As MLS comes to a close, it’s time to give out awards

By Eric Beard

Say what you will about Playoffs, but the road to the 2011 MLS Cup has created insurmountable drama. From Rafa Marquez starting a fight after LA won in New York to the Seattle Sounders nearly coming back from a 3-nil deficit, the Playoffs have ensured a level of entertainment any fan can embrace. The Los Angeles Galaxy and the Houston Dynamo face off in the MLS Cup Final on November 20th (it’s actually kicking off on the 21st at 2am UK Time), but until then we’re provided with a little grace period to reflect on the past season.

A great American pastime is reflecting through award ceremonies, or “TROPHIES! FOR YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU, AND YOU!” as our friend Miriti (@NutmegRadio) put it. Yesterday, the “2011 Major League Soccer Awards” were released, so it’s time to let my opinion be heard loud and clear. Picks are in bold.

Rookie of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 8

Michael Farfan (Philadelphia Union)
Perry Kitchen (D.C. United)
C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City)

Every year, the college-to-MLS path seems to get weaker and weaker, as few “rookies” stand out in their opening season. C.J. Sapong, a product of James Madison University, was far and away the best this year and it only took a few weeks for the 22-year-old to gain a permanent spot in the Sporting KC starting eleven. The young American striker’s partnership up top with Teal Bunbury only became more and more dangerous as the season progressed, and next year could be the beginning of a golden era for the Sporting KC attack.

Xbox 360 Individual Fair Play Finalists* – Winner to be announced Nov. 8

*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fouls committed, cards received, games & minutes played, as well as subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.

Darrius Barnes (New England Revolution)
Kosuke Kimura (Colorado Rapids)
Sebastien Le Toux (Philadelphia Union)

I can’t understand how a Fair Play award has a subjective aspect to it. Darrius, Kosuke, and Sebastien are all great professionals, so why not let the stats simply decide the winner?

Xbox 360 Team Fair Play Finalists* – Winner to be announced Nov. 8.

*Selected by MLS based on objective criteria such as fewest fouls committed, cards received, and on subjective evaluation of sportsmanlike behavior.

Chivas USA
Philadelphia Union
Portland Timbers

Instead of making the same argument again, I’m going to go ahead and give the Timbers some support. Though they missed out on the playoffs, they had an incredible first season in the league and played every single game with passion and an intention to come away with a result. Other squads may have more talent, but if every team played with Portland’s attitude that would be fine by me.

Defender of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 9

Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake)
Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy)
Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake)

Giving Omar the nod here was the probably toughest decision I had to make. Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave, when in form, are far and away the best pair of defenders in the league. However, looking at the regular season standings, Omar Gonzalez deserves so much credit for helping LA dominate the league. Surrounded by seasoned veterans, Gonzalez, still only 23 years old, has matured these past few months and has reached a point in his career when it’s only a matter of time before he starts making his presence felt in within the US Men’s National Team. Towering over opponents at 6 ft 5 inches, Gonzalez has been both dependable at the back and a constant threat on set pieces. This was Omar’s year.

MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 9

Zak Boggs (New England Revolution)
Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

Placing the value on the moral worth of one athlete’s good deeds above another athlete’s actions is an impossible task. These three all have made a tremendous impact on their respective communities, and that’s enough for me.

Coach of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 14

Bruce Arena (LA Galaxy)
Sigi Schmid (Seattle Sounders FC)
Peter Vermes (Sporting Kansas City)

Like all sports teams in Kansas, the Kansas City Wizards were not very good. However, with prolific innovation and a new state-of-the-art Livestrong Sporting Park, an enthralling Sporting KC came into fruition. The image of the club off the pitch was at an all-time high, but Peter Vermes was given the challenge of providing an on-field product to match the investment. Building from the ground up, he thrived, making the most out of the young talent he had in players like C.J. Sapong, Teal Bunbury, Chance Myers, and Seth Sinovic. Against all odds, Sporting KC won the Eastern Conference and finished the season one game away from the MLS Cup Final. With Vermes at the helm in KC, the future looks very bright.

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 14

David Beckham (LA Galaxy)

Charlie Davies (D.C. United)
Dominic Oduro (Chicago Fire)

David Beckham came back from an injury that took months to recover from; Charlie Davies recovered from an injury that put his career, and even his life, at jeopardy. This year we didn’t really see the Charlie Davies of the 2009 Confederations Cup, but we saw glimpses of brilliance. More importantly, we saw goals. Returning to the game after a lacerated bladder, a fractured right femur and fibula, multiple face fractures, and bleeding on the brain speaks for itself. Scoring 11 goals in 18 games also speaks for itself.

Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 15

Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas)
Kasey Keller (Seattle Sounders FC)
Faryd Mondragon (Philadelphia Union)

Arguably the best goalkeeper in US Soccer history finished his career on a high. Sure, Seattle crashed out of the Playoffs in the first round, but Keller was instrumental in helping the Sounders win their third consecutive US Open Cup and have the second best regular season record in the league. Always calm and collected, the 41-year-old was a leader on and off the pitch. Kevin Hartman and Faryd Mondragon both had fantastic seasons, but neither keeper impacted their club like Keller did.

Newcomer of the Year Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 15

Eric Hassli (Vancouver Whitecaps FC)
Luke Rodgers (New York Red Bulls)
Mauro Rosales (Seattle Sounders FC)

The signing of Mauro Rosales was a season-defining masterstroke by Sounders coach Sigi Schmid. The 30-year-old Argentine international, with years of experience at massive clubs Ajax and River Plate, allowed the Sounders to achieve a new dimension in their style of play. Rosales’ technical ability and vision enabled him to get out of tight situations and punish defenders for poor marking. Give the number 10 when he arrived in Seattle, it didn’t take long for Mauro to assume the role of playmaker. Unlike other designated players in MLS, Rosales loves Seattle and is adored by the club’s fans. If it wasn’t for an injury that caused him to miss out on the Playoffs, perhaps Seattle would still be vying for the 2011 MLS Cup.

Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists – Winner to be announced Nov. 18

Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo)
Dwayne De Rosario (D.C. United)
Brek Shea (FC Dallas)

Dwayne De Rosario was the league’s top scorer with 16 goals. Brad Davis was the league’s leader in assists with 16. D.C. United were a joy to watch at times this year, but ultimately they disappointed by failing to make the playoffs. The acquisition of De Rosario mid-season by United provided the spark Ben Olsen’s side needed desperately, but the stats don’t tell the whole story. Brad Davis’ left foot became the most valued asset of Houston’s season and his ability to consistently take world class set pieces raised legitimate questions as to who had the better delivery: Brad or Beckham. Davis carried the Dynamo week after week, often controlling the run of play and making intelligent decisions that gave his teammates an extra second on the ball. Sadly, it appears Davis will miss the MLS Cup Final due to injury, and no one can be happier about that than Los Angeles Galaxy supporters. Brad Davis is not only MVP because of his stats, but also because of when he performs. Davis has been Mr. Clutch and the Dynamo would not be even close to competing for a title without him.