Danny Califf

After waiting more than two weeks between their first and second game, the Union play Thursday with just four full days' rest. For the second straight game the Union (1-1) will face an 0-2 team when they visit Toronto FC in Thursday's 7 p.m. Major League Soccer matchup. The Union opened the season with a 2-0 loss on March 25 at Seattle and didn't play again until Saturday's 3-2 win over D.C. United at Lincoln Financial Field. "I am not worried about it," Union defender Danny Califf said of the quick turnaround.

Shannon Miller, winner of a record seven Olympic gymnastics medals, was granted an injury petition yesterday to compete at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials. Miller took part in a mock meet at Boston's FleetCenter and performed well enough to convince judges that she's recovered from a hairline crack in her right leg. "I was really happy with the fact we came out alive and got a new life," said Steve Nunno, Miller's longtime coach. Two other gymnasts, Jeanette Antolin and Amanda Stroud, also were cleared.

Despite a collective effort that has put the Union atop MLS' Eastern Conference, goalkeeper and captain Faryd Mondragon will be the only player representing the club in the All-Star Game. Mondragon was among 22 players selected to compete against English power Manchester United at Red Bull Arena on July 27. He was selected by New York coach Hans Backe, who will coach the All-Stars against Sir Alex Ferguson's Red Devils. Mondragon, acquired from FC Cologne in the offseason, has been a considerable upgrade for the Union, holding a 0.84 goals-against average and seven shutouts in 19 matches.

NEW YORK - Major League Soccer's average salary rose 12 percent this year to $154,852 after Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez joined David Beckham in making the move from European clubs. Beckham, in the final season of his five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, remains the league's highest-paid player at $6.5 million, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union last weekend. Henry is second at $5.6 million and Marquez is third at $4.6 million after they both left Barcelona last summer to sign with the New York Red Bulls.

THE UNION earned its first points of 2012 following a scoreless draw against Vancouver Saturday at PPL Park. In the return of Sebastien Le Toux, the Union not only held the former teammate scoreless, but snapped a three-game losing streak in addition to goalkeeper Zac MacMath earning his first shutout of the season. Still, manager Peter Nowak knows there is plenty his young team needs to work on in preparation for its next test, Columbus, on Saturday, April 14 (3:30 p.m., NBC Sports Network)

GABRIEL GOMEZ scored on a penalty kick in the 38th minute Saturday and the Union beat Columbus, 1-0. After Columbus' Eric Gehrig was whistled for a handball in the 18-yard-box, Gomez chipped Crew goalie Andy Greuenbaum and the Union (1-3-1) held on for their first win this season. Toronto FC (0-4-0) is the only remaining winless club in Major League Soccer. It was the second consecutive shutout for Zac MacMath following a scoreless draw with the Vancouver Whitecaps 2 weeks ago. In addition, the defense extended its shutout streak to 242 minutes.

The virtual polls are open for the Major League Soccer All-Star Game. The league released its 108-player ballot yesterday, featuring the top six players from each team. Fans have until July 5 to cast their votes for the starting 11 for MLS when it faces Manchester United on July 27 at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. The Union players on the ballot are goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, defender Danny Califf, midfielder Justin Mapp and forwards Sebastien Le Toux, Danny Mwanga and Carlos Ruiz.

After being examined on Thursday for a strained groin, Union goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon is listed as probable for Saturday's game at FC Dallas. Mondragon suffered the injury around the 72d minute of Wednesday's 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy, according to Union assistant coach John Hackworth. Despite the injury, Mondragon played the rest of the game and was cited for his courage by teammates. Backup Zac MacMath has yet to appear in a game this season. The 19-year-old MacMath was the fifth overall selection in the MLS SuperDraft this season from the University of Maryland.

THIS IS FOR THOSE who believe former world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson has flown over the cuckoo's nest. Animal Planet has announced plans for a reality show that will feature Tyson competing in the sport of pigeon racing. The working title for the show is "Taking on Tyson. " It is scheduled to begin taping this spring and will air early next year. The show will give viewers an inside look at the burgeoning sport that is "intensely competitive and bizarrely fascinating.

The Week in Soccer   Atlético Madrid at Real Madrid 3:30 p.m. Friday (ESPN) The championship game of Spain's Copa del Rey is a showdown between Madrid rivals, with the spotlight on the top Spanish league goal-scorers: Real's Cristiano Ronaldo and Atlético's Radamel Falcao.   Brest at Paris Saint-Germain 3 p.m. Saturday (beIN Sport) French league champion PSG is the latest home of the retiring David Beckham, but its true superstar, striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, is reportedly eager to move on.   Columbus Crew at Toronto FC 5 p.m. Saturday (UniMás)