Nearly a month into the balloting, Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder David Beckham is the overwhelming leader in fan voting for the 2008 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game.
Fans can participate by visiting www.MLSnet.com and are able to cast up to 10 votes per day. The voting closes July 2. The online fan balloting will comprise one quarter of the MLS All-Star First XI selections, with coaches and general managers (25 percent), players (25 percent) and media (25 percent) all getting a say in who is named to the First XI, which will consist of one goalkeeper, three defenders, five midfielders and two forwards.
Those selected will participate in the 13th annual MLS All-Star Game and take on West Ham United of the English Premier League at BMO Field in Toronto, July 24 at 7 p.m. The game will be televised in the U.S. and Canada on ESPN 2, Telefutura and CBC Sports.
A healthy Beckham has four goals and five assists and is ninth in the league in scoring for the Galaxy, which is the highest-scoring team in Major League Soccer.
Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan, the leading scorer in MLS, is tops among a talented list of forwards, followed by Toronto FC's Danny Dichio and the New York Red Bulls strike force of Juan Pablo Angel and Jozy Altidore in a tight race.
Chicago Fire designated player Cuauhtemoc Blanco, the leading playmaker in MLS with six assists, is second among midfielders, followed by TFC's Amado Guevera, who is enjoying a resurgence in his second stint in MLS. Following suit is Houston's Dwayne DeRosario, a Canadian international, and Argentinean Guillermo Barros Schelotto of the Columbus Crew.
The leading vote-getter among defenders is veteran Frankie Hejduk of the Columbus Crew. TFC, which has arguably the best support in the league, has four of the top seven defenders (Marvell Wynne, Jim Brennan, Tyrone Marshall and Marco Velez), according to fan voting.
Also in the hunt is Kansas City defender Jimmy Conrad, who is currently fourth, as well as Abel Xavier of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
The fan favorite among goalkeepers? You guessed it: Toronto FC's Greg Sutton, followed by Chicago's Jon Busch and Will Hesmer of Columbus.
The coach of the MLS team with the most points on June 30 will be selected to coach the MLS All-Star Game, while the All-Star First XI will be announced July 10 and the seven All-Star reserves will be announced July 15.
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