2007 All American Eleven Midyear Selections

It's been a while. If you're unfamiliar with the AAXI, it all started way back when as my personal project. Over time, others jumped in and helped with the heavy lifting, but as anyone who ever helped out with the project would tell you, the work was demanding, the pay sucked, and the readers were more often than not a collective pain in the ass.

July 4th would hit, the nominations would dry up, and the project would die the death of a terminal cancer patient - slow, painful, and with few people willing to stick around for the end's agony.

I am not saying that I am resurrecting my oncologic victim here. The weekly AAXI remains dead. There is, however, some news sure to stun the former readers of the AAXI. The Crew is representin', yo. And even more shocking, we undertake a new AAXI journey without a Mapp. I make no guarantees on the regularity of future AAXI selections. I still reserve the right to refuse service to any PITA fanbase. But here, in my little corner of the Internet, I will try to select the very best American performers in Major League Soccer every once in a while.

• Eddie Johnson - As a lifelong Seattle Seahawk fan, don't talk to me about Eddie's 10 goals in 10 games. Who cares? EJ gave props to Brian Bosworth at the all star game. I haven't seen a hairdo like that since I watched Bo Jackson run over Bosworth, out of the Kingdome, and a few miles down I5 before he realized he'd already scored a touchdown.
  

• Taylor Twellman - I dislike Taylor Twellman.
  

• Michael Harrington - The AAXI left midfield spot used to be reserved for Mississippi Maradona. The Chicago Fire have sucked the fun out of soccer, though, and this left midfielder is producing. He not only has 3 goals and 3 assists, he's shown versatility by also helping out in defense when needed.

• Ned Grabavoy - The best passer in Major League Soccer. I won't bother with statistics because until recently, his teammates' inability to convert the opportunities Ned handed them on silver platters meant his production didn't show up in the numbers. All season long, however, Ned has seen lanes nobody else sees. He reminds me of another slow nonathletic player.

• Maurice Edu - He can be dominant. He can be horrific. He's a rookie central midfielder, and I expect nothing different. The one thing I didn't expect was his talent. He's unique in US Soccer in his speed, size, strength, composure, vision, passing, and aggressiveness. He's neither a DMid or an AMid. He's a central midfielder capable of both, and I think he'll be making waves with the US Olympic Team this time next year.

• Brian Mullan - The energizer bunny - this guy is the only player in the league who might push Frankie in a fitness test. His tenacity and relentlessness sets the tone for Houston's team. I'm giving Mullan the Billie, awarded to the player most like Bill Laimbeer. To get the Billie, you have to hack and get hacked regularly. You have to get under your opponents' skin. You have to play a key role on a very good team. You don't have to be the most skilled guy in the game, and your numbers don't have to be spectacular, but your contributions should be apparent to anyone who watches you play. I can't think of a better candidate for the Billie than Brian Mullan...
  

• Wade Barrett - The heart of MLS's best overall team and the organizer of its best defense. He is never spectacular, but he's rarely beaten. He's a solid passer, a solid defender, and he's grown into a great leader. His best games are those where he's come out of nowhere to support other defenders and make some key stops. He's had a lot of those games so far this year.
  

• Eddie Robinson - Hmm, I may have given away the Billie too soon.
  

• Michael Parkhurst - He's the anti-Robinson. He's surrounded by marginal decision-makers, and he covers up for their mistakes. He's not fast and he's not physical, but he's rarely beaten by fast and physical players. He's the smartest, most consistent defender in MLS. I have no idea why he wasn't in Bradley's Copa America team, but I'm sure Revs fans were thrilled with Bob's decision. As a US fan, I wasn't.

• Frankie Hejduk - He really could be a factor in the 2010 World Cup, couldn't he? He just never stops. Ever. And the longer he keeps going, the more you have to admire him. Only the nerdy asshole who never played team sports (debate club doesn't count) would rip on Frankie. Anyone who has ever played any sport would have loved playing alongside Surfer Dude. He was great to watch for the US Team, too. Even though you may want a guy with a little more skill out there, do you want to give up the spark and never-say-die attitude Frankie brings? The Crew wouldn't.
  

• Brad Guzan - Why did Kasey Keller start over him at Copa America? Remember when Kasey used to make not just a singular spectacular save, but when he'd pull off a sequence of 2-3 amazing saves in a row? That's Guzan now.

Others receiving consideration, though I don't believe the MLS Collective Bargaining Agreement entitles them to AAXI pay: BIWHWA (because I wish he were American) Toja, Ben Olsen, Chris Rolfe, BIWHWA Schelloto, Seth Stammler, and the entire roster of the Houston Dynamo.