Alexi Lalas

After turning down a chance to play for Bruce Arena when he took over the U.S. national team in late 1998, Lalas was again traded in 1999, this time to the Kansas City Wizards. Though he played decently on a poor team, he decided to retire after the season ended.

During his hiatus from soccer, Lalas began a career in broadcasting, covering soccer for ABC, ESPN, and Fox Sports Net, the Olympics for NBC, and other sports programming. He also continued to work on his musical career. This physical and mental break served Lalas well. He emerged at the end of the 2000 MLS season signing with the Los Angles Galaxy for the playoffs. The team won the Football Confederation Champions Cup.

Lalas opted to re-sign with the Galaxy, and played for them during the 2001 and 2002 seasons. In 2002, he had a career high four goals and four assists, playing center back. The team won both the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield that season. No matter what he chose to do, Lalas remained true to himself. He told the Tampa Tribune, "I made my bed with who I am and the way I look. It's honest and I believe in it from an individual standpoint and from a soccer standpoint. If I ever felt I was being manipulated against my will, where I was becoming this cartoon or something, I would get out of it."