Month: August 2014

Four Sporting KC players in tonight’s MLS All-Star game

Matt Besler

The 2014 AT&T MLS All-Star Game will feature four Sporting Kansas City players as Matt Besler, Aurelien Collin, Dom Dwyer and Graham Zusi are among the 23-man squad for tonight’s contest in Portland, Oregon.

The summer showcase will air live from Providence Park at 8:30 p.m. on ESPN2 and UniMas.

For the first time in the event’s history, the MLS All-Stars will face a club from Germany’s Bundesliga in star-studded FC Bayern Munich. The MLS All-Stars are 6-3-1 all-time against international competition in the All-Star Game and now a meeting beckons with one of the world’s premier teams.

During the 2013-2014 season, Bayern Munich was crowned champion of the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and FIFA Club World Cup. The team has lifted six of the past 10 German league titles and won the 2012-2013 UEFA Champions League.

The All-Star Game will be a familiar spectacle for Besler, Collin and Zusi, who have each played in two previous editions.

Dwyer, however, is set to make the first All-Star appearance of his career after replacing injured Toronto FC forward Jermain Defoe on the game day roster.

The 24-year-old is tied for second in MLS with 14 goals and won the MLS Player of the Month award in May.
– Story from Sporting KC

Dom Dwyer

Graham Zusi

Aurelien Collin

Taizé prayer at SCL Mother House open to all Christian faith traditions

Persons of all Christian traditions are invited to participate in Taizé prayer at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in Annunciation Chapel on the campus of the Mother House of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 4200 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, Kan.

Taizé prayer is a meditative, candlelit service that includes simple chants sung repeatedly, silence, and prayers of praise and intercession. These prayer services emerged from an ecumenical community of monks in Taizé, France.

For more information, visit www.marillaccenter.org or call 913-680-2342.
– from Therese Horvat

Nichols to perform pre-race concert Oct. 5 at Kansas Speedway

Red Bow Records recording artist Joe Nichols will perform a pre-race concert prior to the Hollywood Casino 400, the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup, on Oct. 5.

“I look forward to having Joe perform prior to the Hollywood Casino 400,” said Kansas Speedway President Patrick Warren. “I know Joe will put on a great performance for our fans and get them ready for an exciting NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race that afternoon.”

Nichols, whose current hits include “Yeah” and “Sunny and 75,” released his latest studio album in October of last year. Fans are likely familiar with other chart-topping hits of Nichols as well, like “Brokenheartsville,” “Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off,” and “Gimme That Girl” along with Top Ten hits like “The Impossible,” “What’s A Guy Gotta Do” and “I’ll Wait For You.”

Over his career, he has new artist awards from the Academy of Country Music, the Country Music Association, Billboard, and more. He also has four Grammy nominations, a CMA album of the Year nomination and multiple RIAA platinum and gold albums and singles.

Tickets are currently on sale for the Oct. 3 ARCA Racing Series, the Oct. 4 Kansas Lottery 300 (NASCAR Nationwide Series) and the Oct. 5 Hollywood Casino 400, the fourth race in the Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup. Tickets may be purchased by calling 866-460-RACE (7223) or by logging onto www.kansasspeedway.com.

Parking is free at Kansas Speedway and fans can bring in one 14x14x14-inch soft-sided cooler with food and beverages.