AFR Exclusive Interview: Clint Dempsey Looking Forward and Looking Back

By Eric Beard, writing from Boston

I was fortunate enough to be part of two interviews with one of my role models and best local products I grew up around: Clint Dempsey. One is an interview done alongside Frank Dell’apa of The Boston Globe, and one means much more to me. Perhaps that’s why I had trouble keeping the camera still. I gave Dempsey a proper handshake and then talked to him about Boston, what he has learned from the past year, making it to two cup finals and his thoughts on favorites for the upcoming World Cup. I know Deuce loved Maradona growing up, but he wouldn’t tell me how he felt about him as a manager. He did say, “I don’t like to comment on him… but I wish him all the best because that team has a lot of quality.” Indeed, Argentina won 5-nil in their friendly yesterday against Canada. And that was without Lionel Messi.

I’ve interviewed other professional athletes, so I rarely get star-struck by the process. But there’s just something about Dempsey. He’s not the first world-class footballer I had watched growing up, that honor has to go to the great Carlos Valderama in his final days with the Miami Fusion. I don’t think I’m in awe of Deuce, rather, I’m just proud of the player and man he has become. As my brother and I quote in normal conversation, “Haters want to hate, but man I’m feeling great.” That is, of course, from one of Clint’s early freestyle rapping videos captured by Nike Soccer. As I mentioned before, it’s nice to see how this man has matured.