Boston College Athletics
Ten Questions With Chris Cleary
October 04, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Oct. 4, 2001
What does it mean to you to wear a Boston College uniform?
There is a certain amount of pride that engulfs you each time you put on a Boston College uniform. It means you represent one of the finest institutions in the country and, moreover, you represent the men's soccer team, which is one of the best in college soccer as well. From the first time I was handed the uniform straight through to this day, I still feel the same way each time it sits upon my shoulders. I fear that day when putting it on will have no direct outcome on a game because I won't be playing. But, while I'm here I plan to have the most fun and win as many games as possible while I have it draped on my back.
What is your favorite soccer memory?
I've had so many favorite moments on the field, both individually and with a team. My favorite personal memory was the last game I played in high school. I scored the last goal of my high school career on a full extension bicycle kick from 16 yards out. Although I show the goal to everyone on the team at least once a year, if not more just joking around, only one other player on the team was there in person. Neil Krause actually assisted on the goal and was one of the first people to tackle me after it happened.
My favorite moment in a team-oriented way was when we played Seton Hall last year at SHU. It was not the best game we played, nor the prettiest, but it was the turning point in a season in that showed our team, that under pressure and with the odds stacked against us, we could win. After 25 minutes, we played down a man following a red card to one of our players. We had a 1-0 lead and held that lead as they played a dominant second half of the game by putting on a lot of pressure. It showed a lot of character and was great for the team morale. (They also had a second chance to beat us in the final of the BIG EAST Championship too, but we beat them again... which was also pretty amazing... )
What makes soccer such an appealing sport to play?
To me soccer is the greatest sport in the world because anyone can play it. However, playing it well takes time, practice and effort. Soccer is the most-played sport in the world for many reasons, but to me it's the show of athleticism, skill, purity, artfulness and nerve that people show on the field that makes it my love. Every year hundreds of people die at soccer matches around the globe because these fans care so much for their team that they're willing to fight for them against anyone who opposes their side. Now, I'm not saying that is right, but the passion that these people feel as fans is the passion that I feel as a player. Every time I step on the field I play to win. Whether it's in practice, in pick-up or in games, I'm fueled by my competitive spirit that runs through my body the way water runs through it. I live for the competition and I love to win. Soccer is game and I know that, but to me and thousands of other players like me that are out there, when we're on the field it's not a game... it's a way of life.
Who's the toughest player you've ever played against?
The toughest player I've ever played against is my coach, Ed Kelly. He 'prances' around the field as if his flair is still intact, but it's just the fact that everyone knows that if we tackle him or take the ball away from him, he'll just bench us. So... we let him play his game, which entails him standing by the goal all day and toe poking the ball into the net with no defenders around him. Then he claims that he's still got it.
Physically, however, the toughest player I've ever played against was Alexei Lalas. Now hold on, let me explain why. I was about 16 years old and he was on the New England Revolution. The Revolution had set up a match to play a few club teams in the area... basically to beat our butts so they could regain their confidence. Well, they did. But not before I got my licks in and took the punishment as well.
As I backed up to receive a thrown in, I was elbowed in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. As I stood up I heard Lalas yelling at his teammate that "if he ever tries to back you in like that again, put your arm over his shoulder and rip his head off." Well, much to my surprise this was no longer a friendly. I turned to him and said, "Hey 'Big Red' why don't you lighten up a little, it's a scrimmage and we're only 16 years old." He responded by saying, "You mind your tongue kid or I'll rip it off."
As I laughed and walked away, the ball rolled slowly between he and I and I saw my chance to make him mine. I was going in studs up, but he had the same idea. We both missed the ball and ran directly into one another. As he lay on the ground in pain I made sure I was the first one to rise following the collision. I jumped up and looked down at him... he was okay, but I had knocked the wind out of him. As I hobbled over to the bench, I whispered for the trainer to make it seem like I was tough and I didn't really need any help. Unfortunately though, as it turned out, the guy sprained my ankle. That is why Alexei Lalas is 'the toughest player' I've ever played against.
What's your favorite place to go to in Boston and why?
I like to go to Fenway Park. I think Fenway is the only place you can get a real sense of Beantown pride. I know we always blow it at the end of every year, but if you catch us in mid-season, the true fans will be there and they will be loud and they will be obnoxious and truly, that's all Boston is about.
What is something people do not know about you?
What people don't know about me is that I'm lonely... ha. Seriously though, I think that everyone knows everything about me, even the bad stuff, which I claim are lies produced by Adam Pfeifer, Ramon Smith, Lil' Gaber, and Munko...ha.
One thing, though, that people don't know about me is how much I love my family. Sure, I talk to my parents and with my siblings, but no family has put up with more bologna from a kid and has still stuck behind him in every way possible. I owe a lot of what I am today to my older brother because he taught me to never be fake to someone and most importantly to never be untrue to yourself. My parents are my structured boundaries and although they bent sometimes, they did their best in keeping me on track and in line. They committed many weekends to caravaning across the state and all over the country for soccer, basketball, and baseball and I love them for having done so. They never let me quit and always pushed me to excel in as many things as possible. They never limited me to experiencing new things. My younger brother and sister are my support team. They were dragged all over the place to go watch games and I think they hated 99% of it, but never showed it. They were always telling me that I played great or I hustled or that if I hadn't struck out my team might have won the game (you know...the things that younger siblings are supposed to tell you). My family is great and I love them all very much. I hope that don't have to read this to realize that.
Who on the team will surprise people this season?
The person on the team who will surprise me this year will be an old friend of mine, but is new to wearing a BC jersey. Neil Krause and I have known each other for almost 10 years and after a three-year layoff following high school we have been reunited this year. Neil is a great kid with a lot of talent and even more potential. With his big frame and ballet dancing feet he is sure to be a menace to almost all opposing defenses. Oh... and I will surprise myself if I play poorly, because I refuse to end on bad note.
What does the team's emergence as a national power in the past year mean to you?
Being a national power means the best for the program down the road, but while I'm here it means recognition. Not recognition in soccer magazines, or the newspapers, but here on campus. Students don't realize that we're here three weeks before school starts and we practice all year long... all they hear is the rankings in the polls. Then they appreciate the work that we put forth. It's a matter of sacrifice. For a few months out of the year we only know this team. Everything, except school, is in the background because we want to be the best. It's when the kids who live down the hall from you come and tell you that you played well, or when your teacher acknowledges your work on the field during a class, does it finally start to sink in that you're a national power. I hope long after I'm gone the national power stigma will stick because I will feel proud to I say that I was there when it first started.
What do you think the team's greatest strengths are?
I am the team's strength... we need to get me the ball more. Seriously though, we are a very good team when we want to be. We have great talent and great personnel. It's a matter of chemistry... when one person does not show up to play it hurts us, but we are a strong enough team to help that player on his bad day. However, if two or three guys take the day off, our game plans are damaged. We are a young team with a lot of experience (other than college) and having national team caliber players on the field brings the level of everyone else's play up. We are our greatest weakness. We are a streaky team that cannot afford to get down on ourselves. We have a great group of guys and a terrific staff. When everyone is contributing, we can do some amazing things.
What is the best advice you've ever been given and by whom and in what situation?
"Winning is all that matters. Anyone who says differently has obviously lost."
Now I'm not sure who told me that, but to me it makes sense. I'm sure when I was younger I had fun in a game that I may have lost, but not in the past eight years have I never had fun in a game that my team lost. If you play well, and your team plays well and you're a good team, you will win. To me winning isn't everything ... it's the only thing. I know this may sound arrogant, but being the competitor that I am I feel it is my duty to write this.
I'm sure I will tell me kids many years from now (many, many years from now) that having fun is the most important thing, but that's just it... when you're winning you are having fun. So these words of wisdom work for me.
