I’m the guy right behind Bezbatchenko and Porter in a tie. Classy like that.
This was my second draft in two years.
I went to Philadelphia the prior year for Teamwork Online’s SMMW conferences surrounding the draft. Eric Wynalda spoke, USL League One’s Senior Vice President Steven Short did as well. Charles Boehm, Tommy Smyth, and others were there too.
It was a fantastic experience.
So when I saw the incredible-ness of a free bus from #NorOnTour for this year’s draft in Chicago I figured I would make it two out of two.
I wasn’t alone.
I wasn’t starting my new job…
And well my old job back home as a waiter (crushing it) until Monday so this was destiny or something. ?
I just have one strong recommendation for Major League Soccer for future drafts: Only allow the player selection speeches to be thirty seconds to a minute at most.
On Friday, so many draft picks went on for five minutes thanking everyone they have met in their life.
They sounded like my resume in my mid-20’s, included everything in that. Just thank the four or five most important people and move it along.
By the end of round one all the spectators were nearly asleep listening to 19 to 21 year old, not great speakers, thank people for over two hours.
By the end of the first round nearly all of the spectators were gone.
There were a couple of decent speeches, JJ Williams was actually probably the best one I think.
JJ seemed to be one of the only draft picks that had a real enthusiasm and a personality. Crew made a top selection in that regard.
First round pick JJ Williams pic.twitter.com/Oa6HQT2K79
— CREWTURE (@crewture) January 11, 2019
18 goals and 8 assists last year with @UKMensSoccer ?
You’ll fit right in, @JJ23Williams!#SuperDraft #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/IqVeYx8Nt1
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) January 11, 2019
Welcome to the family, @JJ23Williams ?? #Crew96 | #ForColumbus | #SuperDraft pic.twitter.com/WjcLSUmVD9
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) January 11, 2019
A 6’4″ forward is not something you see everyday.
Adam Jahn was close to his size but did not possess this sort of mobility. He could be a terror eventually, especially on set pieces.
'Bama ➡️ Kentucky ➡️ Columbus
Welcome to the ? & ?, @JJ23Williams!#SuperDraft #Crew96 pic.twitter.com/DQfSUWbJI4
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) January 11, 2019
Williams was the final Generation Adidas player selected because of a not-so-hot combine apparently?
Who knew? I wasn’t watching.
But not sure why a weekend of play in the offseason would be that important. Some must tend to agree.
This interview reaffirms Tim knows what he is doing big time, huge that Columbus got him too.
Here's what @tbez10 had to say about @JJ23Williams & the #Crew96 showing at #SuperDraft ? pic.twitter.com/lxVwBZJyuj
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) January 12, 2019
On top of a good selection would’ve paid $100 bucks for a bus ticket to see Guillermo again, shake his hand…
I had an inkling this may happen.
Guy with the Peaky Blinders haircut.
Although I for sure put the phone down by the time he got to me, you don’t stick a phone in Guillermo’s face when you are shaking his hand. ?
Awesome pic.twitter.com/XgYbZJiWdL
— CREWTURE (@crewture) January 11, 2019
Then on top of that, Major League Soccer re-names The Coach of the Year award The Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award, which is a good call.
Overall a really good day.
If Major League Soccer wants to go by business metrics think the next draft should be in Columbus. Crew fans largely outnumbered any other fan group at the draft including FC Cincinnati fans in their first year and the hometown team.
There were about ten Chicago fans there and Chicago ended up trading all their picks. What?
If the draft was in Columbus would probably be 10,000 Crew fans there.
Columbus Crew
MLS
