Thanks, Eddie

Before last night's Major League Soccer game, Real Salt Lake defender Eddie Pope announced he was retiring at the end of the season. Eddie has been, for me, the poster boy for the good that MLS has done for the game in the United States. He was the first player drafted in 1996 by DC United and capped a stellar rookie season with an overtime goal at water-logged Foxboro to win DC's first MLS Cup. There would be more cups with DC, three World Cups with the US National Team, and many other accolades over the years, as Eddie moved from DC to New York (sadly) and then RSL. He never played overseas and is the perfect example of a home grown talent.

Thanks, Eddie, for all you've done.