2 Real Salt Lake players picked as all-stars

With the MLS All-Star Game at Rio Tinto Stadium later this month, it seemed like an inevitability that Real Salt Lake would have at least one player named to the squad.

That hunch became a reality Wednesday when MLS commissioner Don Garber made Kyle Beckerman and Javier Morales his "Commisionner's Picks" for the 2009 MLS Game on July 29.

"It's extremely gratifying. Feel good for those guys, feel it's a good reflection of all of us really. All the players, all the staff, how hard we've worked to build this into a competitive team with good players, and to get some form of recognition is good," said RSL coach Jason Kreis.

Major League Soccer unveiled its First XI on Monday, a collection of the top 11 players based on equal voting among the fans, media, players and coaches/general managers. That list included players like Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg, Landon Donovan and Guillermo Barros Schellotto.

Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco wasn't originally named to the First XI, but it was announced Tuesday that he'll officially replace Toronto's Dwayne DeRosario, who will be unavailable due to Toronto's participation in the opening stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.

Joining the First XI will be Beckerman and Morales and five other reserves who will chosen by MLS All-Star coach Dominic Kinnear and announced on Monday.

"I did think there would be one. I'm a little surprised that there's two," said Kreis. "But again those players both deserve it; it's like any other team, I think we feel like we have more players who deserve it than are selected."

Former RSL defender Eddie Pope was a "Commissioner's Pick" back in the 2007 all-star game, his final season in MLS. That is also the only Real Salt Lake all-star in team history.

Morales said he's ecstatic to be on the team but admits he's a bit surprised, especially after he seemed like a shoo-in for the all-star team last year but wasn't selected.

"I'm surprised because I didn't have a good beginning season. I think last season I was better (in the) beginning, but now I've found my work (rate). I feel good," said Morales.

As excited as he is for his midfielders, coach Kreis joked that he hopes they only play 15 minutes. The MLS All-Star game is on Wednesday, July 29, and three days later Real Salt Lake travels to Chicago for a critical road game against the Fire.

That figures to be Beckerman's first game back with Real Salt Lake. He's been away with the U.S. National Team participating in the CONCACAF Gold Cup the past several weeks, and if all goes as expected, the United States will be playing in the Gold Cup final on Sunday, July 26.

It will make for a busy week for Beckerman, but almost guarantees he won't be in the MLS All-Star Game starting 11 against Everton FC of the English Premier League. Kinnear has the final say about the starting 11 and isn't obligated to start the top vote getters.

For Morales and Beckerman, this is their first official MLS All-Star selection. In 2007 and 2008, Beckerman was named to the MLS All-Star inactive list, while Morales received the same honor last year.

"Both of them have had some rough patches over the beginning portions of the season, but both of them just as of late have looked very, very good," said Kreis.

e-mail: jedward@desnews.com