Peralta interview in Olé (castellano)

[DCUtd]

http://www.ole.clarin.com/notas/2008/07/14/varios/01714514.html

Will translate tomorrow. Short of it is he likes it in DC.

[Che Matador]

great article, especially the things he said about Gallardo.

[La Barra Blonde]

great article, especially the things he said about Gallardo.

Looking forward to the translation...

[Bolivianfuego]

Interesting, he really seems to have a great friendship and admiration over gallardo. Its crazy, he states that just in 01' he was friggin' delivering pizzas and went to try out for a club on his friggin' Pizza Delivery Motorcycle hahahaha.

No wonder he has such respect and love for living here in VA most likely, he likes how its quiet.

[DCUtd]

Before you jump into this translation, remember that some of the expressions I am translating are very common in Argentina but sound weird in English. So, for example, when he describes his friendship with Gallardo as a "beautiful friendship" it doesn't sound corny in Spanish like it does to me in English....

http://www.ole.clarin.com/diario/2008/07/14/varios/thumb/1637207-1.jpg

"From delivery to marking Beckham"
From lower division and Almirante Brown to DC United and MLS, el Polaco talks about playing with Gallardo, confronting the Spice Boy, and more: remembering when he went for a trial with Comu with his pizza delivery motorcycle.
By Silvio Favale

The intrinsic roots to second division futbol reveal themselves. "This city is imposing, beautiful. Of course I miss my parents, my in-laws, my siblings, my nephews and nieces, but there is a lot of calmness here. And above everything else, the thing that surprises me the most is the amount of respect there is between people." Gonzalo Peralta es talking about Washington, DC, where he has been defending the colors of DC United for 6 months. A reality so luxurious that seems unlikely from his earlier days. And of course, el Polaco doesn't stop being amazed: "I still remember when I went on my delivery motorcycle to a trial with Comu in 2001. I sold churros (a desert sort of like pastries) with my old man, delivered ice cream, pizzas and walked dogs. And look, I came from delivery to playing alongside Gallardo and marking Beckham, ha!"

You adapted quickly.

"Fortunately, yes. The game is so fast here that it surprsed me. A lot of people criticize the league, but it's growing fast, and there are good futbolistas."

Gallardo, for example.

"For me, he is a completely different player in MLS and to have him as a teammate is a luxury. He has a clarity that is impressive."

How was your first day with THE [ARGH!!!] United?

"When I arrived at the club I said hi to him and said to him 'It's incredible that I get to play with you.' My hands were sweating because I was so nervous. And he, very calmly, told me to relax, and everything would come out good. I won't ever forget it."

Without being pompous

"Not at all, what really stood out for me was his humility. He worries about everything, especially the kids. Here the young guys live eating hamburgers, they eat horribly. And Marcelo one day went, without saying anything to anybody, and talked to the coaches so that they fed them after practices. A great gesture."

And what kind of relationship do you have with el Muñeco now?

"A beautiful friendship. We get together with our families for barbecues, to watch and listen to games..."

Almirante's games

"Totally. He lent me his computer when we were together and I listend to Brown. I cried when they were relegated, because I lived through some beautiful times there, through promotion to B Nacional (second division)..."

Something like el Muñeco with River, no?

"That goes without saying, the day that River became champion I was at his house and his oldest son was yelling 'Dale campeóoon.' And in the stadium, if he sees someone with a River jersey he goes to say hi. That's when you realize that there are clubs that stay with you.

And something else you two did together

"And we went to see the Spurs, we had our pictures taken with Ginóbli, Duncan, and went and played golf."

Golf?

"Yeah, but it was a disaster."

Why?

"The club organized a benefit tournament, and we went. I had no idea how to hold a club, and, well, beforehand we practiced with Gallardo and Niell. And my first one, I hit it. Why not. I started singing 'Polaaaco, Polaaaco' and Marcelo came over close to me and, slowly, told me 'Pola, don't shout when you play golf.' Like a dork, all the old dudes were watching me."

First and last time?

"What do you think?"

Getting back to futbol, you played against Beckham

"Yeah, and we won 4-1."

Everything revolves around him?

"There were 46,000 people in the stadium, and all for him. The people go crazy when they see him. And they give him a lot, but he strikes the ball incredibly. An unbelievable level."

You marked him?

"A couple of times I blocked his crosses, but he got by me, ha. I am being sincere, I was looking to give him a little kick and say 'I kicked Beckham,' but...."

You will get revenge

"No. Next time I am going to try to swap jerseys with him, that way it will sit well with me."

[NattyBo]

"Not at all, what really stood out for me was his humility. He worries about everything, especially the kids. Here the young guys live eating hamburgers, they eat horribly. And Marcelo one day went, without saying anything to anybody, and talked to the coaches so that they fed them after practices. A great gesture."



Respect for Gallardo ++

[La Barra Blonde]

His nickname is "the pole"? Hehehehe...:)

But seriously, Gallardo is a class act. What a great guy!

Muchas gracias for the translation!!

[LN - Dougg]

Great article, thanks for the translation. ;)

[6 ft. Leprechaun]

Respect for Gallardo ++

Agreed. Though this brings up another question about team management. One would think that the team's coaches and trainers have regularly taught the new kids what to eat, what not to eat and how to be a professional. So either the kids aren't listening or the message isn't getting across.

Kudos to Gallardo for trying to make them better professionals.

[La Barra Blonde]

Agreed. Though this brings up another question about team management. One would think that the team's coaches and trainers have regularly taught the new kids what to eat, what not to eat and how to be a professional. So either the kids aren't listening or the message isn't getting across.

Kudos to Gallardo for trying to make them better professionals.

I think the hamburgers might also be a factor of how much they are getting paid.

But you do have a point with teaching them good nutrition. Kids fresh out of college aren't exactly known for their balanced nutritional habits. :D

[Fisty409]

Kids fresh out of college aren't exactly known for their balanced nutritional habits. :D

Yeah, Ramen noodles and crackers isnt exactly fine dining.:D

[BadLlama]

His nickname is "the pole"? Hehehehe...:)

But seriously, Gallardo is a class act. What a great guy!

Muchas gracias for the translation!!

Actually "Pola" would be more of a term of endearment for "Pollack"

[NattyBo]

Agreed. Though this brings up another question about team management. One would think that the team's coaches and trainers have regularly taught the new kids what to eat, what not to eat and how to be a professional. So either the kids aren't listening or the message isn't getting across.

Kudos to Gallardo for trying to make them better professionals.
Uh, I think it has more to do with what reserve players can afford to eat

[6 ft. Leprechaun]

Uh, I think it has more to do with what reserve players can afford to eat

I know the perception is that it's cheaper to eat fast food, but it's really not. Buying healthy food at a grocery store is cheaper than eating out.

[Pseudonym]

"There were 46,000 people in the stadium, and all for him. The people go crazy when they see him.

Is anyone else offended by this?

[DCUtd]

Uh, I think it has more to do with what reserve players can afford to eat

You know, when I read it the first time casually, I took from it that Gallardo took it upon himself to make sure the kids were properly trained in taking care of their diets. When I read it the second time, in much more detail to translate it, it seems like the Pole was saying Gallardo actually went out of his way to make sure the kids were given healthy food to eat.

Actually "Pola" would be more of a term of endearment for "Pollack"

Yeah, I was going to mention that, but it's not pole like a 354 foot goalie, but rather Polish.

I know the perception is that it's cheaper to eat fast food, but it's really not. Buying healthy food at a grocery store is cheaper than eating out.

Could be, but I think his point is that they need to help train the kids in taking care of their bodies through their diet, not that they are eating McDonald's because it's all they can afford.

Is anyone else offended by this?

You know, when I typed that, I was thinking "Oh man, way to piss off the entire United hardcore fan base. Like he couldn't see the HUGE "HEART OF A LION" banner? But the reality is Argentines exagerate constantly, and I believe he was using it to emphasis that there were a lot of people in the stadium who were there to see Beckham, rather than United. I would love to have seen some questions about the fans, but they didn't touch on it.

My friends here always make fun of me when I talk about the Barra Brava there, but when I tell them United averages over 16.000 fans and frequently gets 20k+, they are impressed.

[La Barra Blonde]

Actually "Pola" would be more of a term of endearment for "Pollack"

Oh, ooops. Babelfish didn't mention that little nuiance. It just said "pole" so I thought it meant something literal like "bean pole" since he's tall and skinny. How does a Polish guy end up in Argentina?

Is anyone else offended by this?

Not really. Like someone else mentioned, I took it as an exaggeration since normal attendance is nowhere near that, esp. for a Sunday noon game in the middle of Summer. And to some extent, it's true as the regular 19,000 DCU fans of out the 35K in attendance were also there to see Beckham but only because he was on the team that was playing DCU at the time. :D

[Sachin]

Nice article.. it seems to me that Gallardo got DCU to put out for better food after practice, not what the reserves eat at home.

[DC06]

Is anyone else offended by this?

Yeah...it struck me too. It is always 100% for United and its players for me, regardless of who they play. The biggest ovation of that match was for Olsen, not Beckham.

Oh well, he'll learn.

[Tweaked]

After practice all the younguns now get a Flintstones vitamin, a glass of milk, and a plate of cookies. :D