I say it all the time, soccer is not a game of statistics. But that doesn't mean FXI can't have a little fun with numbers from time to time, right? So, with Brandon Prideaux's announcement that he'll be hanging up his boots after this season, we honor Brando, the man who has played more MLS games (by a wide margin) than any other player in league history without ever, not once, scoring a goal, with this week's First XI. Here are the MLS players who've logged the most games without ever putting one past a 'keeper:
11. Brandon Prideaux (239). A great winner in MLS for the past decade. Should Brandon not score before is all is said and done in 2009, his record number of games played without a goal will not be his legacy. Not by any means. But, I have a feeling this number is going to be hard to top. That's basically eight seasons worth of games without so much as a deflection or goalmouth scramble. Oh well, like the rest of the names on this list, Prideaux was not on the field to put the ball in the net.
10. Rusty Pierce (155). This name on the list is not a shocker to me. Pierce was a bulldog defender who had his best years in the uniform of the New England Revolution. When Pierce and Joe Franchino were on the field together for the Revs, the opposition knew to pack extra ice for postgame. Tenacious, bruising at times, Rusty was not one to venture far into the attacking third. Perhaps injuries are to blame for him not stalking Prideaux.
9. Chris Leitch (148). When Leitch first came to MLS out of the University of North Carolina, his most noteworthy tool was his speed. I always thought of him as prototype right back in a 4-4-2, and yeah, I thought he'd get sprung a few times on an overlap. But a lot of years have passed now and I'm still waiting for Leitch to be sprung. I don't think it'll happen as he's found his niche as a tough defender with improved crossing ability. I'm going out on a limb here and saying Leitch will find his way onto the scoresheet.
8. Chris Wingert (121). Working his way up the list is the former Hermann Trophy winner who came to MLS with the reputation for attacking. I don't see Wingert as a mainstay on this list. I think it's just a matter of time before he connects on a shot from outside the box. He is a good ball-striker who typically gets 10-plus shots off per season.
7. Francis Okaroh (114). One of the truly great defensive defenders in the early days of MLS. Began as a centerback/sweeper for the Revolution but became a man-marker in the Fire's 3-5-2, providing great cover (along with C.J. Brown) for Lubos Kubik, who loved to venture forward. Okaroh was a warrior, not a stat-man. I bet he's proud to be listed.
6. Dan Calichman (113). I'm a bit surprised to see Big Red here. For some reason, I figured he got on the end of a Mauricio Cienfuegos corner kick at some point in his career with the Galaxy. Calichman is another who probably sees his name on this list as a point of pride. He was rugged and focused on keeping the ball out of his team's net.
5. Chris Martinez (108). A stay-home defender for the Rapids for five MLS seasons, Chris is also the only player (of three) named Martinez in MLS history to not put one in the back of the net. Yep, Antonio had 12 and Gonzalo's got one. Rapids fans would be disappointed in me if I do not mention that Chris was a key member of Mooch Myernick's Cinderella Western Conference championship squad in 1997.
4. Brandon Pollard (106). FC Dallas Burn fans likely blame Dema Kovalenko for Brandon's inclusion on this list. Pollard was a defender who liked to get forward and a defender with good wheels until Kovalenko broke his leg in the waning moments of an MLS Cup playoff game in 1999. Pollard was never quite the same. After the injury, in fact, Pollard played only 828 more MLS minutes without taking so much as a shot.
3. Danny O'Rourke (106). Here's a guy who could have Prideaux in his sights at some point. In five full MLS seasons and 11 games this year, Danny O has put a grand total of four shots on goal ... none since 2007. If Danny can stay healthy and keep his spot on the field for the next five seasons, we could one day call him the record-holder.
2. Carlos Mendes (102). Had Mendes not had to spend time in the USL before MLS, he too would be a solid contender for the Prideaux Trophy. In four full seasons and eight games for the MetroStars/Red Bulls, the Pride of Mineola has put one shot on target. When you consider that Carlos also spent a little time in the midfield, well, you just have to say he's a guy who's got his brain locked on the defensive side of the game.
1. Tenywa Bonseu (87). The greatest player from Uganda to ever suit up in an MLS game, T-Bone was a frequent USL call-up for the Fire in 2000 (when Kubik was injured) and became a starter for that team all the way through the MLS Cup Final (a 1-0 loss to K.C.). After his good showing in Chicago, Bonseu was snapped up by the Crew the following year and bounced around a bit over the next three MLS seasons, always providing good cover in the back. Never providing a goal. Should I update this list in a year, T-Bone will likely be gone. Because sneaking up behind is Jason Hernandez at 85 games and counting. Only if Jay can find the net for the Quakes in their next three games will Bonseu's name live on. The next closest competitors have all retired or moved on from MLS. They are Tim Regan (81), Nelson Akwari (78) and Tahj Jakins (73), followed by FC Dallas' Daniel Torres (68), D.C. United's Avery John (65), the Chicago Fire's Bakary Soumare (58), and current ESPN analyst Janusz Michallik (53).
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
