Pope out 2-4 weeks D.C. United defender Eddie Pope underwent successful surgery to his left knee on April 19 and is expected to return to action in two-four weeks. United team doctor William Hazel performed the hour-long procedure. Pope was awake throughout the operation and began his rehabilitation after the procedure was completed. “We did surgery this morning on Eddie Pope, and we found what we thought we were going to find, which was a little bit of softening on the cartilage surface of the bone,” said United athletic trainer Rick Guter. “We did a little drilling to help the loosened cartilage re-attach to the bone. We’re trying to get it to re-attach with a little bleeding so it will heal more quickly. It looks like he’s going to be out 2-4 weeks. We want to make sure we get as much healing as we possibly can so it doesn’t turn into a long-term problem.” Pope initially injured his knee on July 4, 1999, when he suffered a sprain of the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in a match at San Jose which forced him from the field in the 85th minute. He aggravated the injury during a preseason match in Grand Cayman in March. Azizi and five other players disciplined MLS’s Disciplinary Committee has suspended San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Khodadad Azizi for three games and fined the player $7,500 for major game misconduct during the club’s 2-0 loss at Kansas City on Saturday, April 15. Azizi, who has started all four San Jose games in his first MLS season, was ejected in the 74th minute of the match. The Iranian national team star had received one yellow card in MLS prior to Saturday’s game. In addition, five other players were levied fines today by the league. A brief overview follows: D.C. United midfielder Marco Etcheverry was fined $500 for prolonged excessive dissent during and after United’s 2-1 loss at New England on April 15. D.C. United midfielder Richie Williams, forward Jaime Moreno and midfielder Geoff Aunger were each fined $250 for prolonged excessive dissent after United’s 2-1 loss at New England on April 15. Chicago Fire midfielder Diego Gutierrez was fined $250 for violent conduct in the 13th minute of Chicago’s 1-0 victory over Miami on April 15. MetroStars pick up Jolley and Hernandez The MetroStars have acquired defender Steve Jolley and defensive-midfielder Daniel Hernandez in separate trades with Los Angeles and Tampa Bay, respectively. In the first trade, the MetroStars sent a second round 2001 draft pick to the Galaxy for Jolley. In the second, the team traded the rights to Alvarez to Tampa Bay in exchange for midfielder Daniel Hernandez. “These are trades that inject two quality players into our roster with a winning attitude,” said MetroStars GM Nick Sakiewicz. “Both coach Zambrano and I have experience with Daniel Hernandez, while Octavio coached Jolley during his time in Los Angeles. Both players are skillful at their positions and will help improve the team.” Jolley, a central defender, was a member of the Galaxy’s defensive unit that allowed a league low 29 goals last season. He was among the Galaxy’s most reliable starters, amassing 1,940 minutes in 25 games in leading the Galaxy to MLS Cup ’99. Both of his goals in ’99 came off headers and proved to be game-winners. Hernandez, a defensive-minded midfielder, was acquired from the Tampa Bay Mutiny in exchange for the rights to Daniel Alvarez. The MetroStars have relinquished the rights to Alvarez after the club selected him in the 4th round of the 2000 MLS SuperDraft. Hernandez, who has previously played for the Galaxy and the Mutiny, will add depth to the Metros midfield. He was acquired at the trading deadline last season by Tampa Bay from L.A., in exchange for Jorge Salcedo. Hernandez appeared in 14 MLS games last season for his respective clubs, logging 901 minutes. This season, he saw limited action with the Mutiny in two games (seven minutes). Jolley and Hernandez were teammates in Los Angeles for two seasons (1998 and 1999). Mutiny also gets Anderson Tampa Bay also traded its 2001 third round and 2002 second round SuperDraft picks to Colorado for midfielder Kevin Anderson. Anderson was a 27-year-old rookie for the Rapids last season who played in 17 matches, starting 11. A former A-League standout with Long Island and Minnesota, Anderson comes to Tampa familiar with Mutiny President & General Manager Bill Manning, who held those titles with those clubs during Anderson’s tenure at each. Anderson has appeared in four games for the Rapids this season, starting two. He participated in both Colorado matches vs. Tampa Bay, and ironically, his last match as a Rapid was last Saturday in Raymond James Stadium, a 4-2 Mutiny victory. “Kevin Anderson has vast experience in the A-League, has won championships and is an endless worker in the midfield who has MLS experience,” Mutiny head coach Tim Hankinson said. “He’s another midfielder who adds depth in the style of a Josh Keller; he gives us the ability to work against opponents in a similar fashion. The Mutiny also waived forward Ernest Inneh. Inneh, a sixth-round pick in the 2000 SuperDraft, did not play in a regular season match for Tampa Bay this season.