When the discussion of "worst Metro ever" arises, many names are brought up. Those who define "worst" as "biggest disappointment", point to Ruben Dario Hernandez, Pedro Alvarez, Joao Luiz, or Marcelo Vega. Those who define "worst" as "terribly unskilled", have favorites among Byron Alvarez, Martin Klinger, Kevin Knight, or many from the 1996 season. But for those who want the worst of both worlds, two names spring to mind. One is Steve Shak, a colossal failure after being the #1 overall pick in the 2000 SuperDraft. The other is Edmundo Rodriguez, rightfully considered to be the worst Metro ever. "Edsucko", as he'll forever be known.

As with most Metro players, we did not know much about Edmundo when he joined the team. Supposedly formerly with Guadalajara's Chivas and Tecos, he was drafted with the second overall pick in the Supplemental Draft, having most recently played for Tampa Bay Terror in the NPSL. While we did not know much about Edmundo, when he entered the field in the 65th minute of the team's inaugural match versus Los Angeles, he LOOKED like a player, all 6'4", 205 pounds of him. There was also that flowing mane, which earned him his original nickname, "Hairball". And then in the 77th minute, Edmundo assisted on the first goal in Metro history. It was all downhill from there.

Edmundo was proof that looks can be deceiving; for all his height and stature, he... sucked. Slow and stiff as a barber pole, fast as a snail, his first touch was terrible and the second not much better. Of all the horrible players that graced the Metro lineup through the early 1996 season, your Mickey Kydes, your Andrew Restrepo, your Nidal Baba... well, maybe not Nidal Baba, but yes, even Nidal Baba, all these terrible players were no match for the pathetic horror of Edsucko. He was THAT bad. And then some.

Edsucko played a total of 11 games for Metro, starting five, never collecting a single point since that opening-day assist. When Carlos Queiroz settled in as the new head coach, Edsucko was cut. However, that was not the end of his soccer career, as for years, teams saw something in him to offer him employment. He actually played for the Wizards in 1997, mostly as a defender, and even scored a goal against DC. Edsucko then became an A-League vagabond, playing for the Hershey Wildcats, Charleston Battery, Raleigh Express, Atlanta Silverbacks... There must be a few more there as well. We hear he became a serviceable USL player. No matter; no time in the A-League can erase the stink Eduscko produced in his short time with Metro.

Years go by, players change, the team gets sold and re-branded. But there will ever be only one Edsucko. Worst. Metro. Ever.