Eddie Pope chat transcript
Tuesday, October 13 - 1:00 PM ET
On Saturday, October 17, D.C. United will honor the 1999 MLS Cup-winning team during halftime of United's regular season finale against the Columbus Crew. One of the most important pieces of that team was defender Eddie Pope. On Tuesday, October 13 at 1pm ET, he took your questions. The former All-Star and League Defender of the Year now works for the MLS Players Union.
© 2010 MacFarlane Chang DC Soccer, LLC dba D.C. United
Thanks for all of the questions, everybody. I'll see you out at RFK on Saturday.
From Eddie Pope - 12:40 pm
Hey Eddie, how do you think United can get out of this slump and return to the glory days? What is missing and what needs to change? Thanks
From DCUNTD - 5:51 pm
They probably just need a change or two in some key positions. You never know – one or two players can make the difference. They need to adjust, get a few new players in and steer the ship in the right direction. A good example of that is Dallas where they brought in Heath Pearce and Daniel Hernandez – a couple players can really make a difference and, like I said, steer the ship in the right direction.
From Eddie Pope - 12:39 pm
which team do you like better, Dc united or Real salt lake? And also, what MLS cup victory was your favorite?
From Paul Darmstadter - 7:38 pm
As someone who works for the Player’s union, I like them both equally [laughs]. But, I’ll probably always bleed D.C. United black and red.
I don’t have a favorite MLS Cup – they’re like children. I love them all the same. They’re all unique and special in their own way.
From Eddie Pope - 12:37 pm
Do you believe in substituting at half-time or the 40th minute? Do you believe substituting before half-time can be indicative of poor lineup choices?
From number8 - 12:50 pm
That could mean a bunch of different things, but it’s difficult to say from the outside. It’s something that needs to be handled internally by the coaches and players.
From Eddie Pope - 12:33 pm
I Play For Three Soccer Teams, Triangle Futbol Club (Classic), NJAA Durham (Recreation), Carrington Middle School (School Ball). My Plan is to Play Classic These Two Seasons Then Next Fall Try-Out For NC ODP what is your opinion on that. I Train with another club team also I'm a ball boy for Northern High (Durham,NC). I play Sweeper and in Durham,NC I'm Very well known. I'm 12 my Name Is Charles R Singletary 111 and I was wondering do you have any advise for me thank you.
From Charles - 7:02 pm
Again, make sure you’re working a lot on your own once practice is over. It seems like you’re playing for a lot of teams – as long as you’re having fun and it doesn’t become a burden to be running around from team to team, then go for it. But, the minute it becomes a situation where it’s not fun, then you might want to scale back a bit.
From Eddie Pope - 12:31 pm
Any chance you can come back for a few games and get us into the playoffs? I'm pretty sure you still have something left in your tank. And what are your opinions on several of our players posing nude? Do you think they should focus on the playoffs before doing something like that?
From Aaron McCollum - 12:59 pm
[laughs] It’s in the works.
Photo shoots and things like that are not disruptive things. It doesn’t have anything to do with the team’s struggles. I would just tell Ben to shave and do some more sit-ups next time [laughs].
From Eddie Pope - 12:30 pm
Eddie-
I understand you are now involved in youth soccer in the area. What is your role with the club and how can local kids develop into professional players in the future?
From James - 11:05 am
I coach my son’s team and will as long as he’s playing. It’s important for kids to work on their own – don’t put the ball on the shelf when practice is over, but work on his or her own when practice is over.
From Eddie Pope - 12:28 pm
Working on the side of the players union and seeing the league continue to develop, how do you see the league in the future? Do you think it will continue to expand at the MLS level with the establishment of more teams? Or do you think the sport should focus more toward the function and development at lower levels to establish strong tiered programs like MLB has in their farm team systems?
From KC - 12:05 pm
I think the League will expand – we know it’s going to already. I think there is a limit to the number of teams we can have in the first division, but it will continue to expand. A lot of the League’s future will depend heavily on the upcoming CBA.
It’s always hard to make the comparison between soccer and other American sports – it’s a totally different animal. It’s impossible to compare MLS to the way baseball works.
From Eddie Pope - 12:24 pm
hey i was at the dc and san juan game. it was awesome. i was on holiday from ireland. do you think soccer will ever as big in the states as it is here in europe. thanks paul new d.c. fan
From paul moloney - 12:07 pm
Yes, definitely. If you go back, probably a decade ago and you said then “will the League have soccer specific stadiums?” people would probably have said, “I don’t know.” If they asked then “will the U.S. make it to the quarterfinals of the World Cup?” people might have said “no.” We’ve made strides, they might be a little slow, but we’re making strides and eventually, it will take time, but we’ll get there.
From Eddie Pope - 12:22 pm
Hey Eddie. How much fun is it to get together with some of the guys 10 years later and reminisce about those fun days playing for one of the best teams ever in MLS? When reminiscing do you learn new things that happened and that you did not know took place during games or at events at that time? Good luck on the CBA.
From DCLee - 12:15 pm
It's obviously great to get together with everyone and see where they are in their lives, to see their kids how big they are now - when you haven't seen them in so long. To see guys who kids are now playing soccer and seeing the families, period - it's great to catch up.
Talking about the games and the championships and what happened is fun - great memories. Last year, there weren't too many stories that we didn't know about, but usually it just consists of us asking "remember when this happened in the game or that happened in the game?" It's fun to remember those great years.
It's all about catching up and getting an update on each other's lives, being able to reconnect and stay in touch.
From Eddie Pope - 12:20 pm
Are you thinking about coaching in the MLS?
From itwasi - 12:09 pm
No. I’m not thinking about that right now.
From Eddie Pope - 12:12 pm
What is your fondest memory from your time in DC and do you regret having left United?
From EternalDCUFan - 12:06 pm
Winning MLS Cup in RFK Stadium in ’97 – having the fans there, the smoke bombs going off, the rain – the whole scene could easily have been something pulled out a club in Europe.
I got traded away from DC, so I can’t say I regret it, but I would have liked to say in DC but the decision wasn’t up to me.
From Eddie Pope - 12:12 pm
How are the CBA negotiations coming along? Is the league willing to raise the salary cap to something that keeps American talent here and attract foreign talent? You would think after all the Euro pre-season tournaments sold out nfl stadiums the league would understand that high quality talent brings in high attendance numbers and not just a single player.
From itwasi - 10:24 am
The negotiations are moving along. Both sides are trying to come up with a reasonable solution. I think that from the player’s perspective, they just want to be treated like every other player in the world is treated.
From Eddie Pope - 12:06 pm
do you think that DC has a shot at making the playoffs at this point? When you were in your prime days in the MLS could you get with almost any girl you wanted?
Thanks,
Reed
From Reed - 9:41 am
They’re not mathematically eliminated – it’s never over until its over and the team still has a chance. The teams are so close right now. Fighting for the last couple of spots, all it takes is one team to get hot or get a couple of good results to get in. They’re right in the mix.
From Eddie Pope - 12:02 pm
am about to be 18 in october 26 2009 but am about to ask you about if is going to be tryouts in this team these days
From jean stephan guerrier - 3:37 pm
Probably Manchester United, because I would want to see what it’s like to play for Alex Ferguson. Clearly, he’s doing something right and I’ve always been curious to see how he coaches and what it would be liked to be coached by him.
From Eddie Pope - 11:59 am