Well, the mosquitoes haven't given up yet and neither have I. I've probably run more in the past two weeks than I have in a long time. I've been keeping busy while recovering from an injury, but have certainly been logging the miles.
Even when the rest of the team was dismantling Nuevo Chicago, a first division side, I was putting in interval work on the track. I'm not sure how fast I was going, but I do know that I was running two minutes at around 175 beats per minute, and then one minute at around 160.
While Davy Arnaud was scoring his second goal of the game, I was about halfway through my 30-minute session. The game went really well and we played some of the best soccer we have so far this preseason. That's very promising.
After the game and an appearance on Argentinean TV, we had a barbecue at the house of one of the promoters for our trip. We were well taken care of and the food was great. After our meal, a very good magician gave us a show. He made more than a few players look quite silly. After the meal we headed back to the hotel and got some sleep.
At training on Friday, I had as much fun playing soccer as I've had in a long time. That's saying a lot, because I have fun everyday. I actually had the opportunity to play on the field in an 8 v. 8 match-up. My team was phenomenal.
In the first game I had an assist and a goal, and in subsequent matches I had probably 73 more assists. Even when I was resting and my team was on the outside, I was hooking Jose (Burciaga) up with pristine crosses, although he missed a lot of sitters. Just joking.
Jose was mad because I didn't make the best effort on some ball that popped out. Anyway, we finished with five wins and zero losses. That's not too shabby. It was funny because when one team has as much success as we did, the other teams are miserable. I don't know if the clinic that we gave was free, but if people paid, then they definitely got their money's worth.
Sasha (Victorine) actually flew all the way to Argentina just to watch that game, or at least that's what I think. He said he was down here to run but every time I saw him, he was standing there with his jaw on the ground, lamenting at my newfound finishing prowess. Okay, enough is enough. I did have a lot of fun and hopefully when the guys on the team read this they won't think I'm too serious about the fact that I could ever do what they do. I just got lucky I guess.
After training and a meal, it was off to the gym for a 'keepers-only lift. Everybody always talks about how goalkeepers are part of some lifelong brotherhood. I tend to agree. I've got a lot of friends that I'd do anything for, but there's definitely some bond between guys that play in goal. I think it's our shared affinity for standing in front of shots that are blasted from two feet away.
We have a few more games coming up, a trip to see Boca Juniors play on Sunday and another night out if we are good. I'll be on my best behavior as I always am.
Things are warm here and my wife and I are always talking about where the weather is nicer - L.A. or down here. But we both agree that they are both slightly warmer than Kansas City, where we'll be meeting up soon.
I'll check back soon and let you all in on how things are going down here. Now that I've got a roommate, hopefully I'll have more to do in my room than just play PSP and watch reruns of Argentinean telenovelas.
Speaking of TV, everybody keeps asking about my appearance on The Apprentice. It was brought to my attention that I now have a legitimate 'six degrees of separation' with Kevin Bacon. I was on The Apprentice with Donald Trump, who was in Zoolander with Owen Wilson, who was in Wedding Crashers with Vince Vaughn, who was in Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt, who was in Sleepers with Kevin Bacon. Do I get my Screen Actors Guild card now? Not good enough? What?!
Hasta Luego,
Kevin
