Cobi Jones, Kasey Keller and Eddie Pope have been selected as the three finalists for the 1998 Honda Player of the Year award, recognizing “the best U.S. professional player to defend the colors of the United States in the last calendar year.” A panel of 200 journalists throughout the country made the selections, and the winner will be announced in Los Angeles on Dec. 14. The winner receives a new Honda Accord EX, and has $5,000 donated to the AYSO on his behalf. The two runners-up receive world-wide round-trip airline tickets courtsey of Aerolineas Argentinas. The Honda Player of the Year award was created in 1991 by Honda and Futbol de Primera. The previous winners include Pope (1997), Eric Wynalda (1996 and 1992), Alexi Lalas (1995), Marcelo Balboa (1994), Thomas Dooley (1993) and Hugo Perez (1991).