Roster

U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley stirred the melting pot yesterday when he announced his 23-man roster to compete June 4 against Spain (4:30 p.m., ESPN) and in the CONCACAF Gold Cup beginning June 7. For starters, Bradley's squad features a host of players who compete domestically in Major League Soccer and abroad with various European and South American clubs. But the biggest shocker was the return of midfielder Freddy Adu to the full men's team after a nearly 3-year hiatus.

Howie Roseman joked that there aren't many issues that don't keep him up at night, the type of concerns that leave a general manager rolling over in bed and staring at a dark ceiling. But there's one overriding problem that Roseman admitted is particularly troublesome, and it's one without a concrete answer. "You have a limited number of resources, whether it's draft picks or salary-cap room," Roseman said. "You try to build a team with depth. It's not always going to be perfect.

CHICAGO - The U.S. women say they are ready for anything in the upcoming World Cup. With Hope Solo and Heather Mitts healthy, the roster coach Pia Sundhage released yesterday contained few surprises. Star scorer Abby Wambach warns the rest of the soccer world to not be surprised by anything the Americans accomplish as they go after their first world title since 1999. "I will do everything I can to make sure we will be standing on top of the podium," Wambach said. "It will be the most difficult championship to win, World Cup or Olympics, and I am excited to get started.

ON SATURDAY morning, Sam Hinkie told his two young children that they would be moving to Philadelphia, where he would be the president of basketball operations and general manager of the 76ers. His young son asked to look at the Sixers' roster and thought it was cool that the team had a set of brothers in Jrue and Justin Holiday. "He was impressed with that," Hinkie said. For the sake of Sixers fans, here's hoping his father was far less impressed with the roster. Hinkie was introduced by managing owner Josh Harris yesterday afternoon at the team's practice facility at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The 76ers on Saturday reduced their roster to 14 when they waived forward Devin Searcy. The handwriting was on the wall for Searcy, a 6-foot-10 forward who played overseas last season after not being selected in the 2011 draft. Searcy appeared sparingly in two games during the Sixers' 6-1 preseason. NBA teams have until Monday to reduce their roster to 15. With the 14 on the roster already the Sixers probably won't make another move. - John N. Mitchell

HAVE ANY of the professional sports teams in Philadelphia suffered the fast free fall that the 76ers have over the past 11 months? During that time, the team came within one win of advancing to the Eastern Conference final, blew up the roster via buyout, free agency and trade, acquired a player whom many considered one of the top two centers in the NBA, lost that player for the season because of injury, failed to make the playoffs and now lost...

The Union yesterday announced the signing of Panamanian midfielder-defender Gabriel Gomez, confirming a Daily News report last week. Gomez, 27, will begin training with the team upon the receipt of his work visa and transfer papers. At 6-feet, Gomez' height is a big boost to the Union's defensive makeup, in addition to being the 10th international player currently on the roster. MLS rules allow a maximum of eight, though that number isn't firm until roster deadline day. Formerly of second division Mexican club Indios de Cuidad Juarez, Gomez, though listed as a midfielder with Juarez, has played defense on his national team and was an integral part in Panama's 2-1 upset of the United States in the group stages of July's Gold Cup. He has 74 caps (appearances)

Danielle Scott-Arruda was included on the 12-player roster for the U.S. women's volleyball team that will play in London. The 39-year-old Scott-Arruda is the first U.S. volleyball player, male or female, to make five Olympic teams. The U.S. women's team is ranked No. 1 in the world going into the London Games. Tarmoh makes team Jeneba Tarmoh made the U.S. track and field team for the London Olympics, joining Allyson Felix, Tyson Gay, and Justin Gatlin on the 127-athlete roster.

IF HE wasn't playing the starring role, Joe Savery might think this was one of those hokey baseball stories that happen only in the movies. Here he was a former first-round draft pick who failed as a projected power pitcher but then suddenly had a rebirth as a lefthanded reliever. After beginning 2011 in Class A Clearwater as a first baseman, Savery, who was selected 19th overall out of Rice University in 2007, rediscovered his pitching arm after being promoted to Double A. By September, he was being called up by the Phillies when the rosters expanded.

As of Thursday, the Kansas City Royals had the youngest opening-day roster in Major League Baseball, with an average age of 27 years and 155 days, according to Stats L.L.C. The Houston Astros were the youngest in the National League, at 27 years and 301 days. Those baby 'Stros were closely followed by the Atlanta Braves: 28 years and 99 days. The oldest MLB roster? That would be those New York Yankees (31 and 222 days) - and that's not even counting Andy Pettitte, who will be 40 in June.