Billy Thompson is an original '96er and former Crew academy coach who still lives in Columbus to this day. He is currently the Boys' Technical Director at Ohio Premier. Fun fact that I just thought to look up as I typed this...Thompson is one of only two players to start the inaugural game on April … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Billy Thompson

Howdy folks! My real job kicked my butt this week, so work on the #SavedTheCrew reaction pieces had come to a halt as my time and energy needed to be focused elsewhere, but here's a quick Friday afternoon #SavedTheCrew snack as you head into the weekend. John DeBrito spent three years with the Crew from … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: John DeBrito

2018 was an emotionally taxing year for Columbus Crew fans, and that includes former Crew striker Tommy Heinemann, who was going through a soccer-as-business ordeal of his own. After signing with FC Cincinnati for the 2018 season, the club unilaterally decided to void his contract based on concerns about the condition of his knee, which … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Tommy Heinemann

Growing up in the Akron suburb of Stow, Ben Speas used to commute to Columbus to take part in the Crew's academy system. After a college career that included winning NCAA College Cup titles with Akron in 2010 and North Carolina in 2011, even being named College Cup MVP with UNC, Speas signed a homegrown … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Ben Speas

Chad Barson played in 50 MLS matches with the Crew from 2013-2016, giving him the third-most regular season appearances of any Central Ohioan in club history, trailing only Wil Trapp (157 and counting) and Danny O'Rourke (147.) A solid defender with a good head for the game, the Lewis Center native was a homegrown product … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Chad Barson

Brad Evans spent only two seasons in Columbus at the very beginning of his career. The first was a forgettable, injury-marred four-appearance campaign. The second resulted in a Supporters' Shield and an MLS Cup title. Then it was off to Seattle in the expansion draft, where over the course of nine season, he won another … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Brad Evans

In the early days of the #SaveTheCrew movement, Danny O'Rourke was one of the first Crew alums to sit down with me and have a lengthy discussion about what Columbus and the Crew meant to him. O'Rourke is a Worthington native who won a state championship with Worthington Kilbourne at MAPFRE Stadium, an NCAA championship … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Danny O’Rourke

Dominic Oduro's former twitter handle said it all: @freakyfast8. (He's now using his name, @DomOduro, but I will always remember his original handle.) Oduro used that eye-popping quickness to lead the Columbus Crew with 13 goals in 2013. He scored a few goals that year due to what I'd dubbed Grand Theft Oduro, where he … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Dominic Oduro

Todd Yeagley was a Crew original who spent his entire seven-year career with Columbus. He was part of the Indiana University pipeline in the inaugural season that included the likes of Brian Maisonneuve, Mike Clark, Brandon Ward, and the club's first GM, Jamey Rootes. Following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Yeagley is now … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Todd Yeagley

From 2011-2016, Tony Tchani was a powerful presence in the center of the Crew's midfield. Or as my friend Scot always refers to him, "Midfield Boss Tony Tchani." He had his best year in Columbus in 2015, when he not only physically dominated opponents, but also scored five goals and dished six assists for the … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Tony Tchani