1.   And when the team returned to practice in full pads on Tuesday, it was missing five starters.

2.   Both teams were missing six starters, so the Crew wisely used conservative tactics and the Revolution were so weakened, they could not counter with effective offensive play.

3.   Columbus, missing six starters, controlled the pace of the game and used the speed of Jeff Cunningham to break down the Revolution defense.

4.   Mistakes aside, there was little doubt USC also missed defensive starters Darrell Russell, Sammy Knight and Brian Kelly.

5.   The Clippers might be missing two starters and having one of their worst seasons ever, even by their own low standards.

6.   The Bills are missing their starter at quarterback, Brad Johnson, who is injured, and the team is struggling to get into the end zone.

7.   The Fire is already missing starters Lubos Kubik and Diego Gutierrez because of injuries.

8.   The Galaxy missed six starters - Cobi Jones, Robin Fraser, Greg Vanney, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Luis Hernandez and Ezra Hendrickson - to their national teams.

9.   The Hawks were missing three starters, including their top two scorers and had played the night before.

10.   They hardly seemed to miss injured starters Nick Van Exel and Robert Horry, thanks to solid play from subs Derek Fisher and Corie Blount.