Alecko Eskandarian's career as a professional soccer player has had its ups and downs. After coming out of high school with 154 goals and being named an All- American, New Jersey State Player of the Year, and Gatorade's 1999-2000 National Athlete of the Year, he went onto UVA, where he scored 50 goals in 60 games and was named ACC Rookie of the Year, Soccer America's College Player of the Year, and was awarded the Hermann Trophy.

By force of an interesting coincidence, two MLS players of note unfortunately connected because they are each out of action due to brain-related injuries have updates posted to major newspaper websites. Though concussions are rarer in soccer than in American football, the cases of these two players and their ability to bring attention to the seriousness of the issue is an important part of the continuing growth in awareness of brain injuries in sports.

By force of an interesting coincidence, two MLS players of note unfortunately connected because they are each out of action due to brain-related injuries have updates posted to major newspaper websites. Though concussions are rarer in soccer than in American football, the cases of these two players and their ability to bring attention to the seriousness of the issue is an important part of the continuing growth in awareness of brain injuries in sports.

Nobody has scored more goals for D.C. United than Jaime Moreno. Nobody scored more goals in a single season than Raul Díaz Arce. Nobody scored more beautiful goals than Alecko Eskandarian. Nobody scored more important goals than Eddie Pope. Nobody scored more goals in a three-year period (all competitions) than Luciano Emilio.

In truth, there's not much particularly super about the rather terse four-round, 64-pick draft that begins at 8 a.m. Thursday with the opening round live on ESPN2.

For instance, critics generally acknowledge the Galaxy are the top dogs in MLS when it comes to drafts in the last two years with both 2008 top pick Sean Franklin and 2009 first pick Omar Gonzalez becoming MLS Rookies of the Year and integral parts of the club.

DC United announced today that right back Bryan Namoff has suspended his playing career and will join the club's front office. This is sad news for United fans; Namoff was a favorite among the faithful, a warrior on the field, and a leader on the team. The reason behind Namoff's step back is undoubtedly related to the concussion he received last September.

Can y'all believe that Alecko Eskandarian's blind date with Kim Kardashian didn't pan out? I, for one, am gutted but I don't feel bad for Esky one bit. I once interviewed Kimbo in the TRL green room and (hand-over-heart) it took a full 8 hours to wipe the sh*t-eating grin off of my face from just sitting next to her for 5 minutes on a couch; if I would have had the chance to break bread with her* I'd still be walking around looking like Heath Ledger's Joker.

*Red Bull New York's Rafael Marquez, who will play Friday against the Galaxy at Home Depot Center, was one of 13 Mexican internationals fined or suspended for a party they threw in the team hotel in Monterrey last month in violation of team rules after an exhibition match against Colombia, according to the Associated Press.

The midfielder from Kentucky had five goals and three assists for the Zips last season.

He was the 10th overall pick in today's draft.

More info on Gavin is here.

In addition, the Philadelphia Union took UCLA freshman midfielder Amobi Okugo with the sixth pick overall and former UCLA Coach Sigi Schmid plucked Bruin forward David Estrada for his Seattle Sounders with the 11th overall pick.

In an email to the Washington Post, Los Angeles Galaxy forward Alecko Eskandarian confirmed he is likely to be unable to resume his professional soccer career due to post-concussion syndrome. "As a result of injuries that I suffered, I am being forced from the game of soccer at this time. I have not been able to receive clearance by doctors, and therefore I must take a step back to focus on my health and recovery.

We have a Piper DOWN! Beckham's 2010 (club and country both) done?

He's done with Milan. He's done with England, probably for good.

Likely even done with Galaxy, though just maybe back in time if they can scrape into the Playoffs.

Forward Alecko Eskandarian will be out indefinately for the Galaxy as well.

2000 Luis Hernandez & Brian McBride 2001 Luis Hernandez & Santino Quaranta 2002 Marco Etcheverry & Joselito Vaca 2003 Mauricio Cienfuegos & Hong Myung-Bo 2004 Freddy Adu & Jason Kreis 2005 Christian Gomez & Taylor Twellman 2006 Alecko Eskandarian & Richard Mulrooney 2007 Cobi Jones & Eddie Pope 2008 Edson Buddle & Dwayne De Rosario 2009 Kyle Beckerman & Javier Morales 2010 Brian Ching & Jaime Moreno
Players in bold = home team selections.

After your junior season at the University of Portland, you signed a Project-40 contract with MLS and were selected in the first round of the 2002 SuperDraft. What was the hardest part of transitioning from the college level to the pro level?

The hardest part of transitioning from the college game to the pro game was definitely the length of the season.

On Twitter this afternoon former TFC player Alecko Eskandarian said the following: "...Major moves for my former club TFC today. I guess what goes around comes back around... And that's all I will say about that." You know I wanted this day to come for a long time. And last Saturday sealed the deal as to the necessity of firing Mo Johnston now rather than later.