Q & As with Colorado Rapids Blogger Jeff

By: Laurie | March 19th, 2008

Today’s MLS Q and As are with Colorado Rapids blogger Jeff. (You can check out his team’s season preview here.) He blogs on our Colorado Rapids Offside blog, and also over at Center Holds It. Yes, I think his middle name is “prolific.”

Favorite team besides the one you blog on?

Columbus Crew….for now. But, in all sincerity, I do like Colorado. They fascinate me.

The player you’d most like to kick a ball around with ?

Ooh…someone a little whacked out, someone widely perceived as having taken their talent for granted and - this is most important - someone who would be a hoot to split a fifth with after the kick-around, someone who wouldn’t talk about being an athlete like it’s a blessing from the almighty, but just this thing they do (all while still knowing, deep down, he’s lucky as hell). You see where I’m going with this, right? George Best, about thirty, thirty-five years ago. Since time-travel isn’t possible, I’m going to have to go with Cletus - yep, Clint Mathis. And I’d get a vacation to Crete out of it (he’s in Crete, right?)

Favorite ice cream?

Mint Chocolate Chip.

Favorite on-the-field formation (4-4-2, 4-3-3, etc.)?

I can’t honestly conceptualize formations. Too restrictive. I only know I hate a 3-5-2 when I’m playing defense…I suck at defending.

Cats or dogs?

I want to like dogs, but, deep down I’m lazy and hostile. So, cat it is.

Favorite non-Offside soccer blog (because obviously we’re your favorite)

Jesus! Hell of a question. I have a relationship (of varying sorts) with most the sites I like. Moreover, these sites are like my friends…not literally…jesus, I have a normal life…by which I mean I get and value different things from different sites. I’ll spare you the litany I just typed and deleted, but, rest assured, it’s longer than forthrightness should allow.

Last DVD you watched

Across the Universe, just last night. Apart from loving the pipes on the male lead and a couple side characters, who have positively angelic voices, I can’t recommend the movie.

Who’s going to win the MLS Cup this year?

When you know you’re going to get something wrong, you may as well reach for the bottom of the barrel. Columbus. No, screw that. Real Salt Lake.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Probably a mercenary, never part of anything organized, but definitely someone who found and loved danger. I was a violent little shit….a lot of anger. For the record, I’m a little lamb these days.

If you had to keep your eyes locked on one position (e.g. striker, goalkeeper, etc.) for an entire game, which would it be?

Midfield. Hands down. I love a good pass better than anything. And I can run a lot.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know

Wow…I’m pretty confessional. I can’t imagine what I could write that won’t get someone (e.g. me) investigated, laughed at, or strike the reader as incredibly self-indulgent.

The most games you’ve ever watched in a twenty-four hour period?

Four. And I can’t tell you how the day ended…see above.

Morning person or night person?

What the hell is morning?

Favorite national team outside of your own?

It’s a close call between the Dutch and the Argies.

Favorite TV show to watch in reruns?

Whoops….my anglophilia is showing: Black Adder. The second and third series.

Favorite current player on any team?

It was Robbie Fowler for years and years and years. Now, it’s Clint Mathis….but I’m ready to fall in love again (gasp!).

Favorite comfort food?

Are ribs comfort food? I friggin’ love ribs….all ribs.

“Gruesome Soccer Injuries” video. Would you watch or not?

Are you kidding? I turn away during injury replays; they make me physically ill. I’ve been hurt enough times and in enough ways that I believe I can actually feel the injuries I’m watching.

Favorite sport or physical activity to participate in?

Soccer, of course, though if I was a proper player, it’d be golf, right? I suck at golf - and usually destroy the greens while I’m out there - but I do basketball as well, if only badly. Are cards a physical activity? I love cards…Euchre, Bridge, Rummy, 31, Hearts….oh, and I like craps.

Best game you’ve ever seen?

Back in the days of the “shot-of-gin-for-every-goal-they-score” challenge, I saw some classics between Liverpool and Newcastle. I also loved the shit out of the Holland/Argentina game (was it a quarterfinal?) in the….um….god, when was it?….World Cup. Honestly, I’m drawing a blank, but Dennis Bergkamp (another player I really dig) scored a late, late winner. I think given where I was living that had to be 1998…France just doesn’t feel right. Wait, yep, it was 1998. USA-Portugal in 2002 was friggin’ awesome, as was USA-Mexico in the round of 16. Believe it or not, I saw a game way back between the Dallas Burn and the Colorado Rapids that - through hazy memory perhaps - I count as one of the best MLS games I’ve ever seen. Let’s just say there are a lot of best games. A LOT.

Best pet you’ve ever had?

Don’t tell my wife, but my current cat. She’s the only one I had to learn to adjust to all on my own.

Favorite goalkeeper ever?

For highly complex sentimental reasons, Packy Bonner. If I could explain why that guy means so much to me, I would. But I really like Matt Reis, mostly because he seems sane.

What else would you like to say about yourself?

Good god. Haven’t I said enough?