Interview with Revs Captain

When you pick up the phone to speak with a professional athlete you’re never quite sure what you are going to get. Sports treads right on the line of entertainment and it is difficult to ascertain whether the person you watch on the TV screen or live on the field is only a character that comes out when the uniform is pulled on.

I recently spoke on the phone with New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph for an upcoming work event that he will be at and the first thing that came to mind was, “This is the same guy I see on the pitch tearing apart everything in his path?” Turns out the wild-eyed, dreadlocked 6’3” midfield monster that dominates a soccer match is also a gentle giant that loves to laugh and seems content with where he is in his career and his life.

“People always tell me I’m a different person off the field,” Joseph chuckled after I pointed out that the soft-spoken voice I was hearing did not quite match the player I had watched for so long. “Off the field I’m a gentle giant who is fortunate enough to be playing the game he loves.”

I was a volunteer stats guy for the Revs for several seasons during the pinnacle of the team’s success. I was in the booth with play-by-play man Brad Feldman and analyst Greg Lalas and it was my job to keep track of the corners, write down the goal scorers/times/assists for Brad, and to block the door during pre-game and halftime tapings. I got yelled at occasionally, I was almost always scrambling for info, and I even had a pen thrown at my head one time, but it was great to be even a small part of the team’s amazing run.

(Brad Feldman got a little wound up sometimes in the booth, but I always knew it was because he wanted the perfect broadcast and as I found out during my own time as a play-by-play guy, even on a much smaller level, it’s an extremely tough job. It really was an amazing learning experience and a lot of fun and I am thankful to Brad and the Revs for letting me be a part of it.)

The joy of the gig was watching that great Revs squad under Steve Nichol play a brand of passing, fluid soccer that was ahead of its time in the MLS. Being able to watch Taylor Twellman, Clint Dempsey, Matt Reis, Pat Noonan, Steve Ralston (my favorite), Michael Parkhurst, and Andy Dorman was a luxury that not many other MLS fans would be lucky enough to experience.

The key to it all however was Joseph. He would race down the field to put in a crunching tackle and protect his defenders and then immediately get up and find the key pass to send the Revs into the attack. Nominally a defensive midfielder, Joseph was as likely to make a tackle, as he was to provide an outlet for a pass, subtly create space for the attackers, and/or arrive from deep to create a scoring opportunity.

Joseph, who has made 8 All-Star teams and been named to the MLS Best XI 4 times, has arguably been the most consistent performer in the league over the last decade. Twice, the Revs received offers from Celtic for a transfer and both times the Revs and the league turned the offer down.

When I asked how he felt about those possibilities, Joseph answered honestly, “I was pissed for a few days, but then I had to get over it.” He later added, “God needs me to be in MLS and working hard to be a better player every day and to push forward. I love Boston and the area and I am very happy where I am.”

It has been difficult to watch the Revs for the past few seasons as the great team of the past has been dismantled by age, transfers, and loss of form. The uncomfortable relationship between the team and ownership, which has continued to force the Revs to play in the cavernous Gillette Stadium, has led to a weakening relationship between fans and the team.

Through all the adversity there has been Joseph, new coach and former defender Jay Heaps, and goalie Matt Reis. (Shalrie on Matt- “I wish I could be more like Matt. He always has a joke and makes everyone laugh in the locker room.”)

Watching the team this season I have not been depressed about the results but excited to see a return to passing soccer and versatile, hard-working players that has marked the Revs style at their cusp. Despite the Revs still being near the bottom of the league, there was no bitterness in Joseph’s voice when he told me, “I was lucky to be part of a great team. We kept going to the playoffs and it’s been a little frustrating trying to get back. We take for granted success. The young guys are improving but we’ve only won 2 games (since the interview they’ve won twice more including a fantastic 4-1 win over the weekend) and results are all that matters.”

The Revs may never have as talented a team as they did during their three straight MLS Cup trips but there is reason for optimism watching the team build with youth. Luckily for the Revs, they still have Joseph patrolling the middle of the field as the foundation on which to build.  

Now if they could just get a stadium that’s worth showing up to….

Geoff Cameron talks about MLS Cup Finals

Very rarely does someone from Attleboro get the opportunity to play for a major professional championship but this Sunday night at 9 PM, former Attleboro High player Geoff Cameron and the Houston Dynamo will try to take home the MLS Cup from David Beckham and the LA Galaxy. As if that isn’t a difficult enough task the Galaxy has the benefit of playing at home in the Home Depot Center, where they lost only one game in 2011. The Dynamo will also be without the man that sparked their offense all season, MVP candidate and MLS Best XI Brad Davis, who won’t be able to play due to an injury picked up in the semi-final win over Kansas City.

It seems like there’s a lot stacked against Houston in the finals, but if you speak to Cameron about the challenge don’t expect anything but confidence, “People said that we couldn’t win without him [Davis], that we weren’t a complete team, but I think everyone stepped their game up when he went down against Kansas City. It was 0-0 when he went off and Adam (Moffat) took the set pieces and we scored on a set piece and then we scored a run of play goal. Obviously he’s a big part of our team, but at the same time we’ve got a lot of players that can step up and play the role and that’s what we can do.”

Heading into the playoffs there wasn’t a lot of chatter about the Dynamo despite the club’s history of MLS Cup titles and they continue to fly under the radar even into the title game. Of course lining up against internationals with the notoriety of Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and David Beckham makes it difficult to get much press but Cameron believes this could work to the Dynamo’s advantage, “they’re supposed to win so for us, we have nothing to lose. Let’s just go out there, have fun, kick butt, and leave it all on the field.”

Cameron is an Attleboro native who learned the game playing on local fields and playing pickup games at the Armory on Park St. His talent got him onto the varsity practice field while he was still in middle school, eventually leading to two years with the Bombardiers and off-seasons playing with the club team Bayside United. His skills advanced quickly and he chose to play two years at Providence Country Day before turning in an all-A10 performance while at URI. But for Cameron no matter where his career leads him it’s imperative to remember his roots and the man that kick started his love for the game, Attleboro High coach Peter Pereira.

“I’ve been very, very close to him for a long time, most of my life. He still gets up in the morning and opens up the armory and gives a place, an opportunity, for the kids to play pick-up soccer. For me there’s nothing better to see than that. He has the heart and the love of the game and he just spreads it out to give people an opportunity to play. That’s a fantastic thing that he does personally and he’s been a close friend of the family for a real long time and I can’t thank him enough for the support that he’s given me and the things that he did for me. There’s nothing better that I can do in return than to come back and help him out, showing up, and hanging out with the kids. Any way I can be a role model and any advice I can give the kids is the best thing for me.”

One of the players that has benefited from the advice that Cameron gives out on his frequent visits to Bombardier practices is junior midfielder Dominik Machado, currently part of the New England Revolution developmental squad. Machado is taking advantage of an academy system that Cameron didn’t have and the current MLS all-star makes sure to keep the potential MLS player grounded, “I told him 100 percent always remember where you came from because if you ever forget that then you’ll end up becoming nothing. I just said stay focused, stay humble, and stay hungry. If you’re hungry then you’ll accomplish a lot of things. 

Discipline, dedication, and desire, if you have those then you can accomplish anything you want in life.”

If Geoff Cameron ever forgets that mantra he need only look at the tattoo on his arm as a reminder. That discipline and desire became critical to his career when he suffered a PCL tear and missed nearly four months of the 2010 season. After a rehab stint that was nearly half as long as expected he finished the 2010 season strong. At the beginning of 2011, Dynamo Coach Dominic Kinnear moved Cameron into the midfield but two months ago decided the defense needing shoring up and since the move back to his natural position at central defender the Dynamo have caught fire. Houston will enter the MLS Cup with a 263-minute shutout streak.

Cameron’s move back to central defense for his club team has coincided with a change in management at the national team level and the calls for him to represent the US as it heads into World Cup qualifying next summer have increased considerably. This isn’t something that has gone unnoticed by the player himself, “I hear that all the time, even guys on our team who play for their national teams say ‘why don’t you play for yours’ and I simply say I don’t know man. I’m just going to wait for my opportunity and obviously my ultimate goal is to make it into the World Cup in Brazil.”

One of the best routes into the national team set-up, whether Bob Bradley or Jürgen Klinsmann is the coach, is to play regularly for a team in Europe. Prior to the injury last season there were rumors of potential European suitors and now that he is back playing at a high level those rumors should increase when the European transfer window opens again in January. While Cameron’s focus is intently on his team and this Sunday’s final there is always the individual goal to play on the biggest stage.

“In talking with my agent there are some teams interested over in Europe but like my agent said, he wants me to stay focused on the season and win a championship. Obviously one of my goals in life is to play in Europe. I had the opportunity to play for Nottingham Forest in the Championship [the 2^nd tier of British soccer] for a bit last off-season after my injury, to stay sharp, and I thought it helped me out this season playing center-mid and center back. Going into pre-season I felt really good so the experience over there was amazing and I’d 100 percent love to play over there, so that’s one of my goals but at the same time I have a guaranteed contract for next year and we’ll see after that.”

For now Geoff Cameron will put aside concerns about the national team and the call of Europe to focus on the opportunity to win the MLS Cup. All that stands in the way is the league’s best team, on their home field, with three international stars, but the Dynamo defender isn’t in awe. He’s ready to work, “Make sure whenever Beckham has the ball just pressure, pressure, and make him uncomfortable. Don’t give him time to look up and just hit a ball to a free spot because he can put a ball on a dime. The same thing with Landon and Keane, you got to be wary of those guys because they’re clever. They have experience, so you just can’t give them time on the ball and you have to make them uncomfortable. That’s one thing we do, we’re committed, we don’t stop, and we’ll keep running.”

The MLS Cup will air on ESPN Sunday night at 9 PM from the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

RSL Come up Short

Real Salt Lake is the best team in MLS. Their record is impeccable (such as knocking off the Revolution with a ‘B’ squad) and they play with a style that Real Madrid could take a few lessons from. There is no question they are the favorites to win MLS Cup this season along with New York and LA.

Unfortunately that wasn’t an MLS team on the field with them last night and when Jamison Olave fell asleep for just a minute and allowed Humberto Suazo to sneak past him the dream of every MLS fan died a painful 45-minute death. The goal started after another giveaway by star forward Alvaro Saborio who had an absolute shocker and made some touches that I would be mad about my Indoor Co-ed Rec League teammates making.

As much fun as it is to watch Will Johnson play there is a streak of Sunday morning Rec League about him too. He never stops working and he can pop up anywhere, but he has no sense of position. He and Robbie Russell made great plays throughout the first half but always looked as though they would follow the ball into the bathroom if that’s where a Monterrey player took it. How many times did Andy Williams and Will Johnson streak across your screen as they tried desperately to get back into position?

This is where RSL missed Kyle Beckerman. They missed his positional sense, his calmness, and his ability to move the ball forward without losing the initial midfield shape. He finds the forwards, Javier Morales, and whoever starts on the right wing without leaving big gaps anywhere on the field. Last night the opposite was true and despite heroic effort RSL never really got themselves in spots to put the ball into the box to someone’s foot. Everything looked congested and mostly lost.

Taylor Twellman made essentially the same point last night when he argued that RSL missed the chance to play the ball out wide and to attack a massed defense, especially in the 2^nd half, at their weakest point. I wonder if this was something Jason Kreis planned or if it was just the style that Williams and Johnson chose. Either way, until late in the game when Monterrey parked the bus, it pinned the 2 outside backs in their own half because there was no cover if they charged forward.

RSL showed unbelievable stores of energy, strength, and talent but they picked the wrong day for some of their stars to have horrible performances (Saborio, Williams, and Alvarez most notably). Monterrey defended well and played as everyone expected with the diving, the time wasting, and the theatrics, but in the end they took their one chance and, as seems to always be the case with American soccer teams, RSL missed.

After last night my disappointment level with American soccer is at an all-time high (Clint Dempsey’s great but 2 goals in a meaningless game don’t take the bitter taste out of my mouth). Judging by an SI article from Grant Wahl and the general response on Twitter to last night’s game I’m not alone.

Real Salt Lake was so close. On the verge of sending an MLS team to Japan for the FIFA Club World Cup, on the verge of beating a Mexican team over two legs to win an important regional title, and on the verge of giving MLS fans the opportunity to watch them take on Manchester United or Barcelona but they came up short.

It feels as though we’ve read this script before at the World Cup, Copa America, and Confederations Cup (except for the big win over Spain which will always make that tournament a mostly happy memory). There are always opportunities for American soccer to push themselves to the next level, the international level, the “You have to pay attention to me now!” level, and unlike Americans in just about every other sport, our soccer teams always disappoint (see Freddy Adu and 2011 U-20’s).

I am furious that I have to watch the most important MLS game in history on an international feed that chooses important goal-mouth chances to go to replay. I am furious that I don’t see even a mention of the game on SportsCenter other than as a passing comment to close the show followed by a lame-ass joke about “needing Kevin Durant”.  I am furious that before El Clasico we get a brand new Fox set and the same old tired clichés and lack of knowledge from the commentary.

Yet until one of our teams exceeds expectations there won’t be the effort on the part of the “Worldwide Leader” to air the games, show the highlights, or treat it with any more respect than they treat curling. But... rather than just being mad at the lack of coverage it’s time for our teams to DEMAND it. The only way to demand it?

Winning.