As his Houston Dynamo teammates put the finishing touches on the final training session before MLS Cup 2007, Ricardo Clark stands on the side, unable to participate.
Minor ankle surgery two weeks ago has Clark sidelined and limited to a few pushups on the RFK Stadium grass and shagging some long punts from Pat Onstad with Dynamo assistant coaches Saturday afternoon.
But that's not why he's missing Sunday's final.
No, with all the history surrounding MLS Cup 2007 -- the first repeat championship match in the first stadium to host three Cup finals -- Clark is making the worst kind of history.
The Dynamo holding midfielder is the first player ever to be suspended for back-to-back finals. A year ago, Clark sat out the final at Pizza Hut Park because of an accumulation of yellow cards. That, he said, was easier to swallow than this year's ban.
"This one is little bit more hard to handle because I've missed the whole playoffs," Clark said. "At least last year I had a part to play in the first round and the second round. This year is a little more rough."
Clark, who started 18 of the 19 games he appeared in this year, is serving a nine-game ban for a retaliatory kick at Carlos Ruiz on Sept. 30. Clark was sent off for the shocking act, especially given Clark's quiet demeanor, fined $10,000 and handed the longest suspension in MLS history.
"It was one minute of mental composure, he lost it," Joseph Ngwenya said. "We're just going to try and do well for him. He's one of our own. He's been a great help throughout the season and we're supportive."
Not surprisingly, Clark said he regrets reacting to the antagonistic Ruiz in the manner he did, but that doesn't mean he agrees with the stiffness of the suspension.
"I regret the way I retaliated, I should have retaliated in a smarter way," Clark said. "Even though the penalty is a little harsh, what can you do about it? I brought it on myself."
Pat Onstad, though, thinks the league did the right thing.
"What he did, in the end he knows is inexcusable," he said. "Whether we agree with (the suspension) or disagree with the length or severity of it, the action can't be condoned in this league and I'm glad the league stepped up and did something about it. Ricardo knows that as well."
So while his teammates are preparing to become just the second back-to-back MLS Cup champions, Clark is in the shadows.
"It's hard for him. In the end, you hate to admit it, but those guys kind of get forgotten a little bit," Onstad said. "He had a great season for us and he's an important part of our success and for us getting here."
Part of the reason why Clark isn't a bigger storyline is because Richard Mulrooney has slid into the position -- his natural position -- seamlessly. Now instead of looking to try and limit Steve Ralston's services, Clark is offering his support from the sideline and, on Sunday, in the stands with the rest of the Dynamo reserves.
"It's rough, but at the end of the day all you can do is make the most out of it and take it for what it is," Clark said. "I'm trying to support the team the best I can. I can't do anything about it, but make the most of it."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
