Playoff passion

MLS hands out MVP nominations, fines for fighting

MLS says Preki can become the oldest MVP in American professional sports history. Jon Ferrey/Getty Images

ATLANTA (SI.com) -- There was good news and bad news from Major League Soccer headquarters on Thursday, as the league announced the finalists for Most Valuable Player and handed down a fine for last year's MVP.

The league's Disciplinary Committee announced that San Jose Earthquakes defender Troy Dayak was fined $1,500 for "aggressive, confrontational behavior" and that Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz -- the 2002 MLS MVP -- was fined $250 for his role in an altercation during L.A.'s 2-0 playoff win last Saturday.

As the teams entered the Home Depot Center tunnel at halftime, Dayak initiated aggressive physical contact with Ruiz by pushing him in the back, the league said. A scuffle ensued and was quickly broken up.

Soccer America reported that police were summoned, but Dayak downplayed the incident -- denying reports of spitting and punching.

"There was pushing and a lot of talking but I did not punch him," Dayak told the magazine. "And I don't think he spit on me.

"There's a lot more stuff that goes on during the game than happened there. I'm an intense player and he's a competitor. It's all part of being competitive, that's all."

On Wednesday, MetroStars forward Clint Mathis was fined $500 by MLS for "conduct unbecoming a professional athlete." Mathis got into a verbal confrontation with fans following his team's 2-0 loss at home to New England in a playoff game last Saturday.

The ageless Preki

Ruiz, who tied for the league-lead in goals this year with 15, did not make the list of nominees for MVP.

MLS unveiled the finalists for three of the annual year-end awards, marking the first in a series of announcements leading up to the MLS Gala Awards Ceremony on Nov. 22 at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. The MLS Cup championship game will be played on Nov. 23 at the Galaxy's home stadium, The Home Depot Center (3:30 p.m. ET; ABC).

Three of the top five players in the regular season's scoring championship table will vie for the MVP award.

At 40, Kansas City's Preki is seeking to become the first two-time winner (1997) and the oldest MVP in American professional sports history, the league said, as he competes with Ante Razov (Chicago Fire) and John Spencer (Colorado Rapids) on the MVP ballot.

Preki already became the league's first two-time scoring champion after tallying 41 points (12 goals, 17 assists).

"[Scoring champion] is a tremendous honor for me, but it is also an honor for my teammates," said Preki. "Without them I could not have been in this position. I just try to play my game and the game takes care of things from there. As long as we keep winning, that is what I am most proud of."

U.S. national team players Brian McBride (Columbus Crew), Chris Klein (Kansas City Wizards) and Eddie Pope (MetroStars) are nominees for the MLS Fair Play of the Year award, while each team's Humanitarian of the Year award winner is eligible for the league honor.

Finalists for the seven other year-end awards will be made public on Nov. 10 and Nov. 17.

The MLS Supporters' Shield winner (Chicago Fire) and the MLS Fair Play Team Award winner (New England Revolution) were based on regular season performances and were known following the final match of the campaign.

Unless otherwise noted, voting was done by MLS coaches, general managers, players and members of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association. Online voting for the Pepsi Goal of the Year continues through midnight on Nov. 21.

The MLS Gala Awards Ceremony will be open to the public.

The playoffs continue Saturday and Sunday with the four final legs in the home-and-home, total goals conference semifinal series. The Wizards host the Rapids in Saturday's winner-take-all contest (8:30 p.m. ET; Fox Sports World, HDNet).

On Sunday, three teams -- D.C. United, MetroStars and San Jose Earthquakes -- look to overcome two-goal deficits to extend their playoff lives. The Fire host D.C. United at Soldier Field (1:00 p.m. ET; ESPN2). The Revolution host the MetroStars (4 p.m.; Fox Sports World), while the Earthquakes host the Galaxy at 9 p.m. ET.

Teams pulling even on aggregate after 90 minutes on Sunday would force a 30-minute, golden-goal overtime period to determine the series winner. If teams remain tied after the overtime, kicks from the penalty mark decide the winners.