The Rapids have a press release about the three that Rapids players were nominated for: Goalkeeper of the Year: Joe Cannon Humanitarian of the Year: Chris Henderson (Oddly enough, the Rapids gave this award to De La Torre at the team level) Fair Play Award: Eddie Pope http://www.coloradorapids.com/News/newsdetails.asp?ID=773
Damn, Pope was already traded to the Rapids? I must have missed that one. Actually, the article says that Pid player Ritchie Kotschau lost out on the fair play award to Pope.
pope got an award for fair play? might as well, he didn't do as much as was expected playing defense. hey, but at least he played fairly.
Full listing at: http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/mls/events/mls_cup/2004/awards/ MVP: Arnado Guevara - Metrostars Defender: Robin Fraser - Columbus Comeback: Brian Ching - San Jose Rookie: Clint Dempsey - New England Goalkeeper: Joe Cannon - Colorado Goal: Dwayne DeRosario vs. D.C. - San Jose Coach: Greg Andrulis - Columbus Fair Play: Eddie Pope - Metrostars Humanitarian: Chris Henderson - Colorado Referee: Abiodun Okulaja GAS Play of the Year: Freddy Adu - D.C.
Anybody who still says the regular season is meaningless gets a beatdown. Since obviously it's the only thing the voters are looking at.
How Moreno could not win Comeback Player of the Year is beyond me. Ching was equally effective last season when he was healthy, but Moreno went from nothing to MVP runner-up. As for Andrulis over Gansler for coach of the year... I'm speechless.
I am not one for conspiracy theories, but the results of all these awards really make me wonder what obscure criteria (or agenda) the folks who determine these awards are working with. KC, clearly the best team in the west - nada. DC, the best in the east - likewise nothing, save the GAS play of the year (whatever the hell that is). MLS doesn't seem to want to say much about it - there is no link to even a short press release on what it is. Andrullis - please, this is ludicrous. Guevara, when Cannon and Moreno are both much more valuable to their teams. Moreno led the league in assists. What did Guevara led the league in? Goals? Not hardly. Yellow cards! Apparently that's what it takes to be MVP. Only one player in the east committed more fouls than Guevara. I'm surprised that person wasn't nominated. Maybe they should rename the award "The Most Valuable Hack" award. Ching over Moreno is likewise very suspect.
In watching the goal of the year highlights, I couldn't help but notice poor Henry Ring was on the wrong end of 3 of 5 nominated goals. The other two? Troy Perkins Some very questionable calls (goal of the year not included) Whenever Andrulis wins coach of the year, Ching (who is awesome) wins comeback after what Moreno has accomplished this year and Eddie Munster wins MVP over Moreno or Cannon. Yikes.
I have to admit I got shut out on all my predictions I had MVP ---Moreno COY---Gansler Roy----Marshall DOY---Conrad Goal---Kirvoski I did have Cannon as GK of the year but that one was all so obvious. Only the MVP truley shocked me. Drooler winning for coach of the year was comady.
Did they, perhaps, vote for COTY before the first playoff game? I'm headed over to the Crew board to see some carnage.
I would assume that's the case, as that's the standard in almost every league. Andrulis probably deserved it at that point.
Andrulis did not deserve Coach of the Year at any point in this MLS season. Gansler achieved an identical record despite injuries to key players and being in a tougher conference. Andrulis was dealt a great hand by MLS, it was tough to blow it (although he did, in the playoffs).
It's an absolute crime that Buddle not only didn't WIN goal of the year, but that he finished FOURTH. At least Kirovski didn't win. It's not exactly goal of the year material when your 45 yard shot was on an empty net.