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Tillamawnin
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USA
197 Posts |
 Posted - Jul 28 2001 : 10:25:20 PM
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Story taken from today's Kansas City Star.
Tilla
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Wizards prepare for next game without starting forward Lowe
By DAVID BOYCE - The Kansas City Star
Date: 07/27/01 22:15
The Wizards sprinted up and down their wet practice field Friday morning without forward Onandi Lowe, midfielder Matt McKeon and coach Bob Gansler.
The organization knows that McKeon and Gansler are soaking up the sun in California for today's All-Star Game in San Jose. The whereabouts of Lowe is a far more intriguing story.
Anybody with information on Lowe should contact the Wizards, immediately. The Wizards return to action at 5 p.m. Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium against the New England Revolution, and they don't have a clue where Lowe is.
"We sent Chuck Norris to look for him," Wizards assistant coach Brian Bliss said, jokingly.
The Wizards are trying their best to find some humor in a development that they are not pleased with.
Gansler gave his team five days off for the All-Star break. They were supposed to report back to practice Wednesday for four days of workouts before resuming the last one-third of the season.
Many of the players went to the Lake of the Ozarks to do some fishing, boating and relaxing. Lowe returned to Jamaica to see his family. The Wizards had no problems with that.
"We saw his travel itinerary," Bliss said. "He set it up with the Chiefs' travel department. He was to return to Kansas City on Tuesday."
But during Wednesday's practice, there was no sign of Lowe. Even worse, Lowe didn't call the Wizards to let them know what was going on. Lowe apparently has taken his phone off the hook. The Wizards can't reach him at his home.
"I haven't talked to him, coach (Gansler) hasn't talked to him, and (general manager) Curt Johnson hasn't talked to him," Bliss said after Friday's practice. "We tracked down his agent, and we think it's some kind of family situation. But there is no excuse not to phone in."
Lowe joined the team in midseason when the Wizards were desperate to find someone to score goals. In his first game, he scored the game-winner. In the Wizards' last home game, a 3-2 victory over Dallas, Lowe headed in the game-winning goal in the closing 10 minutes.
This distraction comes at a bad time for Kansas City. After dipping three games below .500 in early July, the Wizards have climbed to 8-9-2 and are trying to position themselves into the No. 3 or No. 4 slot for the playoffs.
Wizards midfielder Kerry Zavagnin insists the latest adversity will not derail the team. The Wizards have already overcome plenty of obstacles, such as injuries to key players and national team call-ups.
"He (Lowe) is definitely an important piece of the puzzle," Zavagnin said. "But this team plays well with the 11 guys we put on the field and doesn't worry about who is not there. There's not too much turmoil here. We are set to go out and get a good result on Sunday."
Other than having Lowe go absent without leave, the break came at a good time for the Wizards. The only other negative is that the Wizards play the day after the All-Star Game.
"I don't know why they (MLS) scheduled us for Sunday," Wizards midfielder Chris Klein said. "It's a bit ridiculous. We are training without Matt and coach Gansler. But we're dealing with what we have."
To reach David Boyce, sports reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4745 or send e-mail to dboyce@kcstar.com
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