Personality…

There are a few players I adore not only because they are fine players on the pitch, but have qualities that hold up well off the field, too. Steven Gerrard is first to mind, perhaps because I am still mentally playing back his amazing performance in the FA Cup Finals and his modest post-game interviews. Each of which reaffirms his status as a classy footballer in my eyes. I do hope Sven will use him wisely in the World Cup matches.

Landon Donovan, he is a character, isn’t he? On the field and off, he seems always to be having fun which is what it is all about, no?

Somewhere hidden underneath the youthful excitement of Michael Owen lies an old soul. That is all I care to mention at present, but no worries, I am sure he will be in a post soon enough.

It is rather ironic that someone has quiet and modest as Claudio Reyna should have the nickname “Captain America.” Yes, of course, he is the captain of the men’s team and he does well leading the team on the field, but it is done in such a calm manner that one could hardly suppose that he would ever prance around in a cape pompously exclaiming “I am a superhero and I am here to save you!”

I believe I fell in love with Zinedine Zidane during the 1998 World Cup games. Lest you take this statement lightly, see previous post entitled Lunch with Zidane. I cannot admit to any affection towards his national team, but, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Zizou’s amazing performance in the finals against Brasil. I will truly miss him when he retires after the games, but thankfully, I have video to be replayed.

And for the record, I believe I fell in love with many players in 1998. Michael Owen, Zizou, Brian McBride, David Beckham, and all for quite different reasons.

There are also many more footballers that I am mad about, more about them later.

Personality (n.): the complex of characteristics that distinguishes an individual; especially : the totality of an individual's behavioral and emotional characteristics