Real Salt Lake
will honor three of the club's four annual season-ending award winners during an on-field recognition following its 2007 home finale this evening against the Houston Dynamo at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus. In his first season with the Utah side, GK
Nick Rimando
was named the
2007 RSL Most Valuable Player
, while captain
Eddie Pope
will go into retirement as the
2007 RSL Defensive Player of the Year
recipient. Veteran MF
Carey Talley
was named the team's
2007 Humanitarian of the Year
, while one final honor, the
2007 RSL Golden Boot Award
, given to the team's top goal scorer, will be issued following the team's final regular season contest of the 2007 campaign this Saturday at the Colorado Rapids.
RSL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: NICK RIMANDO
Despite being one of the most successful 'keepers in league history, including an MLS Cup ring with his former team, D.C. United, the 28-year-old Rimando was relegated to back-up duty last season with United. After being passed around between Real Salt Lake and the New York Red Bulls during the off-season, Rimando finally landed in Utah as a strong veteran presence late in the pre-season, but some shaky outings in April had people wondering whether it was time to give the 'keeper of the future, Chris Seitz, his time sooner rather than later.
But after sitting out two matches, Rimando showed everyone why he's been one of the best netminders in the League's history, coming back to lead MLS in saves (129) while also ranking fourth in save percentage (75.6%) and sixth in shutouts (6) heading into the last two games of the season. With each save from here on out, Rimando will continue to blow past RSL's previous single-season save record, originally set by D.J. Countess at 112 stops in 2005. More than the numbers, Rimando has put his RSL teammates on his back on several occasions, making show-stopping saves and registering double-digit save performances on three separate occasions while serving as the glue on a backline that has featured ten other starters in 2007.
RSL Most Valuable Player
2007: Nick Rimando
2006: Jeff Cunningham
2005: Andy Williams
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: EDDIE POPE
The long list of accolades in the 12-year MLS career of DF Eddie Pope will be punctuated with his second RSL Defensive Player of the Year honor, an award he also captured during the team's inaugural season of 2005. The 33-year-old Pope certainly gave people plenty of reasons to believe he could come back for a 13th season next year, as the team captain leads RSL's field players in game played (25), games started (25), and minutes played (2,104) heading into his final home contest in MLS play tonight against Houston.
As he finishes his legendary career, Pope sits as RSL's all-time leader in games started (67) and minutes played (5,786) while placing second in club annals in regular season appearances (67). Pope was the lone constant on an ever-changing backline for RSL in 2007, as the fair-yet-physical defender played alongside nine different players as the team's roster underwent an overhaul during the middle of the campaign. The North Carolina product has started in 249 of his 252 appearances in MLS regular season play and scored 10 goals and assists during his 12 professional seasons.
RSL Defensive Player of the Year
2007: Eddie Pope
2006: Carey Talley
2005: Eddie Pope
HUMANITARIAN OF THE YEAR: CAREY TALLEY
Real Salt Lake midfielder Carey Talley is known as the heart-and-soul of his team on the field, so it should be no surprise that the 31-year-old is one of the team's most generous players off the field as well. The Tennessee native and 10-year MLS veteran served as Real Salt Lake's spokesperson for the U.S. Soccer Foundation Passback Program in 2007 and was one of the team's most visible players throughout the Wasatch Front. In addition, Talley continues to work behind the scenes for a cause near and dear to him, the John C. Talley Pediatric Neurological Research Fund, in honor of his father who succumbed to brain cancer. This marks Talley's second season-ending honor in as many seasons, as he was named the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year during his debut season with the squad last year.
RSL Humanitarian of the Year
2007: Carey Talley
2006: Seth Trembly
2005: Brian Kamler
RSL Golden Boot Award
2007: TBD (Chris Brown & Robbie Findley lead with 5 goals each)
2006: Jeff Cunningham
2005: Jason Kreis
