Rhett Harty

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Rhett Stowe Harty (born March 8, 1970 in Pasadena, California) was an American soccer defender, one of the most popular players in the history of the MetroStars of Major League Soccer.

Harty played college soccer at Stanford University and suffered a late injury that kept him off the United States roster at the 1992 Summer Olympics. Years in the APSL, USISL (Monterey Bay Jaguars), and CISL (San Jose Grizzlies) followed, until the creation of MLS. Harty was drafted by the then-San Jose Clash in the fourth round of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft; however, he never played a game for his hometown club. When Troy Dayak, who was drafted by the MetroStars, demanded a trade to San Jose, Harty was shipped cross-country in the first trade in MLS history.

Harty, a midfielder initially, immediately stepped into the Metro defense. After the team struggled early in the year, he shaved his head, and the Metros went on to win their next three games. The head would stay shaven throughout his MLS career, and Harty quickly became a fan favorite, earning the nickname Mr. Clean. He scored one goal and three assists in his three years in the league, plus added a goal in Open Cup play.

Rhett was on the forefront in the MLS players' antitrust lawsuit against the league, challenging its single entity structure. The players lost, but not before Harty was blacklisted by MLS. Lowballed with a small offer, he chose to retire from soccer instead.

Harty spent the next six months traveling in India and Tibet, soul-searching and helping out the people of the area. He found a new calling in medicine, and moved to the Portland, Oregon area, where he prepares pacemakers and defibrillators for patients in the operating room.