Mmm … Dane Richards

By: Martha | January 31st, 2007

Dean Richards loves orange. As well he should. Taking a cue from my inspired compatriot Laurie over at ~~Beckham Central~~ the LA Galaxy site, I’m going to devote several post over the next week or two to RBNY’s draft picks. Since I only know college soccer players if they’re from St. Louis (In case you were wondering, in a clear sign of an anti-midwest bias, none of the Red Bulls’ picks were. Why, it’s just like that constant Yankee coverage in the media! Down with A-Rod! Ahem.), this little exercise is vitally necessary, so just humor me. Please. So: Drumroll, please … With their first pick and the 18th pick overall, RBNY took Dane Richards, a speedy, high-scoring winger/striker who, if reports are accurate, might actually be able to fly.

Richards grew up in Jamaica (insert vaguely offensive Bob Marley reference here), and was a full international by the time he was 18. Granted, he’s only been capped four times — one of them for a friendly against the US in which he played 30 minutes against his future MLS coach (Arena, typically, didn’t notice him.) — but still. An international at 18 is damn impressive.

Shortly after receiving his first cap, Richards moved to the US to ~~play a little college soccer~~ get a super education at schools with soccer teams. He started out at San Jacinto Junior College where he set season and career scoring records, in addition to being named Junior College Player of the Year in 2004. From there he decided he needed more orange in his life (as we all do) and moved on to Clemson, where he continued to kick all kinds of ass, leading the team in goals and assists in 2005. Clemson went deep into the tournament during both of Richards’ years there, and he was named a second team All-American after his senior season.

From what I can tell, he pre-combine stock was not particularly high. At that event, however, Arena and his minions noticed the 5′7″ wide man who looked even faster than Marvell Wynne, and decided then and there they had to have him. Or something like that. Even the great Jeff Agoos has nice, totally not PR-driven things to say about Richards: “He offers undeniable speed that is a commodity most players don’t possess.” (You see what I mean about the fast thing getting him noticed? Not a word there about him being skilled, or even smelling good. It’s all about speed for RBNY.)

For his part, Richards basically sees MLS as a stepping-stone to the great European career in his future. Until he gets that big contract offer, however, he’s happy to hang out in the Meandowlands, “because we will have a lot of scouts.” Er … OK then. (To be fair, he also said more reassuringly trite things like “I’ll come in fit in the pre-season and will do my best to help the Red Bulls have a successful season.”) Additionally, he’s apparently got some extended family in New York, so those of you planing to bring Marley wigs, Jamaican flags and bad accents to the games in Dane’s honor might just have some actual, real-life role models in the stands.

And, if my brilliant, carefully crafted words aren’t enough:

•See a li’l speed and skill as Richards eats the Costal Carolina defense alive
•And how tiny he really is, scoring the winning goal against Notre Dame to advance to the national Elite Eight
•Speed, and more importantly, a little nutmeg against Longwood (whoever that is)