My day with Fred

Discussion in 'D.C. United' started by United1, Apr 23, 2008.

  1. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    My wife goes into the hospital this afternoon with early pregnancy issues (all is fine). Anyway, as we head to the waiting room area to be admitted, there were some people already there ahead of us. I get settled for a bit, then look across at the people sitting in front of me. There's one female who was obviously pregnancy, another female who looked like a mom, and one guy in a hat. I see the guy talking to his wife (I assume its his wife) and it hits me...ummm, is that Fred? :D I wasn't quite sure it was him but thought I'd be a jackass and ask. Indeed, it was Fred, his wife, and a family friend. Well, I got a chance to talk to him for well over an hour. I'll make this short, but I asked him about living in the states (he said he loves DC), we talked about Gallardo (who he called a very good player), we talked about Emilio (about how he's a slow starter), and we talked about why the team is playing like ****. He said he chalked it up to the infusion of new players, but that they will eventually gel. I brought up his pacifier goal celebration, and his wife said that would be the last time he ever does that. His English is quite good, and he was VERY nice. I did ask if he told the coaching staff that he may not make it to practice tomorrow, and he replied, "yep, I talked to Tommy and he said no problem."

    I'll write more later. I'm tired as shit from the day.
     
  2. Bootsy Collins

    Bootsy Collins Player of the Year

    Oct 18, 2004
    Capitol Hill
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Most importantly, I'm glad everything's OK with your wife.

    Less importantly, thanks for the update -- I wish I could have joined in the conversation. If you think of any other cool tidbits from the conversation, please do tell.
     
  3. seahawkdad

    seahawkdad Spoon!!!

    Jun 2, 2000
    Lincoln, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm with Bootsy's initial thought.

    And thanks for the Fred spotting and the report. I imagine he's not used to being recognized, so it must have been an interesting experience for him also.
     
  4. Pan-T Clause

    Pan-T Clause New Member

    Oct 21, 2004
    Silver Spring
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Hope all is well with the wife. Just went through it so I feel ya.

    Pretty cool sighting, did he act surprised that anyone recognized him?
     
  5. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    He was a little surprised that I recognized him. With a hat on, it made a little more difficult for me to spot him, too.

    I asked him about the Australian league in comparison with MLS and he said MLS was much better. He said he didn't like Melbourne as much because he prefers a larger city. I talked to him about his contract and he said he had another year (is that right?). I asked what he wanted to do after that and he said he didn't know, but it seems like he really enjoys it here.

    Oh, he thinks Kaka is the best player in the world. Shocker. :D
     
  6. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Thanks for the thoughts. All is well.
     
  7. nobletea

    nobletea Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 29, 2004
    HarCo
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    <SNIP insignificant details>

    Dude, what is the scoop on the hat? What kind of hat? Baseball cap, sports team, clothing line, surfing company? Cowboy hat? Snow cap? Beanie?

    I hope it was a cowboy hat. He's our gaucho.

    ;)
     
  8. dsheon

    dsheon New Member

    Jun 12, 2000
    I'm glad all is well United1. If the Melbourne faithful read this thread there will be aneurisms down under.
     
  9. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Baseball-style cap. It had something strange on the front. And no, I don't mean a Red Bull logo. :D Shirt and shoes were all Nike, however.
     
  10. Bolivianfuego

    Bolivianfuego Your favorite Bolivian

    Apr 12, 2004
    Fairfax, Va
    Club:
    Bolivar La Paz
    Nat'l Team:
    Bolivia
    Wow. Cool to hear he mastered english well. How long was he in the A-league before he came to DC?
     
  11. onefineesq

    onefineesq Member+

    Sep 16, 2003
    Laurel, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yeah, I'm quite surprised that he conversed for so long in English. I guess I should have tried to speak to him in English then. I have spoken to him a couple of times when I have been at practice, but it's been in Portuguese. I assumed he was still struggling a bit with English, because when I have heard Jaime talking to him at practice, Jaime has spoken to him in Spanish (very slowly, as obviously that's not Fred's language either). I figured (wrongly I see now) that the reason Jaime did that was because Fred didn't know English well enough to hold a long conversation.
     
  12. Riz

    Riz Member+

    Nov 18, 2004
    R-ville, Murrlin
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Fred is awesome like that. :D

    So was his wife in labor? I know she's got to be due any day now.
     
  13. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    She's only 29 weeks, so hopefully not yet!
     
  14. bigredfutbol

    bigredfutbol Moderator
    Staff Member

    Sep 5, 2000
    Woodbridge, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Glad to hear that your wife is OK. And thanks for sharing Re: Fred.
     
  15. Riz

    Riz Member+

    Nov 18, 2004
    R-ville, Murrlin
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Get the hell out! I'm 29 weeks too. :D And I swore someone told me she was close to term - like 36 or 37. Ah well.

    She's really nice too. I met her and Fred along with some other DC United supporters last year and it was a lot of fun.
     
  16. La Barra Blonde

    Oct 21, 2007
    Section 135
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good to hear that your wife is okay. Way cool that you got to chat with Fred. That must have made going to the hospital slightly less sucky.

    Wonder if Srdan can arrange for some pink and blue tifo when all the DCU and Barra babies are born. :D
     
  17. BBBulldog

    BBBulldog Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 25, 2004
    Dinamo Zagreb
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Croatia
    only if I can commit sepukku after that (or maybe right before :D)
     
  18. fatbastard

    fatbastard Member+

    Aug 1, 2003
    Lincoln (ish), Va
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    United1, you are nicer than I am, I would have titled this thread "Fred in the Hospital" or something equally as panic-striking :D
     
  19. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    I normally would have but I was too damn tired last night to be creative. :D
     
  20. MattMathai

    MattMathai BigSoccer Supporter

    Jun 28, 2004
    Annapolis
    Er, that wasn't FB being creative. That was just FB being his normal cranky self...
     
  21. United1

    United1 Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Arlington, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    I stand corrected. :D

    Now if you all would excuse me, I need to get back to my beer(s).
     
  22. MagpieFan

    MagpieFan Member+

    Apr 25, 2004
    Back in DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Is there something you'd like to tell us Riz?
     
  23. Riz

    Riz Member+

    Nov 18, 2004
    R-ville, Murrlin
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Um...


    I think McTavish is only comfortable in a back four with another solid player in centreback, and is not comfortable in a three man backline?

    ;)
     
  24. MagpieFan

    MagpieFan Member+

    Apr 25, 2004
    Back in DC
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Sigh...

    So close to some terribly juicy gossip!

    We're just not ready for the British tabloids are we?
     
  25. Riz

    Riz Member+

    Nov 18, 2004
    R-ville, Murrlin
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    England
    Thank god we aren't.

    It's tough enough keeping up with the drama around here. :D
     

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