A couple of seconds before the final practice of the preseason, Krisztian Nemeth put on a sock hat and gloves and walked onto the Children’s Mercy Park field. As he crossed the sideline and looked up, Sporting Kansas City coach Peter Vermes was waiting.
“Hey, hey,” Vermes said, getting his attention. “I know you’re ready. You’re ready for this.”
Sporting KC is counting on it. Even gambling on it, to a certain extent.
The top two strikers from last season are gone — Khiry Shelton left for an overseas opportunity, and Diego Rubio was traded to Colorado as part of a three-team deal.