I don't think I'd ever actually publish a picture of Ben as embarrassing as any of the ones Donovan did. My favorite Benny picture is still the one in my avatar. (I know I shouldn't say that because its one of mine, but still...)
IMO, a big point in Olsen's favor was the Copa America match against Argentina. We were hanging with them, despite having Drew Moor at RB, among other difficulties. As soon as Olsen was subbed out, the US fell apart. That's how good Ben Olsen is. Even after his first batch of injuries, he was able to make a US team including Drew Moor and Eddie Johnson competitive with Argentina.
Harrisburg? Lancaster? WTF? Saying that either of those towns are in "the Philadelphia area" is a gigantic stretch. You could just as easily say they were in "the Pittsburgh area" and be only slightly less accurate.
Bobby was recently asked his perspective on turning pro as a mid-teen, and his response was "I wouldn't recommend it to anyone ever."
You had to give them a few drinks? They were more than happy to say so sober. I've never heard Olsen complain to his mom about his hotel room.
Google indicates that Middletown is roughly 82 miles from Philadelphia. Other points of interest that are 82 miles from Philadelphia: Portions of Maryland INSIDE the Baltimore Beltway 85% of New Jersey 85% of Deleware A nice chunk of the Atlantic Ocean Parts of Manhattan Parts of Long Island I commented on this, and it got deleted, but something that always got under my skin is the fact that some PA folks think the Philadelphia Metropolitan area ends at the Delaware River and border.
Olsen played for FC Delco, a philly based club. Plus, he runs soccer camps in Phoenixville (right outside of philly) with Chris Albright, hes pretty active in the area. its just an article, not a big deal.
Yeah, the jackass thread starter whoring for hits to his crappy op-ed piece deleted my comments too. Nice "journalism." I guess facts aren't all that important to him. What a moron.
And he plays pro-soccer here, has a home and family here, and is also pretty active in the area on and off the soccer field. Nobody calls him DC Born, though.
In a way Benny's Philadelphia roots are pretty similar to the strong emotional ties Luciano Emilio has to his native Honduras, or the homesickness Santino Quaranta feels towards his home town of Carson, California.
There is irony in the loving treatment you guys are giving this poor guy and his thread about guys from Philly
I don't understand. Yes, Forest fans fondly remember Olsen, but Reading fans have a lot of love for Convey. They especially remember his contributions during the magical year when they won promotion.
Reading's fans rate him extremely high........or were you just talkin' out your arse. Venture onto the Reading fan boards and ask the question. He spent an entire year in the reserves proving himself, busting his ass while being dragged over the coals for being the highest paid transfer, suffered and endured and then broke into the line up for the BEST EVER record season for the Championship while keeping Stephen Hunt on the freakin' bench the entire year. I love Ben, but he did not accomplish anything near what Bobby did at Reading. Apples......oranges.......stupid thread IMO. ...but that's what Bigsoccer is for....
I will grant you that being a pro athlete as a teenager contributed somewhat to his petulance and poor reputation within United. What amounted for the other 95% had nothing to do with age.
I like Bobby and hope he regains his form with the Earthquakes, but did you watch tonight's match? Half a Benny is still better than one Bobby. He leads, he mixes it up with punks, and scores the clutch goal. Advantage Ben.
+1. Only reason Olsen, with his ankles, is even allowed on the field is that he has both the talent (his creativity is massively underrated in the league) and the guts to overcome it and be a force in the game.
Ben is the Dale Hunter of DC United, when he retires his number will surely follow. Nothing but best wishes for Bobby as well, until you play United. Vamos United!!