Tuesday's fourth annual First XI Charity Kickoff Luncheon featured one of D.C. United's most distinguished alumni, as U.S. national team manager and former United boss Bruce Arena gave the keynote speech for an event that introduces the squad for the upcoming year while also recognizing the achievements of United for D.C., the club's charitable arm.
Arena directed an NCAA dynasty at the University of Virginia before leading United to consecutive MLS Cup championships, and he has since gone on to even bigger feats as the principal architect of the USA's ascent to global prominence.
His remarks featured a blend of fond memories from his tenure in D.C. -- including several playful barbs directed at Jaime Moreno, the last remaining player from those early days -- as well as a candid description of his preparations for this summer's World Cup. Drawn with Ghana, Italy and the Czech Republic, the U.S. face a daunting task to match its stunning 2002 quarterfinal run.
"We're in a crisis now -- we lost a game," joked Arena, referring to his side's 4-1 setback against Germany in Dortmund on March 22. "(But) if we can get out of that group, we have arrived. ... There's no tougher group in the World Cup."
There are several United stars who'd like to be a part of that effort, but at this point only one seems to rank high enough in the U.S. player pool to be considered for a spot on Arena's final 23-man roster, which he says he'll announce in early May.
Ben Olsen is one of the few players to have spent time with Arena at every level of his career. The Middletown, Pa., native was a dominant force (34 goals, 41 assists) over three years at Virginia before heading to D.C. as one of the first products of the Project-40 initiative in 1997.
He actually lived with Arena and his family during his rookie season with United, when he won MLS Rookie of the Year honors as a tireless winger on what Arena called D.C.'s best team ever -- despite their losing to current coach Peter Nowak's Chicago Fire side in the 1998 MLS Cup final.
Now his decade-long relationship with Arena enters another chapter, as the 28-year-old strives to nab one of the last roster spots in what might be his last opportunity to experience the game's grandest spectacle.
"I've got a shot. It's probably a shot in the dark, but it's a shot," said Olsen. "The thing with me is, I didn't expect to be here at all. Last year I got called into the Scotland game, because (United) were out of the MLS Cup early, and I did pretty well, and all of a sudden I got the chance to come into camp. So I've just really enjoyed this ride, and being part of the national team again."
As a holding midfielder -- one of the Nats' deepest positions -- the ever-candid Olsen is the first to admit that at best, he would be a role player on Arena's squad. But he's still blessed with the same doggedness that helped him resurrect his career after a shattering ankle injury while on loan at English side Nottingham Forest in 2001.
"You can't help but think about it, and dream a little bit of going," he admitted. "But look, right now, I'm a pretty realistic guy. But (stuff) happens. People get hurt - it could be me, it could be somebody else. I just have to do what I can, what's in my power. And that's to keep running around with D.C., do my thing there, and if I do get called into these (upcoming U.S.) games, play my role."
Arena has repeatedly noted that he is selecting a team for Germany, not just a collection of the country's most talented players. This bodes well for Olsen, a widely-respected professional who adds a rare blend of leadership, inspiration and camaraderie to the locker room. So he's balancing optimism with pragmatism, and leaving the rest to his old friend.
"I've been around Bruce enough that I trust his picks," said Olsen with a smile. "He knows how to pick teams better than me, and if I'm not on his list, then I trust that he knows what he's doing."
Charles Boehm is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
