Exclusive: Hunter Freeman Interview Pt. III

By: Dave Martinez | May 12th, 2008

So here we are, the final part of this trilogy. What have I learned so far? Well, Hunter is a straight shooter who isnt shy about giving an opinion – a refreshing change from the cookie cutter responses athletes usually give to dance around questions. I mean, how many times can you hear “Well, I do it for the team” or “The only thing that matters is winning”? Boring.

From Fruit Loops to Bruce Arena, Colorado to New York and back, Hunter has given us, in many respects, an inside view to a world otherwise unknown to us. And that kind of candor, in todays age of sports, is priceless.

Here, we cover the MLS in general, some talk on the impact of international players, and some standard predictions. Have a great read.

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Some MLS Talk

Now, obviously, the play in MLS has looked exponentially better in 2008 . . . what do you credit that to?

I think, one, is the development of the league. Players that are coming, the designated players that have been bought in, they have brought more attention to the league and the majority of those guys have performed well. At the same time, that attention that has been brought to the league, you gets guys who arent designated players. They know more and hear more about the league and they see these bigger mae guys coming over, they say hey, you know what? Why don’t I give it a shot. So you see guys like Juan Toja for Dallas, Schelotto, even Dave Van Den Bergh, who has played for huge clubs, he is applying his trade over here now. With Beckham coming to the league, you get huge media, and people paying more attention to it, good bad or indifferent. But anything is good for us now.

And you see alot of younger guys too. Alot of young guys performing well. I think you see guys on the Olympic team and there are some guys that got left out where you would think, why did they get left out? Like a good friend of mine – Arturo Alvarez. Probably one of the best player in the league right now. He got left out, whether right, wrong or indifferent, thats anyones opinion. But that is the kind of competition we have on the Olympic team, and thats the kind of competition thats in the league now. The guys that can perform on the Olympic team can perform well in the league and vice versa. I think anytime you have that competition, its only going to raise the level. And I know from my first year with the league to now, there is much more competition within the league with each individual team. Before it was kind of like you would have maybe 12, 13 guys fighting for a spot. Now, its more like 15, 16 guys, some squads, 18. But when you can start getting into 18 to 20 guys? Thats when you are going to really see competition. Like I said, there are some teams where they have 16-18 guys that can step on a field and play. Thats how far we have gotten.

And though the international players do bring alot of good to the game, the American born players seems to get the short end of the stick with salaries. Its a double edged sword. What are your feelings on that?

I am not really against foreign guys coming in, because every league in the country is like that. But the only thing I see sometimes is the feeling that just because a guy is foreign, they pay them more. Obviously, I dont necessarily agree with that. I mean, there have been cases where a guy has been bought in, and they have performed well, and I would say, “Well yea, they definitely earned.” As a player, I am never going to say “Oh this guy shouldnt be getting that much” because, trust me, if I could sign a contract for that, I would do it too . . .

D: . . . AHEM DENILSON AHEM . . . excuse me . . . sorry . . .

No, I am never going to foul on a guy for making good money. Obviously, thats what we all want to do. But at the same time, I feel there are some guys that have been in the league for a while, and have contributed well, and do represent the American Soccer player, but arent getting maybe what they deserve, or maybe if its a little over what they deserve. Yet they have been in the league and I think thats why this past offseason you saw a lot of guys leave. For example, Pat Noonan, who has been in the league forever, and kind of symbolizes what the league is about, and you let him go. And yea, I know he is probably going for money . . . .

. . . I mean why else would you go?

Ya. And someone like Ngwenya, who has been in the league and had a breakout year and then he leaves.

Matt Pickens . . .

Ya Matt Pickens also. I mean, those guys are still young, you know? They are what? Any where from 25 to 28? I dont really know how old Noonan is, but they still have some longevity in there careers, at least 3-4 years. And for whatever reason, they are let go and I think thats disappointing. But it is what it is and I think it’ll only get better. Its just going to take time.

I think the more the league raises the cap, the more fair salaries would be towards US players

Right. And I think the best thing right now is there is not one owner that has 3-4 teams. I think every team is individually owned except for Houston and Los Angeles.

And even De La Hoya has a stake in Houston now . . .

Ya. Dallas and Colombus are the only teams to be owned by the same owner. I think once every team has its individual owner, maybe we will get away from single entity. That has helped the league be stable and grow. And team expansion coming every year now is a sign that the league is growing. But yet that we are expanding on the quality of players getting better, plus your signing good players, so all of that is a good sign.

Even with the team in San Jose. You have players there on the bench that are capable, ready and able to play on a professional level which is an improvement over the last expansion team with Real Salt Lake.

Oh yea, like I said, San Jose, I feel they have a strong 12, 13 guys, and then they lack something. But those 11, 12, 13 players that they are starting their franchise with is alot better than what other expansion teams have started with. And thats a good sign for the league.

Ok finally . . . The Red Bulls will win the MLS CUP if . . .

If we get healthy, keep not conceding goals and score a few more.

And you will definitely not with an MLS CUP . . .

If we dont score goals.

Hah – straight to the point. Thanks Hunter.