With his selection as an all-star starter, the resume of 17-year-old MetroStars midfielder Eddie Gaven gets longer and more impressive. Linda Cuttone/Sports Vue Images
By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor
Life certainly can't get too much better for MetroStars 17-year-old midfielder Eddie Gaven these days.
He has scored four goals in his last four matches. He has been called up to the U.S. National Team for the first time. And on Thursday, he became the youngest player ever selected as a starter for the MLS all-star game.
In only his second year as a professional, Gaven is living what he had dreamed about not such a long time ago. But he isn't letting it get to his head.
"I'm not stepping back to think about it," Gaven said Thursday by cell phone from Chicago, where he is training for the U.S. National Team for its Sunday international friendly vs. Poland. "I'm having fun. I'm going to make the most of each chance."
Metros central defender and captain Eddie Pope and midfielder Amado Guevara joined Gaven on the Eastern Conference team, which will meet its Western counterparts at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on July 31.
"It's just a great honor to be voted in by the players and coaches to be put on the same team as all of these guys," Gaven said.
Actually, votes were tallied from fans, players, media and coaches and general managers, with each group getting 25 percent of the vote.
Gaven doesn't know if he will play or suit up for the U.S. on Sunday or sent back to the Metros for their home game vs. the San Jose Earthquakes at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Gaven said expects to have a player meeting with national coach Bruce Arena.
"I'm not going to be thinking about it," Gaven said. "I need to go out and play and see what happens. . . . It's going well. Training's been really good. I've learned a lot. All these players are really good players."
Asked what he has learned in camp this week, Gaven replied, "Speed of play. If you make a mistake on the field, you get punished for it.
"It's been definitely great. It's been my goal to play for the full team. It's very cool to be on the team and represent my country."
Arena gave Gaven, who has come on like gangbusters over the past two weeks, some advice.
"When I first came here, Bruce Arena told me to go out and have fun and not be scared," Gaven said. "I think I've done all right. My legs definitely have been heavy from all the games. It's been good. I've been fitting in.
The Chicago Fire dominated the Eastern squad with five players -- goalkeeper Henry Ring, defender Jim Curtin, midfielders Chris Armas and DaMarcus Beasley and forward Damani Ralph. D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno, who played with the MetroStars last year, and defender Ryan Nelsen and Columbus defender Frankie Hejduk also were selected.
The defending champion San Jose Earthquakes had five players on the Western Conference -- goalkeeper Pat Onstad, defender Jeff Agoos, midfielders Landon Donovan and Richard Mulrooney and forward Brian Ching. Defender Chris Albright, midfielder Andreas Herzog and Forward Carlos Ruiz will represent the L.A. Galaxy. Dallas Burn defender Cory Gibbs and midfielder Ronnie O'Brien and Colorado Rapids defender Pablo Mastroeni also are on the team.
Six reserve players per team and two commissioner's picks by Don Garber will be announced on Monday.
D.C. coach Peter Nowak will direct the East, while Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid will guide the West.
Michael Lewis, the editor of BigAppleSoccer.com, welcomes all comments and letters about his stories and readers’ thoughts about the website. Send your e-mails to editorial@bigapplesoccer.com or to SoccerWriter516@aol.com.
