From the Dugout-Issue 1

My Christmas List: 2000

My Christmas list this year is both long and detailed. I figured that I should release this list as a token of my appreciation after a wonder year for soccer in the United States.

For Fernando Clavijo: A number 10 (aka playmaker)
For Jonny Torres and Brian Dunseth: Each will recieve a one-way ticket out of Logan Airport in Boston
For Wolde Harris: A proper striker partner for the 2001 season
For Adam Eyre: Mercury's winged cleats
For Rusty Pierce: A lifetime supply of Ben-Gay
For Jeff Causey: The trade of Juergen Sommer
For Juergen Sommer: The trade of Juergen Sommer
For Leonel Alvarez: A season long stint on the bench as FC's assistant, as he would be a great addition to the staff
For Imad Baba: A trade to an MLS team who will properly applaud his talents
For Ted Chronopolus: A contract with any team that would want him, as he has been a useful servant to the club over these past five years
For Shaker Asad: A chance
For Mauricio Ramos: A return to Bolivia
For Eric Wynalda: A chance at one last fully healthy season
For Fabio Zuniga: A chance to show that he can play
For Joey Franchino: A chance to show that he can play
For John Harkes: A momentary flashback to the days when he was a living god in Sheffield
For Mauricio Wright: An explanation from Costa Rican National Team manager Gilson Nunes as to why he has continually been left off the Costa Rican Nation Team
For William Sunsing: Continued development of his striking skills and the continuation of callups to the Costa Rican National Team

And for other American players and cities..

For Bruce Arena: Qualification for the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea
For Cobi Jones: A return to the realm of Earth, as he must be crazy to ask for $1 million a year
For Eddie Lewis and Joe-Max Moore: A move to a club which would appreciate their talents and who actually play them
For the city of San Jose: An actual MLS team in 2001
For Nick Sakiewicz: A public flogging from MLS supremo Don Garber for being an insufferable ass
For Alfonso Mondelo: Good luck, as he needs to find complements to an unsettled, underpaid star striker and a 39 year old playmaker
For Bob Gansler: A chance to prove that 2000 wasn't a fluke
For Thomas Rongen: A chance to prove that 2000 was a fluke
For the Colorado Rapids: A chance to play a full season
For the city of Rochester: An MLS team in 2004 or 2005
For the city of Philadelphia: The return to top flight soccer that it so richly deserves
For Charlie Stitliano: A chance at redemption with the 2nd New York franchise
And finally...
For Preki: The chance to finish his career the way it should be finished, as a decently paid member/contributor to the Kansas City Wizards

Christmas is a time for giving. Some will like their gifts, others will not. As a wise man once said, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night."