that should appear on 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star fan ballot. His deadline was May 29.
ColoradoRapids.com has since learned that MLS Communications was forming a panel consisting of two media members that cover each of the 19 teams, plus 50 or so national media members who don't cover specific teams, to submit 114 names for the upcoming ballot (6 players for each of the 19 teams).
The MLS All-Stars will take on UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea FC on July 25 at PPL Park in Philadelphia, Penn.
In the last two seasons, both Jeff Larentowicz and Omar Cummings were selected from the Rapids to play against Manchester United, becoming the 16th and 17th Colorado players chosen for the mid-summer showcase.
So, we ask you: If MLS gave you the opportunity to nominate six Rapids players for the 2012 ballot, which six players would you nominate?
We finally got our hands on the video of the goal that was talked about often last week within the Rapids office. Youngster Ricardo Perez has played a handful of Reserve League games for the Rapids, but his first priority is helping the Rapids Development Academy's U-16s. Last week, he scored three goals in a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Thunder. Watch his second goal below (CLICK HERE TO WATCH ON YOUTUBE):
Warning: The following has nothing to do with the Rapids, or soccer. Well, I guess it might, since the former Denver Nuggets guard, Allen Iverson, did end up getting a contract offer to play pro soccer (STORY).
In a light of the full Rapids roster having Tuesday off from 'practice,' here's possibly one of the best "practice" interviews in sports history. This clip below happened 10 years ago yesterday. Remember it?