Conventional wisdom says the Kansas City Wizards will have to be winners if they want to attract local sports fans who are fed up with KC's other two underachieving pro franchises. Or they can just keep roping in Disney Channel stars such as Selena Gomez, whose June 28 appearance helped draw a sellout crowd, despite the fact that the Wizards had lost their previous seven games. There must have been some Disney magic in all those gleaming preteen braces because, in the 89th minute, a Real Salt Lake defender headed the ball into his own goal and gave the last-place Wizards a glimmer of hope in a moribund season. Tonight's showdown with the New York Red Bulls comes at the midway point of the Wizards' season, and it's going to take more than fairy dust — offense, perhaps — to turn the season around. Tickets start at $15 for the 7 p.m. matchup at CommunityAmerica Ballpark (1800 Village West Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas, 913-387-3400).
Thu., July 10; Fri., July 11, 2008
