Pablo Article At Sam's Army

[GreatZar]

There is a new article (http://www.sams-army.com/index.php/Mlist=content_full/Article_id=94) up at Sam's Army (http://www.sams-army.com/) web site that I'm pimpin' (I'm the author ;) ). Let me know what you think...

[TeamUSA]

Good read Zar. Don't take my response personally, but a few things I would have liked to have known about Pablo would have been involved with his growing up as I view this an important aspect to how he pushed himself to excel in football. His disappointments and triumphs.

But getting past my little personal problem. It was a great article to read up on a player that we get to see weekly. Amazing how all the things fell into place for him. Unfortunate for Chris Armas, even though he is a Fire player. For me it is country before club any day of the week, even if I really don't care for a player........looking in your direction David Regis, I still want them to do well.

Anyway, congrats on a great article and lucky you spending time with Pablo. Keep up the articles on USMNT players if you can. Maybe you can get Henderson to take some time for an interview.

[GreatZar]

No offense taken, TeamUSA.

I'm not a professional writer nor a professional journalist. I'm a fan. So going into the interview, my goal was to give a story that could tell others the hard work and perseverence needed to play in the World Cup. I wrote about 20 questions on paper so that if I began stammering, I could refer to the sheet and get back on track. I couldn't get an interview via the normal Rapids PR channels, so I trapped the kid coming off the fields during practice. When I began interviewing him, it took everything in me to keep my hand from shaking holding the recorder. And since I was trapping him for the interview, I felt I had to keep it short (10-15 minutes) and I ended up taking 20 minutes and worrying that he might say "that's all I have time for, sorry." But he never did. Hell, I'm thankful he didn't throw my @$$ out in the first 2-3 minutes when I was looking most goofy, indeed (I finally got comfortable after a few minutes drawing a story out of him that I haven't read on the web/print before -- what is up with this?).

Anyway, I agree it would be great to learn more about his youth experiences. Wish I had more time with him. It also might be fun to interview Fraser, Henderson, and 'celo.

[GreatZar]

By the way, the article now has wav file audio available (with a lot of me editted out).

[Worm Burner]

Dan,

Good read. I didn't realize how circumstantial Pablo's rise to the top was.

Thanks for taking the time to do the interview and story.

[FlashMan]

I remember this play!!

"While he wasn't nervous and remained confident, Pablo does recall an encounter during that first match with the world-renowned Portuguese attacker Figo. "I remember one play vividly where I went in for a two-footed slide tackle on Figo on the sidelines. He had nowhere to go. And instead of jumping, or kicking the ball, or kicking it into me so it goes out of bounds, he steps on the ball, pulls it back, I go sliding into his shin pads, and he just knocks it back (into play.)" Pablo continued to praise the quality of the entire Portuguese team and said, "To come out with the win was bigger than life."


Thanks GreatZar.

As a sidenote. I met Pablo and his parents at a Nats camp down here in San Diego (I think) two winters ago. His dad was a VERY proud papa and in front of me told Pablo how he was going to make the Nats and play in the World Cup. Pablo just rolled his eyes and looked at me like: "you probably have a dad like this too." :)

All three Mastroenis were very nice and cordial.

[Jeff]

Finally got the chance to read it. Very well done.

[Daksims]

I think you've found your calling, Zar. What I find amazing, even after the previous stories, is that Pablo would sit down and get into that much depth and detail with a fan. That, to me, says alot about his personality and down to earthness. Great article, Zar. It singlehandedly threw Pablo into my top ten list of favorite players.

[greenie]

Nice work!

All I'd say for now Zar is to stop fretting and being nervous about talking to guys like this. Sure, he's a hero but at the same time Mastroeni is like most other MLS players -- approachable, considerate, and always willing to spend the time with the media and the fans.

Another recommendation is to never be afraid to ask the hard questions. Most often these guys will respect those questions, as they're rarely asked something straightforward. If they don't want to answer, they'll generally avoid it in a fairly professional manner, but they won't be insulted that you asked them in the first place.

That said, what I'd love to know about Pablo is if he's really found it that difficult to adjust to MLS officiating after so much time trainig with the Nats and playing in the World Cup. Would also love to know what position he feels is his best -- having played every position defensively, does he have a preference?

[GreatZar]

Originally posted by greenie
All I'd say for now Zar is to stop fretting and being nervous about talking to guys like this. Sure, he's a hero but at the same time Mastroeni is like most other MLS players -- approachable, considerate, and always willing to spend the time with the media and the fans.
Easier said than done. How would R/A Fan act if he was introduced to B.S.? How would a Bronco fan act if they were introduced to John Elway? I instantly get foot-n-mouth disease around these guys. Like I said, it was a very good idea to have a set of questions written down ahead of time (cause I needed that sheet to get things going).

Pablo made it easy.

[Rapids/Arsenal Fan]

Originally posted by GreatZar

Easier said than done. How would R/A Fan act if he was introduced to B.S.?

Who's B.S.?

[Rapids/Arsenal Fan]

Originally posted by Rapids/Arsenal Fan


Who's B.S.?

Oh. I get it. You remember Cliff Clavin from "Cheers"?

Ummmm......yeah. That's me.

[wcgcapone]

Bart Simpson

[greenie]

Originally posted by GreatZar

Easier said than done. How would R/A Fan act if he was introduced to B.S.? How would a Bronco fan act if they were introduced to John Elway?

I can't speak for Broncos fans and Elway, but something tells me that unlike R/A Fan and BS, you're not dying to explore Pablo's holiest of holies.

[Rapids/Arsenal Fan]

Originally posted by greenie


I can't speak for Broncos fans and Elway, but something tells me that unlike R/A Fan and BS, you're not dying to explore Pablo's holiest of holies.

LOL

[Northcal19]

Nice Zar, very interesting.

[wcgcapone]

Originally posted by greenie
I can't speak for Broncos fans and Elway, but something tells me that unlike R/A Fan and BS, you're not dying to explore Pablo's holiest of holies.

You never know, Great Zar DID live through the "Swinging Sixties", yeah baby!