FC Dallas currently has three local players on their roster, but another, ex-Real Salt Lake forward Jamie Watson, is in preseason camp with the Hoops and looking to possibly add his own name to the list.
A native of Dallas-area suburb Coppell, Watson played three seasons with RSL before being released last month. Originally a second-round pick (13th overall) by RSL in the 2005 MLS Super Draft, Watson had two goals and an assist as a rookie in 2005, when he played in 19 games with six starts. But in the two seasons since, he saw time in just 19 games total (10 in 2006 and nine in 2007), all as a substitute.
Watson knows several FCD players including fellow forward Kenny Cooper and midfielder Chase Wileman, a 2007 supplemental pick who hails from Grand Prairie, so when the opportunity to join the Hoops arose, he jumped on it.
"It's awesome that coach (Steve) Morrow and his staff have brought me in," Watson said. "I was in a situation with Salt Lake where my contract ran out and was looking for a new team. This makes the most sense for me being my hometown team and a great organization. I'm enjoying it so far and will see how two-a-days go. Right now, I'm just trying to get up to speed."
Cooper played with Watson in the 2003 McDonald's High School All-American Game and is pleased to have another Big D product wearing hoops.
"I'm a little familiar with Jamie," he said. "As a senior, we played together in the McDonald's Game and had a good experience. I remember watching him accomplish a lot at the national team level at a young age. He came to Trinidad with us and I enjoyed being around him. It's exciting to think that maybe another local kid might be involved here. It's kind of cool because we all grew up playing with or against each other."
Watson joined FCD last November during a trip to Trinidad and Tobago for a pair of exhibition games. That allowed him to get to know many of his teammates besides the ones from the Dallas area that he already knew. Being well-acclimated will definitely help his transition.
"It's cool because normally on the first day, you're nervous when you go into a whole new team," Watson said. "But today, I went into the locker room and said what's up to everybody because I hadn't seen them since Trinidad. A lot of the same guys are still here.
"Bobby Rhine is still here and he is someone who was really good to me when I was a young player. Kenny (Cooper) and I played together in the McDonald's game and Chase (Wileman) and I grew up together in residency. It makes it easier when you are comfortable on your first day instead of being so nervous and shy that you're scared to say a word to anybody."
Admittedly, Watson hated to leave RSL but maintains the utmost respect for head coach Jason Kreis even though he no longer plays on the Wasatch Front.
"The situation got to a point where a business decision was made by him," Watson said. "I was happy in Salt Lake, enjoyed it, had a great three years there and was one of the original guys left from the first year. Jason (Kreis) had to make a difficult business and coaching decision with me graduating from Generation adidas and if the situation would have been different, I like to think he would have made a different decision."
Even though getting released by RSL was definitely a tough thing, Watson also sees the silver lining in the entire scenario.
"It made me grow up and realize that this is a business. Maybe it was the worst possible scenario but the best possible scenario at the same time," Watson said. "When you stick around in one place for so long and see so many guys come and go and don't ever experience that, you don't really understand how much of a struggle it is on and off the field. I went through that during the offseason and it opened my eyes to what it means to be in this professional environment and that can only make me stronger. Things happened, maybe not the way I wanted them to but it's a business and I had to learn that the hard way."
His focus this preseason is on repaying Morrow's faith by performing well on the field for his new coach.
"When you have a coach give you that kind of opportunity right away, you want to do whatever you can to repay the faith," Watson said. "He said he would give me a chance here to see how I fit in with the team. When you have that kind of backing from a coach, it gives you more confidence to play instead of being scared. I'm glad I'm here and we'll see how this goes."
Last month, FCD traded forward and captain Carlos Ruiz to the LA Galaxy. Watson knows that the departure of "El Pescadito" leaves a void up top, an opening that he wants a shot at.
"With Kenny (Cooper), Arturo (Alvarez), Abe (Thompson) and Ricardinho, they're solid up front," Watson said. "Even with losing a Carlos Ruiz, they still have someone like Kenny Cooper who was in with the national team before he broke his leg. If I can come in, gel and join in with these guys, then that would be great for me."
Watson also feels that with Morrow looking at switching formations from a 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 for this season, that would also suit his game.
"It's a great formation for me and it works well for the team," he said. "It's a matter of finding the right mix. Either one of those formations is a good mix for me being on the outside or being one of the up front guys.
"There are big shoes to fill and guys here who have been putting in the time. So, I have to come in and show that I can get into the mix before I assume anything. I humbled myself in the offseason and realized that I have to work for something. Nothing is handed to you in this league and that's become more apparent to me."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
