a difficult moment for me. I've never been so disappointed to not score.
8. Two weeks in a row, you guys were close to snapping that long winless streak. How tough is that? Are you guys able to stay positive?
JK: Yeah, I think we are. I think most people probably don't have a full understanding of how difficult that is. A loss is a loss, but I feel this team has played well the last three weeks and I think we deserve a lot more points than we've gotten. We have to stay positive. If we put that kind of effort into games, we're going to get a lot of points, but we need to keep stressing the positive.
7. How about you personally, are you close to being 100 percent ready to go?
JK: I feel ready to go, but I often wonder how it looks to other people. Do I look as quick and agile as I should? I know it's a matter of time. The last time I got hurt, it was nine months until I felt 100 percent. I think I can make some special plays now, but I think it's a matter of time before I'm fully back.
6. Can Real Salt Lake contend for a playoff spot this year?
JK: I would say absolutely. We need the proper mentality and attitude going forward. We've seen that it can be tough to play well and not get points. We have to keep going.
5. As a striker, how important is it for you to get the minutes with your teammates, the guys who are trying to figure out how to set you up for chances?
JK: It's really important that I'm training every day. Last week was the first time that I've trained every day, done every activity. To get comfortable with Jeff Cunningham is vital. He and I need to develop our partnership quickly.
4. How do you see that partnership developing?
JK: I think it's intriguing that we're so different. He likes to take the ball and turn in on defenders. He likes to get in behind and has the pace to do that. I'm the type of forward who likes to check back and combine. We can cause defenders some problems because each of us can create different problems.
3. Of the 101 goals you've scored in your career, do you have a favorite?
JK: The last one. It's like that saying, 'Free Beer Tomorrow.' You're always waiting on the next goal. So the favorite for me, it's always the last one.
2. Brett Hull has said that when he scored, he always worried that it would be his last goal. Do you ever worry that the goal you've just scored might, in fact, be the last one?
JK: Yeah, My dad told me early on that no one rates the goals, so just score them. For me, every goal is a fantastic experience, so I try to enjoy each one.
1. Was the whole expansion experience harder than you thought it would be?
JK: It absolutely was. I think I took it for granted that if we got three or four players we'd compete. I think we realize now it takes a lot more than that. You need chemistry. The number of players who have MLS experience. That number is greatly higher than it was a year ago. We have guys who realize it's a long season and we have to keep playing.
Jeff Bradley is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. Send your comments and complaints (200 words or less, please) to Jeff at jbradleyespn2003@yahoo.com and he promises to read (but not respond to) all of them. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author's, and not necessarily those of Major League Soccer or MLSnet.com.
