FRISCO, Texas---Kevin Hartman is living proof that it doesn’t matter
where a player is taken in the draft. What matters most is what he does with his
opportunity.
The 36-year-old FC Dallas goalkeeper was taken 29th
overall by the LA Galaxy in the 1997 MLS Draft, just one pick above the final
player taken in the three-round affair.
The 1999 MLS Goalkeeper of the
Year has won a pair of MLS Cup titles and is universally regarded as one of the
top ‘keepers in league history.
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“It was a
little bit more of a different experience than what a lot of the other guys had,
because it was so early in the league’s development,” Hartman told
MLSsoccer.com. “I actually paid my own way to go down to Florida and participate
in the combine. I didn’t really know where I was on everybody’s
radar.”
Hartman starred at UCLA in college, and the Bruins had already
produced their share of goalkeeping talent: Chris Snitko, David Vanole, Brad
Friedel and Anton Nistl. But Hartman knew the school’s reputation alone wouldn’t
help carve out his career.
“I felt that by paying my own way to go out
to Florida, maybe that would kind of force someone’s hand,” Hartman said. “I
went and participated and felt like I had done pretty well.”
He had. By
the time his flight had landed back in California after leaving the Combine, he
was already receiving phone calls informing him he was bound for a career in
MLS.
“At least someone had used a pick on me. I was excited about it,”
Hartman said. “One of my roommates, Greg Vanney, had been playing for the Galaxy
for the year previous. I felt like I could identify with that team and I wasn’t
going to have to move. It was a really exciting time.”
Even as he
prepares for his 15th season in MLS, the seasoned ‘keeper can’t help but reflect
on how far the draft has come since he was taken back in year two.
“I
think that the league has taken some big steps in a number of ways. I think that
the televising of the first round of the draft speaks to the significance that
has come in the past 15 years,” Hartman said. “I was drafted, was on a plane and
didn’t even find out about it until I got off the plane. I think it speaks a lot
about how far the business has come along.”