Tuesday's Column: Vote For the Top Southern California Soccer Star of '08
'Tis the season.
Not only for journalists to use that over-used phrase, but for largely meaningless end of year awards. Still, they're also fun.
So this blog is joining the party with a highly prestigious (ahem) award of our own: the 100 Percent Soccer Southern California Soccer Personality of the Year.
Read the column then cast your vote. We'll announce the winner New Year's Day.
Thanks for reading.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I would like to write-in Alexi Lalas and Ruud Gullit as co-winners. It takes a lot of "talent" to destroy the "jewel" of MLS and turn it into a running joke.
Nick, please - how do you NOT have Sean Franklin as a pick for Top Southern California Soccer Star of '08? You didn't even mention him in your column and he is the MLS Rookie of the Year. A huge oversight on your part, Nick.
Nick replies: I respectfully disagree. I wasn't convinced by Franklin's play in a bad Galaxy defense. He made numerous errors, yet appeared relatively steady in part because of the chaos surrounding him. The MLS Rookie of the Year award is overblown and needs to be done away with.
I have to agree with Debby on this one... Franklin impressed me throughout the season and, while he was definitely not flawless, you have to remember that he was playing out of his natural position and was left exposed by his surrounding teammates on a number of occasions - see Abel Xavier, Greg Vanney, etc...
Also, the lack of a solid holding midfielder in the lineup for much of the season undoubtedly increased the pressure on Franklin. Teams were able to just march down the middle of the field on the G's all year.
The fact that he made a name for himself in the worst defense in the league should be a testament to his positive play, and should not be tarnished by the absolute rubbish that surrounded him.
Here's hoping for a better '09. Happy New Year Nick!
Nick replies: Points taken (and I don't disagree with any of them, actually). I'm looking forward to Franklin playing right back next year, which is where Bruce Arena wants to see him play. I'm still having trouble with the whole Rookie of the year award though (which is no reflection on Franklin). In a maturing league like MLS I would prefer to see a young player of the year award so we don't have to limit ourselves to rookies. Rookies are making less and less of an impact on the league with every passing year as the depth and quality improves. Except, of course, on a crummy team like the Gals this year, which is why Franklin made the impact he did.