American team captain Clint Dempsey took a timeout from preparing for Tuesday’s World Cup clash with Belgium to kick around some Q&A with Post columnist Steve Serby.
Q: What is the mindset of the U.S. team right now?
A: I think it’s to be happy with what you’ve accomplished so far, but understand that it’s not enough, that there’s more that you want to try to do, and you have the opportunity to do that. You don’t get many opportunities like this. Two World Cups in a row that we’ve gotten to the Round of 16, but we got knocked out in the Round of 16 last time. We know what that feels like. We don’t want that feeling again. We want to keep going, we want to keep going further. It’s just recognizing the moment, and making the most of it, and leaving everything that you have on the field, and looking back with no regrets. Hopefully we can do something special. That’s what we’re all trying to do, and what better stage to do that, than at the World Cup, especially one down in Brazil?
Q: Are you aware how much this team has captured America’s imagination?
A: I don’t think you fully will know until you’re back into the States, but we appreciate the support, and we can definitely tell the support down here in terms of outside of Brazil — I think we had the most tickets sold. And seeing all the fans in the stadium, it gives you that little bit of that home-field advantage in a sense of knowing that you’ve had that support.
Q: What intangible quality about this team do you like best?
A: Our character, the fact that we just keep going. We never give up. We work hard for each other. Those are the things that are necessary to be successful. That’s what gets you through tough times, and we have those qualities that you can do that through those tough times.
Q: Do you enjoy being called Captain America?
A: Yeah, it’s cool. It’s something that’s nice to hear. It’s about what we’re able to do as a team I’ll be most proud of, and that’s going far in this World Cup.
Q: What does it mean to you to be captain of this team?
A: It’s an honor, it’s a privilege to be able to be one of the guys leading your country out, especially in a World Cup. It’s something that you’ll be able to tell your grandkids about. But at the same time, I’m blessed to be on a team that has a lot of leaders in terms of Tim Howard and Michael Bradley, and on a team with a lot of experience. That balance of leadership, of our togetherness, and that mix of the youth coming in as well, I think that’s what makes it work.
Q: How do you lead?
A: More so by example, I would say. But at the same time, I’ll speak up if I feel compelled to do so. I’m not really somebody just … I’m always trying to say something. If I feel compelled or feel that I really need to say something at a certain time, I’ll say it. But more do than not, I’m trying to lead by example.
Q: Where does your toughness come from?
A: I think just the environment that I was raised in. My parents worked very hard for everything that they got. Their parents worked hard. It’s just something that is passed down to you, and whatever you want to accomplish, you have to work hard to get it, and that’s always been that mentality that my family has, and I think that’s something that was passed on to me. The trick is keeping hunger, keeping motivated, keeping that drive, and I think that’s part of my makeup.
Q: How’s your broken nose?
A: It’s feeling better. The worst that it’s felt is the day that it got broke in the game [June 16 vs. Ghana], and not being able to breathe out of it. But since then, being able to breathe out of it even though it hurts a little bit here and there. … Being able to breathe makes it a lot easier, so it’s fun.
Q: Why did you refuse to wear a mask?
A: It’s one of those things that it’s going to hurt no matter what, whether you wear a mask or not. It already is broken, it’s not going to keep it from getting broke again, I don’t feel like. I feel like whether you get hit in the mask, or you get hit normally, it’s just going to hurt. I just didn’t wear something on my face … I wouldn’t think that would be comfortable, especially being in the climate down here where there’s a lot of humidity.
Q: You played two games with the Revolution with a broken jaw. Is it safe to say you have a high pain tolerance?
A: I think everybody can have a high pain tolerance, it just depends on what their motivation is to keep playing. For me, I feel like it’s always been a race against time in terms of trying to make up for lost time ’cause I didn’t go pro until a late age in a sense, being 21, where a lot of guys go in straight out of high school. … I’ve always been just motivated to try to do the best that I could so I could provide for me and for my family.
Q: Would you say “driven” is a good word to describe you?
A: Yeah, I’d say that’s a real good word, especially since (chuckle) I was driven a lot in a vehicle to Dallas [by his parents for soccer] — three hours one way, three hours back. So I’d say driven is a good word.
Q: What’s your on-field mentality?
A: I feel like I’m a confident player. I get confidence from the work that I’ve put in, and through the results that you get, but also always understanding, I guess, moments, big occasions, opportunities that come, to make sure you take advantage of those opportunities. And for me, in my career, I’ve been able to do that. That’s something I pride myself on.
Q: Did you once say you feel like a warrior?
A: I feel like I’m someone who’s worked hard for everything that I’ve gotten, coming from a small town and having to work really hard … those long drives to Dallas, and trying to make it to the highest level, and being able to take my game overseas and being able to overcome that transition. I think through those experiences and challenging myself and working hard, that’s the reason things have kind of worked out for me. I keep that mentality of being hungry, that competitiveness, and working hard for what I get.
Q: Who were your boyhood idols?
A: For soccer it was Diego Maradona, and then another idol for me was Michael Jordan. To see them play and how that they could impact the game was pretty special.
Q: What was it specifically about the way Maradona impacted the game?
A: It’s a team sport, but at the same time, you have to have a moment of brilliance in terms of being able to make that difference … be unpredictable and make that difference and do something special when he needed to. That’s something that he was capable of.
Q: Your brother Ryan once said of you: “He wants to be the Michael Jordan of soccer. He wants to be like Pele, Maradona.”
A: I just want to be the best player that I can be. Whatever that is, it is. I want to make the most of my career. I want to be able to look back and have no regrets and be at peace with what I’ve accomplished.
Q: Describe your playing style.
A: I’d say it’s a mix of like blue collar, but at the same time, creative, because I grew up admiring the South American style, watching teams like Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, just the way that they were creative and being able to express themselves on the ball and show their skill. I’ve always gravitated toward that kind of play, but at the same time, understanding that you have to work hard with that to really do something special.
Q: A brief description: Tim Howard.
A: World-class goalie … a leader … and good teammate.
Q: Michael Bradley.
A: A fighter … great work rate … also a leader and good teammate.
Q: Jozy Altidore.
A: Strong … good goal scorer … very athletic.
Q: Coach Jürgen Klinsmann.
A: Very energetic … attention to detail … organized … very competitive. He brings confidence into our team.
Q: You have two daughters and a son. How would you say fatherhood changed your life?
A: I think you become less selfish, because before that you more so think the world revolves around you, and when you have kids, you realize it’s about them and giving them the opportunity to follow their goals and try to accomplish their dreams. So you become more living for your kids than for yourself.
Q: Describe your wife, Bethany.
A: Great mom, great wife, really good work ethic. Was driven as well, she got her master’s degree, and very supportive in terms of the travel that’s involved and sometimes me being on the road and having to take care of all those kids. … Moms are pretty special.
Q: How have you been able to handle hardship and adversity in your life?
A: Losing a sister [Jennifer, 16, to a brain aneuryism in 1995] at a young age, it doesn’t get much worse than that. It puts things in balance for you, just enjoying life, making the most of the moments that you have, and try and enjoy the time that you have with your family as much as possible because as you get older, you don’t get as much time all together like you did when you were younger.
Q: It took you a long time to get over that.
A: I think it takes a lot of people a long time to get over losing loved ones. You have to find peace at some point, and I find comfort and peace in the fact that I believe she’s in a better place.
Q: Tell me how your sister is still with you today.
A: I mean, I think about her every day. Pray that she’s in heaven, and looking down and watching over us and we live out the remainder of our lives.
Q: Are your days as the freestyle rapper Deuce over?
A: No, music’s always been a part of my life, especially growing up when I was younger my first vehicle not having a radio in it. I think when I went over to England, I kinda was trying to remove myself from that more do, because I wanted people to know that soccer was my main focus, and that I wanted to be known for. Now, just like I enjoy fishing, I enjoy music and I enjoy rapping, so it’s something that’s fun.
Q: Do you think back to your days with the Texas Longhorns Soccer Club?
A: I also played with the Dallas Texans, so those are two clubs that helped mold my development, along with playing recreational in Nacogdoches, and playing Hispanic League in Nacogdoches and playing high school as well.
Q: You used to tilt a trampolines on its side to use as the goal?
A: We’d kick against a trampoline. We’d kick it against the side of the house. … We used to break windows and get yelled at. We used to go to the high school that was only five miles away and shoot on a goal that didn’t have a net. You’d shoot on a goal, run and go get the ball, come back; shoot on a goal, run and go get the ball, come back. That’s kinda what we did as kids.
Q: Your experience in Seattle with the Sounders?
A: Great fan base, the team’s playing really well this season, and I’m enjoying my ball with them and happy to be playing for that organization.
Q: Have you become a Seahawks fan?
A: Yeah, I mean, you become part of the city and you want the city to do well in the sports that it’s involved in. Yeah, you want to see the Seahawks do well, you want to see the Mariners do well, and you also hope that one day there’s gonna be a basketball team there again because you know how much the people of Seattle, the city, want that. When I was with the Revolution, I wanted the Bruins to do well, I wanted the Patriots to do well, I wanted the Celtics to do well.
Q: How big is the biggest fish you ever caught?
A: Catfish, probably like 20 pounds. … Bass, 10 pounds.
Q: Three dinner guests?
A: My sister, my grandpa, my great grandma. Those are the last three people that passed away, so those are the three people I’d invite to dinner.
Q: What are you most proud of about your life and career?
A: That I’ve been able to follow my dreams, accomplish my goals, and to have a family with wife and kids, and be able to provide for my family.
Q: Favorite movies?
A: “Dumb and Dumber,” “Braveheart,” “Gladiator,” “Shawshank Redemption,” “Forrest Gump.”
Q: Favorite meal?
A: Probably going out for a nice dinner with all my family to a nice steak restaurant and having some red wine.
Q: How tough a challenge is Belgium?
A: It’s gonna be a very difficult game. They have a lot of quality players, but at the same time, anything can happen in these World Cup games, and we just gotta be as sharp as possible, play to the best of our ability and we show our true quality that we have on this team, I think that we can get the right results, so that’s what we focus on.
Q: Why does this team believe, and why should America believe in this team?
A: Qualifying for a World Cup is difficult, and you can see that our region has done really well — in terms of Costa Rico and Mexico and ourselves all advancing to the knockout stage, the Round of 16. We found confidence through the success we’ve had in 2013 and also through the work that we’ve put in. We’ve done everything we can during the camp leading into this World Cup in terms of our workload and making sure we’d be prepared the best as possible.
Q: What message would you want to leave with America as you embark on this moment?
A: Pushing for one day that the U.S. team is getting to the final of the World Cup, and being able to win. That’s what you hope for. If it doesn’t happen now, but it happens in the future, and being part of that development.
Q: Can it happen now?
A: Yeah, you have to believe. And anything can happen in the knockout stages. All you have to do is on that day, be at your best, and hopefully we’ll be at our best four more times.
Q: So your message to America about this team’s chances is what?
A: I believe that we will win (chuckle).
Q: You believe that we will win …
A: That’s the message to us. And that’s the message we give back to them.