Sergio Del Prado

Sergio del Prado, the Galaxy's vice president of business operations, will step down from the position next week to accept a post with the Dodgers. Del Prado, who was unavailable for comment Thursday, joined the Major League Soccer team 15 months ago after two years as a senior vice president with the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Organizing Committee. Before that, he had spent three years as director of marketing for the Kings.

Sergio del Prado, the Galaxy's vice president of business operations, will step down from the position next week to accept a post with the Dodgers. Del Prado, who was unavailable for comment Thursday, joined the Major League Soccer team 15 months ago after two years as a senior vice president with the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup Organizing Committee. Before that, he had spent three years as director of marketing for the Kings.

With the Galaxy having won its previous Major League Soccer game and thus being back on an even keel at 5-5, the pressure has temporarily shifted from the coaches and players to the front office. This week, MLS Commissioner Doug Logan expressed disappointment that the team's attendance is so poor. Last Sunday's game drew an announced 7,581 to the Rose Bowl for the 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. This for a team that drew 69,255 for its inaugural game in 1996.

With the Galaxy having won its previous Major League Soccer game and thus being back on an even keel at 5-5, the pressure has temporarily shifted from the coaches and players to the front office. This week, MLS Commissioner Doug Logan expressed disappointment that the team's attendance is so poor. Last Sunday's game drew an announced 7,581 to the Rose Bowl for the 1-0 win over the New England Revolution. This for a team that drew 69,255 for its inaugural game in 1996.

After surviving for more than four months without a general manager after the club's purchase by Philip Anschutz, the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday named Sergio del Prado, former director of corporate sales for the Kings, to the post. Tim Leiweke, president of both the Major League Soccer team and the Kings, said Del Prado's primary responsibility will be the business operations, including marketing and sponsorship. Coach Octavio Zambrano will remain in charge of player sale or acquisition.

Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos, who walked out of practice Wednesday and failed to show for El Salvador's Gold Cup qualifying game against Haiti, is expected to be in uniform tonight when El Salvador faces Canada at the Coliseum at 8 p.m.

A guest list of sports figures to be featured on TV and radio from today through Thursday: * Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban, Sacramento King owner Joe Maloof --"The Last Word," tonight, 6:30 and 11:30, Fox Sports Net * Arizona coaches Lute Olson and Joan Bonvicini --"Runnin' With the Pac," Saturday, 10 a.m., Fox Sports Net * Tennis' Bud Collins, Galaxy General Manager Sergio del Prado --"The Irv Kaze Show," Saturday, 6-7 p.m., KIEV (870) * Notah Begay --"Pro Golf Weekly," Saturday, 7:30 a.m.

Dante Washington and Brian West scored two goals apiece to lead Columbus over New England, 4-1, in front of 12,998 at Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday night. The Crew (8-10-4) defeated the Revolution (7-8-5) for the sixth consecutive time and is 15-3 against New England. Washington, who has 13 goals this season, scored twice within six minutes. His first goal came in the 43rd minute on an assist from Robert Warzycha. The second came in the 49th minute off a Jeff Cunningham assist.

It didn't take long for the question to be posed--would newly signed Luis Hernandez start for the Galaxy in its match tonight against Washington D.C. United? "I feel good and my timing is good, even though I haven't trained in a week," Hernandez said. "I think I could do it but it's a decision for the head coach to make." It didn't take long for Galaxy Coach Sigi Schmid to answer. "OK," a convinced Schmid said. You didn't think Hernandez came all this way to sit, did you?

The Fullerton Stingers scored four runs in the fifth inning, defeating NorCal, 7-6, at the AAU 14-and-under World Series Thursday in Chickasha, Okla. Tony Haro was two for four for the Stingers, who ended a NorCal rally in the seventh with a game-ending double play. The Stingers will begin play in the championship round at 9 a.m. today against South Kitsap, Wash. If the Stingers win, they will play another game in the afternoon--a loss will send them home.

After surviving for more than four months without a general manager after the club's purchase by Philip Anschutz, the Los Angeles Galaxy on Monday named Sergio del Prado, former director of corporate sales for the Kings, to the post. Tim Leiweke, president of both the Major League Soccer team and the Kings, said Del Prado's primary responsibility will be the business operations, including marketing and sponsorship. Coach Octavio Zambrano will remain in charge of player sale or acquisition.

The Galaxy shook up its struggling offense Tuesday, acquiring midfielder Roy Myers from the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in a Major League Soccer trade that ultimately sent forward Welton to the Miami Fusion. Team executives see Myers, a veteran from Costa Rica, as a better fit for an attack that is being reconfigured to suit Carlos Hermosillo, the powerful striker who returns from the Mexican first division next week.

Distractions can come from anywhere, the Galaxy has learned, even from within its own ranks. In a week when Coach Sigi Schmid and his players were preparing for tonight's 7:30 game against the Dallas Burn, the team's front office was focusing on more distant goals. * On Wednesday, the club announced that the Galaxy will play Chivas of Guadalajara, one of Mexico's most successful and popular teams, April 26 at the Rose Bowl.