SI MLS Awards 2005

[Rover]

Grant Wahl replaces the power rankings with his year-end MLS awards for 2005, with some RSL representation. Article is here.

Highlights:

"Bust of the Year

1. Clint Mathis, Real Salt Lake. The RSL folks rolled the dice with the talented but troubled Mathis, signing him to a guaranteed $410,000-a-year deal. In return, Cletus has given Salt Lake just three goals and four assists while leading the league in suspensions (four games) and fines (at least $6,000).

Also receiving votes: Jovan Kirovski, Eddie Pope, Tony Sanneh, Steve Sampson, John Ellinger, Edson Buddle, Thomas Rongen, Ante Razov.

Surprise of the Year (Good)


2. Real Salt Lake support. Heading into the season, most folks thought Salt Lake would struggle to keep up with its expansion counterpart Chivas USA on and off the field. Both teams have miserable records, but RSL have gotten the job done off the field, drawing 18,318 fans a game (No. 2 in MLS), hosting a wildly successful World Cup qualifier and announcing plans for a new stadium."

It's a good read, and I think Wahl gets things just about right.

But I do wonder why his pick of cheetos as a lock for the playoffs a few weeks ago didn't make something like "bonehead call of the year."