ASN: Navy’s Joseph Greenspan Cleared to Play for Rapids

The Navy has licensed the six-foot-six central defender to play with the Colorado Rapids this season, making an already-formidable backline that a lot stronger. Brooke Tunstall has the small print.

BY

Brooke Tunstall

Posted
Could 18, 2015
10:45 AM

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ONE OF THE BEST DEFENSES in Main League Soccer is about to get deeper—and rather a lot larger—whereas a participant who as soon as thought his profession wouldn’t start for a number of years will get an opportunity to play professionally beginning subsequent week. 

Joseph Greenspan, a two-time All-American and a mammoth central defender at the USA Naval Academy, has been granted permission from the Division of the Navy to delay his deployment and play for the Colorado Rapids upon his commencement this Friday in Annapolis, Md.

Quickly-to-be Ensign Greenspan will probably be assigned to a recruiting workplace in Denver whereas taking part in for the Rapids this season. 

“I’m thrilled and so excited,” Greenspan instructed American Soccer Now. “It’s great that I’ll be able to wear two uniforms, the Navy and the Rapids, and pursue two careers that have been a dream of mine. I’m so grateful to the Navy for giving me this chance and to the Rapids for being willing to work with me given my (military) commitment.”

The Rapids drafted Greenspan twenty sixth general in January and a number of other MLS expertise evaluators stated he’d have gone larger if not for his army service obligation. All service academy graduates have a compulsory army service of 5 years of lively responsibility, although some are allowed to spend two years serving full-time and change to the reserves for six extra years. 

“If you like a big center back, he’s the best one in the draft,” an MLS scout instructed ASN earlier than the draft. “He moves very well for his size, reads the game well, and is comfortable with the ball at his feet.”

In a bizarre twist, Greenspan thinks his possibilities of taking part in this season have been boosted by, of all individuals, Invoice Belichick, the pinnacle coach of the NFL’s New England Patriots. Final month the Patriots drafted Navy long-snapper Joe Cardona and the Navy has agreed to additionally permit him to delay his deployment till after the 2015 NFL season so he can play skilled soccer. 

“I think Joe’s situation definitely helped, what with football being a little more high-profile and it being the Patriots and all,” Greenspan said. “Once they decided to let (Cardona) play and get that publicity it made it easier for them to decide to let me play.

“I know Joe pretty well and I’m happy he’s gotten a chance to play and it’s pretty cool to have two guys from the same class playing professional sports this fall—one in the NFL and now in MLS. It shows the kind of people and athletes that the Naval Academy gets.” 

The Rapids didn’t reply to interview requests this weekend.

Greenspan had been scouted by Rapids technical director Paul Bravo then wowed Bravo and head coach Pablo Masteoeni throughout a pre-draft cellphone interview. “He just blew us away when we talked to him,” Mastroeni stated after the draft. “He was so impressive during the interview and we liked what we saw of him on tape and we decided that even if we have to wait a couple of years for him that this is a player worth waiting for.” 

Greenspan got here to Annapolis as a ahead and scored 10 objectives his first two seasons. However his profession, and his professional prospects, blossomed when he switched to central protection initially of his junior season. He scored seven objectives and helped Navy submit a school-record 11 shutouts. He was named each an All-American and the Patriot League defensive participant of the yr and led Navy to the second spherical of the NCAA Event, its greatest season because it was a perennial energy within the Sixties. As a senior final fall he repeated because the Patriot League’s defensive participant of the yr and was once more named All-American.

At six-feet-six Greenspan will probably be one of many tallest discipline gamers in Main League Soccer and he’ll be a part of a staff that already options loads of measurement on its backline. The Rapids drafted Marquette’s Axel Sjoberg, a six-foot-seven central defender initially from Sweden, 14th general this yr and the rookie has began six video games to this point this season. The tallest discipline participant in league historical past, usually Sjoberg has been paired with veteran Bobby Burling, who at six-foot-five towers over most MLS gamers however may very well be legitimately referred to as Shorty by Greenspan and Sjoberg. 

“I went out there and trained with them for five days over President’s Day weekend and they came up with a name for us because of our height: the Tree Muskateers,” stated Greenspan, who hasn’t signed an MLS contract but however expects to return to phrases this week.  

Colorado even have veteran central defender Drew Moor, who has not too long ago returned to the beginning lineup after tearing his ACL final August. The Rapids are so deep at central protection that Shane O’Neill, one of many extra promising younger American middle backs who has captained the USA U-23 nationwide staff, has solely began twice this yr.  

Nonetheless, it’s laborious to quibble with the staff’s defensive outcomes. The Rapids (1-2-7) are at the moment final within the Western Convention however that’s not due to their protection. Colorado has 4 shutouts, allowed a couple of objective solely twice and their .90 goals-against common is tied for second in MLS behind solely D.C. United. The Rapids have been undone by an offense that’s as dangerous as its protection is nice. The staff has solely scored 9 objectives this season—4 of them in a single recreation—and solely growth New York Metropolis FC is averaging fewer objectives per recreation.

“It’s a really good back line and they’ve done really well so it’ll be tough to crack,” Greenspan stated. “But I’m looking forward to learning from those guys so when I’m called on to play, I’ll be ready.” 

Whereas taking part in time could also be robust for Greenspan due to defensive depth, he’s thrilled and grateful to get an opportunity to satisfy his dream whereas nonetheless honoring his army dedication, although it would make for some lengthy and busy days.

“Even though I want to play professionally, I really want to serve my country and give back to the Navy,” Greenspan stated. “I wouldn’t have gotten this chance to play pro soccer if I hadn’t gone to the Academy.”

The present plan is for Greenspan to coach with the Rapids within the morning then spend his afternoons working at a recruiting workplace in Denver. Upon completion of the MLS season, he’ll report back to the San Diego-based USS Sampson, the place he’ll start coaching as a floor warfare officer. A part of his obligations will probably be to make public appearances and converse on behalf of the Navy. 

“I’m looking forward to this and I think being with the Rapids shows you can go to a service academy and still play pro sports and I think it will help the Academy with recruiting and get a higher level of player and person,” he stated. 

Greenspan hopes to serve two years of lively responsibility then apply to change to the reserves in order that he can proceed to pursue his soccer profession in 2018. That’s the trail NBA Corridor-Of-Famer David Robinson, a 1987 USNA graduate, famously took in pursuing his professional basketball profession.

Nevertheless, switching to the reserves is on the discretion of the Navy and never each aspiring professional athlete is granted that possibility. Mitch Harris, a former Naval Academy baseball participant who debuted with the St. Louis Cardinals this yr, needed to fulfill his five-year lively responsibility dedication earlier than being allowed to pursue skilled baseball. 

So Greenspan is planning to profit from this summer time with the Rapids as a result of he doesn’t know when his subsequent likelihood will probably be.

“That’s nonetheless the plan after two years. However you by no means know what occurs. If we’re at battle in two years or there’s main fight occurring they’re in all probability going to be much less prone to allow you to (change to the reserves after two years) like with (Harris). So I can’t fear about that. If I serve 5 years, it’s 5 years.

“That’s why I’m so excited to get this chance to play now.”