OMG yanks

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – There was no time to acclimate to the cooler weather of Kansas City after arriving from Ft. Lauderdale. Upon walking out of the airport, you were immediately hit with the fact that you had exchanged the Florida sun for the bitter cold of a Midwestern winter.

There was also no time to ease into the madness that is SuperDraft. 

After touching down just after noon, I sent my bags to the hotel with a coworker and hopped in the first available cab to make my way to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art, a sprawling, world-class encyclopedic museum that houses everything from works by Rodin to giant-sized shuttlecocks. Here a selection of MLS hopefuls including Luis Garcia, Nick DeLeon and Tony Cascio would create an original work of art using only their painted feet and couple of similarly treated balls.

The result was equal parts Jackson Pollock and Jack Wilshire; a spray of multi-colored footprints, cleat marks and streaks from the rolled ball. I’ve seen a lot PR events over the years, but this was by far the most creative, in both concept and final product.

DeLeon may be a novice when it comes to painting but the former Louisville playmaker considers himself an artsy guy. He was quite proud of his work and why shouldn’t he be? How many of us can say they have artwork hanging in the same place as Rodin?

“This was fun,” DeLeon said. “I’ve never done anything like that before and probably won’t do anything like that again.“

Tony Cascio was equally enthused. So much so that he painted orange streaks under his eyes that resembled something bordering on war paint in the end.

“I was nervous at first, but once I got out there, it was really fun,” offered Cascio. “I had a really good time.”

Taylor Twellman and Kyle McCarthy make an appearance in the broadcast booth during the final match of the 2012 MLS Player Combine.

D.C. United goalkeeping coach Pat Onstad is all smiles on Day 3 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 10, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Sam Garza on the run during Day 3 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 10, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Kelyn Rowe (red) chases down Benjamin Ubierna on Day 2 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 6, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Enzo Martinez tees one up on Day 2 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 6, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Japanese Youth International Kohei Yamada fights off Kirk Urso on Day 2 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 6, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Emiliano Bonfigli squares off against a pair of defenders on Day 2 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 6, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Hat-trick hero Ethan Finley shine on Day 2 of the 2012 MLS Player Combine held on January 6, 2012 at Broward County Regional Park in Lauderhill, FL. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.

Creighton’s Ethan Finley left an impression on his first day at the 2012 MLS Combine. Photo by Andy Mead/MLSsoccer.com. ©2012 MLSsoccer.com. All Rights Reserved.