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A day after signing a contract with Major League Soccer, former UNLV striker Danny Cruz said it was an offer he couldn’t refuse.
“I looked at it from every point of view,” he said. “I talked to everybody I needed to talk to. Ultimately, I have to do what’s best for me. This entire state has done so much for me. It got me where I am.
“It changed my life. It completely changed my life. Now I’ve made it. I always set a goal to play professionally, and I’ll continue to set goals and continue to achieve them.”
A mainstay on U.S. national youth teams, Cruz will try to become a part of the senior team and play in World Cups. The next one will take place next year in South Africa.
A native of Glendale, Ariz., Cruz played two seasons for UNLV. He spent all of Tuesday in coach Mario Sanchez’s office, poring over details of his MLS deal and finally signing the contract.
He is part of a “Generation adidas” effort that earmarks young talent, and eight other collegiate players signed MLS contracts before completing their NCAA eligibility.
Kevin Alston of Indiana, Stefan Frei of California, Baggio Husidic of Illinois, Peri Marosevic of Michigan, Steve Zakuani of Akron, and Maryland’s Omar Gonzalez, Jeremy Hall and Rodney Wallace all left school early to sign with MLS.
Last year, six of the first eight picks in the MLS SuperDraft were from the Generation adidas group of nine.
Cruz, whose three-year deal includes a two-year option, leaves for a scouting combine in Florida this weekend, and the SuperDraft will be held Jan. 15 in St. Louis.
“It’s a good offer,” Cruz said late Wednesday morning in Sanchez’s office. “I don’t want to go into that. I’m just excited to be part of something special. MLS is moving forward and I’m excited to be a part of it.”
He said he wouldn’t mind playing for any of the league’s 15 teams. Seattle joins this season. Next year, Philadelphia will be the 16th franchise.
A private group, headed by Southern California businessman Mark Noorzai, has been working for almost three years to get an expansion franchise in Las Vegas.
“Wherever I end up, I’ll have the same work ethic I had here,” Cruz said. “I’m really sad to know that my time here has ended with UNLV, but look what Mario has done the past two years.
“He’s bringing in a great group of kids, and there’s a great group here. I’m really excited for this program. It won’t stop going upward just because I’m going. I hope fans remain loyal, and I’ll miss them.”
***
(January 6, 8:38 p.m.)
UNLV sophomore striker Danny Cruz is leaving school for Major League Soccer.
Cruz signed an MLS contract today in coach Mario Sanchez’s office. He leaves Thursday for a combine in Florida and will be available to be picked in the MLS SuperDraft on Jan. 15 in St. Louis.
“It’s true,” Sanchez said. “All afternoon he was in my office signing the paperwork. It’s a good thing, a good contract. They take care of him.
“There are some finances in there for him to go back to school, so it’s an opportunity that there was no way he could pass up. For soccer in this country, what they offered him … he was ready.”
MLS is a single-entity league, meaning it and not its 14 individual teams set and control salaries. It will add a team in Seattle this season and one in Philadelphia in 2010.
The 5-foot-8 Cruz, from Glendale, Ariz., scored nine goals and had seven assists in his two years at UNLV. He declined to talk about leaving school late Tuesday night but will be available Wednesday morning.
"He's exhausted," Sanchez said. "He just wants to chill out."
HUGE loss to the program, but great news for Mr. Cruz. Looking forward to watching him grow in MLS... perhaps someday in a (domed!) soccer-only stadium in LV :)
Two questions, Rob -- what's a "combine"?
Also, is Cruz the first UNLV soccer player to go to the MLS this way? How many have gone total? This seems like big news for Las Vegas, no?
Thanks --
juan, it is big news. Too bad for UNLV, because he's such a young talent. But his upside was obviously spotted. I believe he is the first from the Rebels to go this route. Rod Dyachenko completed his eligibility before he went into that draft. He's at DC United.
On a sidenote, Vegas-born Herculez Gomez was not drafted, came up through the minor-minor ranks to win a title with the LA Galaxy. He suffered a knee injury two seasons ago in Colorado and is now at Kansas City, which made the playoffs this past season.
Jumpin, I think the economy has affected some business deals in the MLS, but I know Noorzai is still moving ahead with his LV plans. It's getting more difficult, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes. I'm not at liberty to discuss the brunt of it, because he has nondisclosure agreements with all current and potential partners. But it is moving along.
thanks
Oops, sorry Juan. A combine is a type of tryout, in which a bunch of players are at one site and scouts and coaches put them through an array of drills and physical tests. It's an up-close-and-personal review of what they're capable of doing. True speed. Agility stuff. If the past is any indication, look for Cruz to get picked in the first half of the first round. Obviously, he's been scouted thoroughly or the Generation adidas crew wouldn't have made him the offer that it did.
Thanks -- so he's basically only the third UNLV player to go pro in the MLS and the 1st this way?
And, what's a combine?
ooops you beat me to it on the combine answer. Thanks.
juan, Cruz is the second. Gomez is from Vegas but did not go to college. He went to Vegas High. Great guy. Very dedicated to Vegas.