Troy Perkins could make his first appearance for the United States national team Saturday, against Sweden. But before having the opportunity to step between the pipes at the Home Depot Center he had to deal with a little detour — a 5,338-mile detour.
Perkins was called into training camp by Coach Bob Bradley, with one stipulation from Perkins’s club team in the Norwegian Tippeligaen, Valerenga IF Oslo: he would have to return to Scandinavia for a three-day team-building exercise supervised by a unit of the Norwegian Special Forces.
“It was a great experience,” Perkins said in a telephone interview from camp in Carson, Calif., where he had returned on Jan. 16 after making the trip from Los Angeles to Oslo, via Amsterdam, on Jan. 11. “It was quite a long trip, 11 and a half hours. At first when I heard about it I thought it was a bunch of crap. But after being back here for two days and having a chance to reflect on it it was fantastic.”
Perkins provides intimate and chilling details of his experience on the United States men’s national team blog.
Perkins is one of four goalkeepers in camp — Jon Busch (Chicago), Will Hesmer (Columbus) and Matt Pickens (Colorado) are the others — with the American men as they prepare for Saturday’s exhibition match against Sweden. Because the match does not fall on one of FIFA’s official international dates, Bradley’s roster is primarily composed of players from Major League Soccer teams. Perkins’s new season in Norway does not begin until the middle of March.
Although he may be down the totem pole of American keepers, certainly behind No. 1 Tim Howard (Everton/England) and No. 2 Brad Guzan (Aston Villa/England), Perkins hopes to occupy the No. 3 position when World Cup qualifying begins next month with a game against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, on Feb. 11.
“All of us here are probably fighting for the third spot behind Timmy and Brad,” Perkins said. “You have to fight for whatever you can get. I learned a valuable lesson a few years ago — you train, train, train and still might not get a chance to play. It’s can be frustrating, but on the flip side you have to make a good impression because you just don’t know what the future holds.”
Perkins, 27, is from Springfield, Ohio. He went undrafted after playing his senior season at the University of Evansville in Indiana. He signed with D.C. United and went on to play in 177 games for the club before signing a five-year deal with Valerenga in December 2007. He was the first American signed by the club in its history. Perkins is one of several players sent to teams in Scandinavia by the agent Patrick McCabe.
“He had a hell of an experience,” McCabe said in a telephone interview, referring to Perkins’s three-day boot camp in Norway. “They insisted that Troy be there because he is an important part of their team, one of their leaders. It’s such a great thing, I don’t quite understand why no teams in American sports do something similar.”
According to Perkins, all of the club’s players were whisked to a fort that was built in 1915 to defend Norway in its wars against neighboring Sweden (what a coincidence that the United States, and perhaps Perkins will face Sweden on Saturday). What followed were challenging exercises in freezing weather.
“It was about seeing how guys handle pressure, finding ourselves as a team,” Perkins said. “The first day sucked — it was like boot camp, no lie. Sometimes you question whether guys have what it takes to win, how they will handle hard times and how far they will push themselves. Seeing how guys reacted really changed my views a lot.
“What did I learn? Really just how to take a step back from things. To be a leader you can’t hop onto things and jump right in. That’s never really been an issue for me because I think I’ve been able to handle situations. But what I realized is that guys don’t want to hear yelling at them.”
“Last year was not a good one for us,” said Perkins about Valerenga’s 10th-place finish in his first full season in Norway (although the club did win the Norwegian Cup). “We had new management, new players. But when it comes down to it we just didn’t do our jobs, but I also think it goes back to the three days we just spent doing training. We all learned a lot, but mostly, do your job and everything else will fall into place.”
As he is about to enter his second full season in Norway (his wife stayed behind in Oslo where she will soon give birth to the couple’s first child) Perkins said he has been seduced by life in Europe and might even decide to stay after his playing days.
“I feel I’ve made huge strides in my life, more so off the field,” he said. “A lot of guys don’t realize that when you go to a foreign country to play they leave you to yourself to figure things out. It’s not an easy thing. But for me, it’s been a great move.”
He added: “I like the European life very much. Norway is a clean and friendly place. Everyone speaks English. Both my wife and I are enjoying it. Will we stay? I’m sure her family will have something to say.”
Perkins was asked about the biggest differences, in his view, between American team sports and what he has experienced so far in Europe.
“In the U.S., the talk about team is mostly that, talk,” he said. “So often, with the American mentality there is a team, but on every team there seems to be an individual who gets more attention. If a team wins, it’s never collectively, it’s always because of good individual efforts that contribute to the whole. Stuff like ‘the team did O.K., but this guy made the difference.’ You don’t see that as much in Europe. It’s more a collective effort to achieving, while it’s very American to celebrate the individual.”
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Out of Commission for a while!!!
Well, I have officially moved into my new house and it is lovely. So nice to have a huge space to live in. We also have a beautiful view of the fjords (something inbetween a lake and an ocean). However, it is taking the norwegian cable company a while to get my internet and cable together. I just wanted to let my avid blog reader's know (all five of you...haha) that i am out of commission for the time being! In the meantime, I am taking Norwegian courses at the university. Interesing but fun!!! Also, I am impatiently awaiting the arrival of our son, Jackson Gregory. Only 9 more week but it seems like forever. Much Love to you all.
Betsy
Betsy
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Will I ever sleep soundly again?
This is a thought that runs through my mind numerous times a day. I thought that leading up to Jackson’s arrival I would be able to sleep soundly; however this is not the case.
1)For starter’s getting up every 2 hours in the middle of the night to pee is not only troublesome to me but also my lovely husband. He occasionally wakes up and tells me that I get up too much and to be quiet, however he never remembers. I find it quite comical.
2)I am routinely awakened by elbows and knees grinding into my side (no this is not Troy or Sydney). Also the occasional hiccups wake me up, not me, Jackson. I keep telling him he shouldn't eat so fast:) (I however find this fulfilling)
3)The worst is HEARTBURN. (Something that I have never had and hope to never have again after the little one is born)
4)Numb limbs (mainly the arms and hands from sleeping on my side)
I have to keep reminding myself that it will all be worth it come March. Who would have thought Naptime would be so GREAT!!!
Life in 2008
1) Where did you begin 2008? At my brother’s house
2) What was your status by Valentine's Day? Married to a wonderful man!
3) Were you in school anytime this year? Jan-May!
4) How did you earn your money? Well, I have a sugar-daddy; his name is T---Roy
5) Did you have to go to the hospital? Yes, ultrasound
6) Did you have any encounters with the police? No
7) Would you relive 2008 over and over again? I am not a person that dwells on the past, but 2008 was a great year, however looking forward to 2009 even more
8) What did you purchase that was over $1000? Plane ticket’s, Baby stuff (stroller + carseat combo), NAPLEX/MJPE Exams/Pharmacy Licensure
9) Did you know anybody who got married? Yes, a lot of friends
10) Did you know anybody who passed away? Yes
11) Did you know anyone who had a baby? Yes, however I think 2009 is the year
12) Did you move anywhere? Yes, Oslo Norway
13) What concerts/shows did you go to? Norwegian Wood Concert
14) Are you registered to vote? Yes
15) Do you still have the same job as you did in 2007? No
16) Has anyone betrayed you in 2008? Don’t think so
17) Where do you live now? Oslo, Norway
18) Describe your birthday? Had a nice dinner at Alex Sushi in Oslo with my husband and some friends. One of the best sushi places EVER.
19) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2008? Make a baby!
20) What has been your favorite moment? TWO Word: “JACKSON GREGORY” Feeling Jackson move, hearing his heart beat, and seeing him on the ultrasound!!! (however, graduating and finally living with my husband are great moments too)
21) What's something you learned about yourself? That I don’t like pregnancy as much as I dreamed I would and that living far from home isn’t that bad (thank goodness for SKYPE)
22) Any new additions to your family? Jackson
23) What was your best month? May (Graduated and finally moved to live with my husband)
24) Were you in a relationship this year? Yeah!
25) What music will you remember 2008 by? I’m yours--Jason Mraz, Love Story—Taylor Swift, and yes Womanizer and Circus—Britney Spears (might be because they played that damn song all the time)
26) New friends? Yes
27) Favorite night out? Have too many
28) Would you say you've changed since the beginning of this year? Absolutely
29)Do you think 2009 will be better or worse? Definitely better---Jackson will be here
30) Who did you spend most of your time with this year? Well the second part would be troy but the first part I would have to say would be Jennifer because she was my roommate from jan to may
31) What are your plans for 2009? Having a baby and beginning the journey called “Motherhood”
2) What was your status by Valentine's Day? Married to a wonderful man!
3) Were you in school anytime this year? Jan-May!
4) How did you earn your money? Well, I have a sugar-daddy; his name is T---Roy
5) Did you have to go to the hospital? Yes, ultrasound
6) Did you have any encounters with the police? No
7) Would you relive 2008 over and over again? I am not a person that dwells on the past, but 2008 was a great year, however looking forward to 2009 even more
8) What did you purchase that was over $1000? Plane ticket’s, Baby stuff (stroller + carseat combo), NAPLEX/MJPE Exams/Pharmacy Licensure
9) Did you know anybody who got married? Yes, a lot of friends
10) Did you know anybody who passed away? Yes
11) Did you know anyone who had a baby? Yes, however I think 2009 is the year
12) Did you move anywhere? Yes, Oslo Norway
13) What concerts/shows did you go to? Norwegian Wood Concert
14) Are you registered to vote? Yes
15) Do you still have the same job as you did in 2007? No
16) Has anyone betrayed you in 2008? Don’t think so
17) Where do you live now? Oslo, Norway
18) Describe your birthday? Had a nice dinner at Alex Sushi in Oslo with my husband and some friends. One of the best sushi places EVER.
19) What's one thing you thought you'd never do but did in 2008? Make a baby!
20) What has been your favorite moment? TWO Word: “JACKSON GREGORY” Feeling Jackson move, hearing his heart beat, and seeing him on the ultrasound!!! (however, graduating and finally living with my husband are great moments too)
21) What's something you learned about yourself? That I don’t like pregnancy as much as I dreamed I would and that living far from home isn’t that bad (thank goodness for SKYPE)
22) Any new additions to your family? Jackson
23) What was your best month? May (Graduated and finally moved to live with my husband)
24) Were you in a relationship this year? Yeah!
25) What music will you remember 2008 by? I’m yours--Jason Mraz, Love Story—Taylor Swift, and yes Womanizer and Circus—Britney Spears (might be because they played that damn song all the time)
26) New friends? Yes
27) Favorite night out? Have too many
28) Would you say you've changed since the beginning of this year? Absolutely
29)Do you think 2009 will be better or worse? Definitely better---Jackson will be here
30) Who did you spend most of your time with this year? Well the second part would be troy but the first part I would have to say would be Jennifer because she was my roommate from jan to may
31) What are your plans for 2009? Having a baby and beginning the journey called “Motherhood”
Friday, January 2, 2009
1st Christmas in Norway
Christmas Experience Link: http://www.vif-fotball.no/article2488218.ece
(publisert 2.januar 2009) Troy's blog on the VIF site!
To all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Ok, so a few days ago I experienced my first Christmas ever in Norway and truely had a fantastic time. However, I want to give a full insight to the lead up to the holiday and why it was such a memorable time for me.
First of all I was not planning on spending Christmas away from my family and wife, however some issues came up here in Oslo, that I needed to take care of and see them through. So my adventure began 15 days earlier than it should have due to some unforeseeable events. So leaving a pregnant wife in the southern states of the U.S., I made my way back to Olso not even pondering what I was going to do for the holiday. To be honest at that point I was not really concerned. Soon that all changed when I arrived at Vallhall the following day and was invited to the Jul dinner for the VIF front office. Experiencing my first taste of traditional JUL food and the tradition of friends sharing drinks and time together really sparked my holiday chords and that feeling of the Christmas holiday had finally arrived. That night I was asked about taking gifts to the children at the cancer hospital and thought that would be an enjoyable thing to do at this time of year; thus I joined Fellah and Moa a few days later to bring the children their gifts and spread the holiday spirit. So my Norwegian Christmas experience was off to a great start.
As many of you saw on the NRK interview I did spend my Christmas Eve with Kjetil and his wife's family who opened up their house and hearts to allow me to join them in their traditions for the holiday. I must say he is truly a fortunate man to have such a loving and enjoyable family around him. That night was really fantastic, so much so that even Santa clause made a visit to deliver some gifts for the kids who all had mixed emotions about the mysterious man in a red suit knocking on the door. But all were thrilled with the gifts and I think even more so with the cakes and cookies afterwards. The night was a great view into the Norwegian family traditions and how important it all is to the Norwegian way of life, this explains why you all believe that a summer holiday should last two months and the Christmas holiday should last the whole month of December. As you can tell I am not sure about the good of such long holidays, but then again I am an American and from a place where holidays are usually only celebrated the day of the holiday on the calendar.
The biggest difference for me was not the food, because I really enjoyed all the traditional food, but it was the singing by all. To this I was really delighted because it really engraved in me the importance of the unification of everyone in attendance and made it that much more special. So kudos to you all for doing a holiday the way it should be done and I cannot thank Kjetil, his wife, and her family enough for allowing me to experience such a wonderful time.
Thanks again and Happy New Year,
Troy Perkins
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