Trade to D.C. United still baffles Diaz Arce

By RODNEY PAGE

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 4, 2000

Raul Diaz Arce is a prime example of how nothing is guaranteed in this world.

At the start of the Major League Soccer season, Diaz Arce was one of the Mutiny's "untouchable" players. He was the team's only proven forward after scoring nine goals in 13 games following a 1999 trade from San Jose.

The Mutiny media guide features his picture on the cover. If anyone had job security, it seemed to be Diaz Arce.

But along came Senegal forward Mamadou Diallo, expected to be a complement to Diaz Arce and a security blanket when Diaz Arce played in World Cup qualifying matches for El Salvador.

After a slow start, Diallo erupted for six goals in three games in a 4-5-1 system that used one forward. Coach Tim Hankinson twice attempted to play both forwards at the same time, but in each game the Mutiny was shut out.

In two months, Diaz Arce went from prominent starter to an expensive bench warmer. On May 26, after three straight games of watching Diallo play ahead of him, he was traded to his former club, D.C. United, for midfielder John Maessner, two first-round picks in the 2001 draft and a second-rounder in 2002.

"I still don't understand why," said Diaz Arce, who had a combined 38 goals for United in 1996 and '97. "I never said that I wanted to be traded. I never went to anybody and said if I sit the bench I want to leave. But one day before we played Kansas City they said "Raul, we're giving you back to D.C.' I was very surprised."

Hankinson was not happy to see Diaz Arce leave. General manager Bill Manning made the move without consulting Hankinson, who planned on using a two forward system against Kansas City.

But after the trade, Diallo remained hot, and Hankinson seems to have moved on.

"Flashing back to "the deal,' so to speak, would not be wise," Hankinson said. "(Diaz Arce) is a player that I respect and I'll enjoy seeing him, just to see him. But there's a game to be played and it's not just about Raul."

Diaz Arce returns to town tonight for the first time since being traded. He hasn't exactly turned around United's fortunes -- it's 3-2-4 since he arrived -- but considering D.C. had only one win prior to the trade, he has done his share. He has goals in two of the last three games.

The Mutiny is well aware of how dangerous Diaz Arce can be. Defender Steve Trittschuh likely will have the job of containing Diaz Arce, never an easy task.

"He's not really going to beat you one-on-one, but once he gets wide in the (18-yard) box is where you've got to watch him," Trittschuh said. "He's always looking to see where the weakness in the defense is. If I take my eye off of him, he can sneak in behind me."

Before the match Diaz Arce said he will mingle with his former teammates. He swears this is just another game. He holds no hard feelings toward his former team, he just wants to win.

"For me this is just another game," Diaz Arce said. "I always give 100 percent and I will again. We need to win because we haven't been playing too well lately.

"I'm very comfortable in D.C. I've played here before, and I'm happy here. I feel like I'm back where I belong. But I liked Tampa also. I could've stayed there a long time."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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