EXCLUSIVE: Hunter Freeman Q&A – PT. 2

By: Dave Martinez | May 5th, 2008

Welcome back.

So while I was conducting this interview, there were kids sitting all around, doing homework, reading, minding their own business, and sporting their local Colleges gear.

The guy pictured here with Freeman? Well, meet Morris.. As I was conducting the interview, Morris was deep into some textbook and papers. And every now and then, I would catch a glance from our next table neighbor. As a Starbucks noob, I immediately thought “Damn, I am disturbing college kids. I read somewhere Starbucks is this generations version of a library . . . ” But I trudged on, conducted the interview, the whole time thinking Morris was furious with our endless chatter.

Turns out he is a Red Bulls fan. And in exchange for taking a couple of pictures for me, I took his. Thanks for doing the photog work for me pal! (didnt I tell you I would post this?)

Part II relates more to Hunter Freemans time in Colorado, 2007 and the transition, followed by his Olympic experience and opinions.

And yes. There will be a part III.

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Colorado, Coming to New York, Marvell Wynne and The 2007 Playoffs

Lets take a step back to last year, when you first came into New York. Were you expecting a trade when you were in Colorado?

In Colorado, it was good, because I had the chance to start right away, and I think, as a young guy, the best way to learn is by playing in the games. For me, everything I learned was from playing in the game. Being thrust into the spotlight was great for me. Sometimes, I lacked at whatever it was. But as a young guy, you take your dissappointments and bad games and you learn from them. I played alot of games, and for whatever reason it didnt work out there.

There were a couple of instances I felt I was – the words would be screwed over in a lot of ways, treated unfairly, wasn’t given honest opinions from the coaching staff, which, at the end of the day, the coach has to make a decisions, and I will always respect the coaches decision, even if it is not in my favor. But all I want is honesty. I felt like I was not getting that. Honesty is a big thing to me.

In the offseason, I told my agent, “Look, I want to get out of here. I dont care where, it doesnt have to be home (Texas), I just want to go where I have the best chance to play.” I know I am still young, and I still have alot to learn, but I also know I have to be played, whether thats in Salt Lake or New York – whatever. I didnt have a particular team though.

Nothing ever happened. Rumors came up about me going into Dallas in the draft, that never came about. So I said whatever, I have to go back to Colorado, put the past in the past, start new, and see what happens. The minute I got to Colorado, it was pretty evident that I was not in their plans. I was gone with the Olympic team on camp for 4-6 weeks, so I missed part of the preseason. Still, really hadnt heard anything.

Then kind of out of the blue, it happened. With Richie Williams being my assistant coach at UVA and Harkesy an assistant coach with me in the u-20’s, and obviously, Bruce would come to watch games at UVA as well, I think it helped me. Its been a great chance for me.

Colorado and New York are very different – good and bad. The living is obviously more expensive . . .

A LOT more expensive – for an MLS Player? Its gotta hurt . . .

Exactly. But I came over a week or two before the season started, and Marvell was here. So me and Marvell competed ever since the 20’s we competed. At first, I didn’t understand the trade since Marvell was here. I was like “Ok, you got me and Marvell and we both play the same position, whats going to happen here?” I didnt let it bother me. I just figured I would play my game, they bought me here for a reason, it may not make sense right away, but hopefully pretty soon it does, and thats what happened. Marvell plays the first game, and next game, Bruce tells me a couple of days before that “I think I am going to play you.” And I said ya, if your looking to play me Im ready to play. We played against Dallas, we win 3-0 in terrible weather . .

And you threw in a couple of great crosses that game . . .

Ya, I mean, I thought I played well, thought its not the best conditions to play soccer, but at the end of the day it was more about who is going to make a mistake? I feel I showed alot in that game to the coaching staff because, two days later, Marvell went to Toronto, and its was kind of like “Hey, this is your spot.” And that helped me the next 3 or 4 games because that gave me great confidence before the injury. That was probably the best I have ever played. And unfortunately, the injury, its a cooky thing – I am running, nobody even by me, and I cut, and hurt my ankle and it was frustrating because I was really happy with the way I was playing and felt like it was my time, you know? Kind of heard a couple of things like “Keep it up. Your going to get a shot with the big team” and who knows if that would have happened, but I feel like if I kept playing at the level I was playing at, that I would have got a sniff at least. And the rest is history.

I get hurt. I was battling back because the team was thin, and I came back a little too early so I struggled, and I dont play a few games, regain my feet, and the last 4 or 5 games of the season when I started and played, and started to get in a groove. I felt the game in New England, especially the 2nd half, I thought I played really well. My whole game obviously, as a defender is that I am defending but I feel I bring alot to the attack, and my service, I am not going to blast through some guys but Ive got decent pace, and it was unfortunate that we lost. In those two games, we had plenty of chances to score, but for a team that scored alot of goals, for whatever reason, we couldnt score. We give up one goal, down a man, whatever, but 1 goal is all it was. The most frustrating part of looking back at both of those games is that we had plenty of chances to put away one goal to put us into overtime. But thats soccer. The best team on the field doesnt always win. Life goes on.

Very interesting. Getting back to the beginning of the season, you mentioned Marvell Wynne, and it does bring to mind the fact that many Red Bull supporters were clammoring against the transfers of Marvell Wynne and Todd Dunivant. More so Dunivant than Wynne. But in you come, as the new face, drawing ire from the fans for replacing a couple of favorites. What was your take on that? Were you aware of it?

You know, I try not to read alot of stuff. Obviously, you hear about it, my friends would tell you about it – but again, me and Marv are good friends. We compete against each other, and I wouldnt say there is bad blood. What he is thinking is I get brought in, and he is like “Whats going on?” And I would be the same way. If I was in a team and they bought Marvell in, I would think “Man, my days are numbered” you know? I know Marvell, he is a good player, probably the most athletic in the league. He is a specimen, and I know alot of fans liked him, and anytime you come in and you are bought in for that guy, and that guy leaves, your always going to be compared to that guy, whether its fair or not, thats sports.

But you definitely did the right thing in these circumstances. In those first games, you were able to change the minds of everyone – I mean, that would have been the lesson in the fickle nature of the New York fan . . .

When your bought in, its for a reason. When a coach brings you to a team, they see something in you that you can contribute to his team. And with Bruce, he liked his outside backs to attack. When you are coming into the attack, you gotta be solid on the ball, provide a good cross, and yet, you have to be able to defend well, and I feel thats kinda a summary of the things I do.

Bruce gave me alot of confidence from the beginning. I came in, I was with the team for a week? I was on the bench for the first game, meanwhile I almost got into that game, then the next week he says “Hey I think I am going to start you” . . . . I mean, as a player, what else can you ask for ya know?

But like I said. Me and Marvell have always competed, and I think highly of Marvell. Hopefully he thinks the same of me, I think he would! I mean, thats just sports. People are going to come and go, and one coach can love you, and the next coach, well . . .

As was the case right there, with the Colorado / New York move . . .

Ya, I mean that happens everywhere. Its the case this year. Between Bruce and Juan, there are certain players they both liked, but there are certain guys that they don’t. Take Dema for instance. So everyone has their own opinion – right, wrong or indifferent. When you come to a team, you just want to contribute, give it your all, and hopefully, at the end of the day, the fans will support you and they will see you as a good fit for their team.

The Olympics, playing Left Back, and Picking Seniors

Thats not the only changes from last year to now. Tell us about the Olympic Qualifiers for you . . .

To be a part of the team, it was awesome. I mean, to represent your country, is outstanding, but to represent your country to qualify for the Olympics, something we didn’t do the last Olympics – there was a little added pressure on us. Last time we should have qualified, but this time, us hosting it, having missed it last time – I mean, we all felt the pressure. And then the result of the first game being a tie against Cuba, which is supposed to be the easier team in the bracket. It didnt startle us, but we knew we had to take care of business the next game. You know, its hard to play against those teams, because they all sit back against you , if they get a tie, they are more than thrilled.

Well thats what the US used to do! I mean, you look back on the years, and it was our M.O.!

Ya, so in those games, all it takes is a goal you know? But the longer it goes without a goal, the more confident they get, and obviously, the more pressure you get. I play left back. I dont think left back is my strongest position .. ..

You prefer the right . . .

Definitely prefer the right. One thing Ive always said is I dont care what position I play as long as I am on the field. And I still think thats true. I mean, I know I am better in some positions than others, or I feel like I am, but if a Coach says “Hey your going to play in goal,” I’ll play in goal. I may not be the best goalie, but I’ll do it.

From day 1 of camp, I was playing on the left, I never asked questions why. For whatever reason, Petr saw me fit there so I played there. It was frustrating because there were certain things on the left and I would get the ball, I knew that if I was on the right, I would be better or more consistent. So its frustrating like that, but I think its more with myself, my mind is just comparing it to the other side. Like I said, I dont complain. You can even ask Petr if I ever asked “Hey, why am I not playing on the right?” I didnt play one training session on the right, and I dont complain about that. I just try to do what the team needs and that was my job for that tournament.

We qualified and that was huge. And now, that was all good and great, but now its – everyone is back at Zero. You have to scrape and scratch your way back onto the roster, to the big show . . .

So how do you feel that you may say “I am going to be an Olympian” and . . .

Well I dont want to say I am going to be an Olympian because I dont want to jinx myself! Obviously I hope I am there. I feel like I can make that team. Number one is getting back healthy, because once Im healthy, now I can play games, and thats how Ill be evaluated by Petr and his staff, by playing games. And he has pretty much said that. Theres not going to be too many camps between now and then and how you are going to be judged is by how you play with your club team. And so right now, I am itching to get back. I am starting to get there. I dont want to do what I did last year, and come back but I am not really back, and suffer a setback, kind of like I did when I was in between. And second, I’de like to get to that point I was those first 3-4 games last year.

Now, hypothetically speaking, you have the chance to pick the three senior spots for the team – who would you pick?

I dunno, because its such a tough – and this is what the coaches are stuck with, and obviously, thats why they are paid the big bucks. Obviously, you have the Olympic games and then you have a World Cup Qualifier right in the middle of it. So do we take your top three guys, but you will be taking away from the World Cup Qualifying team. Even if you miss one game – even that one game, even though its in the middle, it could be that deciding game. But then I know there is talk of McBride who is experienced and obviously a quality player – something we dont really have on our team, you know, that kind of player. With his experience, hes not going be on the World Cup Qualifying team, and his club woint be performing at that time – like I said, he has a wealth of experience. I know thats been one.

As for the other guys, Landon would be great to have on our team, but once again, you are taking away from the full team. I think someone else, like Dempsey – I think him and Landon are similiar in what they can provide to a team and personally I wouldnt take both of them, because I think they are too similiar. But I think one of them would be a great addition.

And I think, you know, is it a goalie you take, or is it going to be a centerback which is obviously what you could have? I dont know . . .

Well, who would a center back be? A Conrad, and Onyewu . . .

If I had my pick, I would probably say Bocanegra, but if you are going to leave that World Cup Qualifying team alone? I would say someone like a Conrad, or even a Gregg Berhalter, if he’s not (with the full squad).

Those are all guys that have experience, a wealth of knowledge, without taking away from our team.

I feel we have alot of depth in our keepers. I mean, Tim Howard, obviously he would be a huge loss to the World Cup Qualifying team, and a huge gain to us. But then you still have guys like Marcus Hahnemann, and Kasey Keller that can step in. And I dont think that would be a step below. It would be a great asset to us. I am sure these are all things Petr and Bob will talk about. I am sure they are weighing and contemplating. Its aways away so alot can happen.

On a related note, I have to ask you . . . Country or Club? Which comes ahead for you?

Hey, no disrespect to the club, but I think country . . .

I agree!

I pride myself on representing the Red Bulls and New York, and I dont try to represent them any different when I am on the national team ,or vice versa. But I think, especially as Americans, and I think everybody would understand, we have pride in being Americans. There is no better feeling than listening to the national anthem and knowing that you are representing your country. With Red Bulls, we are representing our country. There are, what, 14 teams now representing our country. With the US team, you are the one team thats representing the country. Not only do you represent your country, but you represent your country against all the other countries in the world. I think there is no bigger honor than being able to say hey I represent my country in the Olympics. And the Olympics to Americans are like the World Cup for everyone else. I personally still weight the World Cup a little bit heavier as a soccer player, but the Olympics is only a smigen underneathe it. I would love to say I represent my country at the Olympics. I have been fortunate enough to represent my country at pretty much every age level. To continue that would be a dream come true.