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Today was the last day to vote for the U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame class of 2009 and when I sat down to fill out my electronic ballot I fully expected it to be an easy process. With the ability to vote for as many as 10 candidates, how tough could it be?
Turns out, much tougher than I expected. For those of you who missed it, 25 candidates were up for nomination. Greats from the U.S. national team, MLS, the NASL and the women's national team were vying for those coveted spots. After last year's voting fiasco, which saw nobody elected because nobody met the requisite voting requirement, you had to figure it could be a big class.
There was a point a while back where I was going to just vote for the candidates who earned the requisite 66 percent required for Hall enshrinement, from SBI voters. Here are the candidates who drew 66 percent from SBI's readers:
- Preki
- Jeff Agoos
- Earnie Stewart
That's it, just three.
I decided I would make my own picks, and once I started to really look at the list of candidates, I realized the decisions wouldn't be easy.
In the end, I voted for 10. I could have voted for 12, but 10 was the limit. I selected candidates from every one of the aforementioned categories, something I felt was important. It's just too easy to ignore certain candidates simply because you hadn't seen them play, or really hadn't heard of them.
After careful consideration, I came up with the following picks:
U.S. men's national teamers/MLS- Jeff Agoos, Earnie Stewart, Joe-Max Moore, Preki, Peter Vermes
MLS- Marco Etcheverry, Carlos Valderrama
NASL- Pato Margetic
U.S. women's national teamers- Joy Fawcett, Shannon McMillan
The toughest pick, and the last candidate left off my list was Peter Nowak, who was amazing for the Chicago Fire but who ultimately just didn't fit on the ballot for me. I'm sure there would be plenty of arguments about Nowak being more deserving than Valderrama or Vermes, but not in my book.
Valderrama meant so much to MLS and was such a transcendent figure that I couldn't see leaving him out. Along with giving the league an international-recognized player who crossed cultural divides and gave the league credibility in the Latino soccer community, Valderrama actually delivered the goods on the field. His jaw-dropping passes and boat-loads of assists were a joy to watch and made the early years of MLS that much more memorable.
Vermes might leave some heads scratching but, in my opinion, his career is one of the more underrated careers in American soccer history. His candidacy falls victim to the fact that many of his national team accomplishments came pre-94 World Cup, which is a shame considering what he did accomplish. From his time playing in Spain's second division, to his tenure in MLS, which saw him win an MLS Cup and earn Defender of the Year honors leading arguably the toughest defense in MLS history, Vermes club career alone would merit strong consideration. Throw in his U.S. national team exploits and Vermes should get in.
I could have also bumped off Pato Margetic, who I never saw play and knew nothing about before this fall, but I heard from enough people about his ability and accomplishments, and read enough about his career to know that he deserved a nod, and his generation deserved a representative.
Then there were the women, who were certainly deserving, but who I can see being left off the ballot by those voters who strictly follow the men's game. I don't follow or cover the women's game that much, but still know enough to know who is deserving of a Hall of Fame nod and Joy Fawcett and Shannon McMillan deserved them.
As for the rest of the U.S. national teamers, I can't see anybody arguing against any of the four. Agoos combination of national team contributions and MLS success makes him a lock. Earnie Stewart was an easy call considering he was, for my money, one of the most clutch national team players this country has seen. Preki gets the nod more for his vast professional accomplishments than his national team contributions, but should be a lock regardless. Joe-Max Moore is another candidate I think might not get the credit he deserves, but who I just can't see not being picked.
Thomas Dooley is the most glaring omission among national team stars, and he and Nowak were the two who would have made my 12. Call it a personal preference, but I wouldn't have a problem at all if Dooley got the call. In fact, considering the contributions Dooley is making to the youth soccer scene in California, I think he may even be strengthening his candidacy as a soccer person who has meant too much to the game in this country to not be in the hall.
Nowak and Dooley didn't make my ballot this year, but I have a feeling both will be on it next year. I can only hope next year's list of candidates won't be as tough to choose from as this year's. (and for those of you wondering, the Hall of Fame class of 2009 will be announced on Jan. 15 in St. Louis at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention.)
What do you think of this Hall of Fame class? Which candidates would have gotten your votes? Which player did I forget?
Share your thoughts on the National Soccer Hall of Fame election below.
Alan B., Sorry, but indoor is not real soccer (even though I play both). It is comparable, but too different to readily bring those players in. You are right about it helping sustain soccer through the doldrums of the 80s and early 90s though. Perhaps there should be a consideration for that for the HoF. However, Preki deserves his entry for his overall contribution, indoor/outdoor/USMNT (albeit limited).
Where are the indoor players in the HoF? Preki deserves to be there, but not before Tatu, Zungul, Stamenkovic, Toth, and Von Eron.
Why does the Hall of Fame seem to wish to ignore the aspect of the game that kept pro soccer alive in the 1980’s and 1990’s?
Is Gooch eligible to play in the Champions League or did playing in the early rounds with Liege club tie him?
i still have my carlos valderrama action figure that you had to send cereal box tops to get.
…still wish i would’ve sent for the john harkes figure as well.
Dooley>>>>>Agoos.
Agoos represents what has always been wrong w/ American soccer-great athlete-TERRIBLE player.
Dooley should be on there Ives-not Agoos-completely agree w/ you otherwise.
Though frankly, Ernie Stewart really only excelled because of his speed-in today’s game he would get eaten up w/ his lack of skills as well.
Jeff agoos is possibly the worst defender ever to play in the USMNT system.
Roy Lassiter deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. His 27 goals scored in a season is still the record…even after Landon’s Bayern Munich worthy season.
Lassiter’s Resume(inspired by Looking Dangerous):
North Carolina High School 4A Player of the year and All-American
McGuire National Club Championship Cup Runner-Up in 1989
1989 first-team, Junior-College All American
Twice named first team All-ACC and second team All-American at NC State.
1995 Foreign Player of the Year in Costa Rica
MLS Golden Boot Winner in 1996 with 27 Goals – a record that still stands!
1 MLS Cup in 1999
In only 7 seasons in MLS he still is top ten for Career goals (88) and Match Winning Goals (19)
30 USMNT Caps with 4 Goals
AT&T Best 11 in 1996
Played in Costa Rica and Italy
“Agoos? You have to be kidding. His last World Cup appearances were awful”
I remember Reyna’s last World Cup appearance was awful too. Guess that means Reyna is not a Hall of Famer.
Ives, Dude?!?
How could you pass on Roy Lassiter?
I don’t know how well he was esteemed by his squadmates (I suspect not very highly), but his stats alone (records for goals in a single season, and multiple-goal games)should qualify him as a HOF lock.
LMAO, fubar. But still, you have to give credit for “the best we had” in the most important decade of soccer in our country’s history. Also, 5 MLS Cups counts. Plus, he gets points back for NOT being part of the ’98 disaster.
Let’s honor him for helping to pull us out of the dark ages, and be glad he couldn’t make the team now.
Ives, think you did a great job. As someone who does follow women’s soccer, I don’t think I would have selected Shannon MacMillan. She was at the top for a very short time. Injuries were an issue and I think there were many more women who played first team soccer for the WNT for a longer period of time and made more of an impact.
i liked everything except you contemplating letting the SBI readers determine your picks. disappointed you would even consider something like that.
@ Looking Dangerous
When I think back on Jeff Agoos and his career, those incidents are what I remember most. I don’t think about his MLS Cups or his high school or college achievements. Those MLS Cups Cups make me think of Shawn Medved and Eddie Pope scoring in the rain, De-Ro’s overtime strike, or Landon’s two goal performance. Although, I do remember Agoos getting beat by Luis Hernandez for a goal in the 2001 final. His resume does look impressive and based on that it does deserve a nomination. But I guess the same journalists that inducted Alexi Lalas into the Hall of Fame in 2006, will induct Agoos in 2008. On a side note, I still think the guy looks like a Neanderthal Man and could star in the Geico commercials.
You are fubar’ed if you think that Agoos belongs in the Hall. Terrible, just terrible. Just because the USA had NO defense in the 90’s doesn’t mean you automatically put this guy in.
He had two speeds, slow and stop. I honestly do not know how he ‘won’ so many caps.
Good choices. I particularly have to agree about Agoos. After all, he did score the most spectacular goal in US World Cup history 🙂
If Agoos had not been cut by Sampsos in 1998 at the last minute, most of you would have a very different opinion. I think he was probably a better player than Dooley in 98. (Who is apparently forgiven for being burned by Klinsmann, whereas Agoos is held accountable for his gaffes.)
Having had the chance to watch Agoos closely with the Quakes, there is no question his MLS accomplishments qualify him for the Hall.
Would not have included Shannon MacMillan. Nowak?? exceptional player for the MLS. Only consideration against him should have been that he only played 4 yrs. I loved Valderama and he sure could pass. He was a great player at one time, but I think that during a lot of MLS career his negatives outweighed his positives. As for Pato Margetic, it’s hard to vote for someone you’ve never heard of. According to Wikipedia, he was an honorable mention, a second team and a first team all-star in the NASL. Does this mean he should be a Hall of Famer? Not sure.
@sterlinho,
You bring up 2 of Agoos’ 3 biggest gaffes – the other being sent off in Mexico city. You cannot ignore his resume though:
From wikipedia anmd US Soccer:
2-time Parade Magazine High School All-American
Dallas All-Sports Athlete-of-the-Year
1983 Texas State Championship
Runner Up for Hermann Trophy
NCAA Champion – UVa
5 time MLS Champion
Starter for US National Team on its most successful World Cup Team ever.
#2 alltime in appearances:
2 Agoos, Jeff 134Caps 4Goals 1988-2003
I really liked the info on Vermes. When you first posted this, I had no idea who he was, so thanks.
I’ve never been the biggest fan of either Agoos or Moore on the national team. I always felt that both were the best we could do at the time. Goose probably deserves it for his MLS career, but I still can’t get excited about Joe-Max Moore.
Hey TR, I don’t seem to recall Dooley’s last World Cup performances being hot stuff either.
And it’s not the National Team Hall of Fame, it’s the National Hall of Fame. People can hate Agoos all they want but the guy won a bunch of titles in MLS and was one of the defenders the league ever had. Did he make some mistakes? Sure, but he also played plenty of good games.
Agoos was also an American from the beginning. Dooley didn’t play for us until after Germany was no longer an option. As far as I’m concerned Dooley can wait a year to get in.
Actually, I’m pretty sure Dooley won’t be on your ballot in 2009 because this was his last year of eligibility before he has to go to the veterans’ committee.
I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.
I saw Dooley’s first national team game with the US versus Ireland. He changed the make up of the team. Great player and he and Earnie Stewart would be the two that I hope get through. I don’t think Dooley will get in at this time. I think some of his overall contributions are somewhat forgotten by many, mostly because he wasn’t a dominant MLS player in his late 30’s when he played stateside. Plus there are a lot of high profile candidates.
Agoos? You have to be kidding. His last World Cup appearances were awful, and Dooley was a better player. Dooley was the anchor for years, while Agoos made it because of the lack of high caliber players.
If you look at the teams when they were missing Dooley, and later, Agoos, there was a huge difference. Dooley was vital, but not Agoos.
Dooley is certainly deserving and I did consider him (which I should have included in the original post, I’ve since added it). When I said I could have voted for 12, Nowak and Dooley were the missing two. I just gave the edge to the other five national team players I voted for, call it a personal preference. Dooley will be on my ballot in 2009 along with Nowak.
Can’t believe you didnt even consider Tom Dooley, why’s that????
Jeff Agoos doesn’t deserve to be there. Between the own goal against Portugal and the perfect through ball to Deon Burton at RFK the guy just doesn’t cut it. If that’s what you want to enshrine in the Hall of Fame then your votes are as messed up as those people in Harlem on the Howard Stern show.
I think Preki deserves to be in. Every one else is maybe but probably not.
Ives,
I appreciate the thought and effort you put into your votes. Would that more voters took it as seriously.
I don’t disagree with most of your picks and agree that the Pato Margetic Era deserves more recognition and he’s a very good candidate of that era.
The only quibble I’d have is not putting Thomas Dooley in the Hall and would be curious to hear your reasoning on that omission.