I was just going to do a recap of my All-Time Team tonight but the Denver Post had an interesting article about tension in the Rapids Front Office this afternoon. It seems that Gary Smith is happy to sign a new contract for next year, but not if he has to continue to work with Technical Director Paul Bravo.

The bench is kind of the "Honorable Mention" category of the All-Time team. Players (and coaches) that were in the running but didn't quite make the cut.
Marcus Hahnemann - GK (1997-1999): Hahnemann was the first player that developed at the Rapids and moved on to better pastures. Marcus stepped in after a bad 1996 season and gave the team a rock to build from.

The head coach for the Rapids All-Time Team is Gary Smith.
How Joined: Hired as a liaison for the Arsenal Academy.
Years In Colorado: 2008 through present
There have been 6 total head coaches in Colorado's history, but there were only two under consideration for this spot, Glenn 'Mooch' Myernick and Gary Smith.

The starting all-around forward for the Rapids All-Time Team is John Spencer.
How Acquired: Transferred for free from Scottish side Motherwell.
Years In Colorado: 2001 through 2004
How Departed: Retired after the 2004 season.
For the final player pick on the All-Time team I went with possibly the biggest heart the team has ever had (though Kimura gives him a run for his money) the wee Scotsman John Spencer.

The starting speed forward for the Rapids All-Time Team is Omar Cummings.
How Acquired: Drafted in the 3rd round (31st overall pick) in the 2007 Superdraft.
Years In Colorado: 2007 through present
This was the trickiest pick of the team. I went back and forth between a 4-4-2 and a 3-4-3, but eventually Cummings won out.

The starting target forward for the Rapids All-Time Team is Conor Casey.
How Acquired: Acquired from Toronto FC in exchange for allocation money, allocation position, and the rights to Riley O'Neill .
Years In Colorado: Early 2007 through present
This was an easy pick.

The starting attacking midfielder for the Rapids All-Time Team is Adrian Paz.
How Acquired: Acquired from the Columbus Crew along with their 3rd round Supplemental Draft Pick in the 1997 draft for the Rapids 1st round pick in that draft.
Years In Colorado: 1997 through 1998
How Departed: Left as a free agent and signed by Tianjin Teda in China.

The starting left midfielder for the Rapids All-Time Team is Chris Henderson.
How Acquired: Signed as a Discovery Player in 1996. First pick in the Dispersal Draft in 2002
Years In Colorado: 1996 through 1998 and 2002 through early 2005
How Departed: Left as a free agent and signed by KC.

The starting right midfielder for the Rapids All-Time Team is Anders Limpar.
How Acquired: Signed as a free agent from Swedish side AIK.
Years In Colorado: 1999 through 2000
How Departed: Left as a free agent, signed but never played for Swedish side Djurgardens IF before retiring
Our first international player in the All-Time team, Anders Limpar might be a bit of a surprise in this position.

The starting left center back for the Rapids All-Time Team is Pablo Mastroeni.
How Acquired: First pick in 2002 Allocation draft from the contracted Miami Fusion.
Years In Colorado: 2002 through current day
How Departed: Still with the team
Next to Balboa, this was the easiest pick on the team.

The starting left center back for the Rapids All-Time Team is Ritchie Kotschau.
How Acquired: Traded Adin Brown, Scott Vermillion, and our 2002 first round pick to Tampa Bay for Carlos Valderrama, Scott Garlick, and Richie Kotschau.
Years In Colorado: Mid 2001 through 2005
How Departed: Traded to Columbus for Cornell Glen.

The starting right center back for the Rapids All-Time Team is Peter Vermes. Alas I could not find a picture of him in a Rapids kit, so I went with the U.S. kit instead.
How Acquired: Traded Kerry Zavagnin to the NY/NJ Metrostars for him.
Years In Colorado: 1997 through 1999
How Departed: Traded to KC along with Matt McKeon for Scott Vermillion and an allocation.

The starting center back and easiest selection in the Rapids All-Time Team is Marcelo Balboa.
How Acquired: First player ever signed by the Colorado Rapids team, on a free transfer from Leon in Mexico
Years In Colorado: 1996 through 2001
How Departed: Traded to NY for a 3rd round pick in the 2002 draft
Unlike many of the positions on this team, this one was a complete no-brainer.

I'm starting a new feature for View From the Couch, the Rapids All-Time Team. Through the course of the season I'll roll out a starting XI of, IMO, the best Rapid player at each position. I've decided to go with a 3-4-3 over a 4-4-2 but it was close. There will also be a 7 man bench/honorable mention and a coach.