What makes a Legend

After the induction of Kasey Keller, Jimmy Gabriel and Sigi Schmid into the Circle, joining the '74 team roster, this year's Sounders Circle of Legends vote is an opportunity to learn more about the history of the club.

Sounder at Heart readers do not need a case made for Osvaldo Alonso. El Corazón earned many nicknames during his tenure, but the Spanish nickname is his lasting one – and represents that he was the heart of squads that won six trophies.

The other three help us understand what makes a Legend belonging in the Circle.

Mike England dominated the NASL while a Sounder, making four straight All Star Games (the same as Alonso) and in those first four of his five seasons the Sounders defense never finished worst than fifth, once placing as high as second. His teams made the playoffs more than they missed them, and of course made the NASL Cup against Pele and some other extremely famous people. Defenders don't often get the glory, but a defensive stalwart who excelled at individual and team glory deserves the attention. Now nearly two generations separated from England's dominance, the nomination for the Circle is a reminder that his legacy deserves attention. His story is one that should be told and trumpeted.

Pepe Fernandez is nominated as a Builder. His play on the field was strong and infectiously joyous, but it's what Fernandez did after playing that justifies his nomination. Like so many athletes who play around the Sound, Pepe turned Puget Sound into his home. Combining two of his loves, he helped turn the North Sound into a hotbed of soccer. His influence tree up north bloomed into a forest, and includes the Schmetzer family, but isn't limited to that. Fernandez planted so many seeds of soccer passion that uncovering every story is impossible. We should do our best to uncover those hidden by time.

Gary Wright is already a legend within the NFL. I first met Wright when he worked for the Seahawks while I was doing supplementary coverage at KJR almost 30 years ago. Within the NFL his influence was so strong he essentially took over Super Bowl media relations for many years. The Lumen Field press box bears his name.

None of that is why he should be assured entry into the Circle of Legends. Wright belongs in the Circle because without him the club (being the relationship between the fans and players) wouldn't be possible. Without Gary, the Drew Carey dream of Democracy in Sports doesn't happen. Without Wright's influence the boom-era of Seahawks-Sounders cooperation would instead be the stale thing it's been since Paul Allen's passing. Without Wright, the club doesn't get immediate coverage from every newspaper, TV station and radio station in the area at launch. Without Gary, the eyes of the nation's sports business leaders do not turn to the upper left corner. Wright's biggest ambition was to show that American soccer teams need not dream small for stadiums, but that a soccer team in our corner could fill an NFL stadium while feeling like a powerful soccer-centric fan experience. Twenty-five times Lumen filled with 50,000 or more Sounders fans in competitive matches. That number would be zero if Seattle had cowered like the other MLS teams that joined the league before them. Without Gary Wright, a small suburban stadium becomes the MLS norm, rather than the joyous palaces in urban cores that are now the goal.

Gary Wright isn't just a Sounders and Seahawks legend, he's a major part of why MLS 3.0 is possible.