Hamels The Soccer Fan Joins Grassroot Movement

PHILADELPHIA, PA-- One of baseball’s most promising pitchers? Check. 2008 World Series MVP? Check. Soccer fan? Big check.

That’s Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels. The coolest customer to step on the mound for the Phillies since Steve Carlton, Hamels has created a legacy for himself in Philadelphia with his heroic performances this post season that saw his team win the World Series for the first time in 28 years.

“Hectic! It’s been good,” said Hamels of the last few weeks in an exclusive interview with Goal.com. “Just being able to see the excitement and the appreciation every time I go out to eat or do laundry or the grocery store, I just see the appreciation from all the fans. I never really got the understanding about what it meant [to the city] coming from California. You come right into it and all you want to do is win, but to really see it and get that whole Philadelphia experience, it’s pretty cool. It’s truly been fun, and  I can’t wait for next season.”

Hamels made five starts in this year’s post-season sporting a 4-0 record with an impressive 1.80 ERA. He’s 38-23 in his career with an ERA of 3.43 and has thrown 518 strikeouts.

It all could have been different, as in high school, the 24-year-old almost decided to make soccer his life instead of baseball. Thankfully for Philadelphians, he chose baseball. We know what has happened since then, but according to Cole his love for the beautiful game has never died.

“In high school I had to either pick soccer or baseball, and it was baseball, which I was lucky enough to go pro in,” said Hamels of his tough decision. “I always wanted to go pro in soccer, but it didn’t happen and that’s ok. I’ve always been a big fan of the LA Galaxy, and I always watch World Cup matches. I’m glad the US team is starting to do better.”

At LaSalle University to support his friend, Ethan Zohn, one of Grassroot Soccer’s stalwarts, Hamels was inspired by the message being spread by the former Survivor winner as he attempts to dribble all the way to Washington DC from Boston.

“I think it’s awesome!” Hamels said of what Zohn has been doing. “You won’t be seeing me throw baseballs for 500 miles. I think the dribble is a really cool thing. It inspires me in a way off the field that makes me want to help out and contribute and a lot of people don’t see that side. If you can kind of go out there and help other people, that’s an inspiration in itself.”

Prior to the interview, Hamels took the time to speak with the children on hand from the Helping Hands Rescue Mission, and spent about 20 minutes taking part in a few pick-up games with the kids where the southpaw showed off his clearly polished soccer skills.

Up next for Cole is a relaxing off-season and hopefully some successful contract negotiations. That hasn’t stopped the San Diego native of thinking ahead to 2010 when his new hometown, Philadelphia, will begin play in their first MLS season with its new franchise.

“It’s very exciting,” said Hamels of the new soon-to-be Philadelphia MLS team. “I’ll be showing up to a few games, definitely. Soccer is a new sport to this city and I think it’ll do very well.”

-- Shane Evans, Goal.com