Eskandarian goes from hero to zero

D.C. United MLS Cup star has no points, little respect

The Kansas City Star
Saturday, April 30, 2005

By PETE GRATHOFF

The last Wizards fans saw of D.C. United forward
Alecko Eskandarian, he had a huge victory cigar in his
right hand.

It was following United’s 3-2 win against the Wizards
in November’s MLS Cup. That’s the same hand
Eskandarian used to swat down a ball off the foot of
Jimmy Conrad and set up his go-ahead goal.

Wizards fans were seething.

Now some D.C. fans have had it with Eskandarian.

The message board at bigsoccer.com was not kind to
Eskandarian following last week’s 4-3 home loss to New
England. Last year’s playoff hero, Eskandarian was
subbed out at the start of the second half after a
tough opening 45 minutes.

It’s been that kind of season for Eskandarian, who has
yet to record even an assist, let alone a goal, for
D.C., 1-2-1.

~SMissed chance after chance,~T wrote one fan. ~SI think
he needs to sit a while.~T

Another wrote, ~SPlease take a spot on the bench Mr.
Eskandarian.~T

Injuries have taken a toll. Just this year Eskandarian
has dealt with a strained MCL in one knee, a strained
groin and then a charley horse forced him from the
game against New England.

Of course, fans don’t want to hear excuses.

~SThat’s something that comes with the sport and the
business,~T Eskandarian said. ~SThat’s something I
learned my rookie year. My rookie year everyone and
their mother was writing me off and telling me that I
was a bust and that I was terrible and that D.C. made
a mistake in drafting me. I heard it all.~T

The No. 1 pick overall in the 2003 SuperDraft,
Eskandarian played 23 games his rookie year but made
just five starts. He finished with three goals and two
assists.

Eskandarian said then-coach Ray Hudson didn’t allow
him an opportunity to show his stuff on the field. But
Hudson was out after that first year, replaced by
Peter Nowak.

It was a breath of fresh air for Eskandarian, who left
D.C. fans breathless. He scored 10 goals in the
regular season, the first United player to do that in
three years.

Eskandarian stepped it up in the playoffs, scoring
four goals in as many games. He tallied twice in
D.C.’s victory in MLS Cup.

~SJust like in any sport, when the playoffs come around
there’s going to be some added urgency and the stakes
are going to be raised,~T he said. ~SI like having that
pressure on me, having that spotlight. When it’s a
situation when somebody needs to step up and change
the game, I want to be that guy. It just so happened
in the finals, I happened to be that guy and it worked
out great for us.~T

Eskandarian’s first goal erased a 1-0 Wizards lead as
he took a pass at the top of the penalty box, muscled
his way past Nick Garcia and hit a left-footed shot
into the upper right-hand corner of the goal. Four
minutes later came the winner after the missed hand
ball. Three minutes after that, Eskandarian’s presence
forced Alex Zontinca into scoring an own goal, and the
Wizards never recovered.

Memories of Eskandarian’s title-game performance have
the Wizards leery heading into today’s game.

~SI think Alecko is a great player and obviously he’s a
little out of form right now,~T said Garcia, who added
that his dad has Eskandarian on his fantasy MLS team.
~SBut I think he adds a lot to D.C.’s lineup anytime
he’s in.~T

While the Wizards are wary, Eskandarian knows there’s
room for improvement.

~SIt kind of (stinks), because I want to live up to the
expectations and be playing at the top of my game, but
regardless of what’s going on, people are always going
to be talking and I can’t let that get to my head,~T he
said. ~SI’ve got to stay on the track I’m going and try
and prove it each game.~T

Even if today isn’t the today he regains his form,
Eskandarian won’t let the naysayers get to him. He
caught a lot of heat as a rookie but found nothing but
love a year ago. He’s confident he’ll turn it around
again.

~SNow I’m able to handle (the criticism) gracefully and
know that comes with the territory,~T Eskandarian said,
~Sand I’m going to have a big smile on my face when I
prove everybody wrong.~T

To reach Pete Grathoff, sports reporter for The Star,
send e-mail to pgrathoff@kcstar.com

PHOTO CAPTION: Alecko Eskandarian (right), guarded by
the Wizards’ Nick Garcia, scored two goals in D.C.
United’s MLS Cup win.