11. Shaka Hislop (Dallas -- 2006-07)
A star at Howard University who went on to greatness in England, Hislop's MLS career was short and not so sweet. He came to the States after a triumphant performance for Trinidad in Germany 2006, but he could not maintain his health or his good form and managed to make only 10 appearances for FC Dallas before calling it a career. I do not know enough about T & T football history to call him that country's greatest player ever, but I do know that I saw Hislop play some amazing matches over a long period of time, both in England and for Trinidad. And when I got the opportunity to interview him during the World Cup, he was a really fine gentleman.
10. Leslie "Tiger" Fitzpatrick (Salt Lake -- 2005)
I remember seeing Tiger play for Columbia University in the Ivy League. A very fast, tough, left-footed player who, frankly, I'm surprised did not get more of a look in MLS. After seeing him play against the U.S. in a qualifier back in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup I was convinced that Tiger would be somebody's left back in MLS. He got a brief look from Real Salt Lake and that was it. Still plying his trade in the USL for the Rochester Rhinos so, who knows, maybe we'll get another look at him.
9. Ansil Elcock (Columbus -- 1997-2001)
A semi-regular for the Crew for five seasons, all I can really remember about Elcock is that he could deliver some of the hardest, most reckless, late tackles in league history. Yeah, he was a guy who always seemed close to breaking a leg out there. The coaches in Columbus must've seen more in Elcock because, like I said, he is the tied for being the longest-tenured T & T player in MLS history.
8. Evans Wise (Tampa Bay, New England -- 1996-98)
A dribbling maniac is what I recall. And from what I understand, the left midfielder from the inaugural season's best regular season team, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Wise is still dribbling his way around Germany, playing for SV Waldhof Mannheim. He was actually, in the league's origin, a really fun player to watch.
7. Avery John (New England -- 2004-07)
Perhaps it's because I so vividly recall John getting sent off in Trinidad's World Cup game vs. Sweden in 2006 that I was surprised to see that he was only sent off in one MLS game in his four-year stint with New England. Like Elcock, Avery John was prone to the hard, late tackle, but he was clearly a tough enough defender that MLS forwards did not look forward to their encounters with him. John came to New England with Steve Nicol because they actually worked together for the USL's Boston Bulldogs and now finds himself back in the USL playing for Miami FC.
6. Gary Glasgow (Kansas City -- 2000-02)
In 2000, Glasgow looked like a great find by the Wizards when he hit for three goals and two assists in just 479 minutes. In fact, I recall some calling him the next Stern John (more on that later). However, Glasgow would score only two more goals for K.C. in two more seasons and fade into the sunset. For those wondering, yes, Glasgow is still an active player for CONCACAF Champions League giant-killers Joe Public FC.
5. Cornell Glen (MetroStars, Columbus, Colorado, Los Angeles -- 2004-06)
Another player who hoped to be the next Stern John, Cornell Glen became one of the most-traveled players in league history, jumping from the MetroStars to Columbus to Colorado (by way of Dallas) and Los Angeles before heading out. In between, Glen managed to show spurts of brilliance, including a great stint as a reserve for the Soca Warriors in their dramatic 2006 World Cup tie with Sweden. If you wonder why people expected more of Glen, just watch this clip (apologies to my friend Steve Jolley).
4. Brian Haynes (Dallas -- 1996-2000)
I was not a huge fan of the Dallas Burn back in the early days of MLS (for reasons I do not have to divulge), but I always admired the work of Haynes for coach Dave Dir's teams. Particularly in the early years, when most teams had a revolving door of players, Haynes was pretty much a lock in the Burn's lineup. He was a player at tiny Erskine College (the Flying Fleet) in South Carolina and went on to play a number of years in the indoor circuit before moving to Dallas. No other word to describe Haynes but "solid."
3. Stern John (Columbus -- 1998-99)
In Columbus, they can forever sing "There's only one Stern John" because much as MLS coaches went searching for the next one, he never emerged. A product of Mercer County Community College in New Jersey (the Vikings), John was signed by the Crew prior to the '98 season and proceeded to tear the league up, scoring 44 goals in two seasons. Many of John's goals were what we'd call "Youtube quality" today. What I remember most about John was his hunger around the box and his ability to turn half-chances into blistering goals. Still banging around in England -- now for Southampton -- there's always been a suspicion that Stern would one day resurface in MLS. He is now 32 years old, so we shall see.
2. Scott Sealy (Kansas City, San Jose -- 2005)
Probably the best Trinidadian striker in MLS since John, Sealy has 29 career goals to his credit in the league and, at 27, still appears to have some years left in the league. His July move to San Jose could be a big move in keeping those numbers piling up as he had fallen into a bit of a rut in Kansas City. The former Wake Forest Demon Deacons standout has not quite delivered on the promise he displayed in 2006, but he's still got time to prove himself.
1. Mickey Trotman (Dallas, Miami -- 1998-99)
It is hard to believe that seven years have past since Mickey Trotman died so tragically in a car crash in Port of Spain. I cannot say I knew Mickey well, but those members of the 1998 Dallas Burn who I interviewed following his death all said he was a great teammate and a solid player. In Trinidad, Trotman is most remembered for scoring the golden goal in the Soca Warriors 2000 Gold Cup triumph over Costa Rica.
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