So what does ESPN think about the race for MLS Rookie of the Year?

I know the above question has been on all of your lips recently. Well, here is Andrea Canales' opinion on the matter. Andrea brings up an interesting phenomenon in MLS, the #1 pick jinx. Over the past few years MLS teams have improved at picking the top youth talent, but the history of the top picks can be laughable.

Let's take a look:

1996	-	Kansas City		-	M	-	Matt McKeon	-	St. Louis
1997	-	Colorado		-	D	-	Tahj Jakins	-	UCLA
1998	-	Miami		-	D	-	Leo Cullen	-	Maryland
1999	-	D.C. United		-	M	-	Jason Moore	-	Virginia
2000	-	Metrostars		-	D	-	Steve Shak
2001	-	San Jose		-	F	-	Chris Carrieri	-	UNC
2002	-	Dallas		-	D	-	Chris Gbandi
2003	-	D.C. United		-	F	-	Alecko Eskandarian
2004	-	D.C. United		-	F	-	Freddy Adu
2005	-	RSL		-	M	-	Nikolas Besagno
2006	-	Metrostars		-	D	-	Marvell Wynne

While looking at the above list, it is ok if you say, "Who?" Jenkins, Moore, Shak...Many of these guys not only failed to impress in their first season but never made a mark on the league. They have bounced around teams and ended up in the A-League or worse.

MLS has tried to step up to the plate by giving league coaches more opportunities to evaluate talent. Additionally, teams have realized that the draft is a place to pick up a young, cheap athlete. I'm sure in those first drafts the coaches were picking names out of a hat based on their friends in the coaching world opinions. Now, MLS coaches can watch the future stars at the combine, in Florida at the US training center or a number of other tournaments. Scouting has certainly come along way and the young guys taken in the recent drafts will make their mark on MLS. This could be the first season where a lot of them do, as Andrea points out.