Ex-star aims to put Soccer on solid ground

VIRGINIA BEACH

LONG BEFORE David Beckham skipped over the pond to cash in on his celebrity status with American interests, Eddie Pope was a young, slim defender for D.C. United, the sturdiest franchise of the fledgling Major League Soccer.

As a rookie in 1996, only a few months out of the University of North Carolina, Pope headed home the sudden-death overtime goal that gave United the first MLS Cup title.

Those of us who followed the growing pains of U.S. soccer back then remember Pope, even in his early days, as the smoothest of backline players, an economic mover who rarely looked rushed.

Now 34, Pope is off the field but still in the game as director of player relations for the MLS players union, working out of Bethesda, Md. Aches and pains and general concern over the mileage on his legs persuaded Pope, who made 82 U.S. national team appearances, to call it quits after playing last season for Real Salt Lake.

"I didn't want to be that old guy who hung on too long," he said, a comment that sounds funny coming from someone who still looks as youthful and slender as he did in the '90s.

Pope was at the Oceanfront to sign autographs and provide a few soccer tips during the weekend's annual North American Sand Soccer Championships, though upon arriving, he said, "I've never seen a sand soccer game in person, believe it or not."

Eventually, the conversation with Pope turned to the health of MLS. Every five minutes, it seems, somebody is taking the temperature of American soccer, questioning the league's resilience.

But Pope cited the growth of the league 's infrastructure as proof of excellent health.

"If things weren't going well," he said, "people wouldn't be investing in these soccer-specific stadiums."

There's continuous improvement, too, in the ability of the players Pope represents. It's not unusual anymore for big European clubs to shop the league for talent.

This can create problems for the league if too many top players are lured abroad by the promise of euros, but it also opens the door to financial opportunities for players who remain home.

"If the league wants to keep them," said Pope, wearing his union hat, "it's got to pay them."

Pope's journey to the pros and international soccer crossed paths with football - and near disaster. The Greensboro, N.C., native went to North Carolina to kick for Mack Brown, as well as to play soccer, and won the starting job as the Tar Heels' kickoff man.

Then a serious health issue intervened. During soccer practice, Pope suffered a cut to his right leg that led to an infection. The limb swelled so badly "they almost had to amputate my lower leg," Pope said.

Soon after, Pope turned exclusively to soccer. By 2002, he was a U.S. stalwart, starting all five matches at the World Cup in Korea and Japan, when the Americans shocked the world by nearly reaching the semifinals.

Pope looks too young to believe he was ever an MLS pioneer. Now that the league has matured, he'd like to see pro clubs invest more in kids and neighborhoods that aren't normally exposed to soccer.

"I wish it was more inclusive," he said. "It's always been considered an upper-class sport in this country. It's stayed that way for far too long."

Involving the less affluent is a good way to help broaden soccer's appeal. But if you've even casually followed the sport's progress stateside, you know that it's always the next generation - or maybe the one to follow that - that's going to lead soccer where it wants to go.

Classy and accomplished, Pope is a part of the chain that hopes to link up with the future.

Because, though you'd never know it by looking at the thousands of people playing in the sand this weekend, the challenge of promoting and expanding soccer is no day at the beach.

Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com