By Michael Lewis - NEW YORK, NY (July 26, 2011) US Soccer Players -- When he talks about Brad Davis, Houston Dynamo coach Dominic Kinnear likes to say how his talented midfielder doesn’t always receive all the media attention that is due him.
"Brad kind of flies under the radar," Kinnear said on Monday. "But if you ask around the league, guys on dead balls, who's in your top three, I'm sure Brad would fill that category for everybody."
Well, on Monday afternoon, David found himself situated between two icons of the game – LA’s David Beckham and New York’s Thierry Henry - on the dais of a press conference previewing Wednesday night's MLS all-star at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey. Davis certainly wasn't under the radar any more, though he might have been over the rainbow.
Davis might have appreciated where he was more than many other players who call Major League Soccer home, having played in the League for almost a decade. Davis turned pro when he was chosen by the New York/New Jersey MetroStars (now the Red Bulls) as the third overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft. He was a promising young winger at the time. Today, he has fulfilled that potential and then some.
When Davis joined the League, MLS was in the process of contracting from 12 to 10 teams and there were serious concerns on whether the League would survive past those dark days.
Today, MLS is thriving with 18 franchises with #19 - the Montreal Impact - ready to join the fray next season. The League is looking for another city to make it an even 20.
During the press conference, Davis, now 29, was asked whether he ever thought he would be sitting next to those two superstars or that MLS would be filling up stadiums in new markets like Portland and Seattle.
“I would hope it did and it has," he said. "The League’s grown so much over the past few years and more and more guys are coming over here. This League wasn’t here when I was growing up and I grew up watching these guys and modeling myself after some of these guys who are coming over. It’s been fantastic. As they (Henry and Beckham) said, the league’s gotten better. The talent’s very good here and getting better. Hopefully, it continues to go in the right direction.”
Davis is far from the flashiest player in MLS, but he has gotten the job done more often than not. He was a vital member of back-to-back MLS Cup championship sides in 2006 and ‘07. He is coming off of consecutive 12-assist seasons (five goals in each year), which were good enough to win Dynamo MVP for both seasons. Davis is on course to surpass that this year, with three goals and nine assists in 21 appearances entering the All-Star break.
New York Red Bulls coach Hans Backe, the All-Star coach, made sure he named the Davis to the team, as he tried to find the best tactics to overcome Manchester United. MLS hasn’t forgotten last year’s showcase against United, losing 5-2 in Houston.
"Brad, one of my favorite players on the left-hand side," Backe said. "Good understanding of the game, knowledge of the game.”
Kinnear, of course, is a bit biased when he talks about Davis, having coached him since 2005. He has become accustomed to Davis’s educated left foot setting up teammates with perfect feeds or free kicks or corner kicks on the head or feet of Dynamo players. You might say that Davis is one livewire in dead-ball situations.
"There's not many better than him in dead ball situations," Kinnear said. "During the run of play he is a smart player, technically so good, his first touch and his ability to pass. His decision in possession always the right one. He gets a lot out of himself now because he has come in better shape the last few years than in the previous years."
Kinnear has been witness to more than his share of Davis goals and assists off set pieces. One of his most memorable came in Houston's 4-1 extra time win over FC Dallas in the 2007 Western Conference semifinal, bending in a free kick from the corner in the 100th minute.
"Just where it came from, the pace, the speed of the ball was that something you don't see every day," Kinnear said. "I think everyone knows that he's very good at set pieces."
We were reminded how devastating Davis can be less than two weeks ago, when the 5-11, 175-lb. midfielder had the audacity to power home a 28-yard free kick on the left side past a five-man defensive wall and Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen to the near left post in the eighth minute in what turned into a 1-1 home draw.
Kinnear felt that if someone like Beckham scored off of that one, it would be on highlight reels.
"Nothing against David Beckham because what he does is special," he said. "But if he had scored that goal against Kansas City like Brad did, it would have been noted more just because of who it was. That's not taking from Brad or David Beckham."
But he did have a point.
Despite his MLS success, Davis could wind up joining a small legion of talented American players, for whatever reason -- injuries, National Team coaching decisions or being in the wrong place at the wrong time who will never play in the World Cup. You could make a pretty decent team of the players who haven't, including goalkeeper Nick Rimando, midfielders Chris Armas and Steve Ralston, and forward Taylor Twellman, to start.
Last year Davis said that US National Team coach Bob Bradley “pretty well had his mind set on the guys he wants to take. It's pretty much the same group of guys, a few in and out. . . . But for the most part he's had his eye on the same group of guys that he wanted to take from the get-go. That's his choice. I still feel like I'm young enough that the next World Cup is another opportunity for me. That's what I want to strive to do."
So, how much does Davis want to play in a World Cup?
At first, he laughed.
"I don't know how to answer that question," he said. "I don't think there's words to describe how bad I would love to represent my country in a World Cup. I think everyone has the same - I would hope every player would have the same reaction. That's your ultimate goal. We play hard for our clubs, but to represent your country means you made it to the top of the table in your profession and that's my goal."
Davis' most memorable moment? How about converting the winning penalty kick in the shootout that lifted the USA over Panama in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup final at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
"I still remember that like it was yesterday," he said. "That was, if not very close to, my finest moments in my soccer career. Stepping up there with that group of guys with all the pressure on your shoulders and you score and the states win a big tournament. You may, may not. Lucky I stepped up confidently, made the penalty and we won. A lot of other guys contributed to that, but the situation I had to step in, my first big opportunity with the National Team, obviously I was very happy with the result. It's something I will never forget… no matter what."
On Wednesday night, several miles south of where Giants Stadium once stood, Davis will have an opportunity to fly high over the radar and not only remind and show MLS fans what he can do, but one of the world’s truly elite teams as well.
Michael Lewis, who is the editor of BigAppleSoccer.com and TropiGol.com, can be reached at SoccerWriter516@aol.com.
