Hello, I’m Quavas Kirk
Meet one of the Portland Timber’s newest defenders, MLS veteran Quavas Kirk. This will be an ongoing series Dropping Timer will be bringing you – an attempt to help you get better acquainted with your 2010 Portland Timbers.

Signed in early December, Portland’s promising free agent acquisition will be looking for an opportunity to showcase his strengths in what will be a showcase season overall for the 2011 MLS-bound Timbers. With a bit of luck and some solid play, it’s likely Kirk will be joining them in the jump.

Besides a sharp fashion sense, Quavas will bring some extra excitement and athleticism when he arrives in Soccer City USA. Although only 21 years of age, Quavas has multiple seasons of experience in the MLS, but most recently playing for the USL Minnesota Thunder last season.

QUICK PROFILE
Born: April 13th, 1988
Birthplace: Aurora, Illinois
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 185

Although only spending a few seasons in the MLS, Quavas is already quite well-traveled. A 3rd round draft pick by the LA Galaxy in 2005, Quavas played in 33 games for the Galaxy, but eventually was traded to DC United. After spending a season in DC and a brief trial with the Seattle Sounders, he was sent over to Minnesota where he appeared in 15 games last year.

Quavas is known as a player loaded with potential, someone who’s still learning the game, but has the upside and the youth that can lead to improvement. Along with being a standout on Team USA’s under-17 team (scoring 22 goals in 53 games), Kirk learned the game as a youth at the prestigous IMG Soccer Academy. Located in Bradenton, Florida, the IMG Soccer Academy is place for youths who are deadly serious about soccer. Kids live at the dorms, take classes, as well as go through rigorous soccer training throughout their education. Curfew is at 9pm. This place is no joke. In 2005, Quavas signed with the infamous Generation Adidas Program, a joint MLS/Adidas venture aimed at promoting and raising the level of youth soccer in America. The top teenage soccer talent in the nation are identified and then pushed to sign with MLS or other professional teams, as opposed to pursuing a college education (although a safeguard is in place to provide academic scholarships to players whos careers don’t pan out). Generation Adidas is a bold program that’s helped to produce such players as Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, and Freddy Adu.

The David Beckham Incident

As a member of the LA Galaxy, Quavas originally wore the number 23 on his jersey. However, upon the arrival of David Beckham, Quavas was forced to change his number to 15, despite publicly expressing his desire to keep the number. Beckham brought with him a list of requirements and special accomodations (including his bloated salary) when he came to the MLS and this was certainly one battle that Quavas was not going to win. Sorry, Quavas.

As a member of the Timbers, Quavas won’t have to worry about quibling over kit numbers. Instead, he’ll be a valued part of the teams 2010 season. Quavas will be an exciting defender to watch, somebody who’ll probably show us flashes of brilliance throughout the year, but the question remains….Can Kirk fufill his potential and become a big-time player in the MLS? Well, we’ll get an upclose view as he tries to answer that question this summer at PGE.

* MLS Stats – Espn Career Profile

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1. Timbers Sign First Free Agent Quavas Kirk
2. The 2010 Roster – Say HELLO to Quavas!
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4. 2009 MLS Playoff Confrence Championship Tonight
5. Better Know a Timber

Hello, I’m Ross Smith.
Age: 29
Height: 6’1”
Position: Defender
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada

Another big free-agent signing by the Timbers this off-season, Ross Smith will bring experience and steady play to the Timber’s defensive backline. With the losses the team has already taken to its defense and the Scott Thompson situation still lingering, Smith’s signing will be a welcome and much needed addition.
Smith has had quite a varied and rich soccer life. Although spending much of his youth playing soccer outside of the States, Smith eventually decided to play college soccer at the University of Rhode Island. He would spend four years at Rhode Island, playing in 75 matches, and helping the Rams to a A-10 title in 1999. He was an All A-10 selection in 2001, as well as an All Academic selection his junior and senior seasons.

After college, Smith headed over to England to jumpstart his proffesional career. After playing for a couple different clubs, Smith eventually signed with Gravesend and Northfleet FC (now known as Ebsfleet United) where he would win player of the year for the club in the 2006 season.

With some success abroad under his belt, Smith would head back to the American east coast and play for the USL’s Rochester Rhinos in 2008. Smith was selected as a USL 1st-team of the week member three times that year, as well as scoring two goals for the Rhinos from the backline. The MLS would take notice.

Ross Smith Has Got Heart
In 2009, the MLS’s Colorado Rapids signed Smith to a contract, but would later terminate that deal becuase of health concerns. Smith would be diagnosed with a heart condition, in which a faulty valve resulted in the enlargement of his Aorta. Smith complained about chest pains during play before seeing doctors, who would eventually say that his condition would require surgery before he could return to the field again safely. Although a life-threatening condition, the NBA’s Ronnie Turiaf also suffered from the same ailment before having successful surgery leading to his eventual NBA return.

“This is one of those things you usually find out about when it’s too late,” said Smith last year. “I’m just so lucky. If I took a knock (to the chest) I could be in a bit of trouble, so … surgery is the only chance I have to play again.”

Despite what must of been emotionally trying times from Ross Smith, his friends and family members – Smith was determined to go through with the operation and put in the work to get back onto the soccer field. After a successful surgery and recovery, Smith was assured by doctors that it would be safe for him to play soccer again. He would start his comeback in England. Re-signing with Ebsfleet United, Smith appeared in 6 matches for Ebbsfleet before announcing that he’d be making his return to the States in 2010. With a return to the MLS near the top of his soccer goals, Smith signed with the Portland Timbers this off-season, where he’ll surely get the chance to impress MLS scouts and coaches.

“We are excited to have Ross on board,” said Gavin Wilkinson, “His strengths will benefit the organization and the team in a big way.”

Smith will get the opportunity to become a key member of the Timber’s defense this season, although a return to the MLS still remains an uphill task. But if there’s one thing Timber fans already know about Ross Smith, its that he possesses the determination and the heart to meet that challenge head on. Good luck, Ross. We at Dropping Timber and the rest of the Timber fanbase will be rooting for you.

Related posts:

1. Timbers Sign Defender Ross Smith
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3. The 2010 Roster – Say HELLO to Quavas!
4. GAME PREVIEW – Portland Timbers VS Mexico Club America U-23
5. Midfielder Rodrigo López signs with the Timbers