Behind the maroon and mandarin: forward Shaun David
January 31, 2008 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2)
New Jersey Ironmen News Release
Becoming a professional athlete is a long shot for anyone no matter what sport he plays. It's even more of a long shot that someone from Dallas, Texas, would hang up his football cleats to pursue the game you play with your feet, and make it.
Forward Shaun David became the first player to ever sign with the expansion New Jersey Ironmen on June 28, 2007. His style of play is perfect for the indoor game, but he originally thought he was better suited for another game.
"Growing up in Texas, I played football and baseball, but my uncle turned me onto soccer," David reflected. "Honestly, I always thought that baseball was my sport when I was young."
David began playing soccer at the age of four, but it wasn't until much later that he realized that the soccer field was the place for him.
"I starting playing club soccer when I was 14 or 15, and I was regularly going against players that eventually made it to the MLS," he commented. "I was having success, and it was then that I realized I was pretty good at this game."
After graduating from high school, David decided to forego college to make the jump straight to the professional ranks.
"Kevin Smith and Nick Stavrou were two coaches of mine, and they played for the Dallas Sidekicks," he recollected. "I went and tried out, and I made the team."
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest running professional soccer teams in the United States, operating from 1984 until they shut down in 2004. After netting a Sidekick rookie record of 15 goals in the 2003-04 season, David was named to the MISL All-Rookie Team. Once the team ceased operations following that season, David would need a new team, and the St. Louis Steamers came calling. After one season with the Steamers, a head coaching change would be made. It was then that David made the most impressionable relationship of his career.
"After my first season in St. Louis, Omid Namazi was hired as our new head coach," he recalled. "After one week of playing for Omid, I realized how good of a coach he is. To this day, I still say that Omid is the best coach that I have ever had."
That season, David tallied 20 goals and ten assists, good enough to land him on the 2005-06 All-MISL Team. He is one of only 22 players in MISL history to have been named to both the All-Rookie Team and All-League Team. The duo of Namazi and David finished atop the league standings with a 23-7 record and reached the pinnacle of the indoor game that year, the MISL Championship Series. With the series knotted up at one game each, the two teams played a championship-deciding Golden Goal Game. Baltimore forward Machel Millwood hit the golden goal to lift the Blast to the championship.
"After we lost, I felt like I let down my teammates, friends, family; most importantly, I felt like I let Omid down," David commented. "Soccer is a team sport, but I held myself accountable. I blamed myself, and I felt like I disappointed Omid."
Following the disappointing loss in the MISL championship, both Namazi and David sat out the 2006-07 season, but it would not be long before the two joined forces again. When the New Jersey Ironmen made an official announcement to join the MISL prior to the 2007-08 season, the club named Omid Namazi as their first-ever head coach.
"At that point, I had already decided that I would never play for another coach," David said. "I still remember my immediate reaction when Omid got to New Jersey and obtained my rights: Now was my chance to redeem myself and help get him what he deserves."
Head Coach Namazi reflected back on his time with David.
"When I got to St. Louis, he was raw, but he was exceptionally fast and eager to learn," Head Coach Namazi remembered. "Anytime he was on the field, he was a sparkplug to the offense. I knew he was a one of the pieces we needed here."
David is now a veteran, but he has had success ever since he first strapped up for the indoor game, something he attributes to acceleration.
"I think the indoor game always clicked for me because of my speed," he stated. "I can get to full-speed in short space which is needed to play indoors. I also had a lot of veterans around me when I started so I learned quickly."
It looks like the tides have turned. The leadership of this veteran has been crucial in helping the Ironmen's young roster turn so many heads in the MISL this season. Some may consider redemption for Namazi and David this April to be a long shot, but, as we see, stranger things have happened.
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The Ironmen play a back-to-back this weekend, facing the Chicago Storm Saturday night on the road before returning to Prudential Center to host the Milwaukee Wave on Sunday. That match up is slated for a 4:00 start, and tickets can be purchased by calling 1-800-IRONMEN.
Major Indoor Soccer League 2 Stories from January 31, 2008
- Wave summer soccer camps bigger and better for 2008 - Milwaukee Wave
- Behind the maroon and mandarin: forward Shaun David - New Jersey Ironmen
- Storm travel to Baltimore, face 'healthy' Blast - Chicago Storm
- Coach's Corner, with Storm head coach Steve Morris - Chicago Storm
- Storm's Richey named co-MISL Goalkeeper of the Week - Chicago Storm
- March 22 Match In New Jersey Rescheduled For March 20 - Philadelphia KiXX
- KiXX captain Pat Morris wins Player of the Week award - Philadelphia KiXX
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