Santino Quaranta, the youngest player in MLS, has been in big demand with the national media. MLS’s teens were the subject of a front-page feature in USA Today, and Quaranta made his national radio debut Tuesday afternoon when he appeared on J.T. the Brick’s afternoon radio show, the second-largest daily sports talk show in the U.S. Quaranta discussed his choice to turn pro and the transition to professional life at such a young age. In his own words: “I can’t believe that the tournament opener is almost here. The days that we have been here have just flown by. It seems like we just got in here, and all of a sudden the tournament is going to start. I’ve had a great time in St. Louis so far, but I can’t wait to get the games going. It seems that we have been training for this week for so long. Most of us started almost a year and a half ago in residency, and it seemed like this week would never come. And now it is here and I can’t wait. “The team is definitely ready to get out there and start playing. I think that we have had some great training sessions this week. Sunday we went really went at it, and it was real intense. I think it is exactly what we needed. The coaches have done a great job of getting us ready for this week, and now it is up to us. I think that if we all come out to play, and we do what we know we can, then we should be able to take care of business. “I just rejoined the team when they flew in here last Thursday. I had spent almost two weeks with D. C. United up in Washington, D.C. I think the time with United really helped me. It was good to get out and see what I need to do at the next level. I definitely think I can play there and I will go back to D.C. when the tournament is over. My time with D.C. also got me excited for this tournament, and now I can’t wait to take the field Wednesday. “When we scrimmaged Saint Louis University on Friday, there were quite a few people out there. I know I was, and I think most of the guys were, a little surprised how many people were there for a Friday afternoon practice match. I think it really got some of the guys excited thinking about playing in front of a large crowd for the qualifying games. I think it will be amazing to be playing in front of a large, Pro-American crowd and to be able to look up into the stands and see people cheering for the USA. I can’t wait. “I think it will be brilliant when we kick off tomorrow. I just can’t wait to finally get out there and start the matches. We’ve been training a year and a half for this, and I think the team is ready to play. We are all feeling confident and just looking forward to playing. Like they say in boxing, ‘Let’s get it on!'” Quaranta file: Position: Forward Height: 5-foot-11 Weight: 155 pounds Birthdate: October 14, 1984 Hometown: Baltimore Club: D.C. United