The MLS champion Rapids will open their 2011 season March 19 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park with a familiar face in the visitor’s coaching box.
John Spencer, a fiery player from Scotland who played for the Rapids from 2001-04, returns as head coach of the expansion Portland Timbers.
The league expands to 18 teams next season, with Vancouver the other newcomer. MLS teams will play 34-game schedules, with one home and one road game against every team.
The rest of the MLS schedule has not been released.
Burks on Cousy watch list.
University of Colorado sophomore guard Alec Burks was among 66 student- athletes named Monday by The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a candidate for the 2011 Bob Cousy Award, recognizing college basketball’s top point guard.
The Grandview, Mo., native leads the Buffaloes in scoring at 19.8 points per game, is shooting 50.4 percent from the floor and averages 2.4 assists and 1.1 steals per game. He has scored more than 20 points in six of his 10 games this season and ranks fourth nationally in scoring among sophomores.
The winner of the 2011 Bob Cousy Award will be presented at the Hall of Fame’s Class Announcement on April 4 in Houston as part of the NCAA Final Four weekend.
Vandiver wins MWC honor.
Wyoming senior guard Aubrey Vandiver has been named Mountain West Conference women’s basketball player of the week for the second time this season and sixth time of her career.
For the week, the Laramie native averaged 21.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game while averaging 42 minutes per game.
Mullen in computer football playoffs.
The Mullen High School football team will be part of the second annual Massey Virtual National Championship for high school football as announced Monday by and USA Today.
USA Today editors will seed the teams in the championship bracket, where they will face off in computer-simulated matchups, programmed by mathematician Ken Massey. His computer models were used to create the BCS rankings for college football in 1999.
