Nick at WeWantRapidman.com has a report that the Rapids are close to announcing two signings, there’s a DU alum at the team’s preseason camp, Omar vs. D-Ro in Jamaica, “strong, silent” Stan Kroenke, and more!

Former Rapids striker and current Houston Dynamo assistant coach John Spencer reportedly is a candidate for the Portland Timbers’ head coaching position. Portland will start play in Major League Soccer in 2011.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

In the past, the Colorado Rapids asked the media to participate in voting for their annual postseason awards, but there were more categories. This year, I voted in three categories: MVP, defender of the year and young player of the year. In the latter category, I chose Jacob Peterson, above. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Major League Soccer released the finalists for the league’s 2009 awards today, and Galaxy striker Landon Donovan certainly was among them. Inside, I list all the finalists and whom I voted for in the process. Donovan, left, was among the finalists for the league’s Most Valuable Player award, and I think he’s the likely winner. All of the award finalists earned the most votes in polling of MLS players, general managers, coaches, referees and members of the media, including yours truly. Check out all of the finalists inside.
(photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Real Salt Lake retained possession of the Rocky Mountain Cup with a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utah. Robbie Findley scored two first-half goals, Yura Movsisyan again stuck the dagger in Colorado’s side late in the match, and the Rapids had no punch. Inside, we break down the game using a few keen comments from the Fox Soccer Channel crew. …

After Saturday’s loss 2-1 road loss to FC Dallas, the Rapids have put all of their playoff hopes into one match … against Real Salt Lake on Saturday in Utah.

Conor Casey scored on a penalty, his third in the past four matches, as the Colorado Rapids tied the New England Revolution 1-1 on Saturday night in Commerce City. Emmanuel Osei’s foul on Omar Cummings in the penalty area set up Colorado’s tying score. Above, New England goalkeeper Matt Reis keeps an eye on Rapids midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy. (photo by Jonathan Ingraham/ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Random notes from the Colorado Rapids’ third draw in nine days …

For the second time in less than a week, Conor Casey scored on a penalty kick in extra time as the Colorado Rapids tied the Earthquakes 1-1. Casey scored his 15th goal of the season about a minute before the end of Wednesday’s match. Jason Hernandez tripped Omar Cummings in the box in extra time, and referee Ricardo Salazar had little choice but to blow the whistle.
(photo by Tom Auclair/ ColoradoSoccerNow.com)

Imagine the array of emotions for Ryan Johnson on Friday night. The San Jose Earthquakes striker scored his team’s only goal in the eighth minute of a 1-1 tie against the Colorado Rapids. Then the 24-year-old committed the foul deep into extra time that produced a penalty kick for Colorado and the Rapids’ only goal.