Galaxy Clinches Conference, but Lalas Steals Show
Leave it to Alexi Lalas to upstage everyone.
On the same night the Galaxy clinched Major League Soccer’s Western Conference title with a 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium, Lalas stunned friends, teammates and fans alike by announcing his retirement.
For a decade, the ginger-haired troubadour with the distinctive goatee, a gift for memorable quotes and a never-say-die attitude on the field has been an American soccer icon.
No player in the history of the game in this country has been as instantly recognizable. No American player has captured the public’s imagination in the way the guitar-strumming defender from Rutgers has. His personality, as much as his play, left an indelible imprint on the sport.
It was no surprise, therefore, that Cobi Jones, Paul Caligiuri and Robin Fraser were stunned to learn Lalas had hung up his boots. It was no surprise, either, that Tony Meola was in tears in the Wizard locker room.
“It’s a big loss for the game,” Meola said, his voice breaking.
And the memories?
“Just his friendship. And then the [1994] World Cup, for sure. He’s changed the way people are looked at in the game. He’s opened doors for people. He’s going to be missed.”
Lalas, 29, was a first-choice defender for the U.S. in the 1992 and ’96 Olympic Games, made 98 appearances for the U.S. national team and was on the 1994 and ’98 World Cup teams.
The only American to have played in Italy’s prestigious Serie A, Lalas easily could have played for several more years in MLS. But he chose to pursue another path, most likely his other love, music.
“As with most things, it has little to do with goals and wins and things like that,” he said, looking back at an era now at an end. “I’ve been able to see some pretty crazy stuff through the unique perspective of an American soccer player.
“Cobi [Jones] was just in here. I’d like to think that guys like him and myself played a little bit in [arriving at] where we are today in soccer. I’m proud of that.”
Why retire now?
“It’s a personal choice,” he said, his eyes welling. “It’s something I can’t make people understand and I’m not going to try. I know that there are a lot of people out there who would love to be in my position. But there are things that I want to do in my life that are off the field of soccer and I don’t want to wait around. At this moment in my life, I feel this is the right decision.”
Jones, who played with Lalas on the U.S. team at the Barcelona Olympics, was startled when told of Lalas’ decision, which the player did not announce until after the game.
“He’s still in the prime of his career,” he said. “He had a lot of years left. I’m kind of surprised, shocked.”
Said Caligiuri: “My first reaction is to want to go over there [to the Kansas City locker room] and thank him for his contribution to the sport.”
“Well, obviously Alexi’s made a lot more money at this game than the rest of us, if he can retire at 29,” joked Fraser, the Galaxy’s captain. “I wish him the best.”
Saddened as he was by Lalas’ retirement, Fraser could still take pride in the Galaxy’s achievement at finishing in first place and gaining home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, beginning Oct. 17.
“Six weeks into the season, I think we were in fifth place,” he said. “There were a lot of doubters, a lot of nay-sayers and a lot of people writing bad stuff about us.
“It’s very, very rewarding to look back and say that we dug ourselves out of a hole and ended up on top. We easily could have fought for fourth place or third place and been content with that. It says a lot about our character that we wanted to finish first and we achieved that goal.”
The game, played in front of 14,845 on a cool evening, produced only one goal, created by a bit of magic from midfielder Roy Myers in the 25th minute.
Myers, off-balance, dribbled between Wizard players Uche Okafor and Mo Johnston and, still stumbling, passed the ball forward to teammate Ezra Hendrickson, sprinting into the goal area.
Hendrickson just had time to glance up before firing a shot that flew over the left shoulder of Meola, the Wizard goalkeeper.
The Galaxy finished the regular season with a 20-12 record. The Wizards ended 8-24.
But it was not a night for statistics, but for memories.
“This game has given me so many things that have nothing to do with kicking the ball,” Lalas said.
Then he and his goatee disappeared into the night.
