Veterans’ Day
The National Soccer Hall of Fame has announced the ten former stars on the ballot for this year’s Veteran Player election. I don’t vote in this one (Hall of Famers do), but here are some thoughts on the ten veterans up for election (they’re the exact same ten as last year, when no one was elected):
- Desmond Armstrong: I don’t think he’s going to make it. A fine player, but not HOF-worthy.
- George Best: At his height, he was a World Hall of Famer, if there was such a thing. He was not at his best during his time in America, though he did show flashes of the brilliance that led some to consider him the most talented player ever. There’s no telling what he could have become had he devoted a little less time to the booze and the ladies, but then again, he wouldn’t have been George Best without that, would he? Still, I don’t believe his contributions to the American game warrant a Hall nod.
- Teofilo ‘Nene’ Cubillas: He was a terrific player. I don’t see it happening for him.
- Linda Hamilton: Not even those arms in Terminator 2 can put her over the top.
- Lori Henry: An original WNTer, she only got five votes last time. Don’t count on it.
- Bill McPherson: Got three votes last time. Not happening. Won seven US Open Cups and played the most games in (original) American Soccer League history. That apparently doesn’t impress today’s voter.
- Shep Messing: A very interesting case could be made for Shep. He was a winner, a character and, yes, was famous. I wonder if his notoriety (or outspokenness since he traded the boots for the booth) rubs some voters the wrong way.
- Bruce Murray: I voted for Bruce Murray every year he was on the regular ballot, because I didn’t want today’s soccer fan to think American soccer history started in 1996. Murray was the original Captain America, and I think he belongs. But only 30% of the voters agreed last time.
- Glenn Myernick: Mooch finished second last year with 41% of the vote. He was a Herrmann winner, overall #1 draft pick and a very good player. Not flashy, which may hurt him.
- Kyle Rote, Jr.: Got the most votes last year (45%), but didn’t hit the 50% threshold. Most of the people I talk to seem to be incredulous that he’s not in already. He was a very, very, VERY good player, first off. Was he overhyped because he was American at a time when American soccer stars were (a) desperately needed and ( b) in very short supply? Sure he was. So was Ricky Davis, and he’s in. I realize many of today’s fans have no knowledge of the contributions he made to the sport in this country at a critical time, but the Hall of Famers should know better. He should be in.
The Hall plans to announce the Veteran inductee(s) (if any) early next year. We’re supposed to get the Player election ballot later this month. As I always do, I’ll share my ballot and thought processes with you then.
Tags: soccer, soccer Hall of Fame
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Fully agree with Kyle Rote, Jr. I think any American getting paid to play soccer today should thank guys like Kyle and Ricky Davis for paving the way. Kyle was a better player than Ricky Davis; Ricky is in the HOF because he was surrounded by a better team. If you had put me on a field with Pele and Beckenbauer, I could have been a standout player.
It’s a shame that Bruce Murray’s and Des Armstrong’s prime years occured during the NASL - MLS gap. Had there been a professional league to showcase their talents, they would have had a much stronger case for HOF induction
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:36 pm
I agree with your vote for Kyle Rote, Jr. Surprising that he is not in the in the HoF.
Messing? Sure. Murray? Absolutely. The rest? Nope.
Now that the fall college season starts winding down, is there any chance that Four in the Back will return?
November 2nd, 2009 at 8:52 pm
It’s not about the fall college season. It’s about a lot of factors. But thanks for asking. I reckon we’ll be back eventually, I just couldn’t tell you when.
November 2nd, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Add me to the list of those who can’t believe Kyle Rote Jr. isn’t in the Hall. I, too, would vote for him, Messing and Murray.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:01 pm
It’s impossible to read the minds of voters, but I don’t think Rick Davis is in the Hall because of the team he was surrounded with. I think he’s in much more for his play with the national team, where he was the leading star for a decade, than for his play with the Cosmos.
Also, while Davis was surrounded by many great players with the Cosmos, Pele wasn’t one of them. Their careers didn’t overlap.
November 3rd, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Hard to believe that, at the time, Davis’ 36 caps were an American record.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:42 am
I saw Desmond Armstrong on the list and I will say I’m happy to see a former Blast player on the ballot. Kenn, I know that indoor soccer is seen as a “novelty act”, however I can think of a select few players and coaches who may deserve at the very least nomination.
November 5th, 2009 at 8:50 am
And I can think of several people who are Hall-worthy. The Hall doesn’t recognize indoor, though, and that’s, to me, its major (non-financial) failing. Like it or not, indoor is part of the history of our game. It’s being ignored by our Hall of Fame, and the Hall is the worse for it.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
This does lead to a good debate though, who from the indoor game would be worthy of induction.
November 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I don’t even know that we can agree on the standards for induction. Outstanding play, but for how long? Contributions to the game?
If you were going to throw us a bone and have an indoor election, first off, you’d have not a lot of people qualified to vote in said election, but if you could scrape up enough people, you could easily start with:
Steve Zungul
Tatu
Hector Marinaro
Ron Newman
Branko Segota
Zoran Karic
Daryl Doran
There are a lot.
November 5th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Ron Newman is already in the Hall.