But some players reversed their decisions and were not on the provisional roster, among them pitchers John Smoltz, Mark Buehrle and Barry Zito.
The Caps' progression under Carl Robinson in 2015, following an off-season of such upheaval, has provided arguably the most compelling plotline in MLS this season, with their attacking roster among the most dynamic and inherently exciting in the division.
Eight players on the two clubs are also on Spain's preliminary World Cup roster, among them goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Xabi Alonso of Real Madrid and strikers Diego Costa and David Villa of Atletico.
The Oilers had future Hall of Famers up and down its roster — Gretzky, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Grant Fuhr among them.
UConn has no seniors on its roster and among the starters will be two freshmen guards, Ann Strother of Castle Rock, Colo., and Nicole Wolff of Walpole, Mass.
On opening day, the Patriots had 22 players age 30 or older on their roster, most among any team in the American Football Conference.
To see Smith go from 13th man on the roster to among Pitino's favorites, to see Smith grab Pitino midscream and hug him and say, "I love you, Coach," Masiello said, "Well, I didn't see that coming".
And long-time physical production executive Steve Molen, who started at Amblin and has American Beauty, Saving Private Ryan, War Horse and The Help on his previous duty roster, was among the departures.
But the union wants significant reductions in off-season workout programs and an increase in roster size, among other concessions, to sway rank-and-file players to support an 18-game season.
The team Coach Juergen Klinsmann chose Sunday includes 15 players who have been part of a World Cup roster -- among them goalkeeper Tim Howard, who has been on three World Cup teams, and midfielder Michael Bradley, forward Jozy Altidore and goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who have gone to two.
Similarly Lynda Fassa, the co-owner of Green Babies, an Irvington organic-baby-clothing distributor, counted an ever-growing roster of celebrities among her clients, among them actresses like Vanessa Williams and Gwyneth Paltrow.
