As many of you have seen already, goalkeeper Kevin Hartman is now with FC Dallas, after the club
traded us a 2nd round selection in the 2012 SuperDraft for his rights.Here's the KC Star version of
the story. Dallas' 3rd Degree and Steve Goff were also on the story from the start. Good luck
Kevin, except against KC.
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Today, the losing team in the shooting competition had to serve the winning team lunch after
training. The final two shooters were Michael Kraus and Matt Besler. See how the last round played
out:
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-Robb Heineman answers some questions for Greg Seltzer of Soccer365 regarding the new stadium and
what it means for our club.
-Greg Cotton did an interview with KMOX out of St. Louis Sunday regarding the stadium and other
topics.
-Matt Besler checks in at MLS Insider Blog with his pre-season postcard.
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With the changes this past offseason to MLS teams rosters, the draft this past year was a little
bit different. Due to the smaller rosters, there were only 4 rounds in the draft. In those 4
rounds, the Wizards had 5 picks. So let's take a look at those 5 picks from this past year.
1(8) - Matt Besler - The local KC product, Besler had himself a solid first season in MLS.
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So in less than half an hour, Philadelphia is going to be putting in their list of players that
they are selecting in this year's expansion draft. With all the talk the last two days about it,
and reading everything that people are saying, it's been interesting. A lot of Philadelphia fans
are thinking that Kevin Hartman would be a great pick up for them, an immediate starter, which is
most definitely true.
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WVHooligan 24 November @ 02:05 PM EDT
Could Bobby Convey be headed home to Philly? (Getty Images)
The speculation has begun for the Philadelphia Union and their expansion draft that takes place
tomorrow afternoon. The 15 clubs released their protected list last night and now the Union have a
full list of guys that they can get 10 players from.
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Here are some more stats for you as the Wizards season is now over. Unfortunately most of them are
depressing. You'll be seeing more stats this week as I get the information finalized.
KC scored 33 goals this season, tying the 99 and the 01 Wizards for the lowest scoring team in
Wizards history.
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The Wizards have handed out their year end awards, and it's now time for me to hand out my end of
the year awards to Wizards players. I'm going to hand out the same awards I did last year, I'm also
adding a Performance of the Year award to the best single game performance by a player this
season.
Rookie of the Year
Matt Besler
Not really a surprise, it was either going to be Besler or Graham Zusi getting this years award,
and I don't think that Zusi got enough time this year to be considered for the award.
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Talked to Matt at the season end interview session. He talked about being a rookie, learning from
the veterans and what Jimmy gets away with among other things.Part 1Part 2
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The Beez.
Soccer America has highlighted Wizards defender Matt Besler in their latest Rising Star profile.
Besler tells about the shoes he wears, rates his college experience and gives information on the
best coaching advice he has received, among several other things. Check it out.
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The Wizards playoff hopes were slim coming into last night's game against Colorado, and with the
0-0 draw and the way other results went around the league, slim is packing their bags right now. KC
was the more dominate team throughout the game, and looked the more likely to get the goal
throughout the game, but could not find the net.
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After today's training session, some clowns from the Ringling Bros, Barnum & Bailey circus that is
in town through Sunday this weekend stopped by to taking on some of our players at Swope. Our guys
included in the game: Matt Besler, Adam Cristman, Eric Kronberg, Kevin Souter and Graham Zusi. The
Wizards ended up winning the game, but those clowns could play a bit.
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After the Royals visited our Swope Park Training Center this afternoon, some of our guys went over
to take a little early batting practice with the Royals. Check out the pictures below, and buy your
KC Blue Sports Pack for tickets to tomorrow night's Royals game and Saturday night's Wizards
game.
Davy Arnaud takes a swing in the batting cage.
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Talked with Matt yesterday. He had just finished the second practice for the day and it was pretty
warm. Watch to see how his team mates messed with him. We talk about what Coach Vermes is doing
with the team. Matt Besler at practice yesterday...
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The Wizards once again defeated Kansas City's PDL team, the Brass today at the Swope Park training
complex 7-1. KC started their first game under Peter Vermes with what could potentially be a
starting lineup against Chicago a week from Sunday.
Hartman
Watson - Conrad - Hohlbein - Besler
Hirsig
Harrington - Jewsbury - Gomez
Zoltan - Wolff
Adam Cristman apparently missed the game due to being sick, while Davy Arnaud, Claudio Lopez, and
Roger Espinoza are recovering from minor injuries.
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Claudio Lopez has won the MLS Goal of the Week award for his INCREDIBLE long-range strike against
LA over the weekend from his own side of the half line. This is his second Goal of the Week honor
of the season. Now some links for your enjoyment:
1. There were lots of different versions yesterday, but here's the CNN story on President Obama
calling for the World Cup to come to the U.
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MLS Daily 28 July @ 07:37 PM EDT
by Matt Besler - Kansas City Wizards
Hello everyone! Back again this week from "Across the Midwest Pitch."
Just want to give a shout out to the US Men's National Team for their Gold Cup performance and
silver medal. Obviously, the final wasn't the result we were looking for and not in the fashion we
were hoping (especially to Mexico), but looking at the big picture, everyone on the squad deserves
recognition for a successful tournament.
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MLS Daily 21 July @ 04:42 PM EDT
by Matt Besler - Kansas City Wizards
It was a great week of training and very nice to have the weekend off. In training, we focused on a
couple things we need to improve on, such as playing early balls forward and being sharper in the
final third. We finished off the week on Friday with a competitive inter-squad scrimmage.
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MLS Daily 14 July @ 05:37 PM EDT
by Matt Besler - Kansas City Wizards
Welcome back to the 6th week of "Across the Midwest Pitch." It's been a crazy last couple of weeks,
with seven games in 20 days (five on the road). As a team, we have traveled over 10,000 miles. Many
players, including myself, have logged over 500 minutes in these days.
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MLS Daily 30 June @ 07:15 AM EDT
by Matt Besler - Kansas City Wizards
Hope everyone is doing well this week as I try to catch you up on everything that's been going
on.
This past week was probably the busiest week of our season so far. After playing our first
SuperLiga game against Santos last Sunday in St.
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MLS Daily 23 June @ 06:07 AM EDT
by Matt Besler - Kansas City Wizards
Hello again and welcome to the 3rd edition of Across the Midwest Pitch.
What an exciting day for the US National Team. I can't believe we advanced with everything
happening the way it did. Simply beating a very confident Egypt squad by three goals was a large
task, but also having Brazil do the same thing to defending World Cup champion Italy?
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As you might remember, defender Matt Besler is now blogging at MLS Daily on a weekly basis. Check
out entry II of Across the Midwest Pitch. Feel free to comment and let him know what you think. He
offers a complete breakdown of what he did last Saturday before/during/after our 3-1 win over New
England.
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Rookie defender Matt Besler has posted his first entry over at MLS Daily. Check out the rook's
first try and let him know what you think. I, for one, am looking forward to what Matt writes each
week.
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Another disappointing game. The game started off fairly even with the Crew maybe getting a little
better of play but the Wizards had their chances.Herculez Gomez attempts to get off a shot...Then
in the 14th minute Holhbein, Conrad and Hartman collide. It sounded like Kevin called off his
defenders but they did not hear him.
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Besler trimmed the bushes at his parents' house in OP Monday.
The Kansas City Star All-Access series continued Monday on the team's day off. Ryan Young spent the
day with Wizards rookies Matt Besler and Graham Zusi at the Besler residence in Overland Park. The
rookies are living in Matt's childhood home, for now, while they save money and look for suitable
apartments.
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MLS Daily, one of the up-and-coming blogs in the U.S. blogosphere has touched base with our
favorite Blue Valley West grad and convinced him to do a weekly update via their site. Head over to
MLS Daily to read the details of the upcoming series or post questions for Matt. Check MLS Daily
often, as they have some good information on our League and U.
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Wizards fans already know that Wizards captain, Jimmy Conrad, is an accomplished writer on both
CNNSI and ESPN, along with his own website. It appears that the writing bug has rubbed off on
another one of the Wizards' defenders. Rookie Matt Besler is going to be writing a weekly segment
on MLS Daily called "Across the Midwest Pitch.
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Rookie defender Matt Besler gets a little picky with his breakfast of choice, so Captain Kansas
City fixes the problem:
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This week's poll winner was Wizards' rookie, Matt Besler. Today Thad was able to interview him and
get the interview up. Besler talks about the game against Columbus, the switch at half time from a
left back to the center back position and how he handled that adjustment. He also talks about the
upcoming game against Real Salt Lake and a little of what they expect from that game.
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Talked with Matt about the Columbus game, his first trip to Salt Lake, moving into the center last
game and Matt gives a shout out to Bailey and Lucky. Hope I spelled those correctly. Matt during
the San Jose game...
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We have the second-ever Dog's Night at the Wizards coming up on May** 23 as Chivas USA comes to
town. In order to purchase tickets for a dog, you must fill out an order form and fax/mail or hand
deliver to our office along with the dog's latest vaccination information. For more information on
the event and to obtain the order form, visit www.
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Here's the updated version of our interview schedule for this week as we get ready for the Chicago
game and then the big ESPN2 match-up with New York next Thursday. Listen and enjoy:
Today--3:00--Weekly Press Conference with Curt Onalfo and Jimmy Conrad--Metro Sports
Today--5:00-6:00 pm--Zona Wizards Weekly Spanish Radio Show/Latino Outreach Event--Curt Onalfo,
Herculez Gomez and Boris Pardo--Live on Ke Buena 1480 AM from Taqueria Mexico II restaurant in
Kansas City, MO
Today--9:30 p.
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Besler in his first career start against San Jose.
Matt Besler entered the starting lineup two games ago, and the Wizards defense has yet to allow a
goal. In fact, Besler has never been on the field when Kansas City has allowed a goal. He entered
for the final minutes of the Colorado match and nearly registered an assist on his first-ever
touch.
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Thad over at The Back Post has the interview with this week's poll winner, Aaron Hohlbein. It's a
good interview where Hohlbein talks about the goal, the San Jose, the Seattle game, and if there's
any pressure from Matt Besler for the starting spot. Speaking of Besler, who finished second in
this past week's poll, Thad was also able to get an interview with him this past week.
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Matt talks about starting the last game, about playing left back instead of center and the
difference. I asked him how he thought he did and about having his family there. He talks about
looking forward to going to Seattle. I asked him with Aaron scoring, if there is any pressure on
the defense to keep up the scoring and with Aaron leading the defensive scoring, is Jimmy over the
hill?
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Today, members of the Wizards first team, including Matt Besler, Graham Zusi, Eric Kronberg and
Boris Pardo walked around the Swope Park Soccer Fields, mingling with young players and fans.
Wizards staff members grilled hot dogs for anyone who was interested. Check out some pictures
below:
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div style="text-align: justify;"Once again, we're on the losing side by a goal. After Kraus'
record-tying goal in the second half, it looked like we had the chance to get back in the game, but
Colorado quickly answered on a counter attack, and we were unable to pull one back late though we
generated a couple of dangerous opportunities.
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div style="text-align: justify;"Lots of people are talking about the Wizards at the
moment. Check out some of the stories below and see the interview schedule after that. As expected,
we're getting a little less love this week with the team on the road. Look for this to pick up
again next week when we play at home.
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