This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

When you needed insight or looked for sheer transparency, you generally drifted toward No. 20's locker. Ned Grabavoy was the no-nonsense, sometimes cranky, sometimes dry, midfielder who often waxed honest on the dealings of each week during the marathon Major League Soccer season. After six seasons with RSL, Grabavoy is on his way to Yankee Stadium and downtown New York City. Former RSL boss Jason Kreis selected the 31-year-old midfielder in Wednesday's Expansion Draft with New York City FC's first overall pick. Joining Grabavoy will be RSL defender Chris Wingert, who was selected 10th by NYCFC.

I spoke to Grabavoy soon after the Expansion Draft concluded. Here is our interview as the lucid Grabavoy reminisced about his time with RSL, what was achieved, what lies ahead and the secret he'll never, ever concede.

(Side note: Was fortunate to have Grabavoy open up about his difficult 2013 year in which his young twins at the time struggled with severe health problems). That story is here.

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What was the overall reaction to being picked by Jason and New York? Did you know it was a possibility that you'd end up there?

Grabavoy: "Yeah, just through stuff that I heard that it was a good possibility that it would happen. Once again, there's just so many things that go on behind the scenes, you never quite know. You're never quite sure until it's officially official. For me, I think it was more nerves and stuff to see what happens. Obviously I didn't have to wait long, which was great, but for me, I couldn't be more excited for the opportunity and the new challenge, and I know it's a different and difficult challenge with an expansion team, but I couldn't be more excited to embrace that and face that challenge head on. It's still sinking in a little bit for me, because there are some feelings on the other side as well. It's difficult to leave somewhere you've been, to leave a team you've been a part of that's special to you and all those things, but I think we all know that — and I've said this before to you — in this business, these things don't last forever. I think that group that was at RSL for that many years probably [had] been together longer than most other players have ever had during their career, so I'm thankful for that, but at the same time, I think this is an excellent opportunity for the next chapter of my career."

Is it going to be more difficult to process considering you were part of that group to really turned things around, whereas maybe at other clubs you didn't have the kind of sustained success you had here?

Grabavoy:: "Obviously you build something, and that's certainly what we did at RSL. There's a long, long list of people that were a part of that. At the same time, change sometimes is good and it's important. I think in this business, sometimes being too comfortable isn't a healthy thing and like I said, I think new challenges and opportunities sometimes can reenergize you, so to speak and motivate you to do something new and different. That's how I'm viewing this. Obviously, like I said, it's difficult because you're going to an expansion team and so many things are new and unknown, but I know what that staff is all about. I think they've come to expect and almost want what they demand, dealing with that, for me, that's all I really need to know. There's a lot of stuff that has to get sorted out with moving and all these different kinds of things and I know it's difficult, but I'm not naive to that. At the same time, I got into this business to win and win championships and so for me, I think I'm headed to a place that's going to maybe, hopefully, a few years down the road when I'm maybe on my last leg could give me a chance to do that."

Does having someone to go with with Chris being traded to NYCFC as well help transition?

Grabavoy: "It certainly doesn't hurt it. I didn't know who else would be taken. I spoke with Chris for just a little bit. He's obviously from that area and I think he's a little bit in the know of what would play out and what would happen. I think it helps and for me, I know what Chris is all about. I think he wants a lot of the same things I want, and so I'm sure he's excited as well. It's great to have him. If there was no other RSL players picked, I wouldn't feel any different than I do. But for me, I don't view this as any reunion or 'Getting back together,' I think this is something completely different. For me, realistically, I'm going to do the same thing I've done at every other club I've been at. That's show up, work every day and do what's asked of me to help my team win. To be honest with you, I'm not sure what that's going to be because I've done a lot of different things, played a lot of different positions. I just know that I'm willing to do those things to help the my new team win."

What was that conversation with Jason like? Did he call you after they chose you first?

Grabavoy: "He texted me and just said, 'Hope you have your bags packed.' I kind of laughed and then he immediately followed up with — as only Jason would — by saying, 'Start getting fit.' That just kind of shows you where his mind's at a little bit. I think it's good because as players and ex-players, you become so comfortable with playing the game, your preparation for the game and all those things … all the stuff that goes on in the offseason, rumors swirling and all those things, they're not fun. I think sometimes, people view professional athletes as having this easygoing life and they don't realize sleepless nights, not knowing where you'll be, not knowing where your family will be or what will happen next. I think for me, and probably more so for that staff, because they've been going at this now for over a year, I think that there's going to be a very, very hungry team and everyone will be very eager to just get on the field and finally start going to work and trying to finally start putting this thing together and ultimately have success. And it's not going to be easy. It's certainly not going to be easy, but at the same time, we have to build a new foundation now."

Where do you think RSL is going in terms of perhaps transitioning to a younger base or core after losing six key figures (Olave, Johnson, Espindola and now Borchers, Grabavoy and Wingert) over the course of last three seasons?

Grabavoy: "Obviously I'm not part of making any of those decisions, but look, I think anyone in this business can tell you what they want to do, but you have to do it. I'm not quite sure what their ultimate goal is, but for me, they still have very good players there, they still have some young players who have shown that they're capable of being good and helping the team. I think when you really ask young guys to step in there full time, they still have some good players. I think in another year or two, they could be in a little bit of a similar situation because they still do have some older players in their core, but I think they still have very good players there. If you look at [RSL's] unprotected list compared to some other teams, I'm certain most people would look and say, 'Wow.' Because you look at some of the players that were there and what they've accomplished. I'm sure they'll try to get younger, faster, go out and do some different things. I talked to Jeff Cassar and I felt like we had a really, really good talk, which was probably the most important talk I've gotten so far. It's a new era. It's a new era for me, it's a new era for RSL and all the players mentioned before, obviously you have to find replacements for those players, but I don't think you can ever replace the guys mentioned in one sentence because of everything they've done for the club and how long they were here and what they built. We've all helped build RSL's foundation and that's probably the most important thing you can have. I would fully expect them to re-load and go find some players and try to help re-build a little bit and I don't expect them to do anything crazy, but obviously what they choose to do remains to be seen, I guess."

What do you imagine it being like having Yankee Stadium as your new home venue?

Grabavoy: "It's weird. I've obviously never been there. It's just a different setting and atmosphere in general. Leaving Rio Tinto, which has just been an amazing fortress all these years and a soccer-specific stadium and something's that our own and going to a different situation can be challenging. For me, I'll learn and know more and more over the next five or six weeks as we go into preseason, it seems like they have something very special there. That said, I know it can be difficult to find the right training facilities and all these other things and getting players comfortable off the field and getting them to be able to concentrate on the field, but at the same time, like I said, the people that are involved there, I trust that they know what they're doing and that they'll get it right and they'll work non-stop to put us in the best situation to be comfortable and to win. Ultimately, that's why I got into this game is to win games. I feel so very, very confident about the move and what lies ahead.

The fans have been bugging all year because I've kind of held off, but since I've got you once last time, the RSL fans wanted me to ask Ned what his hair product is.

Grabavoy: "I'll say this: What we build there, with those fans and how special that atmosphere was to me is something that will never be replaced. I can't describe how many times I was approached in public, whether I was on a walk in my neighborhood or in the grocery store, wherever I was just how polite and supportive every fan was that I met. It's difficult to think of playing in a different stadium with a different jersey in front of different fans because of how special what we built was. They were just as much a part of it as anybody. In saying that, if I told everybody my hair secrets, then everybody might have great hair. I'm not going to be giving any secrets away. I'm sure when I return to Rio Tinto, whenever that might be, the fans that thought I had great hair might start yelling at me to cut my dirty hair. We'll see if they're still supportive of my hair when I return."

More news and notes likely coming throughout the day.

-Chris Kamrani

Twitter: @chriskamrani