Major Soccer

Blast owner Ed Hale's team is exactly where he wants it to be - in the Major Indoor Soccer League championship game. It's the location of the final hurdle that has him aggravated. MISL championship Blast vs. La Raza, Saturday, 7 p.m., U.S. Cellular Arena, Milwaukee, Fox Soccer Channel, 680 AM

The Blast has lost four players to St. Louis in the Major Indoor Soccer League expansion draft to fill rosters for the expansion Steamers and the yet-to-be-named Monterrey, Mexico, franchise. The Steamers selected midfielder Craig Scheer in the second round of Monday's draft, and defender Dewan Bader and midfielders Danny Santoro and Daniel Barber in the third, eighth and 11th rounds, respectively.

The National Labor Relations Board has thrown out complaints by the players' union of unfair labor practices against the Major Soccer League and charges of blackballing against Blast coach Kenny Cooper.In Washington, Major Indoor Soccer League Players Association director John Kerr said he would meet with his attorneys this week to decide whether to appeal.In Baltimore, Blast owner Ed Hale also was planning to meet with attorneys this week."I don't take personal attacks lightly and I'm bristling," Hale said last night.

The Major Soccer League will explore the possibility of adding four teams from the National Professional Soccer League at a meeting in two weeks, MSL commissioner Earl Foreman said yesterday.Foreman said he and Baltimore Blast owner Ed Hale would represent the MSL at the meeting with NPSL commissioner Steve Paxos.There has been speculation in the past month that the eight-team MSL would merge with the nine-team, indoor NPSL, but Foreman said yesterday that "merger" is "too strong.""I see it more as an accommodation or consolidation," said Foreman.

Et cetera Duke extends John Danowski's contract through 2018 The contract of Duke men's lacrosse coach John Danowski has been extended through the 2018 season. Last month, Danowski guided the Blue Devils to the 2013 NCAA championship with a 16-10 victory over Syracuse in the title game. In seven seasons at Duke, Danowski has guided the Blue Devils to a 111-31 (.782) record with two NCAA titles, six Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season championships and four ACC tournament crowns.

After a five-year absence, Pittsburgh returned to indoor soccer yesterday.Team president Bernie Mullen said he will head a group known as Pittsburgh Soccer Inc., which has the funds to operate the Major Soccer League expansion team three years.MSL commissioner Earl Foreman said Pittsburgh would play in the Eastern Division, which includes the Baltimore Blast.The Pittsburgh Spirit dropped out of the then-Major Indoor Soccer League in 1986 after seven seasons.Foreman said the Eastern and Western divisions would be re-aligned before next season because of the entry of Pittsburgh and the possible addition of Buffalo for the 1991-92 season.

If the Major Soccer League can change its name, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the Blast is changing its colors.Color the team blue and gray beginning today. Gone are the colors of red, yellow, orange and white -- except in the team logo, which will continue to be the exploding soccer ball. The Blast has been identified by those colors for all of its 10 years, just as the league has been known as the Major Indoor Soccer League for its 12 seasons.The new uniforms were to be on display this morning during a news conference at the Blast offices in Canton.

Baltimore Blast general manager John Borozzi said last night that Tim Wittman will be put on the 18-man roster tomorrow if he signs an amendment to his $52,000-a-year contract.Borozzi wouldn't give any details of the amendment, but Wittman, who has failed two team physicals because of a degenerative disk, most likely is being asked to accept less money until he passes a physical and plays for the Blast.Borozzi said he and Major Soccer League commissioner Earl Foreman worked out the agreement to have Wittman on the roster.

Matchup: Blast (11-15) vs. Chicago Storm (13-13) Site: UIC Pavilion, Chicago Time: 4 p.m. Radio: WCBM (680 AM) Outlook: Two losses last weekend dropped the Blast into last place in the Major Indoor Soccer League. However, in the tightly bunched race, the Blast sits just two games out of fourth and the last playoff spot, currently held by the Storm. Chicago has won seven of its past eight games, including Friday night's 6-5 win over Philadelphia.