MLS CONFIDENTIAL: The Bull on Nicknames

But hopes that the whole issue will just go away have been dashed by local media coverage of the team's preseason; every few days a reference to the controversy finds its way into newspapers.

A purchase of the MetroStars would also result in a name change. Dietrich Mateschitz, the founder of Red Bull energy drinks, bought the club Austria Salzburg last year and renamed it Red Bull Salzburg.

Mateschitz, 61, is a rich Austrian entrepreneur who has been discussing investing in MLS and last year had reportedly pondered buying an expansion franchise to be located somewhere in the Northeast, but progress on the MetroStars' stadium project — which has accelerated somewhat from a glacially slow pace — has prompted talks of him purchasing the MetroStars, according to the New York Daily News.

Will the Red-and-Black transform into Red Bull? Perhaps. But regardless of whether or not Mateschitz pulls the trigger, he's a more viable candidate to join MLS than New York taxicab-medallion czar Andrew Murstein, who dallied about buying the Wizards for a few months last year.

FINAL STRETCH. Although teams had to cut down their rosters to 28 players and become cap-compliant last Wednesday, there's still nearly a month to go before the league's transfer window closes and a few teams haven't filled their allotment of four senior international players.

VIRTUOSO ON TRIAL. It's yet to be decided how good he is, but a young Brazilian with the name of Virtuoso played with Columbus during its trip to Cyprus.

Ricardo Magno Virtuoso, who just turned 22 and formerly was a member of Brazil's U-17 team, has played with Swiss team FC Chiasso and is being tried out by Coach Sigi Schmid as a left-sided midfielder as well as up top. He played last week in games against Zaglebie and Mordovia.

Virtuoso is a product of the Juventus (Sao Paulo) developmental club that grooms players and tries to sell them on. He scored one goal in 14 appearances for Chiasso last season. If the Crew signs him, just think of the marketing possibilities.

Columbus has filled its four senior slots (Sebastian Rozental, Marcos Gonzalez, Joel Kitamarike, and Duncan Oughton) yet Virtuoso, being under age 25, could be signed as a youth international.

ANOTHER YOUNGSTER. One team that has recently done well without a full complement of foreign players is San Jose/Houston. The current roster includes only Canadians Pat Onstad and Dwyane DeRosario (El Salvador native Ronald Cerritos holds a green card) and there are also youth international slots open.

Coach Dominic Kinnear has been evaluating former Scottish youth international Ryan Wilkie, 20, a midfielder who has played with Glasgow Celtic and Liverpool reserves and most recently played for Gretna, the Scottish Second Division club that beat St. Mirren, 1-0, to reach the Scottish Cup semifinals.

Wilkie played against the Galaxy and CD Chivas USA this week during Houston's training stint at Home Depot Center.

NORLUND MAKES HIS POINT. Several American players have headed overseas to play with Danish clubs, but only former international Miklos Molnar — who led the Wizards in goals during their 2000 championship season — and former Quakes midfielder Ronnie Ekelund have successfully made the trip in the other direction. Viborg's Alex Norlund, 31, is trying to make a case that he can follow in their footsteps.

Norlund scored against Real Salt Lake in a preseason game last month and netted again in a scrimmage playing for Viborg, the latest stop in a U.S. tour of Danish clubs that has also included AGF Aarhus and Vejle. Although he is under contract to Viborg, he is reportedly available at a very low price.

WILL MOVES ON. Canadian youth international Will Johnson is on trial at Dutch club Herenveen, following the termination of his contract by the Fire last week.
Johnson, 19, was born in Toronto but grew up near Chicago and played for Sockers FC before signing with MLS in February of last year. He played 162 minutes in six games and scored one goal.
The Fire picked up his option for the 2006 season, yet this winter he was asked to sign a developmental contract to replace the contract under which he played last year, at a salary of $28,000, and refused. Canadian coach Frank Yallop called him up for Canada's friendly with Austria last Wednesday, and he came on as a sub in the 84th minute of a 2-0 victory.