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- MLS: All-Star Game in Utah
- Jul 28:
- MLS All-Star Game: British club in training mode
- MLS: Prime-time players
- Open less than a year, Rio Tinto in spotlight tonight
- MLS notes: 'Hard to tell' if All-Stars made national team impact
- Kragthorpe: All-Star showing matters to MLS in soccer world
- MLS earns Moyes' respect
- Jul 27:
- All-Star soccer: Howard starred in MLS before heading overseas
- Kragthorpe: RSL's Beckerman buoyed by homecoming
- MLS: Injured Donovan home till game day
- Jul 26:
- MLS All-Star Game: How do they measure up?
- Kragthorpe: Donovan is embracing his role as playmaker
- All-star game in Utah puts soccer focus on RSL
- Jul 25:
- All-Stars embrace unique MLS format
- MLS: All-Star Game has been memorable
- Kragthorpe: MLS strikes gold with its format
- MLS: All-star opponent has ambition to match its history
- MLS All-Star rosters
- Off the agenda: Sandy aims for an All-Star Game bounce
- Jul 21:
- RSL: Roster set for MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto
- Jul 20:
- Kragthorpe: Beckham's the missing star in MLS showcase
- Jul 15:
- RSL's Morales, Beckerman named all-stars
Since 2001, MLS Commissioner Don Garber has spiced up the league's All Star Game by selecting one or more players who were overlooked by or the All Star coach.
We'll call it the "Freddy Adu rule" since in 2004, the then-15-year-old was named an All Star despite just two goals in his nascent pro career.
In announcing RSL midfielders Javier Morales and Kyle Beckerman as his two picks on Wednesday, the commissioner missed a golden opportunity to make the July 29 game against Everton FC truly memorable.
With no disrespect towards Morales and Beckerman, he should have used one of his "Commissioner's picks" to select Andy Williams.
Admittedly, Williams has just one goal in 270 minutes of play this year,
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But the degree to which his wife Marcia's 13-month battle with leukemia has galvanized the team, its fans and the league as a whole is unprecedented.
I'm sure Williams would prefer to have the three days off to be by her side in her Seattle hospital room. On the other hand, I presume he has a bonus in his contract for making the team -- and with medical bills beyond counting, he could use the money, too.
Even if he wouldn't be at Rio Tinto Stadium in person, the selection would honor one of the league's all-time "good guys." He has persevered through 12 seasons with five clubs. He was RSL's first, and only remaining, pick from the team's original expansion draft. Although somewhat quiet
An All Star selection would honor the fact that Williams has summoned the courage to play even one minute this year. He has shown incredible resolve and fortitude, as have Marcia and their two daughters, ever since the gut-wrenching moment last July when they were informed of Marcia's diagnosis of a rare form of leukemia.
For me, there has been no finer moment in MLS this season than when he scored on a perfect free kick against New England, then kissed his ring and looked skyward with tears in his eyes. He left the stadium quickly and was on the first flight out the next morning to be with Marcia.
At least Garber didn't choose David Beckham, who makes his 2009 on-field debut tonight in New York.
The drama and attention surrounding his return from AC Milan, his tenuos relationship with Landon Donovan and his new book pale compared with the gravity of the Williams' saga.
For RSL's longest-tenured player, the selection would be for "lifetime achievement" -- and recognition of his bravery for every day he wakes up to a real life-or-death situation.
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Steve Pastorino was RSL's first general manager and writes an occasional column for the Tribune.
