7th Annual 3rd Degree Awards
The 3rd Degree Awards are given out each year, following the regular season.
The 3rd Degree Awards were created in 1998,
with the addition of the Spark award in 1999.
Award History
2003 Dallas Burn
| Napalm Award: Brad Davis (MVP) |
| The only Burn player to meet pre-season expectations. Led the Burn in scoring from the midfield. |
| Band-Aid Award: Toni Nhleko (best mid season addition) |
| Once he got in shape brought some strength and power to the Burn front line. Only 2 goals, but the Burn offense got much better after he won starting place. |
| Phoenix Award: DJ Countess (best emergence) |
| Handed the starting job in the off season and had a solid season. Was let down by his defense too many times. |
| Spark Award: Shavar Thomas (best rookie) |
| 14 starts primarily after Morrow was injured. Showed a physical side and has all the tools. Run away winner as Jason Thompson was the only other rookie to make roster and did not get any minutes |
2003 MLS Awards
| MVP: Richard Mulrooney, San Jose Earthquakes |
| You can not underestimate how much he means to the Quakes. He holds the entire thing together. Watch a SJ game sometime and track Mulrooney. I think you will be surprised how much work he does. |
| Best Player: Landon Donovan, San Jose Earthquakes |
| Hey Landon, I have a pair of balls you can borrow so you can go to Europe. |
| Best Defender: Carlos Bocanegra, Chicago Fire |
| Rapidly emerging as the best US defender. One of the major reasons Chicago stayed strong despite all the personnel losses. |
| Best Goaltender: Kevin Hartman, Los Angeles Galaxy |
| Another great year for the most underrated GK in MLS. 149 saves 1.13 GAA. |
| Rookie of the Year: Pat Noonan, New England Revolution |
| Damani Ralph was a consistent but Noonan has 1 less point in 300 less minutes and carried his team down the stretch and in the playoffs. |
| Best Mid Season pick up: Johnny Walker, MetroStars |
| Metro was dead meat when Howard left for Man U, Walker saved their bacon. |
| Trade of the Year: Chris Brown andDario Fabbro to Revolution for Wolde Harris and Jorge Vázquezto Wizards. |
| Brown’s pace really helped Revs until he got hurt, now Fabbro is leading Revs in playoffs. Harris 0 points, Vazquez didn’t play. |
| Pack Your Bags Award: Clint Mathis, MetroStars |
| It’s not that he’s not good, it’s just that Bradley won’t put up with his crap. |