RAPIDS IN POSITION FOR POSTSEASON AWARDS;
CARLOS VALDERRAMA TO PARTICIPATE IN MARADONA TRIBUTE GAME

RAPIDS SALES TEAM NOMINATED FOR LEAGUE HONOR

For the first time in franchise history, the Colorado Rapids Sales Team has been nominated as one of three finalists for the MLS Sales Team of the Year award, which will be announced on Saturday, October 20, prior to the 2001 MLS Cup Final.

Each year the award is given to the top ticket sales team of the year, based on factors such as market size, past results, club performance and others. D.C. United is the only team in MLS history to have ever earned the distinction.

This year, the Rapids increased their average home attendance by nearly 4,000 fans per game, a 31% rise over the 2000 average attendance.

Rapids Director of Sales, Michael Hitchcock (who formerly held the position in D.C.), has been selected as a finalist for the Sales Director of the Year award, and Corporate Account Executive Andy Smith has been named to the honor roll for the 2001 MLS Sales Representative of the Year award.

CARLOS VALDERRAMA TO PARTICIPATE IN MARADONA TRIBUTE GAME

Colombian legend and Rapids midfielder Carlos Valderrama has been invited by Diego Armando Maradona to take part in a tribute game on November 10, 2001 at La Bombonera Stadium, home of Boca Juniors, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The match will honor the legendary Argentinian star and will feature the National Team of Argentina against a World All-Star Team with marquee players such as: Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Claudio Caniggia, Rene Higuita, Alvaro Recoba, Nolberto Solano, Carlos Aguilera, Enzo Francescoli, Ivan Zamorano, Berard Schuster, Sergio Goycochea and Hugo Sanchez.

One of the greatest players to ever step onto a soccer field, Maradona scored 34 goals in 91 appearances for the high-flying Argentine National Team in a career that spanned two decades. Maradona also excelled on the club level, performing his magic with Italian squad Napoli, Argentine giants Boca Juniors, and FC Barcelona in Spain. Not only did he lead Argentina to a World Cup victory over West Germany in 1986, but he was also named FIFA's World Footballer of the Year that same year.

"To me, the most important thing is to share this moment with the people that made me happy during the two decades of my professional career: my colleagues and the fans," said Maradona.

Maradona's agent Guillermo Coppola has announced that among the dignitaries invited to the event are FIFA's current President Joseph Blatter, former FIFA President Joao Havelange, as well as former Brazilian superstar Pele.

Joining Carlos Valderrama in November's tribute game will be Luis Hernandez of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Hristo Stoitchkov of the Chicago Fire.

RAPIDS IN THE COMMUNITY (OCTOBER)

As Colorado's MLS representative and top-level soccer team, the Rapids organization and its players realize the importance of future investment in the one thing that makes professional soccer possible - the fans. That's why, from time to time, you'll see some recognizable faces signing autographs and meeting people in and around the Denver Metro area.

* October 10 - Wes Hart will be at the Mile High Academy practice on Yale near Broadway between 3-4 p.m.

* October 26 - Five players, to be announced, will be at the Denver Soccer Club clinic, located at Congress Park on 8th and Josephine from 4:30-6 p.m.

* October 28 - Rapidman, the Rapids mascot, will be present for the Girl Scouts 5 K run at Washington Park between 10:30 a.m. and 12 p.m.

RAPIDS, COLORADO NATIONAL GUARD TO VISIT SCHOOLS BY HELICOPTER

Over the past several years, the Colorado Rapids have forged a strong partnership with the men and women of the Colorado Army National Guard. This year, the two have teamed up once again to visit high schools via helicopters - landing in school yards across the Front Range.

Given the National Guard's role in serving and protecting our American communities, the Rapids are proud to do their part by supporting the Colorado military in helping to endorse its Red Ribbon program - a drug free message for high school students statewide. The helicopter visits will begin on October 22 and run through November 2. Approximately 60 schools will be visited by Rapids players who will present an autographed ball to each school as well as sign autographs and pass out American flag bumper stickers to students. A tentative schedule is as follows:

	October 22 - Imad Baba			October 23 - Raul Diaz Arce
	October 24 - Robin Fraser		October 25 - Ritchie Kotschau
	October 26 - Wes Hart			October 29 - Stephen Herdsman
	October 30 - Scott Garlick		October 31 - David Kramer
	November 1 - Chris Martinez		November 2 - Steve Shak

RAPIDS CAPTAIN MARCELO BALBOA FINALIST FOR 2001 MLS FAIR PLAY AWARD

Rapids defender Marcelo Balboa has been nominated by the media and his peers in Major League Soccer as a candidate for the 2001 Fair Play award, to be announced on Monday, October 15. The lone remaining member of the inaugural 1996 squad, Balboa played in 24 games this season, logging 2,119 minutes without receiving a single yellow card for rules infringement. Balboa finished second in team scoring with five goals and six assists in 2001. The Fair Play award is presented to the player who is regarded as the league's best sportsman during the regular season. Other candidates for the award include midfielders Alex Pineda Chacon (Miami) and Mark Chung (MetroStars).

In addition, Rapids Head Athletic Trainer Theron Enns was named a finalist for the league's Ace Athletic Trainer of the Year award for the 2001 season. Enns, a former member of the New York Jets athletic training staff, was recognized for his efforts in keeping the team healthy throughout the season. The Ace Athletic Trainer of the Year award is voted on by various medical personnel throughout the league, including athletic trainers from all 12 MLS teams.

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