It has become the rite of every winter -- the National Soccer Hall of Fame selection ballot.
Who deserves to go in? Who doesn't deserve the honor?
It is a task many soccer writers take seriously. Everyone has his or her own criteria of who belongs in a sports hall of fame. It should be someone who dominated his or her position. Of course, soccer becomes a bit more complicated than baseball or football because there is the international angle as well.
Unfortunately, after last year when no one got in, you have to wonder if everyone takes it seriously because there were a number of players who should have been locks, including former U.S. women's national team defender Joy Fawcett, Preki and Jeff Agoos, among others.
The Hall's board of directors in August lowered the minimum percentage of the vote needed for election from 75 percent to 66.6 percent. The change in the vote was in reaction to that election, when no recently retired players making the 75 percent threshold. Fawcett and Preki would have been elected under the new format.
The list has been pared down to 25 as a number of former players are gone. At this point, the votes all are in -- the selection committee comprised of all present and former coaches of the U.S. men's and women's full national teams; all active MLS coaches with a minimum of four years as head coach; MLS management representatives; MLS commissioner; U.S. Soccer secretary general; designated members of the media; and all Hall of Famers had from Nov. 3 to Dec. 3 to submit up to 10 selections on the player ballot.
The inductees will be announced at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America convention in St. Louis on Jan. 15. The announcement will be broadcast live as part of Fox Soccer Channel's Center Circle Live show from the convention (8 p.m. ET). The induction will be held in Oneonta, N.Y. on induction weekend July 31-Aug. 2.
A look at the candidates for election to the National Soccer Hall of Fame:
THE PLAYERS
Hall worthy These players can be considered leading contenders and it wouldn't be surprising if any of them were elected.
• Jeff Agoos. He played in the back (central defender or on the left side) for D.C. United, San Jose Earthquakes and the MetroStars (244 regular-season games, 39 postseason), winning a record five MLS championship rings (three for D.C. two for SJ). The current Red Bulls sporting director made 134 international appearances, while playing in the 2002 World Cup. He also performed at the 2000 Olympics.
• Joy Fawcett. In the excitement of Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy being elected in 2007, Fawcett somehow missed out on reaching the Hall on her first appearance on the ballot. As a defensive cornerstone along with Hall of Famer Carla Overbeck on those great U.S. women's national teams, Fawcett was key member of two world championship sides (1991 and 1999) and two Olympic gold medal teams (1996 and 2004), never finishing out of the medal round in six overall appearances. Literally a "soccer mom" while in her prime with the team, Fawcett performed in 239 international matches.
• Preki. Now this is a rarity, someone who has won MVP honors in three separate soccer leagues. Well before he earned two MLS scoring titles and league MVP and playing for the U.S. in the 1998 World Cup (28 international appearances), the current Chivas USA coach starred in the original Major Indoor Soccer League (MVP in 1989) and Continental Indoor Soccer League (MVP in 1995). His MLS accomplishments are not too shabby, either. That includes four all-star selections, a member of the 2000 MLS Cup champions. Preki collected 79 goals and 112 assists in 242 matches, winning the MLS scoring title in 1997 and 2003 (as a 40-year-old). He also played three seasons in England and two in the Yugoslavian first division.
• Earnie Stewart. He played but two years in MLS, but he played an integral role in D.C. United's 2004 MLS championship. Moreover, he was a key performer in World Cup qualifiers (30 over three tournaments) and World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2002) for the U.S. He wore the red, white and blue 101 times and played 16 seasons in the Dutch Eredivisie.
• Robin Fraser. One of MLS's early stars, Fraser earned Best XI honors in four of the first five years for the Los Angeles Galaxy, missing out in 1997. He also was named the league's defender of the year in 1999. Fraser also was an American Professional Soccer League (A-League) all-star for four consecutive years. He played for the Colorado Rapids and Columbus Crew, earning defender of the year honors and his fifth Best XI designation in 2004. He performed in 260 regular-season matches and another 30 in the playoffs.
The four amigos These four outstanding midfielders stood out in their own way and were key players on their teams during the MLS early days. But if you vote for one, do you have to vote for all of them?
• Marco Etcheverry. The former Bolivian international was the kingpin of D.C. United's attack, helping the team to three MLS Cup championships (1996, 1997 and 1999). A perennial member of the MLS Best XI and a member of the league's all-time team, the man nicknamed "El Diablo" finished his career in 2003 with 34 goals and 101 assists in 191 regular-season games.
• Mauricio Cienfuegos. He played all of his eight MLS seasons with the Galaxy, helping the team to the 2002 MLS Cup, his final season. The former El Salvador international's playmaking ability allowed him to be elected to the MLS Best XI three times and to play in seven all-star games. Cienfuegos collected 35 goals and set up 78 others in 206 MLS regular-season games.
• Peter Nowak. The current U.S. under-23 national team coach was a major reason why the Chicago Fire were in the middle of things from 1998-2002. A one-time Bundesliga star in Germany and Polish international, Nowak earned MLS MVP honors with the championship Fire in the team's 1998 expansion season. He also was named to the league's all-time Best XI and guided D.C. United to the 2004 MLS title, the only player-coach to do so in league history.
• Carlos Valderrama. If they had a hair hall of fame, Valderrama would be a first-ballot selection. His stats with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, Miami Fusion and Colorado Rapids weren't too shabby either, thanks to his vision and uncanny ability to put a pass on target -- 16 goals and 114 assists while being named to the MLS all-time Best XI. The only mark against the former Colombian international's MLS career is that he never won a title.
On the bubble In other years, they might have a chance, but it could be difficult for these former MLS or U.S. internationals to get the necessary votes.
• Raul Diaz Arce. A great scoring machine, mostly for D.C. United, but also for New England, San Jose, Tampa Bay and Colorado. A member of United's 1996 and 1997 MLS championship sides, Diaz Arce connected for 82 goals in 150 regular-season matches.
• Thomas Dooley. It would be easy to get lost in the shuffle of the above-mentioned players. A member of the 1994 and 1998 World Cup teams, Dooley made 81 international appearances, including 12 World Cup qualifiers. He played four seasons in MLS for the Columbus Crew and MetroStars after performing for 11 seasons in the German Bundesliga.
• John Doyle. A regular on the U.S. national team from the late '80s to early '90s, (53 internationals), Doyle played five seasons in MLS for the San Jose Earthquakes (135 appearances) He currently is the general manager with the Earthquakes.
• Roy Lassiter. The 1996 MLS scoring champion, he still holds the single season record of 27 goals. He finished with 88 in 179 MLS regular-season games after playing for Tampa Bay, D.C. United, Miami and Kansas City. As lethal as he was at the club level, Lassiter could never bring that scoring touch to the national team -- four goals in 30 international matches. He was a key member of D.C.'s 1997 championship team.
• Joe-Max Moore. He played exactly 100 international matches and found the back of the net 24 times while participating in the 1992 Olympics and three World Cups (1994, 1998 and 2002). But that play never translated into MLS, where he endured an injury-laden six-year career with New England (93 games) after three seasons in the English Premiership and two in the German second division.
• Mike Sorber. Currently an assistant coach on the U.S. national team, Sorber made 67 international appearances and enjoyed a memorable 1994 World Cup as one of the best American players. While performing for Kansas City, the MetroStars and Chicago in MLS, the former defensive midfielder played in 116 regular-season games.
• Tisha Venturini-Hoch. While not as flashy as some of her teammates, Venturini-Hoch certainly was a serviceable player during her playing tenure with the women's national team (132 internationals). She was a member of the 1999 Women's World Cup championship side and the 1996 gold medalists at the Atlanta Summer Games. Venturini-Hoch also played in 60 Women's United Soccer Association games, including for the 2001 champion San Jose CyberRays.
• Peter Vermes. Currently the Kansas City Wizards technical director, Vermes extended his career by moving back from the front line to midfield and eventually to defense. He enjoyed an interesting career, playing in the Netherlands, National Professional Soccer League, U.S. Interregional Soccer League and MLS (184 appearances). He was the 2000 MLS defender of the year for MLS champion Kansas City.
Long shots They had decent careers in MLS or with the national team or both, but they could have trouble finding widespread support.
• Mike Burns. A member of the New England Revolution, San Jose Earthquakes, Kansas City in MLS, Burns made 75 international appearances. The defender competed in a major tournament at every level -- the under-16 world championship (1987), U-20 world championship (1989), the Olympics (1992) and the World Cup (1998). He is vice president of player personnel for the New England Revolution.
• Dominic Kinnear. He scored nine goals in 54 appearances for the U.S. national team while performing in the A-League (San Francisco Bay Blackhawks, San Jose Hawks, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and Seattle Sounders) and in MLS (Colorado Rapids, San Jose Clash and Tampa Bay Mutiny) and Necaxa (Mexico). The way he's going, Kinnear probably will get in as a builder -- having led the Houston Dynamo to back-to-back MLS titles in 2006 and 2007.
• Frank Klopas. The technical director of the Chicago Fire found the back of the net 12 times in 39 U.S. international matches. The forward scored 13 goals in 99 games for Kansas City and Chicago.
• Shannon MacMillan. Like it or not, MacMillan earned the reputation as a super sub for the U.S. women's national team at the 1996 Olympics and 1999 Women's World Cup. She came off the bench to strike for the game-winning goal in extra time in the 1996 Olympics semifinal win against archrival Norway. An M.A.C. Hermann Trophy winner as the top college player in 1995, MacMillan scored 60 goals in 175 internationals as a midfielder or forward.
• Pato Margetic and Victor Nogueira. They both made their names as indoor players and both have been around forever. Nogueira, a goalkeeper, had an indoor career that spanned 22 seasons -- nine in the original MISL (1991 and 1992) and another 13 in the NPSL/MISL II (MVP in 1996 and 1998). He also played six seasons in the NASL. Margetic, an attacker, played six seasons in the NASL, six in the old MISL and nine in the NPSL.
• Cindy Parlow. This forward scored 75 goals in 158 international appearances for the women's national team, but might have trouble getting in because a number of other former teammates will have more impressive credentials in coming years.
• Steve Trittschuh. He made one appearance for the U.S. on defense in the 1990 World Cup en route to 37 international matches. He became the first U.S. player to play in the European Champions' Cup, for Sparta Prague. He played for the St. Louis Steamers and St. Louis Ambush (both indoors), Tampa Bay Rowdies and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, Montreal Impact (A-League) and the Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay Mutiny (MLS).
VETERAN'S CANDIDATES
They are a number of viable candidates in this category. Only one person will be elected, as per the rules. But which one will get the nod? Only the Hall of Famers themselves will know because they get to vote on this. The veteran who receives the most votes, as long as the total is at least 50 percent of the ballots cast, will be elected.
There might be an emotional vote for the late Glenn (Mooch) Myernick, the former U.S. assistant national coach who distinguished himself in college (Hermann Trophy winner in 1976), who died in 2006. A U.S. native who actually played during the North American Soccer League days (after the Dallas Tornado made him the top pick in 1977), Myernick he had a seven-year NASL career) and who made 10 international appearances on the U.S. national team during an era when the team wasn't playing regularly.
A number of interesting names are on the list, including the late Northern Ireland standout George Best, who starred for the NASL's San Jose Earthquakes; former Cosmos goalkeeper Hubert Birkenmeier (two-time NASL champion); Peruvian great Teofilo "Nene" Cubillas, who starred for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (NASL); U.S. international defender Desmond Armstrong (81 international appearances); striker Bruce Murray (21 goals -- which was a record -- in 85 caps, including a World Cup goal); current New York Red Bulls TV color announcer Shep Messing, who made a name while playing for the Cosmos and indoor New York Arrows; U.S. international defender Desmond Armstrong, a member of the 1990 World Cup team; U.S. women's international Linda Hamilton (71 caps), a member of the 1991 Women's World Cup championship team; and NASL pioneers Bob Rigby and Kyle Rote, Jr.
Other veteran players on the ballot include U.S. international and NASL player Barry Barto, NASL scoring champion Steve David (from Trinidad & Tobago), former U.S. international John Kerr, Jr., the Duke men's coach, and American Soccer League standouts Bill McPherson, who won five league titles and seven U.S. Open championships in 10 ASL seasons, and John "Harp" Connell, a two-time league MVP over 10 seasons, and Andy Racz, an MVP and three-time champion.
BUILDERS CANDIDATES
This is an impressive list of names. You can't make a mistake with any of them. Unfortunately, only one name can be picked a year. Perhaps the Hall of Fame can revisit that rule and make it two builders a year because it will take forever to get some of these names in and you want to honor these people while they are still alive. The decision will be made by a select group of U.S. Soccer and MLS executives, along with all Hall of Famers.
If you want an opinion, it would be former Kansas City Wizards coach Bob Gansler, who guided the U.S. into its first World Cup in 40 years in 1990 and Joe Machnik, the current assistant to the deputy commissioner for on-field competition at MLS who has done a ton of stuff in U.S. soccer, including ironically, serving as the goalkeeping coach on the 1990 team (remember, this is an not an official MLS endorsement, just one viewpoint).
The other candidates include Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena, two-time MLS champion coach and former U.S. national coach; Chuck Blazer, general secretary of CONCACAF and a member of the FIFA Executive Committee; Bob Contiguglia, past U.S. Soccer president and past U.S. Youth Soccer chairman; Bill Cox, International Soccer League founder and president and president of the NASL's San Diego Toros; Tony DiCicco, past U.S. women's national team coach, 1996 Olympic gold medal and 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup champion; Don Garber, MLS commissioner; Burton Haimes, chairman of the board for American Youth Soccer Organization and member of the board of directors for U.S. Soccer; Robert Kraft, investor-operator of the New England Revolution; Francisco Marcos, founder and president of the United Soccer Leagues; the late Fritz Marth, former executive director of U.S. Amateur/Adult Soccer Association; Thom Meredith, former U.S. Soccer executive and consultant for numerous soccer organizations and events; Kevin Payne, president and CEO of D.C. United; David Socha, NASL and international referee (officiated at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups).
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