ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996 TAG: 9602070059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From Associated Press reports
Brian McBride, an All-America forward from Saint Louis University, was the first player selected in the inaugural Major League Soccer draft when he was taken by the Columbus Crew.
Seven former Virginia players were among the 80 players selected, three - Erick Imler, Richie Williams and Kris Kelderman - by former Cavaliers coach Bruce Arena and his D.C. United franchise. The others and their teams were: Brian Bates, Colorado; Jeff Causey, Kansas City; A.J. Wood, New York-New Jersey; and Curt Onalfo, Los Angeles.
The MLS makes its debut as the premier soccer league in the United States on April 6.
In other sports news:
The Canadian Football League officially returned to Montreal, with the relocation of the Grey Cup-champion Stallions from Baltimore.
``I'm very happy to be here - my Berlitz classes begin tomorrow,'' club president Jim Speros said in French.
Speros then continued in English during a news conference at Olympic Stadium, where the team will play this season. The team has made arrangements to buy the rights to use the nickname Alouettes from Norm Kimball, who owned Montreal's last CFL entry, which folded in 1986. But Speros said he would seek advice from local fans as to whether it would be better to find another nickname for the club.
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