Allen Hopkins' is reporting on his "MLS News & Notes" segment on ESPN's website that Eddie Pope will be retiring at the end of this season. Pope is a Carolina boy, born in Greensboro and went to Southwest Guilford High. According to Wikipedia, "Pope had a very successful career playing for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 1994, he was a first team All-American, and also earned All-ACC and All-South Region honors. He came to MLS in 1996, as the second pick in the MLS College Draft, having been selected by D.C. United."
As far as I am concerned probably the best defender the U.S. has seen. When I hear the number 23 I don't think of Jordan, Beckham or Lebron, I see Eddie Pope.
His career has been stellar, three MLS Cups, two Supporters' Shields, one US Open Cup, one CONCACAF Champions' Cup, 1997 MLS Defender of the Year, Four Best XI awards (tied for 4th best in MLS), nine-time All-Star, 82 caps (tied for 16th all-time in the US), made three World Cup teams and started 9 WC games, one Olympics and won the 2005 Gold Cup. And, of course, scored the game-winning Golden Goal For DC United in the MLS Cup 96! In addition he hit the game winner when DC United defeated Vasco da Gama for the Copa Interamericana Cup in 1998.
It's a shame he is retiring in Salt Lake but I will always remember him in a DC United uniform. There is a lot of talk on the DC United boards about signing Pope for a day so he can retire in the red and black.
As m vann at BigSoccer said "Is it wrong that I would rather shake the hand of this Pope than the real Pope?"
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