Mike Lapper was part of the Columbus Crew for 17 seasons as a payer (1997-2002), front office member (2003-2005), and an assistant coach (2006-2013.) Off the top of my head, that means he trails only Dr. Pete Edwards, Dwight Burgess, Robert Warzycha, and former front office member Paul Howard in terms of overall employment longevity … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Mike Lapper

Before we get to the #SavedTheCrew portion of the proceedings, a happy little preamble. Michael Parkhurst ushered in the Gregg Berhalter era as captain of the Crew from 2014-2016. He was an MLS All-Star in 2014 and captained the 2015 Eastern Conference championship squad that lost a heartbreaking MLS Cup to the Portland Timbers. Then … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Michael Parkhurst

Tom Presthus won the 1999 MLS Cup with D.C. United, but he has been making it up to Columbus ever since. He spent 2000-2003 playing for the Crew, including being a member of the 2002 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship squad, and has stayed in Central Ohio with his wife, Melissa, and their three … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Tom Presthus

William Hesmer holds most of the significant goalkeeping records in Columbus Crew history. He is an MLS Cup champion. He is a stoppage time goalscorer in Toronto at the apex of #LOLTFC. He once rehabbed a major injury by taking an internship at a local investment firm to kickstart his post-soccer career as a financial … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: William Hesmer

Known for his shootout success and the horror movie sobriquet "Chucky" that was bestowed on him by teammate Adrian Paz, goalkeeper David Winner played for Columbus from 1996-1998. The Crew's relocation saga had a unique twist for Winner as he lived in Austin for ten years before moving back to Columbus five years ago, where … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: David Winner

One of the most joyful people to ever wear the Black & Gold, Ansil Elcock played five seasons in Columbus from 1997-2001. The native of Trinidad & Tobago, and longtime member of their national team, was an easygoing guy who was always quick with a laugh or a cackle. I wasn't even sure if the … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Ansil Elcock

Former Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson, currently of the LA Galaxy, was a homegrown player and an Ohio State Buckeye, so his Central Ohio roots run deep. After surviving Hodgkin's lymphoma as a teenager, Lampson has dedicated his career to making a difference for others in their fight against blood cancers via his Lampstrong Foundation. He … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Matt Lampson

To mix it up, this alumni series has moved on to a current player. Josh Williams grew up a Crew fan in Copley, Ohio and then had to live the entire 16-month relocation saga from the inside as a member of the team. As the snow swirled outside my window in Cleveland, Josh called from … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Josh Williams

From the steps of City Hall in October of 2017, to the "OMG we're going to save the Crew" celebration at Endeavor Brewing a year later, to the stadium reveal at Land Grant, to the official announcement on January 9, 2019, that the Crew had officially been saved, Dante Washington has been a prominent face … Continue reading #SavedTheCrew Reaction: Dante Washington