The USMNT's one-cap club: Stories of what could've been

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There are two-hundred and seven players on the US men's national team. They played in a senior game. Jimmy Ford and Bruce Arena are two of the 207 you have heard of.

In 1934, Walter Dick and Adam Wolanin played in the World Cup and both lost.

There are also strange things. In the Americans' 6-3 loss to England in 1953, Otto Decker scored a pair of goals. Gordon Burness played for Canada and scored in a 6-1 loss to the U.S. before moving to the U.S.

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The stories of the 207 men in the one-cap club reach far and wide, and the opportunity to visit with several of them was a highlight of the trip.

All of them agreed that playing at the highest level for their country was the greatest honor of their lives. Even though it only happened once, these moments in the history books are forever theirs.

Eddie Robinson, defender: Jan. 19, 2008 vs. Sweden

Eddie Robinson was a four-time MLS Cup winner with San Jose and Houston, but his tendency to flirt with the red card always seemed to damage his national team hopes. I was told by both Bruce and Bob that they couldn't trust me not to be sent off. I was aware of that. Robinson said that he was wired that way.

Robinson's USMNT appearance came in a 2-0 January friendly win against Sweden after he was called to camps in 2002 and 2006 A guy who hardly ever scored in MLS managed to get a goal in his lone national team appearance, just one of 10 single cappers to achieve that.

Robinson feels a sense of remorse when he looks at his cap. I nearly offended myself. I've never been so focused. I was standing up for my country. This makes me sad. I wondered if I should focus so much on my club team that I wouldn't be as good for it.

Tim Harris, goalkeeper: June 16, 1985 vs. England

Before he became President of Business Operations for the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers, Tim Harris was a goalkeeper at UCLA. An unexpected call-up happened in the summer of 1985.

"They told me to come in and back up the man." I was hesitant to do it, but they said, "Look, you get to make a little bit of money." so I said, "OK, I'll do that."

Harris was not expecting to see the field until the halftime argument between Mauser and Panagoulias changed everything. I walked back to the bench after the half time break and someone said, "You know that you're playing." I asked what you were talking about. Harris said they said, "No, you're in."

Harris gave up three more for a final score of five.

Harris said that he was the average. You can never discount the importance of playing for your country despite how bad it was.

While now fully ingrained into NBA life at the executive level, Harris remains an avid soccer fan, such that the attendance of European soccer stars to Los Angeles can produce the memory of a lifetime. He came through for a game before Jose was hired. The three of us sat in a trainer's room after the game. Kobe asked him questions about preparing.

I just sat and listened to those two guys.

Curt Onalfo, defender: June 14, 1988 vs. Costa Rica

The New England Revolution's technical director, Onalfo, is a well-known name in U.S. soccer circles. As a player, Onalfo was seen as a big deal. In the summer of 1988, the 18-year-old Onalfo got a call to play for an American B-team against Costa Rica in San Antonio, Texas.

I was very nervous and needed to get settled in. It took about five minutes for me to get used to it.

After being diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease, Onalfo was unable to play in the 1994 World Cup. I had cancer and was a candidate for the '94 team. One and done, that's it. I was not the same after Chemo. Onalfo said that he lost a step when he went through Chemo.

Even though cancer ended his national team career, Onalfo still tries to impart wisdom to his players whenever they are called up.

I think the best advice I can give them is to play to win. You play to win if you cut through the essence.

Mac Cozier, forward: Oct. 16, 1996 vs. Peru

It was an interesting time for the U.S. soccer team. The core group of men's national team players were on strike. A group of players who normally wouldn't have been called were invited to the camp because of the upcoming friendly against Peru. Mac Cozier was confused when he showed up at camp.

I wanted to know where Eric Wynalda was. There is a question about where Tab Ramos is. Cozier is a math teacher at a high school in Jacksonville, Florida.

Cozier was exposed to a completely new soccer atmosphere when he arrived in the country. "When you're in college, you go on the bus and nobody knows who you are, but here in this atmosphere, you're with the police, they have their lights on and everyone is yelling at you," said Cozier.

Cozier replaced Jean Harbor in the first half and immediately made an impact, having a hand in the tying goal. During the second half, reality set in and Peru came away with a victory.

If it hadn't opened some doors for me, I wouldn't have done it. I'm going to play in Chile for a year and see the culture. Cozier said that playing for the national team opened the door for him.

David Cayemitte, winger: Dec. 2, 1984 vs. Ecuador

There is a long history of players with Haitian roots on the U.S. national team. David Cayemitte's time with the USMNT ended in a 2-2 draw with Ecuador at the Orange Bowl.

It feels good to be a part of that. The national team accepts that wherever you come from, you can do well. Cayemitte said that the national team is his third blessed memory.

There's a beautiful game here. You can watch tournaments and teams.

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