Let's talk soccer

How many people can say they told a sports superstar to do something and that person listened.

Marta is widely regarded as the best women's soccer player in the world now and I had to tell her to go see the press. She was so excited to do that.

Ok, I really didn't make her day at all.

I also got a chance to speak to Christine Sinclair, a Canadian National Team and WPS Star. I had to get her to go to media too. She was easy to deal with and fun to talk too. We spoke about Stephanie Labbe, a person we knew in common. Steph went to UConn with me and was in my Husky Sport class and she is teammates with Sinclair on the Canadian National Team. I told Sinclair that I always root for Canada, after the U.S. which she playfully gave me a hard time about.

Speaking of Husky Sport, Husky Sport was a big part of the game for me and FC Gold Pride player, and UConn Alum Kristen Graczyk.

As an intern, UConn Women's Soccer Staff member and Husky Sport staff member it was really cool to think that I got to be involved with getting a group of Husky Sport staff and children to be able to watch one of the original members of Husky Sport play a professional game.

Graczyk met with the Husky Sport group that came to the game, and got complimentary tickets thanks to the Breakers and to be fair, me. I heard that the group enjoyed the game and I'm sure it must have been so cool for Kristen to have a young group rooting for her and knowing that this group was something that she helped grow. It must have been cool to have seen the Husky Sport program grow, and have enough Alumni that an event was created to watch soccer and see her.

I got to meet Graczyk and I was so glad I did. I asked if I could introduce myself after the game. I had a message to deliver to her from her college coaches at UConn. She was really nice and actually knew of me. Once I told her my name she said "Ohh Tim, Dr. Bruening was telling me about you, thanks for everything." She was also impressed with my new title, which you will find out about at a later time.

Graczyk was really nice and really good, so she really does resemble our program. I only got to speak to her for 30 seconds or so, but it was an honor to meet her. I also really wanted to meet Graczyk because I always do work on the media guide and I always read about her. She is one of the best players in school history and I have to guess that she is also the best Soccer Player ever to come from New Mexico. I like meeting alumni, especially ones in the WPS. It makes me feel even further connected to the program and I like the idea of UConn making things happen on a professional field.

Graczyk was so nice and I am so happy I got to meet her. I wish her well and will be rooting for her.