Race for All-Star coach down to wire

COLUMBUS -- The coach for the MLS All-Stars for the 2008 Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Game will be decided this weekend, and there's a bit of fun going on between the potential honorees.

The coach whose team has the most points per game after June 29 will have the honor of coaching the MLS All-Stars against West Ham United, at BMO Field in Toronto on July 24.

Currently leading is Steve Nicol, whose New England Revolution have 27 points from 15 matches. If the Revolution defeat Toronto FC on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, then Nicol will have the honor of leading the MLS team.

However, Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid could nab the position if the Crew defeat the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at home, and the Revolution lose or tie with Toronto.

Schmid received a text message early Sunday from Nicol that -- in the sanitized version -- told him to back off because Nicol's wife had already spent the bonus for coaching the MLS All-Stars.

Nicol was joking, of course. Schmid said he wasn't aware of the selection procedure prior to the message but nonetheless sent a reply that the Revolution coach could have the job because the last time Schmid coached in the All-Star Game in 2004 he was fired shortly thereafter by the Galaxy.

Following are the scenarios that will apply to the selection of the MLS All-Star Game coach this weekend. In case of a tie in points per game, the same tiebreakers used to determine playoff participants will be used to determine the head coach:

• If the Revolution defeat Toronto FC, Steve Nicol is the All-Star Game coach.
• If the Revolution tie Toronto FC and Columbus loses or ties, then Steve Nicol is the All-Star Game coach.
• If the Columbus Crew defeat the Colorado Rapids and New England ties or loses, then Sigi Schmid is the All-Star Game coach.
• If Toronto FC defeat New England, and Columbus loses and Los Angeles loses or ties, then John Carver is the All-Star Game coach.
• If Toronto FC defeat New England, the LA Galaxy win and Columbus loses, there is a two-way tie with Carver and Gullit each having 1.714 points per game.
• If Toronto FC defeat New England, the LA Galaxy win and Columbus ties, there is a three-way tie with John Carver, Ruud Gullit and Sigi Schmid each having 1.714 points per game.