The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • 60

3 3r 9 ALT. D2 Sports THE BOSTON GLOBE FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 2006 Fan's Guide NEXT GAME TOMORROW, 7 P.M. TOMORROW, 8:30 P.M. Boston at Montreal Boston at Chicago NESN, WBZ (1030) FSN, NBA TV, WRKO (680) ALSO ON THE AIR AUTO RACING Time TV Radio Nextel Cup: DirecTV 500 qualifying 3:30 p.m. Speed Formula One: Australian Grand Prix qual.

Midnight Speed COLLEGE BASEBALL Rice at Tulane 7:30 p.m. CSTV MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL Preseason: Cardinals vs. Mets 1 p.m. ESPN PRO BASKETBALL Memphis vs. New Orleans 8 p.m.

ESPN 5 LA Lakers at Seattle 10:30 p.m. ESPN BOXING Primetime Fights 7 p.m. CN8 Light heavyweights: Griffin vs. Jones 9.p.m. ESPN2 Super welterweights: Thompson vs.

Boone SHO GOLF Algarve Open (2d round) 9 a.m. TGC PGA: BellSouth Classic (2d round) 4 p.m. USA LPGA: Nabisco Championship (2d round) 5p.m. ESPN2 Champions: Puerto Vallarta Classic (1st rd.) 6p.m. TGC PRO HOCKEY AHL: Lowell at Hershey 7 p.m.

980 AHL: Portland at Providence 7:05 p.m. 1440, 1320 AHL: Manchester at Toronto 7:30 p.m. 610 AHL: Hartford at Springfield 7:35 p.m. 1410, 640 TENNIS Nasdaq-100 Open (semifinal) 3 p.m. ESPN2 Nasdaq-100 Open (semifinal) 7 p.m.

ESPN2 111 Sports Log BOSTON MARATHON Knee injury sidelines Ethopian Alemu Elfenesh Alemu of Ethiopia, who finished second in the last two Boston Marathons, yesterday withdrew from this year's race because of a knee injury. Alemu led the women's race last year until the crest D. of Heartbreak Hill, but Catherine Ndereba passed her and won for the fourth time in six years. Alemu also finished second in 2004 and 2 third in 2002, her only other Boston appearance. BASKETBALL NBA pulls out of talks on sale of Blazers The NBA pulled out of negotiations between the Portland Trail Blazers and Rose Garden owners intended to help sell the team and its home arena.

Last month, Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen said the team was hemorrhaging money and appealed for a public partnership to keep it afloat. Allen suggested he may have to sell the team if a solution could not be found. In a statement, commissioner David Stern said the league has attempted for the past six weeks to broker a deal to sell the team and the arena to one of several prospective purchasers. "Unfortunately, the arena owners have not offered any constructive response to these efforts and recently advised us that they are satisfied with the status quo. Accordingly, we have advised both parties that we have withdrawn from the process," Stern's statement said.

Bucknell's Flannery gets an extension Bucknell extended the contract of coach Pat Flannery, rewarding him for taking the small private school to the NCAA Tournament for a second straight season. Terms were not disclosed Kristy Curry was hired by Texas Tech to replace Marsha Sharp as women's basketball coach, leaving Purdue after making the NCAA Tournament in each of her seven seasons leading the Boilermakers A former student and basketball player at The Winchendon School who was charged with statutory rape of a 15-year-old female classmate pleaded guilty in Worcester to the lesser charge of assault and battery. Benjamin Brown, 20, of Richmond, was sentenced to two years of probation and ordered to have no contact with the girl. Brown was one of five students charged in connection with the alleged assault at the private prep school in October 2004 San Diego State junior forward Marcus Slaughter has declared for the NBA draft and hired an agent, which eliminates any chance of him returning to school. FOOTBALL Offensive innovator Hickey dead at 89 Howard "Red" Hickey, the NFL coach who invented the shotgun offensive formation with the 49ers, died in Aptos, Calif.

He was 89. Hickey coached San Francisco from 1959-63, going 27-27-1 before resigning three games into the 1963 season. Before a game against Baltimore in November 1960, Hickey instructed quarterbacks John Brodie and Bob Waters to stand several yards behind the center to receive snaps, giving them more time to survive the Colts' formidable pass rush. San Francisco dropped the formation before the next season, but it was revived by coach Tom Landry and the Cowboys several years later, and the shotgun eventually spread throughout football. The New York Jets signed unrestricted free agent cornerback Andre Dyson, released by Seattle earlier this month in a cost-cutting move, to help replace Ty Law Running back Verron Haynes re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers, agreeing to a two-year contract.

AUTO RACING Driver Dana remembered Determination to succeed and most often mentioned during a for IRL IndyCar Series driver Dana succeeded in getting to the a ride with the IRL's elite Rahal he was killed fulfilling one of the open-wheel car. Dana, 32, sustained during a warmup session for the Miami Speedway. in services passion for racing were the traits memorial service in St. Petersburg, Paul Dana, who died last Sunday. top of his chosen profession, finding Letterman Racing team.

In the end, great passions in his life: racing an fatal injuries in a two-car crash season-opening race at Homestead- MISCELLANY Leafs' Allison to miss rest of season Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Allison underwent surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand, the team said, and will miss the rest of the season. He had 17 goals and 43 assists in 66 games Three-time French Open champ Gustavo Kuerten will not return to professional tennis for at least another month because of a hip injury and could skip Roland Garros. Kuerten, who has played only one singles match this year, is recuperating at a clinic in the United States. He said he will not return to action until completely healed, said his spokeswoman, Diana Gabanyi. The French Open begins May 28 Applications for the 19th annual Boston Phelps Scholar-Athlete Awards were mailed to high school principals this week.

The Globe awards $2,000 to 14 students representing six MIAA districts plus Boston. Deadline for returns is May 1 The World Boxing Council ordered Hasim Rahman to fight Kazakhstan's Oleg Maskaev in defense of his heavyweight title, with the winner to face James Toney. Rahman, handed the WBC belt when Vitali Klitschko retired last November, drew his first defense against Toney March 18. Toney wanted a rematch but the WBC differed. MLS preview Revolution have score to settle Goal is a return to the Cup final By Frank Dell'Apa GLOBE STAFF FOXBOROUGH The MLS system makes it difficult for teams to perform at a high standard over a long period of time.

But the Revolution have been able to avoid many of the factors that have caused the decline of teams, such as salary cap problems (D.C. United), defections for greener pastures (Tampa Bay Mutiny), and unstable ownership (Miami Fusion). The Revolution will begin their 11th season tomorrow in Los Angeles with nearly the same group that reached the MLS Cup final last year. There have been no offseason contract problems, no players going overseas, and no changes in the administration. Since the foundation of the team is built on players from the United States, the Revolution have been able to keep salaries down.

The drafting and scouting of recent seasons have netted talented performers, and coach Steve Nicol has been able to combine players whose abilities complement one another. Most importantly, the Revolution have developed consistency and continuity, developing an atmosphere that has allowed players to improve and the team to evolve. "Stevie and Paul have created a group," defender Jay Heaps said. "So guys coming back every year can take what they have learned and teach the new players. What we experienced is handed down and the new guys know what to expect to compete and battle all the time, both in practice and in games.

"We have kept guys around. We have six or seven guys from 2002, when we were in the MLS Cup final. And we have all 11 starters from last year. All of that helps everyone's outlook. The less turnover the better.

Being able to keep guys here is a strength and we have become a group that enjoys being around each other, enjoys being together in the locker room and on the field." The Revolution's aggressive attitude sometimes crosses the line, though. Clint Dempsey and captain Joe Franchino fought during training earlier this month and Dempsey was suspended for two weeks. The team then failed to conclude two practice matches in Costa Rica because of late-game melees. "That's part of competing," Heaps said. "That's what a lot of these confrontations are.

It shows we are competing. They know how to come back from that and what they have to do." The Revolution have no highpriced foreign imports. Jose "Pepe" Cancela (Uruguay) has the most experience among the foreigners, but he is mostly used as a late-game replacement. Avery John (Trinidad Tobago), Shalrie Joseph (Grenada), Tony Lochhead (New Zealand), and Khano Smith (Bermuda) start for their national teams, but none commands high salaries. Several Revolution starters MLS at a glance 1.

Los Angeles Galaxy Coach: Steve Sampson (3d year). In: F-Marc Burch, D-Brian Dunseth, G-Chris Dunsheath, D- Nathan Sturgis, Kyle Veris. Out: D- Pablo Chinchilla, M-Mubarike Chisoni, M-Guillermo Ramirez, D-Michael Umana. Comment: Gearing up to repeat. 2.

Revolution Coach: Steve Nicol (5th year). In: F- Kyle Brown, M-Leandro de Oliveira, M-Jani Galik, D-Pat Haggerty, F-Willie Sims. Out: M-Cassio, F-Connally Edozien, M-Gilberto Flores, F-Jamie Holmes, M- Ricardo Phillips, M-Marcos Romaneiro, M-Luke Vercollone, D-Easton Wilson. Comment: Schedule works against team. 3.

D.C. United Coach: Peter Nowak (3d year). In: Carroll, M-Rod Dyachenko, G-Ryan McIntosh, M-Devon McTavish, M-Andy Metcalf, M-Justin Moose. Out: D-Kenny Arena, M-Steve Guppy, M-Dema dall, M-Tim Lawson, D-Tim Merritt, F-Jason Kovalenko, E. Kuffour, KuykenThompson, M-Nick Van Sicklen.

Comment: Should contend again. 4. Chicago Fire Coach: Dave Sarachan (3d year). In: F-Calen Carr, D-Jeff Curtin, M-Floyd Franks, -Diego Gutierrez, M-Brian Plotkin, M- Dasan Robinson, D-Jordan Russolillo. Out: M-Scott Buete, D-Jorge Samuel Caballero, D-Hollis Donaldson, F-Will John, F-Will Johnson, M-Jesse Marsch, F-Lubos Reiter.

Comment: Attacking philosophy should be rewarded. 5. Colorado Rapids Coach: Fernando Clavijo (2d year). M-Colin Clark, F-Cornell Glen, Jordan Harvey, F- Nicolas Hernandez, G-Matt Jordan, D-Stephen Keel, F-Aaron King, F- Clint Mathis, F-Jacob Peterson, F- Daniel Wasson, M-Chris Wingert. Out: M-Stephen Armstrong, D-Nat Borchers, M-Leo Cullen, F-Jeff Cunningham, G-Byron Foss, F-Wolde Harris, D- Ritchie Kotschau, Ricky Lewis, M-Amir Lowery, D-Guy Melamed, M-Alain Nkong, F-Eugene Sepuga, ROBERT E.

PHOTO Defenders have had a hard time keeping 1 the Revolution's Taylor Dempsey, Joseph, Marshall Leonard, Taylor Twellman, plus key performers such as Andy Dorman, Lochhead, and James Riley entered the league at the minimum or a slightly higher salary. Twellman (2002), Pat Noonan ('03), Dempsey ('04), and Michael Parkhurst ('05) were Revolution firstround draft choices, but joined the MLS with little fanfare and are now either likely on the way to the World Cup or in national team consideration. But this will be a difficult season for the Revolution, partly because the team will lose players to national team duty. After playing host to the Galaxy May 6, the Revolution could be missing players for four games as national teams set up pre-World Cup camps, then for as many as eight games during the World Cup. John is the only Revolution player certain to go to Germany for the start of the World Cup June 9.

Steve Ralston, Matt Reis, Dempsey, Noonan, and Twellman are candidates for the US team. The Revolution will play their first three matches on the road, the first two in extraordinary circumstances. The Galaxy will present MLS Cup rings to their players and honor Doug Hamilton, the general manager who died in Costa Rica earlier this month. The Revolution will be the visitors for the New York Red Bulls' opener at Giants Stadium April 8, a match expected to attract a near-capacity crowd as the former MetroStars attempt to reform their image around a $100 million investment from an Austrian energy drink group. Nine of the first 13 Revolution matches will be on the road, including a June 11 visit to Chicago to open the Fire's new stadium.

And the Revolution won't be able to surprise teams this season. The Revolution were far ahead of most of their opponents at the start of last season, getting off to an 11-game (6-0-5) unbeaten streak. Most MLS teams have gone to great lengths to improve. The Revolution are among the Revolution roster No. Player Pos.

Ht. Wt. Age College 17 Kyle Brown 5-11 165 22 Tulsa Jose Cancela 5-9 161 29 2 Clint Dempsey 6-1 170 2 23 Furman 25 Andy Dorman 6-0 150 23 BU 8 Joe Franchino 5-9 165 29 Washington 27 Jani Galik 6-1 180 21 28 Pat Haggerty 6-3 185 23 BC 6 Jay Heaps 5-9 155 29 Duke 3 Daniel Hernandez 6-0 180 29 SMU 4 Avery John 6-0 170 30 American University 21 Shalrie Joseph 6-3 180 27 St. John's 31 Jeff Larentowicz 6-1 175 22 Brown 30 Ryan Latham 5-11 175 23 SMU 22 Marshall Leonard 5-8 165 25 Virginia 19 Tony Lochhead 6-0 175 24 UCSB 11 Pat Noonan 6-0 170 25 Indiana 23 Leandro de Oliveira 5-8 155 23 Alabama Birmingham 15 Michael Parkhurst 5-11 155 22 Wake Forest 14 Steve Ralston 5-9 160 31 Florida International 1 Matt Reis GK 6-1 196 31 UCLA 16 James Riley 5-10 150 23 Wake Forest 5 Willie Sims 5-9 150 22 Cal Northridge 18 Khano Smith 6-3 190 25 Lees-McRae 34 T.J. Tomasso GK 6-0 184 22 SMU 20 Taylor Twellman 5-11 170 25 Maryland 12 Doug Warren GK 6-0 190 25 Clemson F-Diego Serna.

Comment: Must build on last season. 6. FC Dallas Coach: Colin Clarke (4th year). In: F- Kenny Cooper, D-Michael Dello-Russo, D-Miguel Guante, M-Dax McCarty, M-Justin Moore, Wagner. Out: F-Cornell Glen, G-Scott Garlick, G-Chris Gomez, F-Eddie Johnson, D-Steve Jolley, M-Oscar Pareja, -Henry Ring, Talley.

Comment: Holding steady, 7. Houston Dynamo Coach: Dominic Kinnear (3d year). In: M-Mike Chabala, Patrick lanni, D-Adrian Serioux, Storey, G-Zach Wells. Out: D- Danny Califf, M- Mark Chung, G-Jon Conway, F-Orlando Ramirez. Comment: Can former 'Quakes reestablish the home-field advantage? 8.

New York Red Bulls Coach: Mo Johnston (2d year), In: F-Josmer Altidore, F-David Arvizu, M-Blake Camp, M-Peter Canero, F-Jordan Cila, G- Conway, D-Taylor Graham, M-Chris Henderson, D-Steve Jolley, F-Thiago Martins, M-Danny O'Rourke, D-Marvell Wynne. Out: D-Jeff Agoos, F-Ramon Bailey, D-Chris Corcoran, F-Sergio Galvan Rey, M-Daniel Garipe, M-Eddie Gaven, D-Jason Hernandez, D-Chris Leitch, M-Eric Quill, D-Tim Regan, D-Ryan Suarez, D-Michael Ueltschey, D-Tim Ward. Comment: Not the MetroStars but not the Cosmos, either. 9. Columbus Crew Coach: Sigi Schmid (1st year), In: F-Jason Garey, M-Eddie Gaven, D-Marcos Gonzalez, F-Duke Hashimoto, F-Kel Kamara, D-Joel Kitamarike, D-Ritchie Kotschau, D-Chris Leitch, Moss, O'Brien, D-Rusty Pierce, M-Jose Retiz, M-Sebastian Rozental, D-Tim Ward, D-Jed Zayner.

Out: F-Devin Barclay, F-Edson Buddle, M- Simon Elliott, D-Robin Fraser, M-Luis Gallardo, M-Chris Henderson, D-Stephen Herdsman, G-Matt Jordan, D-Ryan Kelly, M-Manny Lagos, F-Chris Lee, M-Domenic Mediate, F-Ante Twellman grounded. few teams in MLS willing to align themselves in a 3-5-2 formation and go on the attack for nearly the entire game, whether away or at home. The tactic paid off most of the time last year as the Revolution posted a franchise-best 17-7-8 record. Though the Revolution were playing with three defenders, with Parkhurst in the middle in his first professional season, they only twice surrendered more than two goals in 36 games, including playoffs. Parkhurst played in every minute of every game, his ability to anticipate attacks and read the game allowing the Revolution to go to the 3-5-2 alignment.

But Parkhurst missed nearly the entire preseason after sustaining a thigh bruise in a practice collision with Joseph in January and will not return before the April 15 visit to Kansas City. Until then, the Revolution will likely go to a 4-4-2 setup, with Heaps and Daniel Hernandez in central defense. But it is difficult to gauge the Revolution at the start of the season, since they spend so much of the preseason indoors or outside the country. The Revolution should be a scoring machine because of the combination of national team players and the fact Nicol has given everyone the green light to advance offensively. Dempsey and Twellman have been especially prolific with the US team, yet, in their past three meaningful games, in 300 minutes of playing time, the Revolution have failed to score.

The team appeared exhausted in the MLS Cup, then slightly off in Champions Cup matches against LD Alajuelense. The Revolution, though, have progressed greatly since 2002, when they played in the MLS Cup before 61,316 at Gillette Stadium. The team plays a possession game, dictates the tempo, and presents a combination of finesse and physicality. "It will be tough to get off to the kind of start we had last year," Heaps said. "That was unbelievable.

But as long as we stay solid and don't give up goals, we will be in games. We can win MLS games and it's important for us to take these early ones. These are stepping-stones. We want to start well and be in the final again." Razov, M-Mario Rodriguez, D-Mark Schulte, M-Marcus Storey, F-Jamal Sutton, M-David Testo, M-Chris Wingert. Comment: Too many changes.

10. Kansas City Wizards Coach: Bob Gansler (7th year). In: F-Eddie Johnson, M-Matt Groenwald, John, F-Yura Movsisyan, Shirley. Out: D-Dustin Branan, D-Daniel Dobson, -Diego Gutierrez, M-Chris Klein, M-Preki, Stephenson, F-Antti Sumiala, M-John Mingawa-Webster. Comment: Playing in Eastern Conference works against them.

11.0 Chivas USA Coach: Bob Bradley (1st year). In: F-Jonathan Bornstein, G-Preston Burpo, D-Jason Hernandez, F-Sacha Kijestan, D- Carlos Llamosa, M-Jesse Marsch, F-Ante Razov, F-Estauardo Sanchez, D-Claudio Suarez, D-Lawson Vaughn, M-Brent Whitfield. Out: M-Victor Arbelaez, G-Javier Barragan, D-Armando Begines, M-Milton Blanco, M-Hector Cuadros, D-Michael Erush, M- Christian Jimenez, D-Shaun Kalnasy, D-Alfonso Loera, D-Aaron Lopez, F-Thiago Martins, F-Isaac Romo, D-Douglas Sequeira, M-Arturo Torres, G-Martin Zuniga. Comment: Improving, but not there, yet. 12.

Real Salt Lake Coach: John (2d year). In: M-Medhi Baliouchy, Cabrera, F-Jeff Cunningham, Willis Forko, G-Scott Garlick, F-Atiba Harris, M-Christian Jimenez, Johnson, M-Chris Klein, F-Jeff Rowland, Sequeira, D-Carey Talley, D-Daniel Torres, Worthen. Out: D-Matt Behncke, F-Jordan Cila, Countess, D-Brian Dunseth, D-Leslie Fitzpatrick, D-Cameron Knowles, M-Brian Kamler, M-Luke Kreamalmeyer, Michael Lookingland, F-Clint Mathis, D-Rusty Pierce, D- Marion Rojas, M-Robert Scarlett, F-Dipsy Selolwane, D-Jeff Stewart, M-Diego Walsh, F-Dante Washington, M-Evan Whitfield. Comment: Still acting like an expansion team. Compiled by Frank Dell'Apa Revolution schedule Date Opponent Time TV Tomorrow at LA Galaxy 11 p.m.

ESPN2 April 8 at NY Red Bulls 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 April 15 at KC Wizards 8:30 p.m. Ch. 56 April 30 Chicago Fire 3 p.m.

Ch. 56 May 6 LA Galaxy 4 p.m. ESPN2 May 14 at Chivas USA 7 p.m. FSN May 20 at FC Dallas 8:30 p.m. Ch.

56 May 27 Houston Dynamo 7:30 p.m. FSN June 3 at D.C. United 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 June 11 at Chicago Fire 7 p.m.

FSN June 17 D.C. United 6 p.m. FSN June 21 at Columbus Crew 7:30 p.m. FSN June 24 at Real Salt Lake 9 p.m. FSN June 28 FC Dallas 7:30 p.m.

FSN July 1 NY Red Bulls 6 p.m. ESPN2 July 4 at Colorado Rapids 9:30 p.m. FSN July 8 at Chicago Fire 8:30 p.m. Ch. 56 July 14 Real Salt Lake 7:30 p.m.

FSN July 19 at KC Wizards 8:30 p.m. FSN July 22 at Houston Dynamo 8:30 p.m. Ch. 56 July 26 D.C. United 7 p.m.

ESPN2 Aug. 5 Chivas USA 3:30 p.m. Ch. 56 Aug. 9 KC Wizards 7:30 p.m.

FSN Aug. 19 Chicago Fire 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 Aug. 26 Columbus Crew 7:30 p.m.

Ch. 56 Sept. 2 at Columbus Crew 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 Sept.

9 NY Red Bulls 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 Sept. 20 at NY Red Bulls 7:30 p.m. FSN Sept.

23 KC Wizards 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 Sept. 30 Colorado Rapids 7:30 p.m. FSN Oct.

7 at D.C. United 7:30 p.m. Ch. 56 Oct. 14 Columbus Crew 7:30 p.m.

Ch. 56 NOTE: All games will also be broadcast on WEEl or WRKO. 1.