June 6, 2006 4:53 PM
AP: Mathis, soccer’s rebel, has matured
By Pat Graham
AP Sports Writer
DENVER — The rebel in Colorado Rapids midfielder Clint Mathis is beginning to fade.
“I’ve grown up,” Mathis said with a mischievous grin.
The mellower Mathis is pretty much grudge-free these days, rolling with whatever life throws in his path. He even took the news of his snub from the 2006 World Cup soccer team in stride.
“It’s not that big of a deal,” Mathis said at practice the day before the U.S. team arrived in Germany. “Just because I’m not on the team, I’m not going to throw my hands up and not support the guys. That would be stupid.”
This is a far cry from the mohawk-wearing, cocky kid from Conyers, Ga., who made a big splash at the 2002 World Cup by scoring a memorable goal in a 1-1 draw with South Korea. He’s even
settling down and getting married in December.
That said, he doesn’t regret in his colorful past because, in his eyes, all the transgressions of his youth shaped him into the player he is today.
“I’m living a great life,” said Mathis, who turns 30 in November. “Why would I change something when everything is going good?”
Mathis was set up for stardom before the 2002 World Cup even began. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with the caption “America’s Best” underneath and he followed with the mohawk hairstyle to play up his spit-in-the-face-of-conformity ways.
Nowadays, his hair’s cropped nice and neat. And while he’s no longer the face of U.S. soccer — that title being stripped away by Landon Donovan — he’s all right with his fade from the spotlight.
And he’ll certainly be cheering on the U.S. team this month.
“They’re my buddies,” Mathis said. “I’ll definitely be rooting for the fellas.”
Not that they are thinking about him. Glenn Myernick, a U.S. assistant coach, was asked about the similarities and differences between Mathis and Clint Dempsey, a brash young player on this
year’s squad.
“I’ll talk to you about Clint Dempsey because he’s here,” the coach said. “Clint has done a very good job of understanding the difference between fluff and creativity, with a little prodding from the coaching staff.”
There is a part of Mathis that wishes he was making the trip to Germany. He said he has never had a conversation with U.S. coach Bruce Arena about why he wasn’t chosen. Not that it matters
anymore. Mathis has no animosity toward Arena for leaving him home.
“He makes those decisions,” Mathis said. “He’s the coach. How can I tell him how to do his job?”
In the past, Arena was openly critical of Mathis’ lackadaisical training habits. But he hasn’t completely closed the door to his former star.
“I think if he starts playing on a regular basis and gets in the right form, there’s no reason why Clint can’t continue to pursue an international career,” Arena said in Germany as the team
prepared for its World Cup opener June 12 against the Czech Republic.
One slight problem: Mathis doesn’t want that life anymore. He has already ruled himself out of service for the 2010 World Cup. He won’t even attempt to make the squad.
“No way,” Mathis said. “It’s more important for me to concentrate on my club team.”
That’s music to the Rapids’ ears. Colorado coach Fernando Clavijo has been enamored of Mathis since the team acquired him from Real Salt Lake in exchange for forward Jeff Cunningham last December.
“We had a conversation (following the trade),” Clavijo said. “I told him, ’Clint, we’re bringing you here not to change you, but to take the best out of you to help us win a championship.’ I told him what I expected, and I’ve been very happy with him.”
That’s saying something, considering Mathis, who’s nursing a groin injury, doesn’t have a goal or an assist in 379 minutes.
“If I go the season scoring zero goals and we win a championship, that’s all that matters,” Mathis said.
The old Mathis wouldn’t have said that.
When Mathis was playing for Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga, he got into coach Ewald Lienen’s doghouse with his antics and ended up on the bench. Entering a game as a late
substitute, Mathis immediately scored a goal, made a gesture toward Lienen and then tapped an imaginary watch, indicating it was about time had had been used.
Hannover dealt him to Major League Soccer’s expansion team Real Salt Lake in 2005. John Ellinger, Mathis’ longtime friend, was coaching Salt Lake, and the union appeared a perfect match. In fact, both had vowed years ago to join forces one day.
But Real’s losing ways (5-22-5) and Mathis’ lack of productivity (three goals in 2,123 minutes) soured the relationship. Real traded him to Colorado and even agreed to pick up some of his salary.
Mathis won’t talk much about his time with Real, only saying he was disappointed and holds no grudges. He wants to keep the breakup amicable.
“I’m in a good place here,” Mathis said.
Sure, there’s still a little rebel residing in him — he wears neon yellow shoes — but that’s about the only trace.
“To be honest, Clint has done quality things for this team more than wild things,” Rapids goalie Joe Cannon said.
Like the time he got the Rapids out of the second half of two-a-day practices this spring. He went to Clavijo and told him the team needed a break. Just like that, the Rapids had the
afternoon off.
“Clint stands up for the team,” Cannon said. “He’s the guy that can get things done.”
The Rapids are waiting for him to catch fire. He has 51 career goals and 42 assists in his eight-year MLS career.
“When he’s on his game, he’s probably one of the best players in the league,” Clavijo said. “He has all the skills in the world.”
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