Introducing the class of 2008
SEATTLE (August 3, 2008)—In the largest candidate and voting pool in FCST Ring of Honor history, three men are today the newest inductees into the team’s most hallowed of halls.
Defenders Mike McMasters and Nate Burger and midfielder Bryan Monaghan were the only ones of the 17 players on the ballot to gain entry by receiving at least 60 percent of the nods from 22 voters, all current and past FCST players. GSSL staff did not respond to an invitation to take part in the voting.
Nearly all candidates played with and all have been away from Tire for at least a year. Burger and Monaghan each received a vote-high 16 votes and McMasters received 14 to become the class of 2008.
“Absolutely three stand-up fellows who indubitably deserve Ring of Honor status,” said ROH moderator Tim Farley. “These guys had unique skills on the field, were well-liked on the team and the voters clearly acknowledged that.”
Missing the cut for the second straight year was Tire’s first-ever keeper Mitch King and his lifetime 2.55 goals against average. King received 12 of 22 votes.
Also narrowly missing entrance was forward Billy Marx, the team’s ninth all-time scoring leader with 17 and nine assists. Marx received 11 thumbs up.
Everyone but three received at least one vote; those with more than one included Josh Quarles and Marc Plano (two each), Mike Melbourne (five), Will Pranzini (six), Carmine Coburn (eight) and Mike Holloman (nine).
While voters selected on average five players as their choices, those not receiving votes were Chris Holloman, Dave Kalinski and Paul Hansen.
“Paul didn’t bring anything to the table,” explained Steve Lassiter, who voted for five. “And on the field Dave didn’t represent what we are about. I have no problems getting a little pissy at a ref, but his refusal to sometimes sub out was something we don’t tolerate.”
“I almost voted for Mike Holloman, because he at least contributed a little something with a hat trick [Oct. 17, 2004 vs. Cumulus United] and probably the funniest moment in team history,” Lassiter said, referring to Holloman’s decision to once take and let sail grossly high a penalty kick during a dead ball which resulted in a yellow card.
“Carmine Coburn … is Tire’s FIRST EVER GOAL not a good enough reason?” asked voter Matt Maxwell, referring to Coburn’s trivia question reputation when he knocked in two during game two vs. 45th Street Brewers April 14, 2002 on the dirt at Shorview Park.
“I don’t think guys like the Coburn brothers or Quarles played long enough to make any difference, which is why I was always opposed to Ford making it in,” admitted Lassiter. “And Josh did nothing but keep my original No. 3 jersey.”
As a voter, McMasters gave 10 generous nods; midfielder Casey Antoncich was also charitable in granting checkmarks to nine candidates.
“Not knowing any of those guys,” he said, “I thought that nominating the original crew would be a nice thing for those guys.”
Stingy with his voting voice was Scot Rogers who liked only Monaghan. Keeper Shelby Dobbs, who was introduced to Tire by Monaghan, gave a lone positive nod to Burger. He says he has a policy of not voting anyone in who has appeared more than once on a ballot.
“If you have not been voted in by your fourth time, you are out,” he boomed. “If you have been asked not to come back and play with us because of your on-field behavior, you’re out. And more importantly, if your name is Paul Hansen, you are especially out!”
“Shouldn’t there be some form of vetting (nominating) process to even making it on the ballot?” asked forward Mike Gill-More, who selected only two. “I mean, Paul Hansen … are you kidding? He wouldn’t be on the 100 Greatest Spare Tire Players list (even if there aren’t 100).” [Editor’s note: 82 guys have played for FCST]
“Carmine, Shane, Jason and Marc didn’t play long enough to be considered and McMasters isn’t done yet if you ask me,” said original member and forward Dean Lencioni. “Nate could be back at any time also. Alan Byars wasn’t with us long enough either. Monaghan is in next year. Do I even have to say anything about Dave and Paul? Mitch should be in because he is the only guy who could possibly be blinded by the sun—at nighttime.”
Burger is regarded as the first solid defensive player to man the back line. Mike Gill-More invited Burger to the team upon meeting him in an MBA class they shared at the University of Washington.
“When Mike brought Nate along to play, it marked a change in Spare Tire,” Lassiter remarked. “For the first time we had someone who had the pace to keep up with same of the quicker forwards in the league. If we look back at it when he joined—sorry, Don—our defense turned a corner and stopped giving up as many goals.”
Burger introduced “communication” to his teammates and made organizing a backfield look easy. In his winter 2004 debut, FCST gave up half as many goals as it did just the winter prior.
In his first season, Tire won its first division 4 championship. Burger scored one and assisted on three; he also own-goaled but once. Burger took a year off from playing between spring 2005 and spring 2006 before work forced a relocation to Dallas after spring session 2007.
Burger’s defensive influence was so remarkable that teammates voted him team MVP in 2004—the first and only time an MVP award has been doled.
Burger’s brother Phil joined the team in April 2006 and continues to be a steady player at just about every position as he carves himself a nice little tidy path of his own to Ring of Honor status.
McMasters, an original Tire member, was a formidable presence in the defensive line. Sure, there were faster forwards who could and would zip around McMasters deep in the Tire box, but what McMasters lacked in speed he made up for with a big body and ability to impede ultimate progress.
His shining offensive moment came came off a Tim Farley corner kick vs. SD United on Feb. 13, 2005 at Nathan Hale when he leapt and head-flicked in his first and only Tire goal that was as pretty as they come. Car troubles, ladies, school, travel and work issues forced McMasters to miss much of his final two years with the team, but with McMasters on the field, anything could happen.
“McMasters was a lot like Bryan except that he was more likely to show why we are called Spare Tire. He would always give his best effort, in fact, so much so that I don’t think his hamstrings liked it,” Lassiter said. “If you wanted someone to make you laugh at a game, McMasters would be the one to do it with a funny story. He was also always willing to tell Gilly or me to shut up when he had heard enough of our comments.”
“I am humbly thankful to be in the company of such great soccer players since I never really considered myself to be a soccer player,” McMasters said. “It’s interesting how so many of the defensive players have retired, which just proves that Don Gill-More isn’t really a defensive player as much as he is an offensive player who is lagging behind. Just kidding. Much love, Don.”
McMasters says his most fond memories of playing with FCST are first and foremost just being around the guys.
“Somehow the ragtag assembly of offset personalities worked out well ... at least for me,” ol’ No. 12 says. “My fondest memories of actually playing were in the early days when I played center fullback and sweeper and spent all of my time running down the quick little dudes. I miss the mental and physical challenges that came with playing sweeper in particular and having to be ready to run like hell while knowing how the other team’s players were going to develop their particular play. That and the camaraderie of the defensive players is what I miss the most.”
Monaghan was the team’s Den Mother. A stocky midfielder who joined the team upon stumbling across fcsparetire.com and asking to join up, Monaghan scored seven games into his Tire career.
Monaghan’s scoring trailed off a bit—he would put in just one more and add six assists to his Tire resumé—and the skill that emerged more than any other was his ability to befriend nearly any opponent. His affable personality and infectious laugh won over many an opponent to create lasting friends of other teams as opposed to bitter rivals.
Upon his retirement (that he threatens to end whenever he next ventures west of the mountains), teammates sent him off with a pizza party and framed keepsake of photos of him in action, signed by all the players on the team along with their well wishes.
Monaghan says to be voted in by his peers is pretty humbling, and that his three years with FCST were awesome.
“It feels great, especially to be indicted, er, inducted with Mike and Nate,” he says. “I certainly miss seeing everyone on Sundays, but for the time being I am in Spokane in order to be closer to my ill mother. Honestly, I do think about moving back to Seattle and may pursue that in the future.
“What could even remotely compare with the Tire experience?” Monaghan asks. “As for memories, ahh, so many ... probably my favorite is the [11-19-05] playoff game against Monkey United at Nathan Hale, though we blew a game we had [Editor’s Note: Tire went ahead 3-0 but tied 4-4 and fell 4-3 on PKs].
“Others were my two goals, playing at Memorial Stadium on my birthday, Don’s form-fitting lumberjack warmup jacket, Greg’s orange socks, the mud game in Bellevue [vs. Pumas at Newport Hills], shedding blood for the cause [a head wound 2-12-06 vs. Seattle Blue Demons at Lynnwood], and somehow discovering that I am pretty good at crosses. And getting to be Den Mother and making nice with all the other teams; can’t forget that.”
“Monaghan represents why we play on the team,” Lassiter said. “He may not have had the most skill but he would always work hard and got along with everyone on the team. I think we are better off for knowing him. The only thing he needs to do is not socialize with the opponent during the game.”
“Bryan has, uh, let’s say, very good people skills,” said defender Don Gill-More. “He could lull them into losing focus on the game ... a very good defensive tactic!”
Burger was unavailable for comment at publication time, but brother Phil relays that Burger is doing well near Dallas, especially in his career where he is slated to be tapped for a managerial spot upon a new store’s opening. Sadly, Phil reports Nate has not been able to play any consistent soccer in the Lone Star state.
Monaghan today is currently focused on attaining an athletic training degree at Eastern Washington University. His Sundays are now reserved for sleeping as he works nights as an MST.
“I’m playing on a coed team for kicks,” Monaghan adds. I also went back to my first love of track and am trying to get in shape [Editor’s note: What? You’re not already in shape?] to maybe do some meets next year. Plus with school, I am doing lots more academic reading.”
Monaghan says he plans to return for a September game and looks forward to chumming with the pals then. “Though I’m four hours away, I still very much feel a part of FCST and always check the site and harass Farley when possible. It sounds corny, but you guys were and are a big part of my life. Thanks for everything, and see you all soon.”
Today, a typical Sunday for McMasters usually involves sailing, of all things. This past weekend he competed in the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association District 6 championship at the Fern Ridge Yacht Club in Eugene, Ore. in a qualifying event for the world championships next spring.
“It’s funny that I went from being a non-soccer player who played soccer all the time to being a non-sailor who sails,” McMasters muses. “Hmmm … identity crisis?” Check out www.starclass.org for more on the type of sailing McMasters enjoys.
“The only other thing that I’ll say is that all that a person can do is try to live the best they can with the short time we’re given,” McMasters says. “And, looking back, I have to say that my time on FCST was precious time well spent with great guys. Sorry for the sappy, but I hope you’re all doing well and I’m going to have to try to free up one of my Sundays to come watch you guys again.”
SEATTLE (Aug. 6, 2006)—Only one in a 12-man field gained entry into FC Spare Tire’s prestigious hall of fame, and that man’s name is Jose Bonilla.
