The noted jazz magazine 'Downbeat' always has been renowned for its section touting, 'Talent Deserving Wider Recognition.' Major League Soccer should consider creating a similar category for players deserving wider opportunity.
If so, Paulo Dos Santos might be one of its first featured performers.
Waived from the Revolution last week by coach Fernando Clavijo, the decision surprised many people who watched Dos Santos last year meet his scant opportunity with hope and optimism. Several former teammates called Dos Santos at his Brockton home to show their support.
'It made me feel good,' said Dos Santos, 26. 'Everyone seemed to be surprised with what happened. But they were all supportive and I appreciate that.'
Dan Calichman, Johnny Torres, Jamar Beasley and Carlos Parra called Dos Santos. Leonel Alvarez had a Boston-based friend phone his former teammate to express his support from Florida.
'After that you know who your friends are,' he said. 'They were all supportive and cordial.'
Dos Santos said he has promptly received good professional offers from the Boston Bulldogs and Connecticut Wolves, as well as from the Raleigh and Richmond franchises.
'Out of something bad comes a good situation,' said Dos Santos. 'I've had some good offers but I have to sit back and make a careful decision on what my next move is going to be.'
Dos Santos, a University of Rhode Island graduate who has worked in real estate, said he has plans to pursue an MBA. With no designs of getting rich from soccer, a reality for a privileged few in this country at this time, he said he remains addicted to the sport's hypnotic and competitivespell. To that end, his mind is almost completely made up.
'The Bulldogs have made me a great offer and (general manager) Joe Cummings has really been nice to me,' he said. 'He said they would help me with internships or an off-season job if I need one. Connecticut also made a good offer and I like their setup, but I think I want to stay closer to home.'
The Bulldogs left Thursday for an 11-day preseason tour in Norway under coach Steve Nicol, who showed plenty of faith in Dos Santos last season in the two games he served as Revolution interim coach.
Patrick McCabe, Dos Santos' agent, said he was also surprised his client was waived.
'It's somewhat of a mystery that a player with the qualities he has, and with his potential, is left out in the cold,' said McCabe. 'It's even more of a mystery he was not picked up by another team. It seems strange you want to leave a good player like him out when you are rebuilding a team. Looking at the veterans on this (Revolution) team - (John) Harkes, Alvarez - nobody knows how long they are going to be on this team. There's no midfield workhorse in the middle who's going to run 90 minutes like Paulo can. You hope it doesn't come back to haunt them.'
'Last year I was the last one to get an opportunity,' said Dos Santos. 'I had to prove more than anyone else to get one little chance. So I guess I did all right. It seems to have opened some doors and some eyes and I'm happy with that.'
Parra and Brian Dunseth were named to the men's national team that will represent the country in this year's Olympics, which in soccer is an under-23 competition with three over-aged players allowed per country.
