McKT - That’s true. We try to go out there and finish up the practice with a little bit of fitness and stuff. The guys want to win. We’re just playing around and having a good time.

I started playing when I was 5. I was actually born in Monterrey, California, but my father’s a Lieutenant Colonel in the army so we moved around a lot. So I ended up living in Georgia, S Carolina, N. Carolina and then we moved to Indiana and I grew up there from I guess 2nd or 3rd grade on. I went to high school there, college I went to UCLA, so 4 or 5 years in LA. I played in Sweden (GIF Sundsvall) for about 4 or 5 months, that was a good time, then I came back here to play for Portland.

I was involved in basketball, track...I also played baseball when I was little too, but I guess with soccer I kinda just...I don’t know...when I started getting in the national teams and ODP (US Soccer's Olympic Development Program) and traveling over to Europe and stuff it just...it got more serious.

Yeah! More so! I mean I always wanted to play soccer, but I played other sports, but soccer came first.

Well the game of soccer is funny sometimes. There’s going to be ups-and-downs and being a striker too there’s going to be periods too when you’re scoring goals and things are going in and everything you touch is hitting the back of the net and then there are times when the keeper makes a save or you just can’t find the back of the net. I think the more mature thing is just to stay focused, keep faith and keep plugging away and the goals will come eventually. And that’s what I’ve done. Our team has played well and stayed confident and positive and that makes a big difference too.

Yeah. With the support of my family and staying faithful and always praying, I’m really religious in terms of that background, having that spiritual background, and I just keep it all in perspective I guess. On my high days...I just try and keep a balance. There’s going to be some great days in the season, there’s going to be some bad days and you just have to kind of roll with the punches.

Yeah, actually my brother (Marcellus) is a freshman at Wake Forest now so he just went on to college, but my mother and father are there. I have a couple of aunts and uncles that live in Chicago so a lot of my family is back there.

Yeah, they’re real supportive. They come up to games when they can, when we play in the Midwest. My mum and dad they fly all over for me and my brother, trying to catch our games. It’s good to have that.

Yeah he plays too.

No, I think...my situation coming into the A-League was a little shaky at first, you know? I came in, Bobby offered me a situation where I had to work hard and come here and, you know, keep developing. At the time I was still a young player. I had played a few months in Sweden and I got experience at the top-level...actually second tier I would say, but it was a good experience for me changing from college to the professional game. It's just good for my development I think, to get games and keep playing and get that confidence at this level and it’s done great for me now.

Yeah, it’s kind of confusing, but this is what I’ll say. I went to LA and I have a great relationship with Sigi and I have a lot of friends on that team and it was a situation at that time where I think, you know...it wasn’t the time. I can just say that. I think Portland, from the advice of Sigi, from my parents and other coaches who said maybe right now we’ll go to Portland...get some games, get some seasoning and then we’ll see what happens a little bit later. Obviously now I’m going back to LA which is great and now my career’s going again, it’s rejuvenated so...I think timing is a big part of it...more so than contracts or terms or all that. I think that’s a better way to put it.

No actually...I don’t want to get into all the contract, but I’m going to go and play in the playoffs with them and then we’ll see from there...we’ll see how things go.

You never know! (laughs)

There’s all different ways, we’ll just have to wait and see what’s the best situation for my family and talk to my agent and things like that you know.

I think for me, I think I can go back and say it’s a development, a stage. I’m 23 and hopefully I have, you know, 10-12 more years of football so who knows what will happen. I could start out here in the MLS, things could open up in Europe to go, we’ll just have to see. Right now I’m staying faithful and working hard every day and I think the opportunities will come. If it’s to stay here in MLS that’s great because you can see that there are players in the MLS who have gone on to play in Europe as well. The key is to keep working hard, keep developing and keep a positive attitude and good things will happen

Yeah, Yeah. It’s been fun. It’s a great atmosphere, the players...especially because we’ve got one of the top organizations in the A-league, so it’s a great experience. Everybody on the team is great. We have fun on road trips and we bust our butts in practice and we go have dinner afterwards, so it’s good.

As a soccer player you always look forward to games. I’m just taking it as I’ve done in other games, just prepare for it, eat right, get rest and come to play for the 90 mins. We’re obviously trying to prepare for the playoffs...obviously were in now, so just try and keep the momentum going, keep the wins going.

I enjoy music, listen to all kinds of music...don’t care for country too much (laughs). I enjoy watching basketball, football...just rest, just relax. I mean I have Fox Sports World so I’m always watching the soccer games on there. Then I talk with my friends and my girlfriend down in LA, Victoria.

It’s fun. We have an interesting bunch over there! They always come support us...yelling and cheering on the team. It’s good to score a goal and go there and thank them for that. That’s my responsibility. I like to score and go and thank them for all the support they give the team.

There are a few teams, obviously we had a battle with Minnesota. They’re organized and the coach prepares the team very well. Richmond gave us a fight when we went out there. They’re another organized team, a lot of physical guys, guys who can knock the ball around as well. And of course Seattle has had a great run this season, they’ve racked up a lot of points and are competing for the championship as well. Who knows! In the A-league you can beat any team on a given day if you come to play. It’s whoever comes to play and that’s the enjoyment of the game as well.