News from the Hall

Hall of Fame Honors Anson Dorrance and Hugo Perez
ONEONTA, NY (August 3, 2008) – In front of a standing room only audieince in the National Soccer Museum, Builder Anson Dorrance and Veteran Player Hugo Perez were  inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. Ike Kuhns, formerly of the Newark(NJ) Star-Ledger, was also honored as the recipient of the Colin Jose Media Award. “As the culmination of a fabulous weekend, the ceremony was very special,“ Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “It captured all the values that we believe is the best of sport, hard work and perseverance, balance in life and dedication to success. We hope our audience left inspired as we celebrated the achievements of these extraordinary people.”
 
Kuhns highlighted his reporting on the Cosmos in his acceptance address, saying “…in the stroke of a pen, everything changed…” referring to Pele’s signing with the team, a landmark event in American soccer history. “Suddenly soccer was an easier story to get into print,” he added. “I thank the Hall of Fame for this honor,” he said in conclusion.
 
Nelson Perez, who presented his brother Hugo, stated, “As the younger brother I had to do all the cleaning and picking up in the house because Hugo was always playing soccer. Today it was all worth it!” In return Hugo thanked his family for their love and support as he pursued his soccer dream. “It was what I wanted – to play soccer like my grandfather – to be honored by the Hall of Fame for doing that is overwhelming. I am most grateful.”
 
Anson Dorrance was presented by his most famous star player Mia Hamm. The two reversed roles at Induction 2007 when Anson presented Mia for her induction into the Hall of Fame. Mia was asked which was harder. “By far this one!” She said. “I had the responsibility to represent all the players whom Anson has touched; whom Anson has helped become mature, intelligent, competitive, dedicated, and confident women….” and, after a pause to gather herself ”…also emotional.”  In rejoinder Dorrance recognized that growing up in a household where the athletes were the women of the family had uniquely prepared him for his coaching role. “My sister was by far the best athlete and she delighted in demonstrating that fact. And my Mother regularly beat the pants off my Dad in any athletic contest.” About his star pupil Mia he said he was most thankful for, “her big sister role to my two daughters… and all her congratulatory calls over the years.” He concluded by thanking his family and noting his wife’s encouragement as he pursued “… a life that has exceeded my dreams.”
 
Induction photography is available at www.isiphotos.com

Media Advisory – Credential Applications Available for Induction 2008
ONEONTA, NY (July 14, 2008) – The media credential application for the Induction 2008 Weekend is available on the Hall of Fame’s web site, http://soccer.convio.net/Induction2008, or by contacting the Hall of Fame’s Public Relations office via email to printern@soccerhall.org.

Highlights of Induction 2008:

Saturday, August 2nd at 8:00 PM

• Big 3 Enshrinement Ceremony honoring AYSO, NISOA, and NSCAA Hall of Famers, including Jerry Yeagley, a 6-time NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer Championship Coach.

Sunday, August 3rd at Noon

• Master of Ceremonies: JP Dellacamera, Play-by-play voice of MLS Primetime Thursday on ESPN
• Colin Jose Media Award – Ike Kuhns, retired Newark Star-Ledger
  • With presentation by Lynn Berling-Manuel, former publisher of SoccerAmerica
• Anson Dorrance, 18 - time NCAA Division I Women’s Championship Coach,
  1991 Women’s World Cup Champion Coach
  • With presentation by Hall of Famer Mia Hamm, Class of 2007
• Hugo Perez, U.S. National Team playmaker extraordinaire, 1984 - 1994
  • With presentation by Nelson Perez

Camera positions and a press box for audio for the Induction ceremony will be available on a raised platform on a first-call first-served basis.
Interviews with participants must be arranged in advance.

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Hall of Fame Announces MC and Presenters
ONEONTA, NY (July 7, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced today that noted soccer broadcaster JP Dellacamera will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the Induction 2008 Ceremony scheduled for Sunday, August 3rd at noon in the Museum. In addition the Hall of Fame announced that Hall of Famer Mia Hamm (Class of 2007) will present University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer Coach Anson Dorrance, that Lynn Berling-Manuel will present retired Newark Star Ledger sports writer Ivan ‘Ike’ Kuhns as the recipient of the Colin Jose Media Award and that Nelson Perez, brother to inductee Hugo Perez, will be his presenter.
 
“ The writer, coach, and veteran player being celebrated in 2008 have been tremendous exemplars of what is right in the world of sports,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “We are honored by their presence and by the wonderful group of people who will be here to help us make this ceremony memorable.”
 
JP Dellacamera has been broadcasting soccer matches for more than two decades, from the unforgettable 1989 World Cup qualifying match against Trinidad and Tobago for the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, through the fabulous 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, to his current role as the play-by-play voice for MLS Primetime Thursday and National Team matches on ESPN and ABC. After leaving the Ceremony, JP will report to his next assignment, broadcasting the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
 
Mia Hamm was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2007 after a stellar career for the U.S. Women’s National Team, beginning with her play under Dorrance’s direction as a 14-year-old phenomenon. As a member of the U.S. team she won 2 FIFA World Cups (1991 and 1999) and 2 Olympic Gold Medals (1996 and 2004) in a career that lasted 16 years. Mia graduated from the University of North Carolina and played on four of Dorrance’s NCAA Division I Women’s championship teams while a student-athlete there. She was also a founding player of the Women’s United Soccer Association, the USA’s first full-time women’s professional soccer league.
 
Lynn Berling-Manuel began her involvement in soccer as a teenager alongside her Hall of Fame Dad Clay Berling (Class of 1995) when he began publishing America’s longest running soccer magazine, “SoccerAmerica,” in the early 70s. Lynn succeeded her Dad as publisher and, recently, left the magazine for a new role as Chief Marketing Officer for the American Youth Soccer Organization, where she works with Hall of Famer Rick Davis (Class of 2001), AYSO’s Executive Director. She is well known in the soccer community, having led numerous programs on various aspects of soccer and the media.
 
Nelson Perez, two years younger than Hugo, also brings a soccer background to his role as presenter. A native of El Salvador, Nelson immigrated to the United States as a youth and grew up playing soccer in California. The Perez family was soccer players from the earliest days, keeping alive the tradition established in El Salvador where grandfather Antonio was a professional player. Currently Nelson is an independent contractor and the pastor of a community church in Los Angeles.
 
The Induction 2008 Weekend begins on Friday, August 1st and encompasses a weekend of public events, from a reception on Friday to golf and youth soccer tournaments along with the Hall of Fame Banquet and Big 3 Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, and culminates with the Induction Ceremony and Hall of Fame luncheon on Sunday. For more details and to register to attend any of the weekend events, visit the Hall of Fame’s web site at www.soccerhall.org.

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Hall of Fame Announces Induction 2008 Weekend Schedule
ONEONTA, NY (June 23, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame will host Induction 2008 over the first weekend of August, Friday the 1st through Sunday the 3rd, on the Wright National Campus in Oneonta, NY. The highlight moment will be the induction of 18-time NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship coach Anson Dorrance and the induction of U.S. National Team playmaking wizard Hugo Perez on Sunday, August 3rd at noon. “We have an exciting weekend in store for soccer fans,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “Celebrating the achievements of the cream of American soccer is an important part of our mission and the Induction Weekend is the result of a full year of planning. We know it will be another truly inspiring event.

In addition to the Induction Ceremony, the weekend has many more events that will entertain and engage soccer fans from across the country, beginning with the Memorial Service and Hall of Fame Kick-Off Social on Friday evening. The Memorial Service remembers the contributions of Hall of Famers and significant soccer personalities that have passed away in the last year, while the Kick-Off Social sets the scene for a weekend of memories and good company.

On Saturday the annual Hall of Fame Golf Tournament at the Oneonta Country Club continues to be a popular event. Following last year’s run away win by the Julie Foudy (Hall of Fame Class of 2007) team, the 2008 edition is expected to highlight some golfers out for revenge against the course and the new competition. At the same time non-golfing visitors can experience some of the many other outstanding attractions, such as the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Farmer’s Museum, through the Hall of Fame’s Leatherstocking Tour program. Saturday also features an American Youth Soccer Organization tournament on the Hall of Fame’s award-winning fields.

Saturday evening’s President’s Reception and Hall of Fame Banquet serve as a formal centerpiece of the weekend, with the dining in the Museum among the displays and unique artifacts, such as the Dewar Challenge Cup, the oldest team trophy in U.S. sport and the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, that are reminders of the long and successful history of soccer in the United States. Following the dinner, the Big 3 Enshrinement Ceremony, recognizing the new American Youth Soccer Organization, National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association and National Soccer Coaches Association of America Hall of Famers, takes place in the Museum Atrium.

On Sunday the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony is followed by a luncheon on the campus.

For details and to register to attend Induction 2008, visit the Hall of Fame’s web site at www.soccerhall.org.

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Veteran Soccer Reporter Ike Kuhns Selected Colin Jose Media Award Honoree

ONEONTA, NY (May 26, 2008) – Veteran Newark Star-Ledger sports writer Ike Kuhns has been selected to receive the 2008 Colin Jose Media Award. He will be honored during the Induction 2008 Weekend, August 1 – 3. Kuhns served the Northern New Jersey region as a soccer writer from the 60s, and is perhaps best remembered for his coverage of the North American Soccer League’s New York Cosmos. However, his reporting on soccer pre-dates the NASL and included coverage of international soccer at a time when it was virtually unreported in American newspapers.

Colin Jose, the namesake of the Award, said of Ike, "Through his writing Ike Kuhns has made an outstanding contribution to soccer in the United States over a very long period of time, and I am delighted that that contribution is now being recognized."

“Ike always had an infectious enthusiasm about soccer,” long-time media expert Jim Trecker said. “No matter where he was—Mets press box, Jets training camp, or Madison Square Garden covering basketball—soccer was never far from his mind nor did he miss an opportunity to try and convert any doubters! His body of work embraced the world of the old “ethnic” leagues in New Jersey, NASL, youth, World Cup and the international game in general. For years and years if you wanted to keep up with soccer, you had to read Ike.”

“Ike Kuhns adds another highly respected media representative to the Colin Jose Media Award.” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann stated. “His contributions to the reporting of soccer are well-recognized and the length of his service is astounding. Just recently, in one of those wonderful coincidences since we did not release this information to the Selection Committee, Ike has been sharing his memorabilia and archives with the Hall of Fame. His materials are significant and, when future writers come to research the era Ike covered, his archives will add another important perspective to soccer in America.”

Ike began his reporting career in 1958 as the Sports Director of the American Forces Korea Network while serving in the U.S. Army. On leave he attended the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo, including an exciting soccer final that sparked his interest in a game about which he knew little. Once out of service and in New York City, he attended the international matches at the Polo Grounds promoted by Bill Cox. These continued to build Ike’s growing interest in soccer. While he started with some smaller New Jersey papers, by the time he joined the Newark Star-Ledger in 1965, it was almost World Cup time and Ike covered the tournament. “It was much different watching a game being played on a pitch that looked like an oversized putting green with a capacity crowd of 100,000 singing and chanting. The atmosphere was electric and to someone like me who was unused to it, even the dullest game seemed very exciting,” Ike said about his World Cup coverage. He retired from the Star-Ledger in 2001 and currently attends New York Red Bulls games at Giants Stadium.

Ike was a founding member of the Professional Soccer Reporters Association, the organizations first vice president and later president.

Ike also served as the Star-Ledger beat writer for the Knicks and Jets for part of his 37-year career. He also was the back-up writer for the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Devils, and Nets at various times, and he is a lifetime member of the Baseball Writers Association of America. He covered numerous World Series, Super Bowls, two Ali-Frazier championship fights, Stanley Cup Finals, and college football bowl games and college basketball games in the NCAA and NIT tournaments and numerous track and field events, including the Millrose Games and AAU outdoor and indoor championships in addition to his soccer responsibilities.

The Colin Jose Media Award, a tribute to Hall of Fame Historian emeritus Colin Jose who was also a SoccerAmerica and World Soccer correspondent, and is North America’s preeminent soccer historian, is designed to honor members of the media who specialize in communications with respect to soccer in the United States. It is awarded to those whose career contributions in the field are deemed to be of exceptional and sustained quality. Colin Jose Media Award honorees are:
2004 Jerry Trecker, Hartford Courant Print Media
2005 Seamus Malin, ESPN and other outlets Television
2007 George Tiedemann, Freelance/Sports Illustrated Photography
2008 Ike Kuhns, Newark Star-Ledger Print Media

The Induction 2008 Weekend, August 1 – 3, includes several events open to the public. For details go to the Hall of Fame’s web site, www.soccerhall.org.

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Induction 2008 to Be First Weekend in August
ONEONTA, NY (March 26, 2008) – Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann announced today that the Induction 2008 Weekend will be celebrated during the weekend of August 1st through 3rd. “I am delighted that we have been able to bring together the Big 3 Enshrinement event with the National Soccer Hall of Fame Induction for a grand weekend of soccer celebration.”

Public events will include the Big 3 Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, August 2nd at 8:00 PM and the Induction 2008 Ceremony on Sunday, August 3rd at 12:00 Noon. Also on the calendar are an NSCAA sponsored coaches clinic, an NISOA referees workshop, and an AYSO Future Famer tournament for AYSO teams in the Northeast. These programs are scheduled for the day on Saturday. Further details of these programs and other Induction weekend events will be released as they are confirmed.

Anson Dorrance and Hugo Perez Elected to the Hall of Fame
ONEONTA, NY (March 7, 2008) – Legendary University of North Carolina Women’s Soccer Coach Anson Dorrance and highly respected U.S. National Team Veteran Hugo Perez have been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann announced today. “We are excited to reveal such a prestigious 2008 Hall of Fame Class,” he said. “Anson Dorrance has set an unbelievable standard for American soccer coaches. His success at UNC is staggering and his World Championship with the U.S. Women’s National Team has inspired coaches to higher levels of excellence. Induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame is a natural outgrowth of his exemplary and continuing career.”

“Hugo was a key player for the National Team in the late 80s and early 90s,“ Baumann continued. “His career spanned from the last years of the NASL, through the MISL, and into the 1994 World Cup. His ability to create attacking opportunities was outstanding and the players around him were the beneficiaries of his skill, vision and tactical awareness. We welcome him as another wonderfully talented and successful player to the Hall of Fame.”

Both Dorrance and Perez were elected with unprecedented totals in their respective categories. Dorrance was named on 53.85% of the Builder ballots and Perez was named on 58.33% of the Veteran Player ballots. Each year the top individual in the Builder and Veteran Player categories are elected to the Hall of Fame as long as the individual is named on a minimum of 50% of the ballots cast. The top five candidates in both elections are listed below.

Dorrance, a 1974 UNC graduate, began his coaching career at his alma mater in 1976 as Head Coach of the men’s team he played on as an undergraduate. Beginning in 1979 he coached both the men’s and women’s teams, before becoming exclusively the women’s coach after the 1988 season. In his 12-year career as the UNC men’s coach, his record was 172 – 65 – 21 with an ACC championship and two NCAA Division I tournament selections.

As women’s coach at UNC through the 2007 season, his coaching record is an NCAA best in both wins (648 – 32 – 19) and winning percentage (.941). The UNC women’s team has won the national championship 19 times in 28 seasons, with a string of 9 in a row between 1986 and 1994. During this period there were two record-setting streaks of 103 matches unbeaten and 92 matches won. Dorrance has won the NSCAA National Coach of the Year seven times and a UNC player has been recognized as national player of the year fifteen times.

In 1986 Dorrance became the Head Coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team and, over an 8-year career won 65 times, with 22 losses and five ties. The most significant of those victories was in the final of the first Women’s World Cup (then titled the World Championship for Women’s Football) in 1991.

Perez began his professional career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL, eventually moving to the San Diego Sockers where he had an impressive career outdoors and indoors. He was selected Championship Series MVP in San Diego’s 1988 MISL win. He also played professionally in France, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and El Salvador.

His U.S. National Team debut was against Italy in 1984 and he scored his first international goal against Canada in 1985. In his 73 game international career he scored 13 goals. He played in the 1986 and 1990 World Cup qualifiers, but missed the 1990 World Cup due to injury. He also played in the 1994 World Cup, starting the second round match against Brazil played on the Fourth of July. His final match for the United States was against England in September 1994.

Since his retirement from playing the game, he has stayed active in soccer in the San Francisco Bay Area, coaching youth and collegiate teams.

In the 2008 Player election no individual exceeded the required 75% of ballots cast to gain entrance into the Hall of Fame. Top players were Preki Radasavijevic with 67.97% and Joy Fawcett with 67.19% of the vote. Full elections results for all categories are available on the Hall of Fame web site, www.soccerhall.org. The top ten player candidates are listed here:

Details of Induction will be announced shortly.

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Hall of Fame Announces 2008 Builders Ballot
ONEONTA, NY (January 28, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum announced the 2008 Builders Ballot today. Among the best-known individuals on the ballot are former U.S. Men’s National Team coach Bruce Arena, Chuck Blazer, member of the FIFA Executive Committee and General Secretary of CONCACAF, the regional governing body for soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean region, former U.S. Soccer President Dr. Bob Contiguglia, University of North Carolina and former U.S. Women’s National Team coach Anson Dorrance, United Soccer Leagues Founder and President Francisco Marcos, and D.C. United President Kevin Payne.

Builder candidates were selected by vote of the Builder’s Screening Committee, a 16-member committee made up of selected Hall of Famers, from a list of 53 eligible candidates.

Individuals advancing to the Builders Ballot:

- Bruce Arena – coach, Univ. of Virginia, D.C. United, U.S. Men’s National Team, New York Red Bulls
- Esse Baharmast – MLS, National and international referee
- Chuck Blazer – soccer administrator and executive, FIFA Executive Committee Member, CONCACAF General Secretary
- Robert ‘Bob’ Contiguglia – former president of U.S. Soccer and Chair, U.S. Youth Soccer
- Bill Cox – soccer investor, founder of the International Soccer League in the 60s, president of the NASL’s San Diego Toros
- Gino D’Ippolito – NASL, National and international referee
- Anson Dorrance – Univ. of North Carolina and U.S. Women’s National Team coach
- Bob Gansler – MLS and U.S. Men’s National Team coach
- Robert Kraft – MLS investor - operator, New England Revolution
- Frank Longo – collegiate soccer and U.S. Soccer administrator
- Joe Machnick – collegiate coach, professional referee, currently Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner for On-Field Competition at Major League Soccer
- Francisco Marcos – Founder of the United Soccer Leagues and current president of USL
- Fritz Marth – former Executive Director of U.S. Amateur (now Adult) Soccer Association
- Thom Meredith – executive with the North American Soccer League, U.S. Soccer and the Women’s United Soccer Association
- Kevin Payne – President and CEO, D.C. United of Major League Soccer
- George Strawbridge – owner of the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies

More information about each of the Builder candidates is on the Hall of Fame and Museum’s web site, www.soccerhall.org.

The Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers and a select group of current soccer administrators for their vote. The builder candidate who receives the most votes, as long as the total represents at least 50% of the ballots cast, will be elected to the Hall of Fame. In 2007 former U.S. Soccer President and Chair of the 1994 World Cup Organizing Committee Alan I. Rothenberg was inducted to the Hall of Fame.

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Hall of Fame Announces 2008 Veteran Ballot
ONEONTA, NY (January 24, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum today announced the 2008 Veteran Ballot highlighted by several long-retired U.S. National Team and North American Soccer League (NASL) stars. Among the best-known are attacking genius George Best of Northern Ireland and the NASL, midfield maestro Teofilio “Nene” Cubillas of Peru and the NASL, outstanding central defender Linda Hamilton of the 1991 World Champion U.S. Women’s National team, Hugo Perez, scheming midfielder of the 1994 U.S. World Cup team, and Kyle Rote, Jr., NASL leading scorer and 3-Time SuperStars Champion.

Players were selected to the Veteran Ballot from the over 300 eligible players by vote of the 16-member Veteran Screening Committee, which is made up of selected Hall of Famers.

Here is a complete list of the veteran players selected for the Veteran Ballot:
- Desmond Armstrong – U.S. National Team (81 caps, 1987 – 1994)
- Barry Barto – U.S. National Team (16 caps, 1972 – 1975), NASL (1972 – 1977, Montreal, Philadelphia Atoms, and Fort Lauderdale)
- George Best – Northern Ireland, NASL (1976 – 1981, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and San Jose)
- Hubert Birkenmeier – Germany, NASL (1979 – 1984, New York Cosmos)
- Teofilo “Nene” Cubillas – Peru, NASL (1979 – 1983, Ft. Lauderdale)
- Steve David – Trinidad and Tobago, NASL (1974 – 1981, Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, California, San Diego, and San Jose)
- Linda Hamilton, U.S. Women’s National Team (71 caps, 1987 – 1995)
- John Kerr, Jr. – U.S. Men’s National Team (16 caps, 1984 – 1995), MLS (1996 – 1997, New England)
- Bill McPherson – American Soccer League (1922 – 1931), St. Louis Major Soccer League (1932 – 1934)
- Bruce Murray – U.S. National Team (85 caps, 1985 – 1993)
- Glenn “Mooch” Myernick – U.S. National Team (10 caps, 1975 – 1979, NASL (1977 – 1984, Dallas, Portland, and Tampa Bay)
- John “Harp” O’Connell – U.S. National Team (4 caps, 1949 – 1954), American Soccer League (1946 – 1956, Brooklyn Wanderers, New York Americans, and New York Hakoah)
- Hugo Perez – U.S. National Team (73 caps, 1984 – 1994), NASL (1982 – 1984, Tampa Bay, and San Diego)
- Bob Rigby – U.S. National Team (6 caps, 1973 – 1975), NASL (1973 – 1984, Philadelphia Atoms and Fury, New York Cosmos, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Golden Bay)
- Kyle Rote, Jr. – U.S. National Team (5 caps, 1973 – 1975), NASL (1973 – 1979, Dallas, and Houston)

Biographies of each are available on the Hall of Fame and Museum’s web site, www.soccerhall.org.

The Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers for a vote. The veteran who receives the most votes, as long as the total represents at least 50% of the ballots cast, will be elected to the Hall of Fame. In 2007 U.S. National Team and NASL veteran Bobby Smith was elected to the Hall of Fame with 50% of the vote.

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Soccer Hall of Fame Announces 2008 Ballot
ONEONTA, NY (January 11, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum released the 2008 Player’s Ballot to voters today. The ballot has 22 holdovers from the 2007 election and 13 newcomers. The top holdovers include U.S. National Team stalwarts Thomas Dooley (5th named on 51.8% of the ballots cast), Joy Fawcett (3rd on 67.4%), and Joe-Max Moore (6th on 48.2%). Among the newcomers are U.S. Men’s National Team stars Jeff Agoos, Preki, and Earnie Stewart. Top MLS players on the ballot include holdovers Marco Etcheverry (4th on 58.2%) of DC United, Peter Nowak (9th on 29.1%) of the Chicago Fire, and Carlos Valdarrama (7th on 46.8%) who finished his illustrious MLS career with the Colorado Rapids. Complete 2007 election results are available on the Hall of Fame website, www.soccerhall.org.

Players who receive votes on 75% of the ballots cast will be elected to the Hall of Fame. Induction 2008 is planned for the weekend of August 22 – 24 at the Hall of Fame and Museum in Oneonta, NY. Here is a complete list of eligible players:

+ Jeff Agoos – Brian Bliss Mike Burns + Mark Chung Mauricio Cienfuegos + Troy Dayak Raul Diaz Arce Thomas Dooley John Doyle Marco Etcheverry Joy Fawcett + Danielle Fotopoulos + – First year of eligibility Lastyear of eligibility

+ Robin Fraser + Brian Kamler Dominic Kinnear Frank Klopas + Manny Lagos Roy Lassiter + Shannon MacMillan Pato Margetic Joe-Max Moore Victor Nogueira Peter Nowak + Oscar Pareja

Cindy Parlow + Preki Radosavljevic Mike Sorber + Earnie Stewart Steve Trittschuh Carlos Valderrama Tisha Venturini-Hoch Peter Vermes – Roy Wegerle + Evan Whitfield + Richie Williams

Biographies of the eligible players are available on the Hall of Fame website, www.soccerhall.org.

Among the voters are over 100 media personnel from the print, broadcast, and on-line communities, National Team and qualified MLS Coaches, national soccer administrators, and Hall of Famers. In total over 200 individuals are eligible to vote in the 2008 election.

In 2007 Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm were elected to the Hall of Fame. Hamm set a new standard for the vote having been named on 97.2% of the ballots cast, the highest percentage in Hall of Fame history. The Class of 2007 was the first all female player class in the Hall’s history. Foudy and Hamm were the 6th and 7th female players elected. Only 128 Players have been elected to the Hall of Fame in its 58-year history.

The Veteran Player and Builder Ballots will be distributed in the upcoming weeks. The announcement date for the election results will be publicized shortly.

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The Mission of the National Soccer Hall of Fame is to Celebrate the History, Honor the Heroes,
Inspire the Youth and Preserve the Legacy of Soccer in the United States.

Located in Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a new 30,000 sq.ft., state-of-the-art multimedia museum in 1999 and is open every day of the year except Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving. The Hall of Fame tells the story of soccer in America through artifacts, photographs, video and written narratives. The main VideoWall portrays some of the greatest moments and the greatest goals in soccer history as well as live soccer action from the World Cup, MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. The Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks Zone, including a kid-sized indoor field, where visitors have fun kicking, heading and playing computer trivia stations and video soccer games. Unique and rare artifacts on exhibit range from The Dewar Cup, the oldest team trophy in U.S. Sport, to the Women’s World Cup won by the USA in 1999, the uniforms of Pele and Mia Hamm’s, Kristine Lilly’s golden shoes, NASL championship rings, and MLS championship trophies. That and so much more are all at the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 61-acre complex boasts the Kicks Hall of Fame Museum Store, a research library, four world-class soccer fields and office/meeting facilities.