CAUGHT IN THE DRAFT Gems and busts in MLS draft history
(This week BigAppleSoccer.com has a special countdown to Friday's MLS SuperDraft. Today's first part includes a look at the biggest gems and busts in the nine-year history of MLS drafts -- college, supplemental and super -- and a remembrance of a league that helped laid the groundwork for today's MLS -- the North American Soccer League).
First in a series
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
It's barely 10 years old, yet the Major League Soccer SuperDraft -- college draft, player draft, just plain draft or whatever it has been called through the past decade -- already has an interesting history. Among some of the more interesting aspects of the draft:
Famous firsts -- Part I
So, who were the very first players taken in MLS' first three drafts in 1996, and how did they fare?
In the player allocation draft -- when the 10 original teams stocked themselves in a 16-round draft -- the Columbus Crew chose forward Brian McBride. Although injuries sometimes have limited his playing time and effectiveness, McBride was a productive and is a regular member of the U.S. National Team. McBride, who has a lethal shot with his head, scored 62 goals and added 45 assists in 161 games for the Columbus Crew. He became an intregral member of the U.S. World Cup team that reached the quarterfinals in 2002. He currently plays for Fulham in the English Premiership.
In the supplemental draft, the MetroStars selected veteran Italian defender Nicola "Wrong Way" Caricola. He who lasted all of one season in the league, forged a reputation for scoring own goals. In fact, his own goal with 12 seconds in the match remaining gave the New England Revolution a 1-0 win over the MetroStars in the latter franchise's packed home opener. Caricola retired from soccer after one year in the league in what was considered a wasted pick for the future.
And in the college draft, the Kansas City Wiz -- that's what they were called at the time, not the Wizards -- grabbed midfielder Matt McKeon, who became a solid defensive midfielder. The former St. Louis University All-American was traded to the Colorado Rapids, returning to the Wizards. McKeown, played through the 2002 season, played in 172 matches, starting in 153. He scored 13 goals and set up 19 others.
Not so famous seconds
So, who followed Freddy Adu as the second selection of the 2004 draft?
If you guessed defender Chad Marshall, you are correct. He was taken by the Columbus Crew. While Adu at times lamented that he wanted more playing time, Marshall became a fixture in the Crew line, starting 27 games, appearing in 28 for a total of 2,446 minutes.
Last man standing
Goalkeeper Garth Lagerwey was the latest surviving member of the 1996 allocation draft. He was made the 150th selection (out of a possible 160) by D.C. United, in the 15th round of that draft. United defender Geoff Aunger is the field player who has lasted the longest. He was taken in the 13th round, 125 overall, by the Revolution.
Lagerwey last five seasons, performing for the Wizards, Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion, recording a 1.80 goals-against average and a 25-20-0 mark.
Some real gems
Not every important player is taken in the first round. Some gems are found in the latter rounds. Remember, before this year both the college and supplemental drafts had three rounds apiece.
* Forward Ante Razov was the 27th player selected in the 1996 college draft by the Los Angeles Galaxy in the third round. Razov is part of the national team pool and scored 77 goals in 161 MLS games.
* Midfielder Eddie Lewis, who has become a national team regular, was the 23rd player selected in the 1996 college draft. He picked by the San Jose Clash (now the Earthquakes) in the third round and plays for Preston North End in England.
* Midfielder Steve Ralston, the 1996 rookie of the year, was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second round that year, as was defender Gregg Vanney by the Galaxy. He now plays for the New England Revolution.
* Edson Buddle was the 27th player selected overall (third choice of the third round) by Columbus in the 2001 SuperDraft after such notables and household names as Kerwin Jemott, Ali Ngon and Josue Maynard. What were these coaches thinking? Buddle has collected 33 goals and 13 assists over 54 starts and 83 games.
* Jeff Parke is the most famous of all final picks because not only did he make the Metros' roster as the 60th selection of the 2004 draft, he became an integral part of the defense. As a central defender, Parke, who played for Drexel University, started 27 games and played in 28 and 2,409 minutes.
The supplemental had some rare finds as well. The Galaxy took defender David Vaudreuil in the second round (17th overall selection) in the 1996 supplemental draft, and he enjoyed a fruitful career with D.C. United, the Fusion and the Rapids. Brazilian Welton was taken by the Revs in the second round that year.
UCLA goalkeeper Kevin Hartman was tabbed by the Galaxy as the 29th and next-to-last pick, in the third round of the 1997 college draft. United keeper Tom Presthus was taken with the last pick of the second round that year.
The hat-trick
Midfielder-forward Darren Sawatzky was drafted three times. He was chosen by the Revs in the 1996 college draft, by the Dallas Burn in the 1998 supplemental draft and by the Colorado Rapids in the 1999 supplemental draft. Sawatzky was not eligible for the 2000 draft.
Another hat-trick
In the third round of the 2003 draft, Chicago selected three players on consecutive picks, an unprecedented feat. The Fire took Logan Pause as the 24th selection, Ryan Mack as 25th and Phil Swenda as 26th.
The resurrection
Some players are drafted to start their careers. Others are drafted and the wind up is that their career is revived beyond their wildest dreams.
Take, for instance, Kerry Zavagnin. After two years with the MetroStars, Zavagnin decided to play in the A-League. He rediscovered himself, and so did the Kansas City Wizards, who chose him as the 30th selection (sixth pick of the third round) of the 2000 draft. Not only did Zavagnin become a vital member (as a defensive midfielder) of the Wizards' championship team that season, he eventually became a part of the U.S. National Team pool and earned Best XI honors last season.
Dancing with Dancy
The MetroStars selected defender Jake Dancy in the sixth and final round of the 2000 draft and apparently they didn't know of his nefarious background in which he severely injured former D.C. United (and current Real Salt Lake) midfielder Brian Kamler with a punch during a pre-season exhibition match between the MLS club and the U.S. Under-20 National Team on Feb. 23, 1997.
Dancy dropped Kamler with a tackle in the waning minutes of United's 3-0 win. Kamler gor up and walked toward Dancy, whose fists, witnesses said, were already clenched. Doctors compared Kamler's injuries to those of a head-on car accident. He needed a 4 1/2 hour operation to reconstruct his left cheekbone and place five metal plates in his skull. Dancy pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge and was sentenced to five years probation and 350 hours of community service along with a $500 fine. And oh yes, he was let go by the Metros before the start of the season.
Breaking up the Seals
Three of the top four picks in the 1998 supplemental draft came from the San Francisco Bay Seals of the A-League. The Chicago Fire took defender C.J. Brown on the very first selection. After the Mutiny chose Kansas City Attack forward Brian Loftin next, the Clash tabbed Tim Weaver and the Colorado Rapids picked forward Marquis White. No other Seals player was selected in the rest of the draft.
The med student
Even though he was the top college player in 1996 and was the second overall pick of the 1997 draft by the Mutiny, University of Virginia midfielder Mike Fisher decided not to turn pro. He decided to go to medical school, instead. The 1997 college draft was not very kind to the Mutiny. The Mutiny took a pass in the second round of the 1997 college draft and picked since-departed forward Musa Shannon in the third round. Wouldn't have been easier to take Shannon in that second round?
A writer's favorite
While this doesn't deal directly with a particular draft pick, one of my favorite draft stories involves yours truly -- at the 2003 draft in Kansas City. It was about a half hour before the proceedings began when United coach Ray Hudson came up to me and said, "You look like someone who would have something for an upset stomach." Hudson was hoping for an antacid to calm his queasy stomach. All I had was Pepto-Bismol, which he gladly took. Minutes later, he took Alecko Eskandarian as the very first selection.
Michael Lewis can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com.
