Well thank goodness for the wireless signal on the flight to Seattle, because otherwise this post would not have been published before the end of the day (East Coast time at least). Most of the Black-and-Red are already passed out on this cross-country trek, and we have not even been in the air for an hour. To my left Bill Hamid, Jordan Graye, and Julius James are all sleeping soundly, but fortunately my travel partner for the day - Adam Cristman - is still wide awake and in a talkative mood. 

This is a big week for United, and for soccer in general in this country. D.C. United has experienced a renaissance in recent weeks after a tough beginning to the season. In all competitions the club has won three of its last four matches, and most recently the Black-and-Red halted a red-hot Real Salt Lake side at RFK Stadium on June 5.

Thwarting the reining MLS Cup champions was a challenge that Curt Onalfo's men met with vigor, and Thursday's match will present a new set of challenges for the Black-and-Red. Seattle has some of the staunchest home support in MLS, and the club's attacking options entertained the home crowd last weekend in a 3-0 defeat of New England. Nevertheless, United has come on leaps and bounds from early season turmoil, a sentiment that Cristman echoes.

The forward states, "From my perspective it seems a lot it [United's recent success] is driven by two parts. First, I think the change for this team in the offseason was great with a new coach and a new style that he has brought. We had quite a few guys that were new to the starting line-up and new to each other. We had preseason success that we wanted to keep rolling through the League, but that didn't happen initially."

Cristman continues, "Now we are finally clicking like before, and I think by getting into a rhythm we are dealing with those early hardships hardships. Secondly, we have had guys step up for the injured players, and now I think we have guys that are in form and can cover multiple positions."

Encouraging words from United's hardworking center forward ahead of Thursday night's match at Qwest Field. The conversation then shifted naturally to the World Cup, and as it turn out, Cristman has a unique tie to the world's biggest sporting event.

"In 2009 when I first moved to Kansas City to play for the Wizards, I moved into a town house. We were there a couple of weeks before preseason, and after our first trip to Bradenton I heard there was a player that needed a place to stay."

As it turns out, that player was current United States National Team player Herculez Gomez. Gomez and Cristman were teammates and friends in Kansas City before the Mexican American player went on to become the leading scorer in Mexico's Primera Division for Puebla. Cristman confesses, "I heard him say he was sleeping on an air mattress with a couple of other guys on the team, so I offered to let him stay with me until he found a place. Eventually he was able to find a place, and I got to know him really well over the six to eight weeks he was in the house."

When asked about the bills Cristman states, "No, I didn't charge him any rent. He would buy a lot of the groceries and would cook for us, and sometimes he would make Mexican dishes that he learned from his mom."

Time will tell if the former MLS striker will play a role in this year's World Cup for the United States, but Cristman is confident that Gomez will shine if given the chance, "I am so happy he has found success in Mexico and with the National team. He has a good work ethic, a great shot, and he is a good team guy. He's got a few guys ahead of him for sure, but he has had success, and if given the opportunity I know he can make an impact."