Rapids Class VI

Think you could do better?

Well, the Rapids are officially in the off season. A whole lot of decisions are going to be made.

Looking back, would you have traded Beckerman? How long would it have taken you to start Colin Clark? Would you have purchased Roberto Brown? Those are all Fernando's decisions.

How about some of these that Jeff Plush faced: Would you have splurged the cash for a Designated Player (i.e. the Beckham Rule)? Would you have replaced the coach in the midst of the ten-game winless streak?

I bet you've got a strong opinion on each of those questions. I bet in your armchair you think the answers are obvious. But really, as fans, do we know everything behind the scenes? We'd like to think we do, but of course we don't.

Well now is your time to become a Manager! Choose the starting eleven for the team! And I'm not talking little kids either ... Own your own English Football Team!

You've GOT to check this out. For about $70, you get one share and one vote. This isn't the latest edition of Football Manager - it's Real Life!

Right now, they are negotiating to purchase a club and deciding which club to buy. Personally, I think York City is the way to go. Here's the scouting report:

And there is no manager - all share holders vote on everything. Buying a player, selling a player, firing/hiring the coach. And get this ... you even vote on the starting lineup! The coach gives a pre-match report, but the members decide. No more impact from having those compromising photos of your coach!

So if you've ever wanted to know about what negotiating a player contract is like, or the agony over selling off a star for the long term benefit of the club - this is your shot.

First single entity and now this. Sports history never stops writing new chapters, huh?

VI Questions with Mary O'Neil

Full Name: Mary O'Neill
CVI member since: 2005
City you call home: Denver
Favorite Player: Bouna!

Mary on the right with good friend Mary Katherine on the left

I. I heard you're trying to turn every kid in DPS into Rapids Fans! Excellent indeed. Can you share the master plan?

Actually, I work in Littleton Public Schools. (Perhaps conquering DPS should be incorporated into the master plan.) A big part of teaching is making connections with kiddos - and soccer is a great way to do that.

Many of my students play in youth leagues, and I check in on their teams' progress. They've told me about times they've gotten to participate in opening ceremonies for Rapids games, or about playing games on the new fields. I also have many students who follow the Mexican league, and I try to keep up with that, too.

As far as promoting the Rapids - my room is a bit of a shrine. I have 2 Rapids flags hanging up, player cards, posters, etc. I have photos taken at games posted near my desk. I even had a student ask me once if I was related to one of the players because I have so much Rapids stuff in my room. I've encouraged kids to wear their Rapids stuff on a select day. Hey - it's easy to overlook that missing homework assignment if the kid is wearing a Rapids jersey.

II. What's the best part of having Dick's Sporting Goods Park as our new home?

Not a drop of blue or orange in sight! No confusion over which lines are for football, which are for soccer. I like that it is the home of the Rapids, and not some place the Broncos were nice enough to let us borrow.

III. What Rapids player would you welcome as a son-in-law?

I am still holding out to have grandchildren sporting dreadlocks and the last name of Beckerman. Kyle is not a dirty hippie! (editors note: she's referring to the chant at the last home game) He's a nice guy, and both of his parents are teachers. But if I had to pick a current player.... I guess I'd have to say whoever would make Kelly happy.

IV. What has been the High and Low moments of your Rapids loving days?

Watching the Fake Salt Lake fans walk off the field with the Rocky Mountain Cup last weekend was sad. Another low moment was the disappearance of Rapidman. (Is he really buried under one of the goalie nets in the new stadium?)

As far as high moments - any time Jeff boos the cheerleaders is a high moment for me. Other high moments - opening day at the Dick, and watching last year's playoff game against FC Dallas that went to penalty kicks at the Bulldog with all the fans, including Thiago Martins who wasn't playing that day.

V. How about those Rockies! Jealous much?

I have to admit, Rockies paraphernalia is also taking up a lot of space in my classroom right now. It's fun supporting a winning team (Oops, did I say that out loud?) (editor's note: Damn Straight!)

VI. Who should the next CVI profile be of?

I'd like you to interview Jeff - I want to know how that dislike of cheerleaders got started.

Thanks Mary! And Holden you're next!

What the H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY_STICKS...

...Are you doing reading this? Get over to the Rockies' website and score some tickets, nimrod!

What? You insist on continuing to read this? Then I must taunt you a second time, you food-trough whopper of other people's bottoms.

Okay, here's the funniest thing about this whole Rockies server crash. They blamed it on the fans! Yep, even worse, they called them a "malignant external event."

Wow... Even the Rapids management team isn't that callous towards the faithful.

Now go away, or I shall taunt you a third time!

Damn... still here and I'm out of taunts, you lilly-livered yellow-belly "true fan" you!

Listen. If you can't be with the ones you love... be at the Bulldog tonight with Marcelo Balboa! for a live taping of his radio show from 6-8pm.

Now go. Enjoy. See you there tonight for a beer. Remember: Misery loves company.

Here's the lineup for tonight, straight from 'Celo himself:

GUESTS:

• Dominic Kinnear Houston Dynamo Head Coach

• Bouna Coundoul Rapids GK / Defender of the year

• Allen Hopkins ESPN MLS Sideline analyst
  

Topics of discussion:

• Playoff Match-ups

• Rapids Vs RSL
  
  
• GK of the year? / Defender of the year ? / Rookie of the year?
  
  
• Scores from MLS & other scores around the world
  

2007 Class VI Player of the Year

On an blustery, late October evening, as tears fell in the wake of a heart-breaking loss, Rapids goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul was welcomed to section 108 and Class VI by the fans.

Even as the season faded into the cool, colorful winds of Autumn, there was a moment of glory still to come on the field.

Emanating emotion, Bouna showed his true character as a man and a player. He graciously accepted his trophy and accolades as the 2007 Class VI Player of the Year award winner, and thanked all of the fans.

The goalkeeper then stood --humble and a touch self-conscious-- as an extended wave of applause enveloped him from several sections of faithful fans who stayed late after the game to congratulate him on a fantastic season of service to both supporters and community.

Bouna tossed his game gloves into the stands. Then, trophy in hand, the stirring netminder approached the fans to greet everyone and thank the supporters.

With his wonderful humanitarian efforts, deep emotional connection with fans and teammates, and workmanlike attitude, Bouna demonstrated that he is truly a class player in all aspects of his life.

About the 2007 Class VI Player of the Year award:
Class VI seating club voted each week for a team player of the match. The club recently held a vote for the 2007 Class VI Player of the Year award, and Bouna was our clear winner. To commemorate his victory, Class VI presented Bouna with a crystal trophy after the final game of the season Saturday night.

The award was announced earlier here on the website recognizing Bouna's efforts and placing him in good company among great Rapids goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann, Adin Brown, & Joe Cannon among them.

Please join the members of Class VI and all the Rapids faithful in expressing our pride of the tremendous services Bouna performed for the team and on behalf of all fans. He won over our hearts and minds, and we appreciate his flare, style, and stunning athletic performances on our behalf.

Thank you

I woke up this morning worried that I would have a sort of permanent hangover and hazy outlook.

Instead? I am feeling grateful, more than anything else. Which isn't much of a surprise when ya think about it.

It was a great year.

Thank you all for the extended party. Thanks to the many dozens of you who contributed to making Class VI the best party on the green. Thanks for bringing flavorful food, brilliant beer, and awesome attitudes.

Thanks for always being there when things were going well, as well as when they weren't. I can't express my gratitude towards the many members of the club who made this season so enjoyable.

Friendship & entertainment. It was wonderful.

Thank you, Mark "Grand Poobah" Bodmer for pushing so hard, so often, in so many ways this season to bring about the best possible Class VI experience.

• From negotiating tailgating locations and the chance to set up tailgates to our satisfaction, to working with the Rapids to ensure we all had a fantastic, uninterrupted experience, to the behind-the-scenes work Mark did ensuring the club was funded;
• from the brilliant scarves, pins and other great club items that came about to destroying his car ensuring he got the keg to the party every game;
• and most importantly from the true ability Mark displayed in helping so many people get a chance to be involved with Class VI in so many ways: the discussion board, pre-season party, website, tailgates, Bulldog get-togethers, co-ed soccer team, club items for sale and giveaways, an openness to allowing everyone to find their own way to contribute, and of course -- section 108, the home of Class VI.

Thank you, Mark, for inviting me to the party.

Truly, it was a season to remember. And that's why I feel surprisingly good this morning. I'm filled to the brim with comfortable, warm memories of time spent with lots of good friends. No matter how cold it gets out there :-)

Thank you!

The BilFish

Ladies & Gentlemen ...

It's all over

Last one out, please get the lights!

Final Tailgate of the season?!?

You are invited to join fellow Class VI fans at the final home game tailgate of the season.

We will start 3 hours before kick-off for this special event: 4pm tailgate start time!

Please consider bringing your best snacks and grillin's to share! Oh, and bring a camera to take your picture with the Rocky Mountain Cup!

Weather or not

Any takers on whether the weather people got it exactly backwards again? Let's hope Sunday isn't Saturday.

Gentlemen, start your engines.

It. Is. Time.

---

Perfectly empty chamber.

Class VI Maestro JasonMa gives us the ringside view of what happens in round 2, Saturday night:

First, *all scenarios require* that we beat FSL Saturday Night and win the Rocky Mountain Cup for the 3rd straight season.

Assuming we do that, we also need one of the following to happen:

(Ed. note: We finally have a legitimate reason to root for the bad guy)

LA beats Chicago (Go Beckham!)

OR

KC loses to Dallas (Dive Ruiz, Dive - if yer back from going studs up on Mexico, congrats on another red!)

OR

KC draws Dallas AND we beat FSL by 3 (Ummm, go Dario Sala?!?)

OR

KC beats Dallas AND LA and Chicago draw (I don't know who to root for here)

...AND FINALLY: THE WILDCARD

Nobody has gotten a straight answer from the league on what happens if we win by less than 3 goals and KC and Chicago both draw, forcing a 3-way tie at 38 points for the final two playoff spots.

Depending on if MLS uses points per game, W-L percentage, or GD any one of the 3 teams could be the one that gets eliminated.

The press release of playoff scenarios from MLS earlier this week actually reads that all 3 teams qualify for the playoffs, so obviously the league did not consider this scenario when putting together the release.

Good Fortune, Gentlemen!

And the winner is...

Bouna! Congratulations on being named the 2007 Class VI Player of the Year. Are you going to Disneyland?!?

---------

My vote for Bouna Coundoul: by Donna Feldman

He was my pick for several reasons.

One being: who else has played in all the games? The roster has turned into a blur of players coming and going for every reason imaginable: injury, cards, trades, US team duty and other stuff I haven't thought of.

New players got the call, and many of them have done really well. But they only played a few games. Through it all, Bouna has been pacing the net in his characteristic swaggering style. Except when he's pouncing on a shot, diving for a shot or launching himself into a crowd to grab an incoming shot. He single-handedly saved several games from disaster, including the recent Chivas win.

I also have to say, being the parent of a goal keeper, I have a special empathy for the peculiar and difficult job of protecting the net. TV highlights always show the scores, with the goalie doing a face-plant or diving the wrong way. PKs are rarely the goalie's fault, yet he's the one who gets the thankless task of going one-on-one with the kicker in a David v Goliath battle.

If the defense is falling apart and couldn't stop a birthday party balloon from floating by, the goalie is the one left alone to deal with the point-blank shots.

If the game is all at the other end, the keeper has nothing to do. Mend the net maybe? Trim the grass? And regardless of who let that breakaway through or got a yellow card in the box, the keeper ends up feeling ultimately resonsible for the scores that go in. It's mentally tough. So congratulations to Bouna for taking care of business with style and skill.

Hope.

The countdown starts tonight. Grab your bestest drinking buddy (or buddette) and get ready to enjoy the roller-coaster ride that comes from somebody having your fate in their hands.

Ever play Russian Roulette? Then you'll know the feeling. The first trigger pull happens on ESPN2 at 9pm. Get yer rest.

Final Fishwrapper?!?

Quality news, before it smells

Nawww.... there will always be things our Grand Poobah needs to get off his chest. Look for the Fishwrapper to continue in the off-season. Now, let's just hope that doesn't come too soon.

First up, Ye Olde Grand Poobah announces that:

Tonight on From The Pitch, 1060 AM radio, from 6-8PM with Marcelo Balboa will be many fascinating characters.

_____________________________

Tailgating this week will start 3 hours before kick-off at 4PM. The Rocky Mountain Cup will be at the tailgate if you care to take a gander.

Hopefully, of course, we'll get one more tailgate in this season - but if not - let's be sure to make this one a doosey!!! Bring some great food and great attitudes to share.
___________________________________________
The Grand Poobah announces that...

Bouna Coundoul wins 2007 Class VI Player of the Year.

Bouna will come over to Section 108 to accept the trophy after the game, so stick around and enjoy the spectacle and congratulate him on a fantastic year for the Rapids.
_____________________________
The Rocky Mountain Cup

This is the finale of the Rocky Mountain Cup competition for 2007, contested with our rivals from Utah - Fake Salt Lake! The Rapids need a tie or a win to keep the Cup trophy for the Rapids fans for the third consecutive year. For more information on the standings and competition, visit RockyMountainCup.com

_____________________________

Remember! Last chance to get your questions in for the Q&A with Marcelo Balboa... email Mark with your questions now!

_____________________________
Suddenly we have the most important week in MLS television history!

Here's a short list of critical games on TV that impact the Rapids' chances of pulling a Rockies and getting a last-minute invite to the play-offs.

• Thursday 9 PM on ESPN2 - NY vs LA - Go Red Bulls!
• Saturday 6:30 PM on Direct Kick - KC vs Dallas - Go Dallas Go! Heh, never thought we'd say that. Hopefully the Rapids will keep us up to date during the game.
• Sunday 1 PM on Telefutura - Chicago vs LA - if the Rapids win Saturday this game will almost certainly determine if we qualify or not!

I'm sure if we win Saturday night against FSL there will be a good size crowd at the British Bulldog on Sunday to cheer on LA. Gag. But only if LA loses Thursday. Otherwise we're looking for a tie. Something like that.

______________________________
Grand Poobah Mark Bodmer has one more decree:

I'll see everyone Saturday at the tailgate - be sure to thank the people in CVI that have done so much work for us!

Tina - Road Trips, tailgates, and well just about everything
Bill - website and planning
Jeff - tailgating
Joe & Mary - PreSeason Party Fundraiser
Kelsey - Road Trips
Allen - Discussion Boards
Josh O - Soccer Team
Josh V - Events
Karen - Graphic Design
Patrick & Max - T-Shirts
Al - Chef
Dave - Chef & Tailgates
Lee - Tailgates
Marcus - Rapids Front Office Rep

I'm sure I'm missing out some people that certainly deserve pats on the back - CVI is successful because of these people - it takes a lot of work from a lot of people who have certainly given so very much.

Thank you all, too, for the donations that have kept CVI running!!!

Mark
Grand Poobah

From the Pitch (well, the radio studio)

We've got info on the latest scheduled guests and topics du jour from Marcelo Balboa's From the Pitch radio show airing tonight.

Check it out, then tune in!

It's Truly Bouna Time!

The Colorado Rapids have always had some gifted keepers: Marcus Hahnemann, Joe Cannon, Adin Brown, and Scott Garlick - and now we can add one more to that list.

Bouna celebrated in style yesterday with a convincing performance between the pipes in a daring win against Chivas USA. The Senegalese star again proved his worth and displayed the stunning reaction skills which have garnered so much praise from the Rapids faithful this year.

A Relative unknown to MLS soccer at the beginning of the season, Bouna was thrust into the spotlight when coach Fernando Clavijo shipped off stalwart netminder Joe Cannon and put his faith into the 25-year old from Senegal. Bouna grabbed the brass ring and never looked back, starting every MLS regular season game this year, with just a minor injury absence.

Bouna racked up the MLS rankings, becoming a top-four keeper in Minutes Played, Saves, Goals Against Average, and Shutouts.

His importance to the team is highlighted by this simple fact: in 2007, the Rapids only won twice without Bouna shutting out the other team.

A fan favorite for his crowd appreciation, his adventurous walkabouts, and his incredibly athletic saves, Bouna Time! has been a major addition to the Rapids gametime experience for fans, and a primary contributor to the Rapids last-minute chance to make the playoffs in 2007.

2007 Class VI Player of the Year:
Bouna Coundoul

Class VI will present Bouna the 2007 Class VI Player of the Year trophy in Section 108 following the last home game this Saturday where he will also be selling his Bouna Time jerseys for charity - proceeds which go to a fantastic cause helping needy kids in Bouna's home country.

Truly, Bouna has proven himself a class act on and off the field. Kudos!

The Good, The Bad, & The Fugly

Let's start with Ugly. There's a lot of ugly in the world, no matter what the GAP says.

The Ugly is the illness that swept through my family last week. Sheesh!

I'm not positive, but you may want to wash your hands after reading this post.

I also had to do taxes. For 2006. That was ugly. I always thought taxes were for the little people. You know. Poor people. Turns out I'm one of them.

But, there's good news! Yes, the Rocktober to Remember is going great! I actually saw a baseball player hustle from the plate *all the way* to 1st base! What's his name, Matsui or something. 2nd baseman. Heh. Must be playoff season!

The new-look Rapids may look a lot like the old-look Rapids, but come Fall playoff battle time, there's nobody better looking and scrappier than the Rapids.

Rarely, I don't care how they get the win, as long as they win. Last night was one of those nights in some respect. Blisteringly atrocious play at times in the back half, the Rapids also had some stellar forward passes and some crazy finishing. How often does a defender get to redeem his embarrassing header in the same sequence to score a stunningly critical goal?

I haven't been drinking much lately (see above: sick, tired, poor), so at first I blamed that last, purely sublime goal by BilFish to Omar Cummings on the strong Colorado Avalanche brew I was partaking of. Then I drained my beer, looked through the foamy bottom of the glass, and realized with the help of our exciting Spanish-language announcers that indeed, it was Conor Casey with a killer run and stylishly-weighted pass through to the young Omar.

On the down side, Cummings blew by US Men's National Team Rising Star(tm) Defender Sacha Kljestan. That wasn't pretty.

Now, I'm on too many antibiotics to make sense of the playoff tie-breakers picture, so I haven't bothered to look. But my understanding is that, technically, we are still in it to win it!

If we can just look to the Galaxy (Circa 2005, 2007) for hope, I think we'll get the idea of what we need to do...

Beat the living soccer crap out of Fake Salt Lake, win the Rocky Mountain Cup for the 3rd straight year -- thus owning the world's first Soccer PET (Perpetual Expansion Team), and then gather my Chicago voodoo dolls and start spiting them with epithets and bad advice.

Which Lucky Eleven?

San Jose Earthquakes: The only expansion team in history with two Championship Stars on their shirts

On "From the Pitch" with Marcelo Balboa,, which aired live last night, the radio crew discussed which eleven Rapids players should be protected in the upcoming 2008 expansion draft.

*If you recall, San Jose has been re-born, and won't be allowed to take their team back from Houston. They'll have to build a completely new championship team with a new coach. Maybe some new faces like Frank Yallop, Joe Cannon and Landon Donovan....

The discussion assumed that last year's rules for the Toronto FC expansion draft would be in effect for the New&Improved! San Jose Earthquakes:
- A team can only leave one Senior International Player unprotected
- Generation Adidas players are automatically protected
- A player's status is based on their 2008 status (e.g. presumably, Mehdi Ballouchy would be considered a Senior International)

So with those rules in mind, and numerous assumption (like nobody getting a green card before the draft) let's see which players made our fantasy protected list.

The first question is: Senior International players - which do we leave unprotected? We only get to expose one, though it'd be more to the Rapids benefit to expose three!

There are six players that will be SI players since Ballouchy and Erpen will "graduate" to that status. Can Osorno work out next season? Can Niko rebound from a disastrous year? Did Cummings get on the field enought to tempt a team? Which player to leave unprotected? Really I don't think San Jose or Seattle would take any of the three, so I'm going to expose Niko.

So that means the first five protected are:

• 1. Cooke
  
• 2. Erpen
  
• 3. Ballouchy
  
• 4. Osorno
  
• 5. Cummings
  

SI's out of the way, there are some players that make everyone's fantasy keeper list:

• 6. Mastroeni
  
• 7. Coundoul
  
• 8. Ihemelu
  

That leaves only threes spots left. From the remaining roster, Kirovski, Casey, Herculez, Peterson, Clark, Keel, Petke, Prideaux, and Sanneh are the only ones to worry about protecting - since the rest of the roster wouldn't be too attractive to an expansion team.

While Mike Petke's age is a consideration, his time in Colorado has been predominately positive, with a nice effort this year. He'd be very difficult to replace, he's attractive to the expansion teams, and should be protected.

Conor Casey's performances in the final half of the season, combined with the fact that Toronto is mostly footing his large paycheck, gets him on the list.

• 9. Petke
  
• 10. Casey