Pacific Northwest Connections

Plenty on this Gold Cup roster, starting with both current and former Sounders. Brad Evans patrols the middle for the newest MLS franchise, while Gold Cup winner Brian Ching spent the summer of 2002 with the A-League version of the local club. The Hawaiin native also matriculated at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and discusses a very personal Seattle connection in tomorrow's edition of Studio 90.

There's also a trio of alumni from the University of Portland, starting with defender Steve Cherundolo, who is back in the U.S. squad for the first time since a hip injury sidelined him in October of 2008. Heath Pearce and Luis Robles crossed paths while playing for the Pilots. Coincidentally, all three ply their professional trade in Germany. And then there's 'Super' Dave Andrews, a longtime U.S. trainer who hails from Gig Harbor.

What does all this add up to? A boatload of ticket requests...

Training Talk for July 2

We hit you with Studio 90 News yesterday and this morning we have an early dose for you. We spoke to Logan Pause, Stuart Holden and Sam Cronin to get their thoughts on the first few days of MNT camp:

Studio 90 News for July 2

Here's today's Studio 90 News, which features brief interviews with Michael Parkhurst and Steve Cherundolo:

MNT Blog Q&A with Brad Evans

Like many players on the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup roster, Brad Evans is getting a new experience as part of the U.S. Men's National Team. Evans was a part of the U-20 Men's National Team that played at the World Cup in Holland in 2005 back when he was attending UC Irvine. On that team, Evans played right back but, as he would learn when he turned pro, sometimes it helps to be able to play many positions. For Columbus, Evans patrolled the middle of the park, helping the Crew to their first ever MLS Cup in 2008. He made the jump to Seattle in 2009, drafted by the Sounders and former Crew coach Sigi Schmid in the expansion draft, and has featured in a variety of positions across the midfield for the Western Conference's surprise package. We sat down with Brad and asked the Arizona native about his experience so far in Seattle and the opportunity to play in the Gold Cup with the Men's National Team...

ussoccer.com: Describe how you made it to Seattle and tell us how you like the city so far?
Brad Evans: "I love it. It was a whirlwind of events. We won the championship on Sunday, flew back to Columbus on Monday, and Tuesday I packed up my bags. Wednesday was the expansion draft and I was flying home and I got a text message that I'd been selected. It was a quick turnaround, but overall it's been great."

ussoccer.com: Before the Sounders you played with the Columbus Crew for two years, culminating in an MLS Cup title. Was that the perfect way to sign off from the Midwest?
BE: "It was cool. My first year I was injured pretty much the whole year and Sigi gave me a chance playing in the middle after somebody else was injured. We made a good run and it was obviously a great experience. You'd like to keep everybody together, but the league is like that."

ussoccer.com: How do you prepare for the expansion draft?
BE: You talk with your family and talk about the next step and whether it might or might not happen. It's just the nature of the business and it's one of those things that you get used to. Nothing is ever guaranteed and I'm obviously really happy that I'm here. Seattle is a great place."

ussoccer.com: Coming here in the expansion year of the franchise means you also get to be on the ground floor of the Sounders foundation and the experience here in the Pacific Northwest...
BE: "It's great to be a part of building that. The first year is something we'll all remember and so far it's been an experience none of us expected. We kept hearing in pre-season that 15,000 season tickets had been sold, then 18, then 22, then 25 thousand. We watched it grow from the beginning and got off to a good start and the city really got behind us. They've always had great attendance for USL games, and this is a testament to all the hard work at the club.

ussoccer.com: Describe that memorable first game in Sounders history...
BE: "In my career it was the second best feeling behind winning the MLS Cup. We had played a few closed-door scrimmages in Qwest, and then to all of a sudden go from that to 33,000 was pretty special. Everybody soaked in the moment and it was definitely full of emotion. Going in at halftime, we were telling each other that we couldn't hear what we were saying out on the field. I was losing my voice screaming and my ears were ringing like I was at a concert. It was pretty intense. Talking to the guys here [in MNT camp], they're all looking forward to coming here to play this season, and the guys that have played here already talk about the crazy atmosphere."

ussoccer.com: In Columbus you played in the midfield, but you've been used all over the place in your career. What's it like to lineup on different areas of the field?
BE: "Watching the game nonstop you get a feel for what other positions are like, and speaking with other guys on the field, noticing different tendencies that each position has. Part of it is also coaches having trust in you, and hopefully you have the smarts to play more than one position. It's only to your advantage if you can play everywhere. You have a better chance of making it if you can increase your odds."

ussoccer.com: Is that something you enjoy?
BE: "Yeah, I do. That's part of the reason I found a little bit of success with the U-20s, because if I didn't play right back there was no way I was going to make the final trip. It might not be ideal for you, but at the same time it's one of those things where if you put on the U.S. jersey, you kind of do whatever you can to get on the field and find a place to fit in."
ussoccer.com: You are teammates with Kasey Keller in Seattle, who played for the national team a few times in his career...Did he have anything to say after you got called in?
BE: "He took me aside and said congratulations. He's gone through this system and he told me about what to expect. In Seattle, you know all the guys and there's a looseness from day to day. In the national team it's a different atmosphere as far as putting on your thinking cap or your hard hat and getting down to work. Especially for me, in my first time getting called in, it's to my advantage to just do what I know, work hard and fit in. I want to learn as much as I can from a different coaching staff's point of view. It's always good to get a new idea and learn from different players. Kasey had nothing but positive feedback and he said 'good luck and work hard.'"
ussoccer.com:For a lot of the guys here this is a new experience. What's it like sitting down to meals with guys that you're normally preparing to play against week in and week out?
BE: "It's definitely different for sure. When you do pre-game meetings with your club, you circle the board and say 'watch out for this guy,' and all those guys that are circled are the guys that are here with the national team. It's pretty surreal in a way. It gives you a chance to measure yourself when you all get together, and it's a testament to all the guys that we're able to come from all different places and hopefully make a run at this while we put our trust in each other. You learn that these are all awesome guys and it's for sure a pleasure to be here."
ussoccer.com: How about off the field? Having new teammates is always a learning process...
BE: "I'm rooming with Robbie, just as we did in Columbus. I'm getting to know guys more and you learn that they're great guys. You learn little things about families and kids and things like that. You hear about their different experiences, like from the overseas guys, and you show them what we have here in Seattle. Just little things like that make it a good place to be."
ussoccer.com: Do you have a goal for this 2009 Gold Cup?
BE: "I thought about that a lot. It's kind of tough to have a goal' when you're called into your first camp, since this is just one step. There's an ultimate goal for sure, but once you're here it doesn't mean much if you're here just for one camp. It'd be great to be around as long as possible and get some playing time, but one goal is also to just learn as much as I can from the coaching staff and the players. Coming into this camp is definitely one goal but now you have to set another one, so I'll have to think about that a little bit..."

ussoccer.com: What's the best part about living in Seattle?
BE: The best part is for sure the water. I haven't been around the water since college [at UC Irvine] and it's been almost three years removed. My fiancee and I have a great spot in Kirkland that is walking distance from everything. Just being around the mountains and being able to take ferry's across Puget Sound to check out other places is fantastic."
ussoccer.com: Off the field, what's your favorite activity or the best way to relax?
BE: "I like to cook a lot. Robbie and I lived together, and Chad and I as well, so they've been able to taste the fruits of labor a little bit. I did a few cooking shows in Columbus which was pretty fun. My step-dad is a great cook. Phenomenal. So that's just something I learned from him. It's cool to relax, watch TV and throw something together."

ussoccer.com: Hmmm...[MNT Blog is hungry]...What is your signature dish?
BE: "Lately I bought a grill and everything has been through that. On Wednesdays we have a great farmers' market in Kirkland where there's just fresh meats, cheese, and vegetables. I throw basically anything on the grill: steaks, chicken, anything I can."

Photos from Today's Training Session

Another beautiful day in Seattle. That makes it easier to get up in the morning, even when you're jet-lagged after coming back from Johannesburg. For the full gallery of photos, head over to ussoccer.com or click here.

Conference Call With Gulati and Bradley

Listen to the full audio podcast of today's media teleconference call with U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati and U.S. National Team head coach Bob Bradley. Today was their first exposure to the national media following the second-place finish in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Here are some quotes that we thought might interest you:

On Seattle as a host and the opportunity to play on the Fourth of July:
Bob Bradley: “To answer the second part first, it is always special to hear the National Anthem and I think on the Fourth of July there’s a little bit extra there. We are excited to be opening up the Gold Cup; the fact that it’s in Seattle is great in many ways, but as an organization they have done a tremendous job of getting themselves going on the right foot. Their team is very good, fun to watch, I think anybody who has seen any of their games, whether live at Qwest Field or on TV can see the passion their fans have for the team. You see jerseys all over the city. I mentioned earlier that the training facility is first class. They deserve credit for how they went about bringing their team into the league, and I think it’s great that we’re beginning the Gold Cup here.”

On midfielder José Francisco Torres:
Bob Bradley: “José has had a very, very busy schedule with his club team and in discussions we felt that it was important that he have a little bit of a break before things start up again. When we look at all the different factors, certainly the idea that next summer, players will be coming right from their clubs into training camp that leads into the World Cup. You have to make very difficult decisions about whether a player can go a couple years without a break or there’s a need in some cases for a player to have a little bit of a break now before he begins an important stretch.

On what Torres needs to work on to improve and continue to be part of the team:
Bob Bradley: “I think it’s just that he’s a young player. I think Pachuca has done a very good job of developing his talent. If you were to look at the way they have used him in the last couple of years, they have also brought him along at the right speed, and with all that in mind, we look at how he handles things every time he comes into camp. He did have an opportunity this year to have a number of appearances in his first year with the national team, and a number of starts, so I think that is a sign from us in terms of our feeling for what he can do for the national team. With any young player you try to move him along at the right speed—to make decisions about when it’s time to play more, when you need to maybe give it a little more time to see. So we’re in that process, it’s gone well so far and hopefully it will continue to move forward.”

On German-American Jermaine Jones:
Sunil Gulati: “We’ve had pretty regular communication with Jermaine’s representatives and advisors. He has both publicly and privately indicated that he would like to file for an eligibility switch. I think the paperwork for that has probably now been submitted to FIFA and the earliest he would be eligible to move would be the second of August which would be 60 days after the rule change came into effect. After that it comes down to the normal things, the health of the player and Bob’s selection.”

On German-American Jermaine Jones:
Bob Bradley: “From a coaching standpoint, you wait for things to be final. You never know how things go in terms of paperwork and that kind of thing. Once that’s all taken care of, then he will be a player that we can consider and then you take into account the obvious factors that you would with any other player.”

Head Coach Bob Bradley from Training in Seattle

You can't ask for better weather than we got during this morning's training session. A beautiful, clear day. And not too hot either. The guys were happy to get the travel out of their system and for those who flew in from South Africa, well, that's a lot of travel. Following the training session, Bob Bradley spoke to media, looking back on the Confederations Cup and forward as the U.S. tries to go for its third successive CONCACAF Gold Cup title. Here's what he had to say:

On fans' reaction to the U.S. performance in the FIFA Confederations Cup:
“People are excited. I think we all feel good that we got to a big tournament and the performance [of the team] got soccer fans going. It shows that they're behind us and it gives us motivation to keep going.”

On the team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup building on the progress of the U.S. in the Confederations Cup:
“All the players that have been put on this roster, the first thing they talked about was watching the games and how proud they were of the performance. When they get called into the national team you can sense they're excited about continuing to move this team in the right direction.”

On coming to Seattle to open the CONCACAF Gold Cup against Grenada:
“With everything that's gone on with the Sounders this year, we're thrilled to be here. The support they've had has been terrific and you can tell that there's a real buzz here for soccer. They’ve done so many things right in terms of their team, the way they've played and the way they’ve marketed the team that hopefully we can pick up on all that. The fans here have been great. Hopefully the Fourth of July brings out a good crowd and we'll be ready to go.”

On the progress of the U.S. team in the last few years:
“It's a combination of many things. For sure the continued development of Major League Soccer has been a very, very big part of what goes on with the national team. We've also had some guys choose to go to Europe and they've done well. We have at the moment a good mix of players with experience who have been in one or two World Cups and young players who have helped. When you put all those things together I think you can see why we've made the progress and hopefully we can continue to do so.”

On the return from injury of Steve Cherundolo, who last appeared for the U.S. on Oct. 11, 2008 against Cuba:
“It's great to have him back. He's been through part of a pre-season [with Hannover] but he obviously hasn't been playing matches. We'll need to be smart in terms of how we use him, but the idea is certainly to get him some games so that when he gets back to Hannover he's moving along well and that gets him back into play the qualifiers that are coming up.”

Pacific Time, Day 1

It's fortunate that there are so many coffee shops here in Seattle. Despite arriving last night after a 25+ hour journey from Johannesburg, Bob Bradley and some of the travel party are up and about to head to Day 1 of training for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. The U.S. opens at Qwest Field on Saturday night against Grenada. The full TV schedule is here.

We'll have more from training a little bit later on.

In other news ...

• Here are post-game reactions from the U.S. after the Confederations Cup final:

• And the new FIFA rankings are out. The U.S. jumped two spots to 12, and Brazil overtook Spain for the No. 1 spot.

Stephen Colbert Chimes in on the USA's Run

Late last night while most of the team was still traveling, Stephen Colbert chimed in about the U.S. MNT's run to the FIFA Confederations Cup final on the Colbert Report. Two segments, a total of nearly eight minutes can be seen below

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Is it Time to Care About Soccer?
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Is it Time to Care About Soccer? - Alexi Lalas
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Jeff Goldblum

You Asked If The Coaches Sleep

Great question, Leonardo. As you all know, training camp opens today for the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, two days after the U.S. took second place in the FIFA Confederations Cup after five games in 13 days. So what was on tap for the coaches in between? Here's a sample of one itinerary:

June 29
1 a.m. - team arrives back at hotel following Confederations Cup final
7 a.m. - breakfast and meeting
9 a.m. - depart for site inspection of base camp for 2010 FIFA World Cup (if U.S. qualifies)
12 p.m. - lunch and meeting
3 p.m. - personal bags brought to lobby for departure for airport
8:30 p.m. - depart hotel for airport
11:30 p.m. - flight from Johannesburg to Amsterdam (11 hours, 10 minutes)

June 30
10:40 a.m. - arrival into Amsterdam
1:25 p.m. - flight from Amsterdam to Los Angeles International (10 hours, 55 minutes)
3:20 p.m (PT) - arrival into LAX (time difference - minus 9 hours)
5:30 p.m. - flight from LAX to Seattle (2 hours, 33 minutes)
8:03 p.m. - arrival into Seattle
9 p.m. - dinner and meeting

We're no mathematicians, but that seems like a really long day.

Oh, and July 1 begins with breakfast at 8 a.m. and training at 10 a.m.