V day...

Its amazing how crazy people get on valentines day. I'm still not sure how us Americans got to celebrate this day, but I do admire that it is apart of our culture and obviously the message that is being sent does not get much better...so happy valentines day to you all and your loved ones.

My girlfriend and I, patty...kept it very low key this thursday night, as we plan on enjoying a lovely day together on sunday when work doesn't conflict with our lives. She has to be at the radio station at 5 tomorrow morning and I have to be at training at 8 so we decided to keep it mellow. We enjoyed a casual dinner and a movie...We kept with another American pastime...the classic burger, fries and a soda combo followed by an evening special of Atonement...what a flick btw. Talk about an intense valentines love movie.

Anyways its off to another early training session in the morning. I'm hoping the quad will hold up as I look forward to playing the U23 Japan national team on Saturday. Stay tuned for what I'm sure is going to be an epic story about an epic match. In the spirit of love I leave u with a quote from the great Vince Lombardi

"What's the meaning of love? Anybody can love something that is beautiful or smart or agile. You will never know true love until you can love something that isn't beautiful, isn't bright, isn't glamorous. It takes a special person to love something unnatractive, someone unknow. That is the best test of love. Everybody can love somebody or someones strength and somebodys good looks. But can you accept someone for his inabilities?"

Bit harsh from the champion but nevertheless his words...goodnight
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Primer Impacto

I want to say a genuine hello to everyone that may be reading my very first entry blog.  I can't tell you how excited I am to start this project.  Autobiographies have always fascinated me and stories of humans have always inspired me, so I not only will write this for me but i write this for you readers out there who take even the slightest interest in my life.  

Currently I am in Chivas USA preseason camp at the Home Depot Center in Carson California. As some of you may recall I played for Chivas USA for two years in 2005 and 2006.  Last year, in 2007 I played for the California Victory in the USL 1 based out of San Francisco.  Now I am back with my first professional club and to be honest I have loved every second of it.  For the first time in a very long time I feel healthy in all parts of my body and have a new re found hunger for the game of futbol.  Lets be honest though, no matter how tough or difficult futbol has gotten in my life, whether it has been through injuries, bad coaches, hopeless managers or tough losses, the passion for the game will never die.  

It's great to be back with the boys.  Many of my former teammates are still with the club, players like my boyhood mate Johnny Borenstein, Lawson Vaughn, Ante Razov, Panchito Mendoza, Jesse Marsch and Brad Guzan...and then players that are in preseason camp that I grew up playing with since the early club days.  I look forward to every training session where the futbol is quality, the pace is fast, and the competition is tough.  How futbol was meant to be played I say.

Today we played the New York Red Bulls in a preseason exhibition and the Goats pulled out a 1-0 win.  I played the center back position in defense, where most of you that know me knows that I have never played there in my life, but the club needed me there and in the end we got the shutout so it all worked out.  I look forward to the rest of preseason in LA.  The team is planning only one trip out of the state for preseason, so that means that I can spend all my time with family, friends and the lovely girlfriend of course.  Should be epic times of epic proportions.  

Right now I am staying at my parents place which is very nice.  The parents know how to take great care of me and the older I get the more I cherish the moments we have together, especially since me and my sister Carmen are never around these days.  They have always supported me in all my adventures in life and love the fact that I could be home playing for el roji blanco otra vez.   Well its off to bed as I have to be in the training room at 8 tomorrow morning.  I took a little knock in the match today, nothing serious but a knock nonetheless and it needs a little work on.  

Until next time I leave you with a favorite quote of mine from the true captain, Roy Keane, discussing practice and training.  "You spend only 90 minutes performing in public, the bulk of your work is done in private on the training ground.  That is the work that counts.  You find out all you need to know about a player.  Monday to Friday in training."   Can't wait till tomorrow...Cheers!