Grant Wahl articles on Mathis [R]

Gamblor · Feb 13, 2003

Results of US-Jamaica game given.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/si_online/news/2003/02/12/a_striking_pair/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2003/02/13/wahl_soccer/

Mathis is primed for a big year. "He's going to discover this year how good he can be, and how far he has to go," says Arena. "For him to reach his whole potential there's a lot more he can do, and there are indications to me that he's going to get there. I think he's going to have a really good year. We've positioned him to be very successful in MLS when he leaves here. We've gotten him fairly fit and headed in the right direction. It's his job to keep moving forward, but I think he's gotten over the hump." ...

Of all the criticism Mathis received last year, what bothered him most, he told me, were the public nasty-grams he got from MetroStars GM Nick Sakiewicz and former coach Octavio Zambrano.
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K.P. · Feb 13, 2003

"If we had 18 Clints out here it would be a disaster. We'd be ripping each other's head off." -Mathis

Arisrules · Feb 13, 2003

Grant Wahl is a great read. That's a fun article.

DCU · Feb 14, 2003

"Clint Mathis needs to break out. Both Mathis and his coach may feel he is ready for a big year (see below), but there's something missing from his game of late. Much of it has to do with his unwillingness to take on defenders off the dribble. It may yet come, however, and Mathis is clearly not the only talented Yank suffering from the same problem."

Do you guys really believe that Clint is going to have the 'breakout year' Arena says he will? The guy hasn't gotten any fitter in the last 2 weeks. If anything, Mathis looks like he's gotten fatter, slower, and lazier. Snakeskin running shoes are great, but they don't do the exercise for you. I think it's more likely that Moreno and Mathis will be giving each other blubber massages in the training room for most of the season, than that they'll produce consistently solid performances and help you all this season.

Shabs · Feb 14, 2003

Originally posted by DCU
"Clint Mathis needs to break out. Both Mathis and his coach may feel he is ready for a big year (see below), but there's something missing from his game of late. Much of it has to do with his unwillingness to take on defenders off the dribble. It may yet come, however, and Mathis is clearly not the only talented Yank suffering from the same problem."

Do you guys really believe that Clint is going to have the 'breakout year' Arena says he will? The guy hasn't gotten any fitter in the last 2 weeks. If anything, Mathis looks like he's gotten fatter, slower, and lazier. Snakeskin running shoes are great, but they don't do the exercise for you. I think it's more likely that Moreno and Mathis will be giving each other blubber massages in the training room for most of the season, than that they'll produce consistently solid performances and help you all this season.
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You'll find out the hard way.

Mattbro · Feb 14, 2003

Hey, didn't the "Cleetus" (sic] nickname originate on BigSoccer? I guess I'll go ahead and claim responsibility for that one, since no one will be able to prove it wasn't me.