SoccerAmerica.com introduces the debut of a series on the USAÆs top young talent. We start with DaMarcus Beasley, the Silver Ball winner at the 1999 U-17 World Cup who has started both U.S. games of 2001 for Coach Bruce Arena. INTERVIEW BY BRYAN ALVAREZ DaMarcus Beasley Age: 18 Position: Midfielder Ht.: 5-7. Wt.: 126 Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind. MLS Career Stats: 2000 Season: 18 games, 2 goals, 2 assists, 6 points. SOCCER AMERICA: Do you have time to go out and be young? DaMARCUS BEASLEY:Yeah, I do. Most of the time I’m here, I hang out with the older crowd. There are very few guys my age in the league. I hang out with anywhere from 20- to 30-year-olds. It gets tough sometimes, but you get used to it. Being a professional you sacrifice a lot of things. But looking at my life, my career and where it’s going, I wouldn’t change a thing. SA: Being on the road so much, do you get homesick? DB: No. I got over that. I lived in Florida for two years [while in residency with the U-17s] and I was away from home. Being in Chicago, I’m two and a half hours away from home, so I can go home whenever I want. SA: What are your impressions of your first year in the MLS? DB: It went well. I had fun. The guys on the team treated me well. They worked with me the whole season. As the season went on, I got more comfortable. SA: How was it getting along with older guys? DB: It’s important to have chemistry on and off the field. They’re a great bunch of guys, from the young to the old. We have a great mix. SA: What is the biggest adjustment you had to make to MLS? DB: Cohesion with the team. Getting comfortable with the team. It doesn’t take long to get used to the MLS when you get to practice everyday with some of the best players in the country. I get better everyday and the games get easier. HELP FROM ARMAS AND HRISTO SA: Who has been your greatest influence? DB: Chris Armas is one of them. And, definitely Hristo Stoitchkov. They’ve been kind, put me under their wing, and helped me through MLS. SA: How do you plan to avoid the “sophomore slump? DB: I’m definitely looking forward to coming into this season and going a little harder. I want to pick up where I left off last season. I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited and I’m ready. SA: What are your opinions about college and high school players coming out early? DB: It’s good if a player is capable of playing in the MLS, he should definitely do it. MLS is a great stepping stone for young players if they want to move on the national team or Europe. SA: What can the MLS do to improve? DB: Players should be able to own themselves. Also, the team should make the decisions on signing a player, or when to cut a player. Players should have more say in what goes around in the club. SA: What can the MLS do to retain its young stars? DB: Just take care of them. If they put a little more time and money into their young players, then they would want to stay. A lot of young players want to make it in Europe. That’s where the real money is. But this league is young. As time goes on, I think things will get better. SA: How long do you think you’ll play in the MLS? DB: I don’t really have a set time period. I’ll just see how things work out. Whenever other countries say they want me, I’ll definitely have to look into it. SA: Do you eventually see yourself playing abroad? DB: Definitely. Spain is one of my top choices. Also, Holland. PSV is one of the top clubs I would love to go to. They have a great youth system. They’ve brought up a lot of good players. CHICAGOÆS FANS: DIE-HARD SA: What is your relationship like with the fans? DB: It’s great. I think we have the best fans in the league. They cheer and sing songs. It’s just like being in a European stadium. They treat us well. They’re die-hard fans. That’s what I love about them. SA: Do you get recognized in public? DB: Sometimes, but not too much. Soccer is still growing. Cobi Jones is a guy that deals with that. He’s a big star and been around for awhile. He’s the fan favorite. Me, I’m just getting into the league. Maybe in a couple years, they’ll recognize me. SA: Give me an example of a week during the season. DB: Monday we’ll have practice from 9:45 am to 12:30 pm, after meetings and stuff. Same thing on Tuesday and Wednesday. Thursday we slow down for the game. Fridays are real light. We go through set pieces and tapes of the other team. Saturday, for a game around 7:30 pm, we have to be at the stadium around 6 pm. Sunday we have a light day or no practice at all. SA: Do you have a favorite soccer team, besides the Chicago Fire? DB: Real Madrid, that’s one of the teams I like to watch. SA: Do you have a favorite soccer player? DB: Ryan Giggs. SA: What’s your favorite sport besides soccer? DB: Basketball, I used to play in high school so that’s still one of the things I do. GOLAZO vs. MEXICO SA: What’s the best goal you’ve ever scored? DB: The one I scored in the U-17 World Cup against Mexico. It was a volley from 25 yards out. Also, my second goal in the MLS against Dallas. A goal is a goal. It helps you win. I don’t look into them that much. Who is the toughest opponent you’ve ever faced? DB: Robin Fraser. Him and C.J. [Brown] are two of the toughest defenders I’ve faced in my lifetime. They’re both good defenders, they’re hard to get around. SA: Where do you see yourself 10 years from now? DB: Playing in Europe sometime. Still on the national team, playing in the 2010 World Cup. If I stay healthy and everything goes all right. I want to still be playing soccer. I’ll be 28. I want to be playing at a high level. SA: What is the best part of your game? DB: My ability to find the open man. My speed and quickness too. I’m not the biggest guy so I don’t really shrug people off. I got to use the things that I have to my advantage. WORKING ON CROSSES SA: What part of your game that needs improvement? DB: My crossing, Bruce [Arena] and Bob [Bradley] have told me that. That’s something I hope will improve as I go on. SA: Who are the people you most admired while growing up? DB: My parents. They’ve always told me to go for my dreams and not sell myself short. They let me play a bunch of sports and soccer is the one I stuck with. Who’s your dream teammate? DB: Again, Ryan Giggs. We’re the same position so it would be kinda hard. What’s your opinion of being named to the World Soccer list of 100 most exciting young players? DB: It’s a great accomplishment for American players to get on the list. Our country is getting there. People are going to realize that the USA is someone to deal with, not someone you can overlook. We’re not a pushover anymore. For Me, Landon [Donovan], and Bobby [Convey] to be on that list, I think it’s great.