Parke last player drafted is "Mr. Irrelevant."
Soccer: Last but not least, Parke helps MetroStars shut down Crew
Tuesday, April 06, 2004
BY FRANK GIASE
Star-Ledger Staff
In the NFL, the name given to the last college player drafted is "Mr. Irrelevant."
There is no such nickname in Major League Soccer, but after the MetroStars' 3-1 victory over the Crew in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday night, irrelevent would be the last word to describe Jeff Parke.
The MetroStars defender, drafted out of Drexel with the last pick of the sixth and final round (No. 60 overall) in January, was a surprise starter in the season opener and contributed to a solid defensive effort.
"I just thought, 'Oh man, here we go,'" Parke said when he learned he was starting. "It was great, but I was still going to be nervous. Once I stepped out there and heard my name, I just heard the crowd say 'You (expletive).' It was pretty intense.
"The atmosphere (was) amazing. I have never played in front of a crowd like that. Once I saw my name on the scoreboard and heard it over the PA that I was starting, I just thought that this was real. I had to get ready and play the best I can."
Parke teamed with Chris Leitch, Tenywa Bonseu and Craig Ziadie in a rebuilt MetroStars defense that gave up a goal early but then shut down the Crew.
"Before the game, I really do not think about being the last player picked in the draft," said Parke, who scored the winning goal in the championship game of the La Manga Cup in Spain last month. "I just try to think that when I get the nod, I just want to think about what needs to be done. I try not to be too nervous, even though I was. I try to just play my game and help the team. I just try to have some confidence, and that helps."
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