D.C. UNITED: D.C. United will donate a percentage of the proceeds from the team’s first two home matches toward relief efforts for the victims of the tragic earthquakes in El Salvador … The team will donate $2 from each ticket purchased on game-day at RFK Stadium for the club’s April 7 season-opener against Kansas City and the April 21 match against the New England Revolution … United forward Diaz Arce participated in a charity match held by the MetroStars March 31 to aid El Salvador earthquake victims … Diaz Arce joined fellow El Salvador legend Mauricio Cienfuegos (LA Galaxy), in the match between the Metros and a Latin American Select team. METROSTARS: Having wrapped up a preseason that saw the MetroStars go unbeaten (8-0-3) from February through the end of March, the Metros open defense of their 2000 Eastern Division title this at home April 7 vs. the New England Revolution … The 2001 season opener will mark the first time that the MetroStars open their season at Giants Stadium after opening on the road the previous five years … MetroStars fans are urged to wear “MetroStars Red” hats, jackets, shirts, or scarves, or any other red clothing that will turn the stadium into a sea of red as a display of support for the team in the 2001 season opener … The team will hold training sessions Tuesday thru Friday this week at the Keane University-East Campus in Union, New Jersey … Training session lengths vary, but generally last from 90 minutes to two hours. MIAMI FUSION Several Miami Fusion players are expected to make their regular season Fusion debuts in the April 7 match against Colorado … Midfielders Preki, Ian Bishop and Alex Pineda Chacon should make their first regular season appearances for the Blue and Gold … Fusion defender Carlos Llamosa, acquired in the off-season via a trade with D.C. United, will sit out the opener due to a red card suspension. The red card was issued to Llamosa in last year’s season finale on Sept. 9, 2000 when, ironically, he was sent off against the Fusion … The Fusion invites all fans to the NBC 6 studios in Miramar for the first-ever Fusion Day at 4:30 PM on Thursday, April 5 … The event is open to the public and will give fans a chance to meet the Fusion team and wish them well prior to the 2001 season … April 6 will be Media Day at Lockhart Stadium as the Fusion participates in its final practice (10:00 AM) … A new feature for Fusion home games, the Umbro Jump Squad will make its debut during the season opener against Colorado … The group will feature dance routines and prize giveaways designed to encourage fans to get up and jumping. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION: New England announced the re-signing of veteran U.S. national team goalkeeper Juergen Sommer, who played 11 games between the pipes for the Revs, recording two shutouts for the team in 2000 … To make room for Sommer on the senior roster, the Revs waived goalkeeper Eric Pogue … The Revolution selected Jamaican International Andy Williams in the waiver draft and also signed former Rapids defender Alan Woods as part of the Spring Training trade for Matt Okoh … To accommodate placing Woods on the 18 man roster, New England placed defender Adam Eyre on waivers. CHICAGO FIRE: Chicago Fire general manager Peter Wilt announced that Bob Bradley, the Fire’s head coach and director of soccer operations for the past three seasons, has signed a multi-year contract with the team … Denis Hamlett, who joined the Fire in August of 1997, will head up Bradley’s team of assistants … Also receiving a promotion is goalkeeper coach Daryl Shore who will now also serve as a full time assistant coach … Chicago native Tom Soehn is retiring from a professional soccer career that began in 1988, in order to take a position as the team’s third assistant coach and community relations coordinator … The Chicago Fire will travel to Columbus, Ohio this weekend for their season opener against the Crew at 7:30 p.m. ET (espn2) … The game will be the fourth meeting between the Central Division rivals at Columbus Crew Stadium, where the Fire has won the last three games and look to continue its run of dominance over the Crew … Fire midfielder and captain Peter Nowak along with forward Hristo Stoitchkov have suffered injuries and will likely miss the season opener … Nowak is suffering from a left hamstring strain, which was acquired during the MLS Spring Training Tournament … During the team’s first training session in Chicago last week, Stoitchkov suffered a left ankle sprain … Both players are listed as week to week … The Fire announced that defender C.J. Brown has signed a multiyear contract with MLS. COLUMBUS CREW The Crew will gear up for the April 7 MLS regular-season opener with another important match, the first leg of a two-game FC Giants Cup Quarterfinal series, which will be played April 4 in Costa Rica, against Costa Rican club Saprissa … New Flagship radio station Eagle 103.9’s will air the first broadcast of Columbus’ season … Non-roster defender Mike Duhaney has been cleared to participate in the Giants Cup match and could see action on the left side … After returning from Costa Rica, the Crew will hold one final preseason training session on April 6 at 2:00 p.m. (ET) at Crew Stadium … The Crew have a full slate of festivities planned for Saturday’s season opener, with post-game fireworks, recognition of the Ohio State University Men’s basketball team and Miss Ohio, Stephanie Meisberger, will sing the national anthem. DALLAS BURN: When the Dallas Burn opens the season April 7 vs. Tampa Bay, they will do so without the services of defensive midfielder Chad Deering who received a red card in the Burn’s final playoff game last year and will serve his one-game suspension … The Burn enjoys a favorable schedule to start the 2001 season, as four of the team’s first six games will be played at the Cotton Bowl … The Burn have established a true home-field advantage at the Cotton Bowl over the last two years … Last year, Dallas compiled an impressive 11-3-2 record at home while outscoring the opposition 37-22 … Since the start of the 1999 season, the Burn’s home record is 24-6-2 for a winning percentage of .781. TAMPA BAY MUTINY: The Mutiny opens its 2001 season on the road for the first time in team history, April 7 at Dallas … Tampa Bay is 3-2 all-time in season openers, breaking a two-game opener losing streak last year against Columbus … The all-time series between the Mutiny and Dallas is tied 7-7, thanks in large part to Tampa Bay’s 3-1 record v the Burn last season, including three straight wins … The Mutiny hopes to record its first road win sooner than last year when it took until away game six — ironically at Dallas — to snap that streak … Mamadou Diallo had two two-goal games against Dallas last year … Diallo’s partner up top could be Gus Kartes, a local product from Tarpon Springs, Fla., who had signed to play with Greek First Division Olympiakos as a 15-year-old in 1997, but was recently released by the Greek Federation and acquired by the Mutiny via trade with Colorado last week … The Mutiny waived 2001 fifth-round SuperDraft pick Hector Navarrete to make room for Kartes …Head coach Alfonso Mondelo will be making his Mutiny debut, his first MLS regular season assignment since 9/18/96 when he coached the MetroStars … Midfielder Eric Quill is a native of Missouri City, Texas, located just outside of Dallas. COLORADO RAPIDS: The Colorado Rapids acquired All-Star defender Robin Fraser from the Los Angeles Galaxy in exchange for conditional second-round draft picks in 2002-2004 … First-year head coach Tim Hankinson takes the helm for the Rapids who open their 2001 season vs. the Miami Fusion at Lockhart Stadium … The Rapids will be without the services of forward Junior Agogo for the opener … Agogo will be serving a mandatory, one-game suspension for a red card received during the playoffs on Sept. 24 against the Kansas City Wizards … Scottish forward John Spencer and South African forward Neathan Gibson will also look to make their first league start for the team … The RapidsÆ top 2001 MLS SuperDraft selection, Stephen Herdsman, will also look to make his professional debut against the Fusion … On the broadcast side, Seamus Malin, will make his debut in the Rapids’ broadcast booth for the game televised on KTVD, (UPN) Channel 20. KANSAS CITY WIZARDS: The defending MLS Cup Champion Kansas City Wizards finished the 2001 preseason with a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire in St. Louis March 30, and now gear themselves for their title defense when Major League Soccer’s sixth season commences this weekend … Kansas City finished with a 6-2-1 record in games played in Portugal, Ft. Lauderdale and St. Louis … The Wizards averaged 2.11 goals per game and allowed 0.67 goals against (the Wizards were shutout only one time, but shutout their opponents six times) … Matt McKeon finished as the teams leading scorer in preseason with 10 points (4 goals, 2 assists) … The 2001 preseason was relatively injury-free (only defender Peter Vermes will miss the first few games while resting an abdominal strain) … Wizards goalkeeper Tony Meola will be featured in national advertisements for milk … Media Day for the Kansas City Wizards will be on Thursday, April 12, from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. … The Wizards organization will host a “Watch Party” at Arrowhead Pavilion on Saturday, April 7, to cheer the Wizards on as they travel to play against D.C. United … Admission to the event is free. LOS ANGELES GALAXY: The Los Angeles Galaxy opens their 2001 MLS season versus the San Jose Earthquakes on April 7, at the Rose Bowl … In a match up of Western Division rivals, Los Angeles leads in the all-time regular season series against San Jose, 14-4-2, including a 7-2-1 mark at the Rose Bowl … In the last meeting at the Rose Bowl, the Galaxy defeated the Earthquakes, 2-1, on 8/30/00 … All families are encouraged to come out early and stay late for the Galaxy’s season opener and enjoy a fun filled day at the Rose Bowl highlighted by SoccerFest before the game and fireworks after the game … SoccerFest features various interactive areas, including a DJ, live music, food and the Galaxy’s inflatables, 3v3 fields, dribble pass and shoot … For the first time ever, SoccerFest will have available various types of food available to fans ranging from sausages and popcorn to snow cones … Galaxy defender Alexi Lalas with be on USAToday.com for a chat with fans on Thursday, April 5, 2001 from 4:00 to 4:30 p.m. (ET) … The Galaxy will hold training at 9:30 a.m. for the remainder of this week, in preparation for the opener. SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES: San Jose opens their 2001 campaign April 7 with a match against the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl at 10:00 p.m. (ET) … Defender Jeff Agoos will make his first appearance in the Bay Area on Wednesday, April 4 at team training … The Earthquakes will be hosting their 2001 Media Day/Mayor’s Kicks for Kids Luncheon on Tuesday, April 10 at Spartan Stadium from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. … The team’s training will run from 10-11:30 a.m. … Following practice, media are invited to get on the field and challenge the Quakes’ players to penalty kick shoot-outs, 5v2 games, and other competitions … Media will also have that time to take photographs and conduct interviews … The luncheon will start at 12:45 p.m. in the Gold Room at Spartan Stadium.