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Goals prompt flashy moves

By Jose Alfredo Flores

MLS scoring is up -- 3.12 goals per game in 2000 compared to 2.86 in 1999, so there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. Many MLS players have developed signature post-goal moves. Some of the most popular:

* Carlos Valderrama, Mutiny, ''Wing Dip.'' He spreads his arms as if they were wings on an airplane and flies around the field.

* Mamadou Diallo, Mutiny, ''Push-Up.'' Hikes one of his legs up, puts both arms forward and pushes forward.

* Clint Mathis, MetroStars, ''I Love New York.'' A crowd favorite at Giants Stadium, Mathis puts his jersey over his head to reveal his ''I (heart) NY'' T-shirt after scoring. San Jose's Ronald Cerritos, ''I (heart) El Salvador,'' and Mauricio Wright, ''I (heart) Honduras'' have similar moves.

* Hristo Stoitchkov, Chicago, ''The Salute.'' The ''Mad Bulgarian'' thanks the Fire faithful with a military-style post-goal salute.

* D.C. United, ''The Helicopter.'' When D.C. scores, the team gathers in a circle, with each player extending one arm to the center of the circle. The players then run around clockwise.