By Dean Russin

Sports Editor

The National Soccer Hall of Fame is doing its best to spring a leak.

The floodgates are far from open, though, as the Class of 2005 tries to remain the best-kept secret in soccer until 4 p.m. today. Eric Wynalda, inducted into the Oneonta-based Hall last year, will announce the 2005 inductees at that time during a live broadcast on ESPNEWS.

A tight-lipped Jack Huckel — the Hall’s director of communications — said Monday that ballots from 123 voters have been submitted and counted.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]"We know who made it," Huckel said. "Now, we’re mobilizing our forces to get those who were elected to the announcement tomorrow."

Under revamped election rules that took effect for the first time in 2004, a maximum of three former players can be inducted into the Hall each year. A player must receive at least 50 percent of the votes to be eligible for enshrinement, Huckel said, and if multiple players meet that standard, the top two vote-getters will be enshrined. Huckel added that three players can be elected if all of them receive 80 percent or more of the votes.

Huckel may have dropped a subtle hint as to the number of electees in 2005 with an April 12 media advisory from his desk. The release states election announcements will be made today in three major U.S. cities — New York, Denver, and Washington, D.C. — and lists media contacts from each of their respective Major League Soccer teams.

"No comment," Huckel said with a chuckle when asked to reveal who made it into the Hall this year.

Although the release included media contacts for the MetroStars, the Colorado Rapids, and the D.C. United, the Class of 2005 is anybody’s guess — other than for the few who already know. Each of those teams is referred to in seven or more of the 52 player profiles listed on the Hall’s website.

Former U.S. National Team standouts Thomas Dooley and Hugo Perez are the top returners from the 2004 ballot. Both received 57 percent of the votes last year.

Also among this year’s eligible candidates is Hartwick College graduate Mike Burns, who played defense for former head coach Jim Lennox from 1988-91.

"A lot of deserving players in the next few years are going to make it," said Burns, 34, who appears on the ballot for the first time and can be considered for enshrinement until 2012. "It’s real difficult to get in because there are a lot of worthy candidates."

Burns, an All-American in 1990 and ’91, ranks 10th among Hartwick’s all-time assists leaders with 19. He played for the 1998 U.S. National Team and competed in his last of seven Major League Soccer seasons in 2002.

"Mike had a great career," said Hartwick coach Ian McIntyre, an All-American in 1995 and former teammate of Burns’ younger brother Kevin. "We’re just very proud that he’s being recognized for his accomplishments.

"I wish we still had Mike Burns playing for us right now," McIntyre continued. "It’s always nice when a former player or a former coach establishes himself outside of Hartwick."

Massachusetts native Burns played for the New England Revolution, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Kansas City Wizards, appearing in 169 regular-season games and six playoffs in the MLS. Burns competed in 75 internationals for the U.S. from 1992-98, including 11 World Cup qualifiers in 1996 and ’97 and two games at the FIFA World Cup in 1998.

A member of the U.S. team at the 1992 Olympics, Burns also competed in the 1994 and ’98 World Cups. Burns later served on the MLS disciplinary committee before becoming the director of soccer for the New England Revolution last week. Burns, who said his first official day at his new job was Monday, replaces longtime friend and mentor Joe Cummings.

"If I’m in, tremendous. If not, I’m certainly happy for the guys who get in," said Burns, a father of two young children who lives in Southboro, Mass., with his wife, Jennifer.

Joining Burns on the ballot are former soccer stars Marcelo Balboa, Thomas Dooley, John Harkes, Peter Nowak, Hugo Perez, Tab Ramos, Carlos Valderrama and Peter Vermes, among others.

The Class of 2005 will be inducted into the Hall on Aug. 29 in Oneonta. Traditionally held around Columbus Day, the inductions were moved up in an effort to avoid potential scheduling conflicts with international FIFA games and World Cup qualifiers, Huckel said.

Huckel added that the 2005 Hall of Fame Game, normally held in conjunction with the Induction Ceremony, is still in the works.

"We haven’t had any commitments yet, but we’re almost there," Huckel said of the showcase exhibition game, which featured the Chicago Fire against the MetroStars at the Wright National Soccer Campus in 2004. "We’re about two-to-three weeks away from that announcement. We hope to have two MLS teams."

Last year’s inductions of Wynalda, Paul Caligiuri, Michelle Akers and Michael Windischmann brought the Soccer Hall’s membership to 113. Windischmann entered as a selection by the Veterans Committee, which is voting on 300 eligible candidates through May, Huckel said. He added the Hall is expected to announce VC selections, if any, in early June.