Devon McTavish Retires, Soccer Loses A Great Man
by Martin Shatzer on Dec 22, 2011 10:49 PM EST
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Drawing an unfortunate conclusion to the career of a versatile player for D.C. United and an even better member of the D.C. community, Devon McTavish announced his retirement today.
The 27-year old defender spent his entire MLS career with United, playing in 83 matches in six seasons, but missed all of the 2011 season due to a concussion suffered during preseason training. McTavish made the bench a few times at the end of the year, and was able to get a bit of playing time in the reserve league, but didn't log any minutes with the first team.
McTavish's retirement feels much different from the retirement of Santino Quaranta earlier this month. Quaranta didn't retire from professional soccer because he was unable to contribute. He retired to pursue other opportunities, other goals, other dreams.
Seeing McTavish retire though is like seeing a friend get laid off. McTavish retired because his skills were below the skills of his coworkers. Because there wasn't a spot for him anymore. Not with his current company, and probably not with any other company in the industry. Quaranta retired while he still had the opportunity to make $100,000 a year playing soccer. McTavish retired because he'll never have that opportunity.
Sure, injuries prevented him from playing this year, and that obviously set him back. If he hadn't suffered a concussion this preseason, McTavish would likely be preparing for next season, rather than hanging up his boots. Instead though, he joins the list of former United players whose careers had to end too soon. That list already includes Bryan Namoff, Josh Gros, Alecko Eskandarian, and Quaranta. But not Zach Wells.
Favorite McTavish memories? Undoubtedly its the 2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, in which McTavish scored three goals in the two-game qualifying round against Harbour View FC. The first came in the road leg in Jamaica, then he notched two more back home at RFK.
Nah. Who am I kidding? My favorite McTavish moment is this one. So long, Devon.
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Motive
I’m not sure that I disagree that the league has surpassed McTavish’s skill set, but in article on dcunited.com, McTavish claims that it is a concussion issue – that the doctors don’t want him to play anymore. You suspect that is not the case?
Reading it back....
I was probably too harsh on McTavish. I definitely agree that his health (not just the concussion, but also his ongoing battle with Chrohm’s disease) is the biggest factor in McTavish’s decision to retire.
But I think this would be a different story if McTavish had the skill of, say, Chris Pontius, who could make a good salary for any team in the league. McTavish was never going to reach that level. Being a $50,000 role player was essentially McTavish’s peak. That’s not enough money to keep playing a sport in which you could literally have brain damage after just one more head injury.
Managing Editor for BlackAndRedUnited.com. Weekly Columnist for SB Nation D.C..
by Martin Shatzer on Dec 23, 2011 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
The curse of Fairfield Inn is complete!
One player lost to ankle injuries, two to concussions, and one to the Revolution. Damn you, Fairfield Inn & Suites! Damn you!
Boycott
If only for our collective personal safety and/or ability to stay employed in the region.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
by ChestRockwell on Dec 23, 2011 11:31 AM EST up reply actions
My favorite McTavish moment isn't really a moment
It’s related to his goals against Harbour View. Devon McTavish, utility defender/midfielder who was only starting due to other injuries within the squad, finished atop the scoring chart in the last-ever CONCACAF Champions Cup.
No, seriously. He was tied with Luis Montes of Pachuca, who I distinctly remember being a) really friggin’ good off the bench and b) chubby…well, chubby for a professional soccer player, anyway.
Also scoring for DC in that tournament: Rod Dyachenko and Franco Niell. Weirdest tournament ever!
Seriously though, McTavish was pretty much the annual DCU Humanitarian of the Year, and the worst thing I’ve ever heard anyone say about him is a friend of mine who hung out with him once (they both played college soccer at the same time). The criticism? “He didn’t drink!”
I have a feeling McTavish will be a success at whatever he goes into next.
Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC
McT
I will wear my McT thumbprint jersey to the first game this year. Good guy, best of luck to him.
Sounds like a good idea
I think I’ll wear mine, too.
by Brendanukkah on Dec 23, 2011 6:14 PM EST up reply actions
A Little Harsh...
…I find your article a little harsh…Tearing the guy down a bit when he’s hanging it up? To tell the truth, I couldn’t pick him out of a line-up, but your favorite McT moment is when he eats it when he shoulda been running free? Damn! That’s how I feel about John Terry earlier this year when he tripped and allowed Van Persie to score, but John Terry is a major dirtbag and NOT a DCU player.
by Eric David Ruenes on Dec 24, 2011 4:17 PM EST reply actions
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