For most of this week, the MLS all-stars have kept themselves sequestered, practicing in the relative anonymity of Commerce City.
Or they did, at least until they found their way to Skyline Park in downtown Denver for MLS Soccer Jam, a party complete with music, food and a few friendly games of futvolley.
That’s volleyball without the use of hands, to those unfamiliar with the game. And in the process, the fans got a glimpse into the playful side of some of the all-stars.
Kansas City Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman claimed a “tricycle kick” finishing move, although it never made an appearance. And New England Revolution keeper Matt Reis tried his hand at a little standup comedy.
“This is fun, you get to see them in a different setting,” said Mike Unger, 42, of Lakewood.
The MLS party didn’t quite draw a packed crowd, but for the couple of hundred soccer fans ringing the makeshift field, it was an opportunity to see the players up close.
“My team has tried to do this a couple times,” said Brad Henry, a 14-year-old from Michigan. “This is a lot better than what we do.”
Many of the people wandering Skyline Park were out-of-staters in town for the All-Star Game, but Rapids fans were well-represented and enthusiastically supported non- all-star Colorado players Stephen Keel and Colin Clark when they were introduced.
There was also a handful of green-and-white clad imports from Scotland walking around and admiring the setup.
“You’ve got the players here and a band playing, it’s all right,” Glasgow native Paul Kelly said.
The bands, Kinky and The Academy Is…, drew more musically inclined fans.
“Most of them are wearing band t-shirts,” Maddie D’Adamio, 18, said, acknowledging that her friend, Jordan Taylor, wasn’t an MLS fanatic. “They don’t look like soccer fans.”
The soccer fans were busy waiting for the tricycle kick.
Staff writer Joel A. Erickson can be reached at 303-954-1980 or at jerickson@denverpost.com.
MLS all-stars
Listed with height and weight:
FORWARDS
Juan Pablo Angel 6-1 175
Brian Ching 6-1 195
Landon Donovan 5-8 158
Eddie Johnson 6-0 180
MIDFIELDERS
Ricardo Clark 5-10 150
Dwayne De Rosario 5-11 164
Christian Gomez 5-8 157
Shalrie Joseph 6-3 180
Pablo Mastroeni 5-10 170
Ronnie O’Brien 5-10 155
Cobi Jones 5-7 165
Juan Toja 6-1 172
DEFENDERS
Jonathan Bornstein 5-9 145
Jimmy Conrad 6-2 185
Michael Parkhurst 5-11 160
Eddie Pope 6-1 180
GOALKEEPERS
Kevin Hartman 6-1 196
Matt Reis 6-1 196
Celtic Football Club
FORWARDS
Maciej Zurawski 5-11 168
Kenny Miller 5-10 158
J. V. of Hesselink 6-2 187
Derek Riordan 5-11 148
Scott McDonald 5-8 172
Chris Killen 6-0 180
Craig Beattie 6-0 180
James O’Brien 6-0 165
MIDFIELDERS
Scott Brown 5-9 160
Paul Hartley 5-8 147
Evander Sno 6-2 176
Thomas Gravesen 5-11 188
Massimo Donati 6-1 165
Jiri Jarosik 6-4 192
Shunsuke Nakamura 5-10 147
Aiden McGeady 5-10 158
Theodore Bjarnason N/A N/A
Andrea Capone 5-11 167
DEFENDERS
Lee Naylor 5-9 155
Gary Caldwell 5-11 165
Bobo Balde 6-3 205
Mark Wilson 5-10 165
Steven Pressley 6-0 155
John Kennedy 6-2 190
Stephen McManus 6-2 180
Darren O’Dea 6-1 185
Gary Irvine N/A N/A
Paul Caddis N/A N/A
GOALKEEPERS
Artur Boruc 6-4 190
Mark Brown 6-2 185
Michael McGovern 6-2 195
