Ty Harden’s Leaving Soccer!?!

By: Laurie | February 15th, 2008

This one breaks my heart. After just one year, Ty Harden (who, in case you’ve forgotten, came from my grad school alma mater, University of Washington) is leaving. Not just the Galaxy, not just MLS, but the game itself.

Ouch. Last year, Ty came in early in the season and worked hard to fill a gaping void in central defense. Frank Yallop put trust in him, and Ty stepped up and became a regular starter. With a little seasoning, he had the potential to be really, really good.

I’ll never forget watching him in the Chelsea game last year as he went one on one with striker Didier Drogba. I expected him to get smoked, but he held out, causing Drogba to commit the foul trying to get by him. Drogba probably made more in that ninety minutes than Ty made in an entire year.

And now Ty is apparently leaving, and nobody knows why.

From Billy Witz at The Daily Breeze:

Ty Harden, who went from unknown rookie to a fixture in the Galaxy’s backline last season, has walked away from the sport, telling the team he planned to pursue a business opportunity with his family, according to sources.

It was unclear if that opportunity was related to his father Robert’s position as CEO for Goodwill Industries in Reno, Nev., or if Harden plans to resume his career at any point.

But the indication from two sources is that Harden is retiring. Messages left with each of his parents Thursday were not returned.

“I’m not sure what’s going on, other than it’s personal reasons and we know he’s in good health,” Galaxy forward Edson Buddle said. “As far as I know, nothing’s finalized, but I don’t know a lot.”…

“Everybody’s kind of wondering what’s going on,” said one teammate, who has left a message for Harden that hasn’t been returned. “Everybody thinks the world of him. He could go very far in soccer. I’m as anxious as you are to find out what’s going on.”

University of Washington coach Dean Wurzberger, who coached Harden in college, said he was surprised when he learned last week that Harden had walked away. He recalled seeing Harden in December, and said he was looking forward to the new season.

Like I said, this breaks my heart. Ty was the one the foreign papers always chose to contrast with Beckham: both of them blond and talented. One paid millions, the other pennies. And now he’s walking away.

Is this a sign of something seriously wrong with the Galaxy and its Beckhamania, or with MLS and its dirt wages? Or is it just one kid’s decision about his life? I’m hoping we find out more soon.