Sporting Kansas City had just one pick- #14- in the MLS SuperDraft conducted earlier today…
Their other picks were traded away over the off season in exchange for several players at positions of need. Most observers felt Sporting would take a midfielder with their sole pick due to the departure of Roger Espinoza and Julio Cesar after last season.
And that’s exactly what they did, selecting Mikey Lopez, a sophomore out of the University of North Carolina.
Lopez was the ACC Freshman of the Year, and has been regularly called up to the U-20 U.S. Men’s National Team. Most scouts say that defensive midfield is where he’s most comfortable at.
Hopefully Lopez will turn out more like Sporting’s 2011 SuperDraft pick, CJ Sapong, who went on to win Rookie of the Year, than last year’s pick Dom Dwyer, who saw a grand total of four minutes of MLS action in 2012.
Over the years, KC boss Peter Vermes has proven to be one of the best drafters in the league, so I don’t expect two consecutive SuperDraft busts. And, yes, maybe it’s a bit early to call Dwyer a bust, but come on, he didn’t even play in his first season.
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Sporting also announced today that Overland Park-based Ivy Funds will be the team’s first ever jersey sponsor. KC was one of the few teams remaining in MLS that had never attached a corporate sponsor to its kits until today.
Though I kind of liked that Sporting didn’t have a logo slapped across their chests, I guess it’s cool that Robb Heineman made an effort to keep it local. I was just hoping for Boulevard, even though I knew that wasn’t much of a possibility. But think of the jerseys that would be flying off the shelves if Boulevard’s logo were on the front.
Most people I know would rather have nothing on their replica, rather than a mutual funds company they’ve never heard of.
I appreciate that ownership made sure it was a local sponsor. I am also glad that we are not pimping an MLM marketing scheme like a few other teams in the league. Having said that, I’m a bit disappointed that a better known local name didn’t step up. Of course, if the rumored price is correct ($1.25M per season), I can also see why it took a sponsor DESPERATE for exposure.
The guy who sits by me at real work said that Boulevard bid $1.7mil but Ivy ended up paying double that. Quite a difference. I agree, it would have been cool to see a Boulevard “kit” (see what I did there?!?), but money talks.
PT Barnum must have shot a world class load over this deal. The numbers seem to range from $1.25/MM to $3.4/MM. I’d love to meet the idiot that green lighted this transaction. This is beyond Bill Brandmeyer/Kansrockas stupid. This is beyond Ocean Front Property in Arizona Stupid! This is Hey Glazer let me finance King of Sting stupid.
PT Barnum smack? Woah… topical. Glazer smack…don’t think he writes for KCC anymore…so… again, topical. Nice pulls, as usual. Nice hit on the topic of dudes blowing “world class” loads on things. A bit disturbing that you classify different ejaculations into categories, but whatever gets your motor going.
It is nice that SKC got a new sponsor. More revenue usually helps to keep a good team on the pitch. Let’s see that invested in a designated player, perhaps another striker or attacking winger. We could use some more goals in the upcoming season, we kind of lived and died by our defense. Or perhaps a raise for Zusi so he doesn’t bolt to the EPL?
So when are they going to plant the ivy at the base of the walls surrounding the pitch at (insert name of new public charity partner TBD) Sporting Park so we can be just like “the friendly confines of Wrigley Field” in Chicago?