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The Colorado Rapids reflect on their meeting with President Obama
The team visited the White House and met the president Monday.
Jun 29, 2011 6:26:00 PM
By Stephanie Gardner
Jose Argueta, Major League Soccer
Just over seven months ago, the Colorado Rapids defeated FC Dallas in Toronto, earning the right to be called MLS champions. As is custom in major league sports, the time finally came for the reigning champions to head to Washington, D.C. on Monday.
While meeting President Barack Obama, the players ran a soccer clinic for children from military families on the White House lawn.
“It’s obviously an honor,” head coach Gary Smith said. “It puts a lid on the championship, on the guys and their performance and successes, what we’ve achieved last year."
“It was great,” goalie Matt Pickens added. “It’s pretty entertaining, pretty exciting. You don’t really feel like you deserve it, but it’s nice to be there, meet him, and shake his hand. It’s one of the amazing things you get to do with this sport. It’s another amazing thing that soccer has given back to me. It’s appreciated for sure.”
Players who were traded to the Rapids in the offseason were also invited to the event.
“It was pretty good,” MLS veteran Tyrone Marshall said, “obviously being the new guy, getting to piggyback ride on the team. It was a great experience, for anyone. I spoke to a couple of the boys, and they were kind of nervous going to the White House, meeting the President, the leader of the free world. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. All the boys had a great time. I think it was a great change of pace for us as well, coming off a tough loss on the road. It gets us back in the good frame of mind, and that definitely did it for us.”
The Colorado Rapids had another surprise waiting for them once they landed at the nation’s capital.
“I think one of the coolest parts for us was getting our championship ring,” said midfielder Wells Thompson. “Then we all got special suits and stuff. I think I am going to wear that suit at my wedding, making it even doubly special. It was cool, just to be honored. When you win the championship you don’t have too much time to let it soak in and embrace it before you have to get back to work. It was just a day where we could just embrace it, and enjoy ourselves.”
“We enjoyed the experience,” agreed defender Drew Moor, “meeting the President, getting to shake his hand. He signed Ross LaBauex’s book about President Obama. He’s just a great guy, and it was an unforgettable experience.”
The day to celebrate all that the Rapids accomplished in 2010 adds some much needed confidence to the team, as they have obtained a fair 5-5-7 start to the 2011 season.
“I don’t think it could have come at a more perfect time,” Drew Moor continued. “Gary (Smith) made reference to it this morning. After the results we had going into it, it was nice to reflect on what we have come from and what we did last season. I think it rejuvenated us a little bit, and allowed us to step back and not just celebrate what we had done the year before, but make us hungrier here going forward as well.”
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
While meeting President Barack Obama, the players ran a soccer clinic for children from military families on the White House lawn.
“It’s obviously an honor,” head coach Gary Smith said. “It puts a lid on the championship, on the guys and their performance and successes, what we’ve achieved last year."
“It was great,” goalie Matt Pickens added. “It’s pretty entertaining, pretty exciting. You don’t really feel like you deserve it, but it’s nice to be there, meet him, and shake his hand. It’s one of the amazing things you get to do with this sport. It’s another amazing thing that soccer has given back to me. It’s appreciated for sure.”
Players who were traded to the Rapids in the offseason were also invited to the event.
“It was pretty good,” MLS veteran Tyrone Marshall said, “obviously being the new guy, getting to piggyback ride on the team. It was a great experience, for anyone. I spoke to a couple of the boys, and they were kind of nervous going to the White House, meeting the President, the leader of the free world. It’s a once in a lifetime experience. All the boys had a great time. I think it was a great change of pace for us as well, coming off a tough loss on the road. It gets us back in the good frame of mind, and that definitely did it for us.”
The Colorado Rapids had another surprise waiting for them once they landed at the nation’s capital.
“I think one of the coolest parts for us was getting our championship ring,” said midfielder Wells Thompson. “Then we all got special suits and stuff. I think I am going to wear that suit at my wedding, making it even doubly special. It was cool, just to be honored. When you win the championship you don’t have too much time to let it soak in and embrace it before you have to get back to work. It was just a day where we could just embrace it, and enjoy ourselves.”
“We enjoyed the experience,” agreed defender Drew Moor, “meeting the President, getting to shake his hand. He signed Ross LaBauex’s book about President Obama. He’s just a great guy, and it was an unforgettable experience.”
The day to celebrate all that the Rapids accomplished in 2010 adds some much needed confidence to the team, as they have obtained a fair 5-5-7 start to the 2011 season.
“I don’t think it could have come at a more perfect time,” Drew Moor continued. “Gary (Smith) made reference to it this morning. After the results we had going into it, it was nice to reflect on what we have come from and what we did last season. I think it rejuvenated us a little bit, and allowed us to step back and not just celebrate what we had done the year before, but make us hungrier here going forward as well.”
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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