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Quick Kicks: Kansas City Wizards Defender Jimmy Conrad
Goal.com’s Shane Evans chats with the Wizards captain in the latest edition of “Quick Kicks.”
Jun 18, 2009 7:23:34 PM
A recognizable and spirited figure on and off the field, is there a better player to be featured in “Quick Kicks”? You’d be hard-pressed to find someone, that’s for sure.
One of Major League Soccer’s most seasoned veterans Conrad, is the heart-and-soul of the Kansas City Wizards having made over 100 appearances for the club since 2003.
An undrafted center back out of San Diego State, Conrad started his MLS career with the the San Jose franchise in 1999 and was a member of their 2001 MLS Cup winning team.
Known for his work off the pitch as well, Conrad is actively involved in various media outlets, having written for both Sports Illustrated and ESPN Soccernet. He also hosts his own radio show, has his own website, and is an avid member of the Twitter community. Links to each can be found at the end of the article.
Nickname: Cimmy (pronounced Simmy). I received the name in college when we were joking around one time, primarily because we were bored, and we started naming people we know by switching the initials of their first and last name. Examples at the time: Ratt Meis, Kosh Jeller, and me, Cimmy Jonrad. However, since we are still very immature, we continue to play the game to this day and the best name that has ever been produced by this simple exchange of two letters is Nat Poonan. Does it get any better than that? I don't think it's possible even though I'm sponsored by adidas and their slogan is "Impossible is Nothing."
Club Supported: Newcastle United. I've been following them since Alan Shearer was leading the team but these days it's unbearable to watch. They don't play with any passion.
Strengths: I can bench press a hundred pounds five times, six tops, I'm an unstoppable force at the game of Sorry!, and I have great hair.
Weaknesses: I look at myself in the mirror too much, I can't bend a free kick over the wall with any real consistency, my self-worth is tied up into whether my team wins or loses, and I can't do a proper cartwheel.
Soccer Heroes: Alan Shearer, Eric Cantona, and Sylvester Stallone in "Victory."
Career Highlight: Being named to and playing for the 2006 U.S. World Cup team. I know there are other moments that would seem to make more sense but the personal validation I got from being named to the team was a big thrill. I had as many believers as non-believers in my ability and being named to the team and then getting to play and showing that I could hold my own was the cherry on top.
Views on MLS: I think the league has made enormous strides in the last few years and I think it's foothold in the American sports landscape is secure. However, a lot of the things that will take the league to the next level, like youth academies, every team with its own stadium, fans who grow up with MLS and pass on their passion to their kids, getting lines on games in Las Vegas, are going to take time. In short, as a league, we still have a lot of room to grow and I think the upside is very exciting.
Biggest Influence: When I was 14, I was playing against this one kid for the whole game and he came up to me after it was over and said, "You know, you're a good player when you want to be." From that point on, I realized that I alone controlled how good I was going to be and that it was up to me and me only to decide how far I wanted to take it. To be honest, I wish I could talk to that kid now and thank him for having such an impact on my career.
Tunes on the iPod: Bloc Party, Interpol, Kings Of Leon, Radiohead, At The Drive-In, Tool, Okkervil River, to name a few.
Dream Car: I own it and it's in my garage. A fully restored 1961 Ford Falcon. It's a Grandma car and I'm totally okay with that.
Favorite Movies: The Big Lebowski, Rushmore, Dumb & Dumber, and the new Arrested Development movie that hasn't come out yet.
Something We Don't Know About You: Well, I'm considered a media darling in some circles so I think if you dug deep enough into all the interviews I've done or columns I've written or radio shows I've hosted, then you'd find all the answers you wanted or needed to know about me. Though I guess I could offer this: I don't like celery, I'm not the biggest fan of spiders, and my mom called me "Jamer" when I was a kid. Does that work?
In Five Years: I hope to continue my quest of brainwashing America's youth through a number of outlets (i.e. television, radio, internet, soccer camps, coaching, etc.) and watching the seeds I plant into these young impressionable minds blossom into the leaders of tomorrow.
Check out Jimmy’s website at: http://www.jimmyconrad.com/ and follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/JimmyConrad
Shane Evans, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
One of Major League Soccer’s most seasoned veterans Conrad, is the heart-and-soul of the Kansas City Wizards having made over 100 appearances for the club since 2003.
An undrafted center back out of San Diego State, Conrad started his MLS career with the the San Jose franchise in 1999 and was a member of their 2001 MLS Cup winning team.
Known for his work off the pitch as well, Conrad is actively involved in various media outlets, having written for both Sports Illustrated and ESPN Soccernet. He also hosts his own radio show, has his own website, and is an avid member of the Twitter community. Links to each can be found at the end of the article.
Nickname: Cimmy (pronounced Simmy). I received the name in college when we were joking around one time, primarily because we were bored, and we started naming people we know by switching the initials of their first and last name. Examples at the time: Ratt Meis, Kosh Jeller, and me, Cimmy Jonrad. However, since we are still very immature, we continue to play the game to this day and the best name that has ever been produced by this simple exchange of two letters is Nat Poonan. Does it get any better than that? I don't think it's possible even though I'm sponsored by adidas and their slogan is "Impossible is Nothing."
Club Supported: Newcastle United. I've been following them since Alan Shearer was leading the team but these days it's unbearable to watch. They don't play with any passion.
Strengths: I can bench press a hundred pounds five times, six tops, I'm an unstoppable force at the game of Sorry!, and I have great hair.
Weaknesses: I look at myself in the mirror too much, I can't bend a free kick over the wall with any real consistency, my self-worth is tied up into whether my team wins or loses, and I can't do a proper cartwheel.
Soccer Heroes: Alan Shearer, Eric Cantona, and Sylvester Stallone in "Victory."
Career Highlight: Being named to and playing for the 2006 U.S. World Cup team. I know there are other moments that would seem to make more sense but the personal validation I got from being named to the team was a big thrill. I had as many believers as non-believers in my ability and being named to the team and then getting to play and showing that I could hold my own was the cherry on top.
Views on MLS: I think the league has made enormous strides in the last few years and I think it's foothold in the American sports landscape is secure. However, a lot of the things that will take the league to the next level, like youth academies, every team with its own stadium, fans who grow up with MLS and pass on their passion to their kids, getting lines on games in Las Vegas, are going to take time. In short, as a league, we still have a lot of room to grow and I think the upside is very exciting.
Biggest Influence: When I was 14, I was playing against this one kid for the whole game and he came up to me after it was over and said, "You know, you're a good player when you want to be." From that point on, I realized that I alone controlled how good I was going to be and that it was up to me and me only to decide how far I wanted to take it. To be honest, I wish I could talk to that kid now and thank him for having such an impact on my career.
Tunes on the iPod: Bloc Party, Interpol, Kings Of Leon, Radiohead, At The Drive-In, Tool, Okkervil River, to name a few.
Dream Car: I own it and it's in my garage. A fully restored 1961 Ford Falcon. It's a Grandma car and I'm totally okay with that.
Favorite Movies: The Big Lebowski, Rushmore, Dumb & Dumber, and the new Arrested Development movie that hasn't come out yet.
Something We Don't Know About You: Well, I'm considered a media darling in some circles so I think if you dug deep enough into all the interviews I've done or columns I've written or radio shows I've hosted, then you'd find all the answers you wanted or needed to know about me. Though I guess I could offer this: I don't like celery, I'm not the biggest fan of spiders, and my mom called me "Jamer" when I was a kid. Does that work?
In Five Years: I hope to continue my quest of brainwashing America's youth through a number of outlets (i.e. television, radio, internet, soccer camps, coaching, etc.) and watching the seeds I plant into these young impressionable minds blossom into the leaders of tomorrow.
Check out Jimmy’s website at: http://www.jimmyconrad.com/ and follow him on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/JimmyConrad
Shane Evans, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page!
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