Story Created:
Aug 2, 2009 at 8:26 PM EST
Story Updated:
Aug 2, 2009 at 8:30 PM EST
ONEONTA, N.Y. - Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett received their red jackets and joined the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the Induction 2009 Ceremony Sunday in Oneonta, NY. The ceremony concluded a whirlwind of recognition and activities at the Oneonta-based museum that began with the announcement of their election on a Fox Soccer Channel broadcast in January. Also honored was retired New York Times sports writer Alex Yannis who received the Colin Jose Media Award for career excellence in soccer communications.
Agoos opened his acceptance speech by saying, “I am proud to be wearing this jacket.” He continued: “While my name and picture may be memorialized here, my story cannot be told without the people that made this possible. I have had the good fortune to be around so many good people, so many good organizations, so many good coaches, I feel more like a representative than an inductee.” Agoos specifically mentioned prominent coaches in his career; high school coach Richard Monjoli, Dave Sarachan first a roommate at the Maccabiah Games then an assistant coach when Agoos attended the University of Virginia, and college, professional and national team coach Bruce Arena, and Frank Yallop and Dominic Kinnear of the San Jose Earthquakes.. Agoos went on to thank his family for their support during his playing career and his wife and children as he continues his current career as Sporting Director of the New York Red Bulls.
Agoos was presented for induction by his father Andy who stated, “As you can image…to be able to stand up and recognize the achievements and things that your children, your son, has done, it just doesn’t get any better than this.”
Agoos is a 5-time MLS Cup Champion, winning in 1996, 1997, and 1999 with D.C United and in 2001 and 2003 with the San Jose Earthquakes. He is second on the U.S. Men’s National team list of games played.
Fawcett opened her talk with: “Wow! What an amazing honor – for the voters to believe that I belong in this select group is truly humbling.” She thanked her friends and family for their “…constant and unwavering support through the years that helped me get through the challenging times and made the success sweeter.” She said, “I‘d like to recognize my teammates and coaches, the bonds between us brought meaning to the journey – the experiences that we shared and the challenges we overcame forged many amazing relationships.”
Most importantly she thanked U.S. Soccer for allowing her to live her dual dream of being a mom and of competing in soccer at the highest level; “U.S. Soccer and their pioneering support of the women’s game was instrumental in our success. After 1994 and the birth of my first child, U.S. Soccer could have said ‘No’ to a newborn traveling with the team…but they did the incredible thing in supporting me as a new mother and allowing me to realize my dream.” She made the observation that having children with the team helped create balance and humanity among the players and that it made the team stronger on and off the field. Fawcett concluded her address with this advice: “Follow your passion, work hard and be a good person. If you do, good things will happen and opportunities will come your way.”
Former teammate and a U.S. National Team star in her own right, Shannon MacMillan said in presenting Fawcett for Induction, “As everyone knows, Joy’s the ultimate soccer mom. I don’t know how she had three kids and stayed the best defender in the world. I think she got better with each kid.” MacMillan went on that, “…Joy was truly an amazing friend…she was always the most honest teammate, telling me what I needed to hear even though it was not necessarily what I wanted to hear.”
As an integral component of the U.S. Women’s National Team, Fawcett is a 2-time Women’s World Cup Champion winning the top prize in international soccer in 1991 and 1999. She also has won two Olympic gold medals with the team in 1996 and 2004. Perhaps the most eloquent tribute to her play is that in each of these competitions she started every match and played virtually every minute of every match in those four competitions.
Also honored was retired New York Times sports writer Alex Yannis with the Colin Jose Media Award for career excellence in soccer communications. Yannis most prominently covered the New York Cosmos from their inception until the team and the North American Soccer League crashed in 1985. Yannis said the honor, “…was the highlight of my career in sports writing.”
Hall of Fame president Jonathan Ullman, presiding over his first Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, concluded his opening remarks by saying, “Today is our most special day and we are thrilled to share it with all of you.”
Master of Ceremonies Rob Stone followed President Ullman to the podium. He opened the festivities by saying, “…it is truly an honor to be invited to be here and to be part of honoring these great individuals.”
Images of the ceremony are available at www.isiphotos.com.
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