PLAYER FOCUS...On...."Safet" !

No game this Thursday so.......It's time for yet another Player Focus! No, no you can stop cheering.... no really.... you can stop.

The team mate under the microscope this time is Safet! The only player to win two championship winning medals for two different teams in the same year! He comes from Bosnia and we all know where that is on the map don't we ? Right beside Croatia and round the corner from Serbia.... yeah, I knew you knew... So what do we find out about Safet in this interview? I'm not telling you..........you will just have to read it!!

First time you played soccer?
I started very early, at age four. I played with the neighborhood kids. (...and they were all 24 years old so it was all very unfair)

Favorite Team?
Zeljeznicar Sarajevo, Bosnian National team ( Easy for you to say!....I heard Čelik were a good team too? Madison Čelik has a certain ring to it, no? )

Fav Player?
Safet Susic ( Great player, Great name; 21 goals in 54 appearances for Yugoslavia)

Fav Music?
Bosnian country music, rock ( OMG.... there is such a thing? This may be worse than Lithuanian rap)

Fav Movie?
Road House, Night at the Roxbury ( huh? What about all those great Bosnian movies like Ničija zemlja or Teško je biti fin? )

Best moment on a soccer field?
Back in Bosnia when my team won the local tournament ( were you playing at the time? ..... I'm joking! )

Nickname at school?
Sajo ( Pronounced Sayo? if my Bosnian is correct? )

Motto for life?
To live is to hope ( ...and to hope is to live! ... See what i did there?)

Something we don't know about you?
I studied Russian in high school (Пожалуйста, пожалуйста, передайте мне футбол!! Yes especially you Jorge!)

Most famous person I've met?
My wife ( Smart move.....very smart! )

Thanks Safet! Great interview!

PLAYER FOCUS....on.... "Arniesto"

After a long break to get us through the intensive soccer season Player Focus is back.....and back with a bang, see..... And I don't mean any small bang, I mean one of those glorious huge big bangs that sound like the Universe has just rebooted and life is worth living again. Yeah, and this time we focus on that Sam Spade loving, Faulkner kissing son of a gun called Arnie,....yeah, that's right, Arniesto to his friends. And will it be funny? Who knows, and who cares, alls i know is that when you're slapped, you'll take it and like it!

First time you played soccer? In High School--
Galway Golden Eagles in upstate New York--went to states three years, twice to semi finals. ( Arggghh, so close to the final! "All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection. So I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible" )

Favorite Team? Barcelona ( Whatevah.... )

Fav Player? Fabregas (hoping he'll make it to Barca). ( Keep dreaming... )

Fav Music? Like many many things--Dylan, Nick Cave, Classical guitar--especially Segovia, Bach... Richard and Linda Thompson, Susan McKewon, Van Morrison.... ( What?? No Lady Gaga? )

Fav Movie? Hard to say--love all Film Noir (taught a course in Noir for years)... Touch of Evil right up there. Gun Crazy. Out of the Past. Kiss Me, Deadly. ( .....are those films names or are you really trying to tell me something? ....like.....“I didn't recognize you. You should lay off those candy bars.”..... “How I detest the dawn. The grass always looks like it's been left out all night.”)

Best moment on a soccer field? Still waiting for it to happen... ( yes, we all are! Spring season will be here soon!)

Nickname at school? The Goog. (Long before Google--after comic book character Barney Google.) (any relation to our Goggs? )

Motto for life? Hmm. You can pick your friends and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose... (Well technically you can.... not sure why you would want to, but you could! )

Something we don't know about you? Played lead guitar for a punk rock band of graduate English lit students called The Sound and the Fury (after Faulkner's novel).... ( lemme guess....I bet you were The Fury? Maybe should have called yourselves the Compson brothers?)

Most famous person I've met? Spent an afternoon with Gabriel Garcia Marquez's wife waiting for him to arrive. He got stuck in traffic, and I never managed to meet him, but had a lovely visit with Mercedes, and a tour of his studio, gardens, house, etc. (did he know you had spent the afternoon with his wife?? Is this something you want to admit on a global blog, did you both have cholera?? )

Thanks for the great interview! But.....Don't be so gloomy Arniesto. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock! So long, Arnie...... ;o)

PLAYER FOCUS on... Bruce..."The Hulk"

When we first met Bruce at the beginning of the season it looked like one of the guys playing baseball in the opposite field had got lost searching for a wayward hit..... but no... he was our new goalie.... and what a goalie he has turned out to be.....adding to the long legacy of great Madison goalies such as Mendi "The Magnificent" and El Gato! He even got a nick name before his player focus!..... The Hulk!!.... But there have been some serious worries that the "one and only" Hulk Hogan may be poached by other teams because of the temptation of filthy money (and the fact that he is really good)..... say it can't be so! He gets beer and some time to sit on a deck chair when he plays with us.......what's up wit dat? Anyway, thanks to Arniesto for this great close up shot of The Hulk in action! He has had so many shut outs this season the opposition forwards might as well turn up with their sleeping bags and have a snooze on the side lines........that's usually where the Hulk is anyway leading yoga classes, batting practice and bugle lessons. He gets so bored in a game he needs to have some activities to keep him awake! Anyway, he must be the best goalie in CARSL right now ( only 6 goals past him the whole season, and numerous shut outs!! ) and I thought it would be timely to put him into the interview grinder of player focus!

First time you played soccer? About 10 years old at a local community center ( Were you sneaking a quick smoke round the back of the building at the time? )

Favorite Team? Cosmos ( Hey, i thought it was the Red Sox? )

Fav Player? Pele ( Is he a short stop or first base? )

Fav Music? Jazz ( That's cause you have Jazz hands.... )

Fav Movie? Predator ( I would never have taken you for a lover of violent and scary movies....go figure )

Best moment on a soccer field? 43 save scoreless tie my senior year against Lyman hall ( 43 saves in one game?? you must have had one Hell of a lousy defence!! )

Nickname at school? Keep ( Keep what? Keep on trucking, Keep off the grass? Keep Hulking does it for me!)

Motto for life? We are all here only for a short time so make a difference while your here ( I cry a tear..... )

Something we don't know about you? Have been on 6 softball teams that have won the State Championship ( why did you keep changing teams? Better contracts, huh? more Money?? Better pics of you..... i gettit... )

Most famous person I've met: Had lunch with Joe Namath ( Who paid?)

Thanks Hulk.... I like interviews that are short and to the point..... gives me more space to write all my stuff!!

PLAYER FOCUS on..... Dejan...The Big D!

Time for another player focus and under the glare of the interview lights this time is our very own Big D.... Dejan! His calm presence on the field underplays his passion for the game off the field. He has shown to be an astute observer of the game and can point out where we are all going wrong ...........yes, that's right, he spends a lot of time pointing at me! He has a huge following throughout the World as we saw when he won the midfielder of the season poll by a record count when 99.9% of the votes came from Germany.....the other vote came from him!
But what do we need to know about the real Big D that we don't know already, like.... what does big D stand for? Why does he like coordinating substitutes? Has he ever met Gerd Mueller? Read on, and all will be revealed!

First time you played soccer?

Organized soccer @ 10 years old/Bayern Munich youth team ( When did the disorganized soccer start?.... no wait, don't tell me.... i know)

Favorite Team?

Red Star Belgrade/Arsenal ( Up the Arse! )

Fav Player?

Bogie ( Vladislav Bogicevic - Red Star/NY Cosmos) ( No player, no person should ever be called Bogie..... in Scotland Bogie means Booger! )

Fav Music?

Depends on the situation.......Beatles....Jump by House of Pain ( What situation would ever involve you liking House of Pain??? )

Fav Movie?

Something New/Lord of the Rings ( ah yes, Something New....While some of the dialogue is a little preachy, for the most part “Something New” avoids taking sides and instead lets the romantic relationship play itself out in an honest fashion. This is a date movie with a moral but one that doesn’t knock you senseless trying to make the message stick.....doncha think?.... Do you like Twilight too?? )

Best moment on a soccer field?

Each time I make something difficult look easy :) (that's funny because me and El Gato do the exact opposite!)

Nickname at school?

College....Big D ( I won't ask why...... )

Motto for life?

Don't let them see you sweat :) ( or cry..... crying is much worse.....)

Something we don't know about you?

Dabble in many things/notice more than just the obvious:) ( that sounds serial killer creepy Big D )

Most famous person I've met?

Gerd Mueller ( is it true he is only 4ft 3 inches tall? )

Thanks Big D! I will post a German translation of this for your chums over the Atlantic!

PLAYER FOCUS on.....Drew ...."Bambi"....!

It's time for another unique experience! Yes, another player focus! This time the newbie under the microscope is that giant skyscraper of a player Drew. Some call him Lanky, some call him Stretch, some even call him Crouchy but to us he has only one name, and that is..... Bambi! From the moment he took to the ice, sorry soccer field, and proceeded to show us his striking inability to coordinate his legs he earned the name. Of course, he answered his critics by scoring on his debut and continues to impress with his incredibly detailed accounts of fishing and cameras. Well his player focus is no different!
Enjoy!

First time you played soccer?
I played for several spring/fall leagues as a small kid, probably aged 6-9 or so and then gave it up for baseball (at which I was also no good). I got back into it for real as an adult at around age 27 right after finishing my doctorate and have loved playing ever since. ( So basically you haven't really started playing soccer at all yet...that's what I'm reading here...oh yeah, that's what I'm reading....)

Favorite Team?
Man Utd. Why? Ummm.. In reality probably because when I really started playing again as an adult Beckham mania was full fledged and it served as my first entry into really learning about the European game. I am impressed by SAF and the fact that they have managed to do so well so long with some continuity in the staff there. On the other hand, they keep putting Paul Scholes on the field, and he keeps making those tackles… why does he keep making those tackles? ( I don't know Bambi but your answer sounds like you are re-doing your doctorate thesis! Have you not heard of the Scholes uncertainty principle? You never know when or where he is going to tackle you? ....tsk tsk.... call yourself a scientist?)

Fav Player?
Actually not Goldenballs. As I learned more about the European game, I started watching more leagues and teams - definitely my favorite was Zinedine Zidane. Headbutts aside, noone controlled a game like ZiZou at his best. Also like many other attacking midfielders with a penchant for slotting in a pass that makes really good defenders look stupid - Xavi, Fabregas, Gerrard, Essien. ( ...and so the thesis continues.... )

Fav Music?
Anything but Country. Seriously, my truck and my girl are doing just fine, thank you. ( What about your one legged dog ? )

Fav Movie?
So many options…. gotta love the Princess Bride though. "That word. You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means…." ( There are just so many things wrong with this sentence that I don't know where to start.....)

Best moment on a soccer field?
One time I actually managed to single handedly dribble past 2 defenders and the goalkeeper and score in an indoor game about 4 years ago. My teammates gave me the obvious "where the f*** has that been hiding???" ( so....where the f*** has it gone??)

Nickname at school?
None really in school…. got nicknamed "flash" by my buddies in DuPont Merck after burning my hands in a chemical fire… we were a real supportive bunch. ( and now your are with an even more supportive bunch of guys....and you are our Bambi....)

Motto for life?
Play hard.. life can be shorter than you think. ( Oh God, another cheery soccer player....whatever happened to " always look on the bright side of life..ta dum, ta dum, ta dum, ta dum, ta dum" ....or were you just thinking about Tano when you said this??)

Something we don't know about you?
I gave up soccer and baseball in school for fencing. Then I actually got good at it. Was a 2X All american at UNC in Foil and was at my best competitive with the top 25 or so fencers in the US. So my reflexes are fine…. it's the lack of technique that defines my football game :) ( Ah... and of course, your rapier wit Bambi! )

Most famous person I've met?
Nobody. Seriously, I suck. Warren Buffet's first wife was related to my family though, does that count? (....No....)

Thanks Bambi! Welcome to the team!

Bambi and Thumper go for a dance.....

PLAYER FOCUS on...Ruben..."Tano"!

One of our favourite features on the blog is the very insightful Player Focus Series. This is when we get to see behind the facade of the star soccer player, what makes him tick, ( no...not counting leg calipers and braces! ) what motivates him on and off the field? And, are we kind of scared to find out?

Well, we have some new players in the team and it's time for them to undergo the scalpel like questions and invasive commentary that makes this.....the one and only.....the truly unique......Player Focus!

Our first newbie under the spot light is Maradona's old pal Ruben; We normally have a moment in time to give our new players a nickname and that is usually at player focus time.... We have had names that have stuck like "The Toe" or " Fribeka" and others that were just stupid like "The Heckelator" now BOR, or "Tenbrinhosa" now Jodingo!! So we need to know more about the name and the person before their true nickname appears;

So for Ruben , what do we know?



What is the Global Popularity of the Name Ruben?
#1 in Netherlands
#19 in Spain
#38 in Armenia
#40 in Belgium
#123 in Norway
#259 in United States
( so your are really Dutch? )

Fav Player?
Of all time Garrincha http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBIVvT7IPk&feature=fvw
and Magico Gonzalez http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAsXozyqK5Y&feature=related
( erm, excuse me?....what about your pal Maradona? He will not be happy when he reads this!!)

Fav Music?
Rock: Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Queen, Yes, Super Tramp,Tears for Fear, etc
R&B: Stevie Wonder.
New Age, Vangelis, Jean Michelle Jarre. ( A yes, the tell tale signs of a child of the sixties and young adult of the late seventies!...... Jean Michelle Jarre....Really?)


Fav Movie?
Saving private Ryan, Gladiator, Blade Runner and Casino ( Oh the violence! and the gambling! )


Fav line?
What we do in life echoes in eternity -Gladiator
All those moments will be lost in time.. like tears in rain.. Time to die -Blade Runner ( you're a cheery soul aren't you? how about supercalifragilisticexpialidocious from Mary Poppins? Just for a wee smile....)

Best moment on a soccer field?
I have many they are like special for me I believe is when I score a free kick because I love to do at the door of the 18 with nice effect on the ball, but I still locking for the scorpion kick and nail it in. ( when I try scorpion kicks I always end up looking like a dead salmon!)

Nickname at school?
Tano (nick name for Italians in Buenos Aires) ( So, are Irish guys called Bono down there? )

Motto for life?
All is Mind/ If I control mine, I will create my state of happiness. (Once you get your mind under control can you start working on your legs?! )

Something we don't know about you?
That I love to play Football (soccer) like a chess player, think moves in advance. ( so we could call you the Bishop! or the Pawn! So when we play next when I pass to you I will shout out directions first...... Knight to K7.... Ruben! Knight to K7...oh, for Gods sake K7 not F2!...yeah......like that's a chess joke.... for chess people .......like me and Ruben )


Most famous person I've met?
Diego Maradona, at his 16, and I was 12 ( and now, of course La Boca can be added to that short list...sorry that's loudest person you've met!)


Thanks Ruben! And welcome to the team!!

PLAYER FOCUS: Hamid... "The Enigma"

Just when you thought it was safe to start reading the blog again without fear of seeing another player focus what happens?? another player focus comes along!....but what a player, what a focus!.... yes, he is the last of the Madison greats to be put under the interview knife. Some say he taught Rio Ferdinand all there is to know about defensive artistry, it has even been rumoured that this future Madison Hall of Famer once gave midfield passing tips to a very young Messi....oh yes, he was once that good! Known for his ability to disappear for weeks on end, sometimes when he is on the field...he magically re-appears without warning. Where does he go when he disappears? What World class player is getting the benefit of his coaching? Why won't he tell us? And why are his chickens kabobs so good? Yes, he is the one and only Hamid The Enigma!...... a mystery wrapped in a conundrum!

Fav Team? I think it's Glasgow Rangers because they are so bad that I feel sorry for them. I bought one of their shirts to give them some money but I now use it as a rag to clean out my dogs kennel. I love my dog. Actually I really love Ajax...a really great team! ( Ajax good, Rangers bad...repeat after me)

Fav Player? Easy....Pele! I really liked him as a player and as I get older I look a bit like him! (when he gets to 90 you will actually be playing like him too!)

First time you played soccer? It was when I was around 8 years old. We used to play on asphalt in our bare feet....we were tough! (Ah, that's what's wrong with you now...too much grass and foot protection)

Fav Music? I like Jazz, it's an unreconstructed free flow form of music that allows for moments of individual brilliance and expression....yes, just like the way I play soccer ( are you sure you don't like the experimental music style of John Cage? He described his music as " purposeless play" which is "an affirmation of life – not an attempt to bring order out of chaos"....sounds like some of your games, no?)

Something we don't know about you? I love Camels, but just one hump not two....( I guess that's better than dogs! )

Motto for life? Let deeds, not words be your adorning ( O Son of Dust....the hidden words are true! )

Thanks Hamid...great team player and an enigma no more!

PLAYER FOCUS on.....Tom "The Coach"

I know you have all been waiting for this moment for a long, long time.....and today that moment has arrived! Today we focus on our leader, our coach, our organizer, our team communicator and founder "Tom The Coach!!".

Madison was founded as a team about eight years ago when Tom persuaded a few of his fellow Clinton team mates and a new recruit or two ( El Gato, Jodinho and the water boy) to break away to form a new team. That first season was tough as our pool of players was at times no more than a pathetic puddle.....sometimes down to only 7 players for a game! But with strong team spirit and a sense of humor we hung together and the team survived its turbulent first year. Now look where we are!

I have to say it has been difficult to get an interview with Tom. He is so reclusive that he makes Garbo look like an exhibitionist or Howard Hughes an extrovert.

Now because of that well known tendency to be private some might say that the interview below is not really by Tom and completely fabricated.....these type of elusive stars are aways at the sharp end of the rapier wit of the press pack and the paparazzi and who knows what is true or not. So with no verisimilitude at all here is the player focus on Tom The Coach!

First time you played soccer? Well it must have been when i was around 38 because I remember someone shouting at me on the field " have you ever played football in your effin life before?".... of course I had, but it was Foosball...which apparently doesn't count (No it doesn't, but it allows you to practice standing still)

Fav Team? I am a big supporter of the "Soccer Coaches of the USA" Dream Team. I have missed a few of their matches though because they keep forgetting to advertise their games or arranging a team to play them. I have a membership badge as well!.... but i can't find it right now, i think i left it in someones bag ( I'll check mine later )

Fav player? Magic Johnson...or was his name Jimmy? I think Madonna was a great player too ( Yes, Madonna had some great moves....)

Fav Music?Who has time for music? I am too busy organizing our team and getting ready for the next match ( Absolutely, although i have heard you humming a few Barry Manilow songs )

Fav movie? I like all the good coach movies like...hhmm..well, you know, like that one about the coach ( Was it called " The Coach" ? )

Best moment on a soccer field? Oh yes, I remember finding 10 dollars lying on the field...I think it was mine ( It is now.... )

Nickname at High School? Funnily enough it was "Tom the Coach" ( yes?, what were you coaching then?)

Motto for life? If you can't get to the ball, stop and point at it ( I'm saying nothing...)

Something we don't know about you? I am a soccer coach ( I'm still not talking....)

Well thanks Tom, if that's really your name.... ! ;o)

PLAYER FOCUS...... Big Red....."Kevinho"!

Another player focus is ready to roll off the press and it's the Man between the sticks that takes center stage today. Now the Madison goalie position has had some great characters in the past including the inimitable Mendi, the energetic Jim, the cat like El Gato, the cake like El Gutso and even The Toe! But now the man in charge as the last line of defence is Big Red Kevinho!

He hasn't played soccer for long but he has been learning quick and his fast reaction saves and big kick outs have become a hallmark of his game. So what do we need to know about Big Red? He has about 25 kids and is not sure about the pass back rule....but there must be more? Yes there is ....read on!

First time you played soccer? About ten years ago. A fellow BMS employee asked if I wanted to play soccer in the then annual BMS Wallingford vs Lawrenceville soccer match. ( ....and after that game they never played again! )

Favorite Team? Don't really follow any specific team, I'm a soccer neophyte and they don't show many matches on TV. ( what kind of TV do you have? do you have to wind it up to see the moving pictures? There is wall to wall soccer on real TV's!)

Fav Player? Tim Howard lately ( when did he die? )

Fav Music? I'm like our captain - hard rock ;AC/DC, Metallica, Led Zepplin, etc ( enough said about that....does no one listen to real music these days? Like a good song or two from Barry Manilow or Kyle Minogue? )

Fav Movie? Sports and War movies, anything that inspires or roots for the underdog; - Miracle on Ice, Rudy, Saving Private Ryan, Remember the Titans ( you should add Celtic v Inter Milan, Celtic vs Man Utd, Celtic vs Liverpool, Celtic vs AC Milan, Celtic vs Barcelona and many more to your list....all great underdog victories! )

Best moment on a soccer field? My next save ( your last one was pretty good too! )

Nickname at school? Big Red (You are what it describes on the tin)

Motto for life? Be patient, live for today, worry about the things you can control ( I knew a guy who had the motto; Be impatient, live for tomorrow and worry about everything....i visit him in his cell every so often )

Something we don't know about you? I have five kids (3 boys, 2 girls) ages 8 - 2.5 ;My own little team! ( OK, no need to ask what you do in your spare time...)

Thanks Big Red! Keep up the great saves and go get a decent TV!

PLAYER FOCUS.....Tim.... "Jensaldo"!

Tim is so new to the team that we have not been able to come up with a good nickname yet. His college nickname "Offa" is kinda lame so we could resort to the well established Brazilian route which gives us two choices "Jensaldo" or " Timisco". Timisco sounds like one of those low fat oils that you cook your burgers in so I'm going with "JENSALDO"! Of course Brazilian nicknames don't stick if another more descriptive name comes up. Barbinho Santos became "The Toe", Gito became "La Boca" and Adnanisco is better known as "El Gato"! So if we decide over time that Tim's real nickname should be something else like "Timbo" or "Tiny Tim" then that will be fine too……of course we could also call him Tim. But that would be too easy wouldn't it?

So what do we need to know about Jensaldo! Read the fascinating interview below to find out intimate details of his life and career!

First time you played soccer?
7 years old, first coach was a Scottish fellow..... ( and what a fine job he did teaching you)

Favorite Team?
Yes, I am dated, like my skills, but the 1970- something Oakland Stompers and Seattle Sounders.... ( What's up with all these weird names like Thumpers, Crashers and Beaters? Why can't USA teams have simple traditional names like United, City or Thistle?)

Fav Player?
Pele; runner up for pure show and for that python he kept as a pet - Shep Messing..( Forget the snake, what kind a name is that?... Shep!? )

Fav Music?
Hard rock (Metallica, Who, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath) and some grunge (Alice in Chains, Soundgarden) .... ( Jeez... another head banger )

Fav Movie?
just movies about gladiators ... ( It's those short chainmaille skirts they wear isn't it? Go on admit it.... )

Best moment on a soccer field?
those perfectly cut orange wedges at half time ( wedgies or wedges? )

Nickname at school?
I'll pick the least offensive one-offa. Background: while pledging for a fraternity in college during the football season, I was 0 for a bunch of field goals, hence the nickname ( Offa silly nickname so it's now Jensaldo! )

Motto for life?
All things are in fate, yet all things are not decreed by fate.... ( oh yes, that well known Latin phrase " TOTUS RES ES FORTUNA ETIAMNUC TOTUS RES ES DECRETUM PER FORTUNA"...just rolls off the tongue

Something we don't know about you?
Might have figured it out from my team picks, but I grew up in Oakland and Seattle..... ( No, i thought you grew up in Stomperland or Sounderville....I'm sure you have other secrets, but we will find them out as the season progresses! )

Thanks Tim for that insight into your soccer life....love the goggles by the way....hey that could be a nickname too....goggle boy!

PLAYER FOCUS on....."Roniildo"!

It's time for our team captain Roniildo to spend some time under the spotlight. He is from Scotland so he will be tough under pressure, accurate and honest in his answers, generous with his praise for team mates and naturally talented and gifted at playing soccer. Throw in some unbelievable intelligence, wicked humor and some mad looks that women find irresistable and you have the basic format that most Scottish men adhere to. Of course, it's tough for Ronilldo having a superior Scottish specimen in the team but you can't have everything......

Sometimes he has a face on him like a skelpt erse, but he is great player!

So Ron...

First time you played soccer? ~3 years old. in my Gran's backyard. My older cousin (6 years +) Paul Devine was a great player…played for Celtic school boy's for a couple of seasons. Paul introduced me to the game, and to Parkhead! ( Can't beat your first time in Paradise.... )

Favorite Team? Glasgow Celtic ( For it's a grand old team to play for....!)

Fav Player? Kenny Dalglish, Maradonna, Johan Cruyff lately…Carlos Tevas, Frank Lampard ( kinda go for the midfielder type of player huh? )

Fav Music? Rock & Heavy metal (ACDC, White snake, U2, Bon Jovi, Stones & the Who) ( jeez, brain melt music )

Fav Movie? Gladiator, Braveheart, Usual suspects, meet the parents ( Aye, a good movie that slaughters the Romans or the English, ...wha's like us, no many an they're au deid....aye!! )

Best moment on a soccer field? Scoring 2 goals to win U-15 Renfrewshire regional cup final at Love Street. First time I played on a professional pitch...( I won't tell anyone you were 21 at the time )

Nickname at school? the knife……the days when I was known for cutting through defenses like a hot knife through butter….sort of the way Carlos still does today (what can we call you today? the spoon? for spreading through defences like margarine)

Motto for life? noli illegitimi carborundum……… ( who are you calling an illegitimi? )

Something we don't know about you? when in grad school in London, appeared on an esoteric documentary show called "red herring" on Britain's Channel 4, to defend life science research against a panel of rabid opposers! ( is that around the same time you were dating Susan Boyle?)

Thanks Roniildo!

PLAYER FOCUS on....."Fribeka!"

Yes, it's time for Fribeka or "La Boca junior" to step forward and take the heat, because it's his turn on PLAYER FOCUS! What can we learn about Fribeka that we don't know already? This tight shirt loving, central midfielder has played a few years with Madison and is a regular fixture in the team....Yes i know, fixtures don't usually move. But his uncanny ability to turn on a dime...and keep turning until the whole team is dizzy is just one of his many talents. If he was fitted with a GPS it would be telling him to turn around at the first available opportunity every five minutes. Of course, he learned his soccer skills while playing ice hockey in Canada....and it shows. He is the Wayne Gretzky of the Madison Celts and our team would not be the same without him. Fribeka....take us away....

First time you played soccer? With Madison FC??? But seriously I do recall kicking the ball with my Father in our backyard when I was a little bambino!


Favorite Team? Any team as long as they show beautiful Football:
On the domestic side, Man U!
On the international side, in the 80s Brazil; today, Go Oranje! ( All i can remember is Scotland 3 Holland 2, in the '78 World Cup! )

Fav Player? I may have one for every decade! Zico was one the most fantastic player to watch! But since I wear #5 - Zizou Zidane! ( He is a big head butter... )

Fav Music? Every "genre" for every mood! I like to dance so, Salsa, Meringue….
I have my relaxing moments so I listen to Classical music and Enjoy the voice and look of Sarah Brightman! When I'm in my car mostly my favorite bands - Pixies, NIN! ( What do you listen to when you are in crazy, Fribeka, La Boca Junior mood??)

Fav Movie? Movies that I would watch everyday: Ferris Buller day off - Pulpe Fiction - Woody Allen; Love and death, Sleeper, Bananas movies - the Bad, the good and the ugly (I've seen the bad and ugly when you play, when is the good coming along? )

Best moment on a soccer field? Every time I survive a game without injuries! ( One of these days you will spin around so fast you will screw yourself into the ground...then you can be the referee )

Nickname at school? Black magic, given to me during my playing time in Hockey! Oh! how time goes by fast! ( hey, you are still magic...you manage to disappear during every game!)

Motto for life? We only live once, make the best of it! ( you can't say that to El Gato, he thinks he has nine lives )

Something we don't know about you? I have a black belt in Karate (Chito Ryu) and an orange belt in Tae Kwon do - I was once rank #5 in Canada in Martial art competition! I stopped ~25 years ago when I got my ass kicked by the 3 times World Champion in full contact Reynald campbell, and he was teaching me! ( wow, number 5 in Canada! that's like being ranked number 178,678,152 nd in the USA....)

Thanks Fribeka! See, that wasn't painful at all was it?

PLAYER FOCUS on.....TJ..."The Judge"!

Time for Tom Judge to step under the player focus spotlight. Tom's first season with Madison was blighted with injury and he rarely made it onto to the field. However a fit and lean TJ started the new season in fine fettle and has made a great start to his "new" team. Two goals in his first two games was a great welcome back. So what is there to know about TJ? Read on....

First time you played soccer?
Played Gaelic Football from the time I was a kid until my mid-twenties, got to travel to Ireland with an American team from NYC. First played soccer in 7 th Grade (13), moved from NYC to Long Island.

Favorite Team?
Talk about leagues first. Best league in the world, far and away is the English league, followed by the Italian League, the Spanish League is a distant third, may not even be as good as the German league any more. Favorite team used to be Man U before they purchased the world, more recently Chelsea, now they have purchased the world, so I will have to find a new favorite team. I hardly seams fair like a fair game with all of the talent these teams buy. ( Excuse me but i think you may have left the best team in the world off your list....hint...they play in green and white hoops? )

Fav Player?
Best player in the world, hands down is Kaka. Favorite players are Michael Essien (his play has fallen off the last year) and I hate to say it but, Cristiano Ronaldo ( What about Fribeka?? )

Fav Music?
Once again, sad to say but, Country music (YEEE Ha! )

Fav Movie?
Go for the war movies, Braveheart, Gladiator, Glory in that order ( Escape to Victory??? )

Best moment on a soccer field?
Scored 3 goals in an indoor game last winter. ( And 2 goals already in the outdoor season!)

Nickname at school?
TJ ( makes a lot of sense, not hugely original, but accurate....)

Motto for life?
20% of people in the world are assholes, so just expect 1/5 of the people you meet to be an asshole. ( So that's about 4 people in our squad....hhmm wonder who they are? )

Something we don't know about you?
I have coached youth soccer for 11 years.

Thanks TJ... You country music loving, war movie watching, Irish footballing, confused Chelsea fan......

PLAYER FOCUS on...Carlito..."El Flaco"!

Yes finally, it's the return of player focus! And the first player up for a grilling is our very own Carlito! He is a fast tricky dribbler who can sail past defences as though they are not there. He is a lean, mean running machine who is tough in the tackle and can take on guys several feet bigger than him at corners! Sometimes he is even kind enough to come back into defence to give us some tips and guidance!

He has scored some fantastic goals over the last year as well as setting up some great assists.

So what more do we need to know about Carlito? Read on....

When did you first play football? When i started kicking in my mothers belly, i was very young! ( But you were actually still in your mothers belly, right?)

Fav Team? What do you think? Barcelona! Great team with some fantastic players like Messi and Xabi. I also liked the Argentina side of the late seventies, also great players and skill. ( The Argentina side were great that year, they all had hair! )

Fav Player? Don't really have one but i liked Mario Kempes and Luque from the Argentina world cup winning team. ( What about Jimmy Johnstone from Celtic's 1967 European Cup winners??)

Fav Music? Merengue, Salsa, Mambo ....all the music that makes you move your body! ( what about heavy metal? you can move your body to that too!)

Nickname at school? El Flaco....it means skinny boy ( Do you have a friend called El Gordo?)

Something we don't know about you? I like young girls! ( not sure what to say about that! )

Thanks Carlito!.....some softball questions to start this seasons' Player Focus....more to come from Fribeka, Roniildo and many more!

PLAYER FOCUS on....."Johnaldo"!

Unfortunately, it's my turn for the horror that is player focus. This is good fun when you are writing about other players but when it's about yourself..... not so good! Anyway, i turned my well thought out answers over for Jodinho's cerebral analysis and pithy comments. I promised not to edit what he wrote but simply post it..... so....here it is.......!

John "Das Boots" was one of the charter members of the Madison Celtic Club, and he has been a mainstay of the team both on and off the field since the beginning. Having grown up in Scotland he brings enthusiasm and skill each week and is always willing to make sacrifices for the team. In honor of Johnaldo's dedication and contributions to the team a consensus was formed to wear his much-loved Glasgow Celtic's colors. Johnaldo continues to be a season ticket holder for his homeland team, and he regularly attends many of their games. Johnaldo plays solidly in the back, but sometimes reminds his team mates that he is accustomed to playing mid or striker. (He even went so far as to demonstrate some of his scoring abilities over this past summer.....)

And now a few questions answered by the Golden Boy himself:

First time you played soccer? Of course, it was called football in those days and i think i was about 3 years old. I had conquered eating, walking and stuff like that and the next thing on my list was kicking a ball which i have now done for more years than i care to remember. (We'd like to stop counting too...).

Fav Team? Really, i need to answer this one? I was born a Celtic fan and will no doubt die a Celtic fan. I can remember my first ever game going to see Celtic in the sixties. They were the best team in Europe then and those years set a high standard for Celtic to live up to. (It's always good to have memories of the good times....)

Fav Player? I have seen so many great players up close while watching Celtic in Glasgow...most recently Christiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Del Piero, Ronaldinho, Henry, Gerrard to name a few. I was also at the Scotland Argentina game when the 19 year old Maradona scored his first goal for Argentina! But my fav players are Jimmy Johnstone and Henrik Larsson! (Any Scottish players that you care to mention? Oh, that's right, the field of choices is very, very narrow....)

Fav Music? Snow Patrol, Foo Fighters, Black Eyed Peas, Kaiser Chiefs,Nickelback, Oasis, U2, Simple Minds, Keb Mo, Mary J Blige, Jack Johnson, Sting, Keane, Lily Allen, Duffy. (Maybe we should've asked who you don't like....)

Fav Movie? Depends on my mood: for entertainment i enjoy the Harry Potter movies, Bourne series, Star Trek stuff, Amelie, Gladiator, Shaun of the Dead, Lord of the Rings,The Great Escape, Mississippi Massala... More serious movies that i loved; Hotel Rwanda, Rabbit Proof Fence, Das Boot....... (Harry Potter?? (listed first no less) This explains a lot......)

Best moment on a soccer field? Scoring the winning goal in the University sevens final. The team got so drunk after the game the only thing i can now remember about the day was the goal. (Yup, that was something....)

Nickname at school? Well mostly "Housty", sometimes Tex. (Now that's original! No "Son of Sam" (Houston)? That's right, he came along well after your ancient childhood!)

Motto for life? Always look on the bright side of life....da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum, da dum (The Celtic fight song?)

Something we don't know about you? I played trumpet in my high school band and we won a UK version of "America's got talent" called "New Faces". A TV star and fame, all at an early age.....it's a wonder i am so normal......Please form an orderly line for my autograph.... (Very impressive....We're sure you'll be treated differently now.....)

Thank God, that's over! Some nice comments from Jodinho though, proving that bribery does work! That's the last Player Focus, and probably the last post, of 2008, but we will be back in 2009 with some new amazing insights from Roniildo, Fribeka, Tom the Coach, Hamid The Enigma, Jerry and many more!...stay tuned!

Have a Great Christmas and Happy New Year....and try to keep fit!

PLAYER FOCUS on...."Scotty"

Happy St Andrew's Day...the patron saint of Scotland!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Still a day to go on the best striker poll! Make sure you vote....RoRo is way in the lead! I've also added a couple of new features to the blog. The first is the video bar which i have now made more Madison Celtic related....i have loaded up some video of us playing! There is also some video from my camera phone at Celtic park. I have some more video which i will load soon. Also, there is now a "followers" bar which allows you to put yourself down as a follower of the blog. You can be anonymous or use those great nicknames that you all have now....go on, be brave and give it a try! I will also re-explain how to post a comment shortly using the comments feature at the bottom of every post. Anyway, enough of that ...on with player focus!!


This high flying player missed the Spring season but came back to full effect during the Fall. Equally comfortable up front or in a battling midfield position, Scott "Scotty" the ...erm..."Scot", has knocked in 3 goals and quite a few assists. He has the potential to challenge Danny and Fribeka for their titles of La Boca and La Boca junior but so far they remain the top dogs for vocal pyrotechnics. So what else should we know about Scotty?...read on as he beams me up to his World for an in depth interview.


First time you played soccer? Age 7, my first game was indoor, I scored 5 or 6 goals and was hooked from then on. It was like playing against Killingworth.... ( first game and you remember all those goals, huh? so, what were you wearing that day? what was the weather like? what did you have for dinner? no, really... i believe you can remember it....i do )


Fav team? NY Cosmos, really! I went to every game I could and played summer league with a couple of the players. Was great growing up watching Pele, Beckenbauer, Chinaglia and Carlos Alberto (my college coach coached the Cosmos in the 1970's, so I had an affinity for the team even after the NASL folded, and unfortunately had to endure some of the same workouts he put Pele through!) (i can see some of that Pele training in your style of play......ha ha...i know, I'm laughing too)


Fav player? Franz Beckenbauer, "der Kaiser", that was one great German footballer! ( he's not as good as Das Boots)


Your nickname at school? "Scotty"....and only my soccer team mates were allowed that privilege! ( and Scotty it will be....sorry about the beam me up thing...)


Fav music? Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band (I'm from New Jersey,what did you expect? You gotta problem with that?) (Whaddya tawkin, stunad? Fuhgeddaboutit!)


Fav movie? Toss-up, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid or No Country for Old Men ( both very happy endings!)


Best vacation? Taking the wife and kids to Europe in 2007, great trip....was very expensive so now I play soccer for money - I'm still waiting on my first check from Tom......( so am i ! )


Best moment on a soccer field? Scoring the winning goal against our arch rival with under a minute remaining in the 1983 county championship semifinal, we went on to win the final (then we lost in the state championship 2-0, that sucked)

Motto for life? Don't take it too seriously and have fun

Something we don't know about you? I'm actually bald and not in very good shape ( i don't know how to break this too you but.....)


Christiano Ronaldo or Kaka? Ronaldo ...didn't he help knock Celtic out of Europe? ( yeah yeah and a few other players too....a bad European run this year )


Thanks Scott for the revealing, inside view of the player that is known to all as ....... "Scotty"!

PLAYER FOCUS on...Jorge..."El Guante Blanco!"

Jorge is a superb player who scores goals for fun. He has knocked in 8 goals during the Fall season and he and RoRo are fighting it out for top goalscorer. He also played fantastically well during the summer, but when it gets cold Jorge gets his white gloves out to keep that important piece of football equipment warm....his hands.
So what do we know about El Guante Blanco.......or should it be....."El hombre blanco enguantado".......? Read on to find out what happens when the gloves come off!

First time you played soccer? Kindergarten in public. In private with my cousins when i was 3 years old. ( wow, you really did plan your soccer career!)

Fav team? "LIGA DE QUITO" actually "COPA LIBERTADORES" champions of South America. "Liga de Quito" is from Ecuador, from my University, where i studied to be a teacher at High School.

Fav player? Raul from Real Madrid, Spain and Maradona 10 times!, World cup '86 was the best. ( I think Scotland was in that one too....)

Nickname at school? "CHINO" I have a small eyes ( that explains a few of the misses then.....)

Fav music? Cumbias ( Are they better than Blackstar though?)

Fav movie? Alexander (?)

Best moment on soccer field? When I scored a goal, a fan gave me a bottle of alcohol. It was his way to celebrate ( Was his name Danny?? )

Motto for life? I love my kids, i love my wife, i love soccer, from anywhere, any age, men or ladies, indoor or outdoor ( we are still talking about soccer...right?)

Something we don't know about you? On soccer field, I am very aggressive, big temper. Off, I am very good person. My wife feels disappointed when she comes to watch me play ( Don't let her come and watch you then!)

Thanks Jorge!

PLAYER FOCUS on......Tom "The Pink!"

Tom has played all through the 2008 season and has had several great games. But by far the best was his stand out performance as the second half referee in our game against the Clinton Brazilian select when we came back from a 4 0 deficit to tie the match 5 - 5. Great game ref!
He is the voice of reason and conciliation in the team. He is willing to take the blame even when it is not his to take, to calm when things are getting a bit stormy....all in all, a great team player. So, what makes this saint of a teammate tick? Read on......


First time you played soccer? Very young! I had 3 older brothers and I was always playing what they were playing - and getting hurt! I played on teams in HS and college and since then in CT summer and indoor leagues


Fav team? Liverpool FC - YNWA! ( Not as good as the Celtic fans version! )


Fav player? I like several: Stevie Gerrard for his explosiveness and ability to influence a game (not his consistency), Fernando Torrez for his efficient movement and ability to shoot from anywhere using whatever he has available, Deco for his awareness, control, and play making. I've also grown to like Rooney a lot since he's shown some maturity. There are also a number of really smart, elegant players to watch in Europe and South America, I just don't see them enough to know them. ( The smart elegant South Americans must be Jorge and Carlito!)


Motto for life? Do your best, treat others well, and keep moving or things will stop working on you!


High school nickname? Pink ( Go figure!....imaginative though)


Fav band? The Who ( The what? )


Fav movie? Again, many for different reasons: Caddyshack, Little Big Man, Terminator, Bourne series, Dr. Strangeglove, Platoon, Bond movies (Connery was best), Thelma and Louise - just kidding! (Did you really mean Dr Strangeglove? )


Best moment on a soccer field? Two - winning in OT in HS to get to state semi-finals; shutting down a Div I All-American in a summer college league match. I've had a few really good indoor games at Oakwood playing on a team that did not lose for 2 1/2 yrs which will go unnoticed in soccer history....( Not now!!)


Tina or Sarah? Why not both?


Most surprising thing we don't know about you? I could tell you, but then I'd have to have you whacked! I don't know...I was an A-league darts player, studied English and philosophy in school, and was in my high school math league just to mess around at other high schools. ( Math league, huh?... no drink, no girls... but math league...)


Thanks Pink!

PLAYER FOCUS on.... Danny...."La Boca!"

Today we will focus on one of our most talented players (well, that's what he told me!) Danny Bhoy! He joined the team during the summer of 2008 and initially played up front before reverting to his natural position as sweeper. Although he still likes to go up front to show the strikers how to score. He is the last line of defence before our goalie and more times than not he gets the ball ( and sometimes the player!) Danny is not shy in expressing his views on the field, hence his nickname, but he is committed to winning! Although some of his best moments are usually reserved for the after match play by play. An event not to be missed!

I approached my interview with "La Boca" with some trepidation....with his straight talking, to the point reputation will I have to use the **** censor more than I did for The Heckelator? Read on for this fascinating insight into the sweeping genius, the defensive maestro, the verbal fountain that is......... Danny! ............the Third.


First time you played soccer? I first played Soccer when I was 7 years old ( Phew, first question safely out of the way)

Fav team? Man-U, how did you like that ass kicking? ( Ut oh....Here we go...let's see what happens in the return game tonight!)

Fav player? Lionnel Messi ( Hmmm...didn't pick a defender like Rio, Terry, Puyol or Buckwheat? )

Slogan for life? Ride this train until the wheel falls off ( I think there's a couple off already...)

High School nickname? "Spot", I was the only black guy on the team! ( were you bald then too? )

Fav band? Blackstar (...is that really a band?)

Fav movie? A Bronx Tail ( .... the porno version of A Bronx Tale? )

Fav Soccer moment? Hitting the winning P.K. freshman year for state championship

Beyonce or Christina? Beyonce ( You'll have to fight Ro Ro for her )

Something we don't know about you? The girls love me! ( And Jorge loves your salty head! )


Thanks Danny bhoy.....your answers were to the point and you let nothing go past you.....just like the way you play! Let's hope you will be recovering from a Man U defeat as you read this.....

PLAYER FOCUS on........Rohan "The Tank!"

Rohan joined Madison Celtic in the summer and he has already become a major goalscoring threat in the league. He has scored 8 goals in the Fall season so far, including two great goals at the weekend, and his robust style of play has earned him the nickname "The Tank". He's as tough as a $4 steak, he rampages through opposition defences as if they don't exist and has a rocket shot to finish things off. But....he is still new to the team and we don't know a lot about "The Tank" so I took the opportunity to carry out an extensive and revealing interview with Madison's top striker.

First time you played soccer? At age 6

Favorite Team? Liverpool and Brazil

Favorite player? Pele (Not cause he played for the Cosmos? )

Motto for life? Be the best at whatever you do

Your nickname at School? Ro Ro

Fav Band? Steel Pulse ( is this a Country and Western band?...)

Fav Movie? Scar Face ( Likes his movies tough!)

Fav moment on a soccer field? When I played for the first time in high school at age 15

Beyonce or Christina? Beyonce all the way ( All the way?)

Something we don't know about you? I had to shoot a robbery suspect when I was a police officer in Jamaica. It was in his ass. I am also very afraid of heights, but guess what? I want to get my pilots licence before I leave the Navy. I forgot to mention that I am a Corpsman ( OK, I think we should tell the opposition about your ability to shoot before every game! )

Thanks Rohan! Now get out there Tank and roll over the opposition with another hat trick!