Honey Badger. El Corazón. Captain. Sounder.
That's Ozzie Alonso. Once. Always. Forever.
Any discussion of the greatest Sounders of all time, any era, must include the man who was here for six trophies, three other appearances in finals, a Best XI, four All-Star appearances and one hell of a career.
To put some perspective on his career as a Sounder versus those two other teams he played for check this out. In the 2016 MLS Cup Playoff run, beleaguered by injury, he made six appearances. That's one more than all of his non-Sounders MLS playoff appearances combined.
His one-day signing and retirement is very appropriate in this year that we celebrate this club's eternal legacy.
Two members of the ownership group know exactly what it means to cement a legacy in Seattle and then drift away. One of them has a statue just down the road. The other probably won't because partings are sorrow and there's not a rejoining likely for Russ.
A couple years ago I wasn't convinced Ozzie would come back for such an honor. His leaving didn't go as well as it could. But repairing relationships is something the Puget Sound sports community does well. Kenny Easley is finally hanging in the Lumen rafters. Brad Evans is now the team ambassador.
An inability to repair that relationship this fast would have been a major negative in a season of celebration.
Instead we get a wonderful moment on Thursday and on match day, when 30,000+ fans can honor our captain, forever. (I have to miss it)
My favorite Ozzie Alonso story is from a one-on-one interview I grabbed with him after the LA Galaxy with Landon Donovan came to Starfire for the U.S. Open Cup. It was my first time solo with Ozzie and all in English.
I asked him if he had to try harder or do things differently when facing off against a player like Donovan at the 10.
He looked at me confused.
I rephrased the question. He remained confused.
Fredy walked by, offered to translate. Alonso finally answered to the effect of "Why would I try harder or do things differently?"
During Donovan's stretch of five best XIs in six seasons Ozzie saw no need to change his game.
That's not who Alonso was. He was himself, always.
He is a Sounder once more, and forever.
– Dave
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Did you step away from the computer over the weekend? Here are our latest stories
Reign
Next up (preseason): UW Huskies v. Reign FC at Husky Soccer Stadium on Wednesday, March 6.
Sounders 0-1-0, -1
- Postgame Pontifications: Too many holes to fill
- Sound Bite(s), Episode 27: The season has begun
- The Review: LAFC vs Seattle Sounders
- Seattle Sounders FC at LAFC: community player ratings form
- LAFC vs. Sounders: Highlights, stats and quotes
- Pedro de la Vega shines in debut
- Shorthanded and struggling in LA
- Osvaldo Alonso signs one-day contract to retire with Sounders
Next up: Sounders v. Austin FC at Lumen Field on Saturday, March 2. The 7:30 pm match is on MLS Season Pass.
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Looking back at the weekend's news
Everything else you need to know.
Former MLS player Alberth Elis is in a medically induced coma after suffering head trauma during a recent match.
Megan Rapinoe says she wants "to be in on this next phase of women’s sports."
Wales introduces former Thorns manager Rhian Wilkinson to the Cymru faithful.
Data rules the world of the NWSL now.
Everton may be safe from relegation after their penalty went from 10 points to merely six.
Ten of MLS' 14 opening matches over the week had more than 20,000 people in the stands that gave the league an average attendance that was 3,000 more than last year's record-breaking figure.
Yahoo Finance dives into the MLS x Apple deal and why it makes sense for MLS, but not for the NFL.
The USL added ESPN to its broadcast footprint. Earlier they had announced a CBS deal. The two agreements puts 35 USL Championship and League One matches on linear TV.
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