The Rapids only had one pick in today's two round Superdraft, their first pick at #14 (The second was traded for Quincy Amarikwa). They used it on UConn midfielder/forward Tony Cascio. He's a senior who played for 4 years with those other Huskies (go Washington!) and last year he was a first team All-American and the Big East offensive player of the year.

Following the shortest offseason, Major League Soccer swings into action on Saturday and the Rapids face Columbus at home in Commerce City.

The March 10 first kick comes less than four months after the Los Angeles Galaxy claimed the MLS Cup title. Now the league and the Rapids begin their 16th season of play less than two weeks from the start of spring.

Following the shortest offseason, Major League Soccer swings into action on Saturday and the Rapids face Columbus at home in Commerce City.

The March 10 first kick comes less than four months after the Los Angeles Galaxy claimed the MLS Cup title. Now the league and the Rapids begin their 16th season of play less than two weeks from the start of spring.

Spock Spork!

After a disastrous midweek game in DC Colorado is back at home against Sporting KC. Kansas City is on a 3 game slide after winning their first 7 to start the season. There's a big tailgate for this one as Kansas City usually brings a good crown. we're doing a BBQ tailgate and the KC fans are bringing authentic KC BBQ sauce.

Today the Rapids announced that they had signed Hunter Freeman to a contract. As normal, terms and length were not revealed but I'm sure we'll find that information out down the road. Freeman started his career with the Rapids in 2005 before he was traded to NY before the season. Hunter has some versatility to play in defense or midfield, but he's primarily an outside back.

The team left for Hawai'i today. My sister, brother-in-law, and cousins leave for Hawai'i this week (though not for the tournament). Me? I'm stuck in cold Denver. Before they left the team made some cuts from training camp. Aaron Pitchkolan, Issac Cowles, Sterling Copeland, Jefferson Angulo, Daniel Frias, Alanso Jimenez, and Masaki Hemmi were let go.

Bad news out of Commerce City today as Anthony Wallace ripped his Achilles in training yesterday and he'll miss 6-9 months. That means if he takes exactly 6 months and no longer he can get back for the final 7 games. Realistically he'll be back closer to the final 2 games, at which point hopefully the Rapids will be in their playoff push.

We end this look at the coming season with the team that drives soccer in Colorado, the Colorado Rapids.

MLS Cup champions in 2010, the Rapids slogged through 2011. After the first month of the campaign, only a July dismantling of New York (4-0) and an August domination of Columbus (a 2-0 shellacking that looked like an 11-on-9 game) stood out.

(Yeah, I can't help myself. A Crew game requires a LEGO Village People picture)
It's finally time to get the season started! Tomorrow the Rapids host the Crew to kick off Oscar Pareja's coaching career. Game time tomorrow is 4pm, the first game (along with Vancouver-Montreal kicking simultaneously) of the whole MLS season.

Anyone else think we should be wearing green kits this weekend?
Colorado makes its first of numerous road trips to the Northeast this weekend, facing the Union on Sunday. We'll also get our first look at NBC Sports Channel's coverage of MLS as they have the TV for this game. That's on channel 79 (SD) or 689 (HD) on Comcast in the Denver area.

New meaning to bridge over troubled water

Colorado is back in the Northeast on Sunday, just up the road from last week's game in Philly. This will be the team's only look at New York this year, and it won't be a pretty one. The midfield core is devastated by injury and suspension so there's a big challenge ahead of Pareja's team.

Chicago Dog Week at the Class VI/Pid Army tailgate

After a long two weeks in the Northeast the Rapids are finally back at home on Sunday. The Fire are in town and Colorado is trying to right the ship after a bad outing in NY. Game time is 5pm and since its a themed tailgate (see above) the grills start and kegs open at 2pm.

Ah yes, its that time again

The Rapids are in Salt Lake City for the first of two trips to play FaKe SaLt LaKe this season. We only get one home game which makes the Rocky Mountain Cup difficult to win this season, but now appears to be a good time to strike.

The Ivar's Dog, you'll have to go across the street from CLink to Safeco to get it though

Colorado is in my hometown of Seattle this week to face the neon-green Sounders. Seattle has been a bit of a house of horrors for the Rapids. Over the last 3 years we've lost all 3 games at Qwest/CLink, being outscored 9-4 and the less said about the U.

Bruce Campbell, a much better spokesperson for Old Spice than Beckham

That's right, Old Spice, Keane, PrimaDonnavan, and the rest of the Galaxy will be our opponents tomorrow night. This is the first of two trips to Colorado for LA this year and reportedly David Beckham will be making an appearance this trip.

Two teams struggling in the early going with 3-4-0 records meeting for the chance to step back into the fray of the Western Conference race should be enough of a plot for the Rapids-Chivas USA showdown on Saturday.

But no, the subplots abound. Let us count the ways.

1. Possible first sighting of Conor Casey this season.

Two teams struggling in the early going with 3-4-0 records meeting for the chance to step back into the fray of the Western Conference race should be enough of a plot for the Rapids-Chivas USA showdown on Saturday.

But no, the subplots abound. Let us count the ways.

1. Possible first sighting of Conor Casey this season.

Do you dare try the Tacos de Buche?

The other LA team, the Under-a-Chivas, are in town this week. The crowd should be a little more subdued after the Beckham-fest or last week and I for one am glad. We don't need half the stadium rooting for some guy on the other team.

No Jamesons Night this season

The Rapids get their only look at the New England Revolution tomorrow night in Foxboro. That's right, the hallowed Colorado supporter's tradition of Jamesons Night when the Revs are in town won't happen this year, barring some surprise matchup in the U.

Need I say more? ;)

A quick turnaround from our trip to Boston sends us to Dallas tomorrow for a rematch of our MLS Cup victory. As good as the Rapids have been in Dallas in the postseason they've struggled in the regular season. With this being the 3rd game in 8 days we'll probably see some tired legs.

Our finest moment in DC

After what felt like a extremely long 10 days off Colorado is back in action tomorrow night in DC. The center of power hasn't been kind to the Rapids historically, with last year producing only our 3rd ever win in the District. This season a beat up burgundy side makes the trip with 4 major starters unlikely to start.

I'm French! Why do think I have this outrageous accent!

Before I get started I want to point out that the full list of MLS salaries were released today. I'll have a full write-up later this weekend but I figured some people might want to take a look.
Our only look at this year's expansion team, the Montreal Impact, comes tomorrow night at the Dick.