DaMarcus Beasley turns 20 one week before the start of World Cup 2002, where he hopes to prove his moves, which have earned him the nickname ‘Jitterbug,’ will work against the world’s best.
The Facts
Born: May 24, 1982, in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind.
Pro clubs: Los Angeles Galaxy (1999), Chicago Fire (2000-present).
USA: 7 caps, 1 goal. Gold Cup: 2002. U-20 World Cup: 2001. U-17 World Cup: 1999.
DaMarcus’ Favorites
Musical artist: Nas.
Actor: Chris Tucker.
Actress: Halle Berry.
Film: “Last of the Mohicans.”
Book: “Dead in the Water” by Stuart Woods.
Food: Seafood and Mexican.
Drink: Lemonade.
Soccer player: Ryan Giggs.
Vacation spot: Canary Islands.
Place to live: Chicago.
Hobbies: Basketball, Internet, reading.
Four historical people you’d invite to dinner: Muhammad Ali, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, Abraham Lincoln.
Pregame activity: Listening to music.
Postgame activity: Relaxing.
My View On …
Chicago: A great city with great people. There is always something to do. Since I live downtown, that’s good for me. It has to be one of best cities in the United States. I love hanging out there and chilling out.
Money: It’s not that important. Happiness comes first. At the same time, it can help you do what you want to do.
Injury: It sucks. It’s unfortunate, but it’s part of the game. When it happens, all you can do is your best to recover fast.
Qualifiers: Those games are tough. There is a lot of pride when you are playing for country. No games are easy, home or away.
World Cup 2002: It’s going to be unbelievable, whether I’m a part of it or not. Being able to see the stars and live the experience of being in a World Cup is going to be exciting. It’ll be a lot of fun, but serious at the same time.
Future: It’s an exciting time. A lot of young kids have bright futures. Hopefully, I do, too. There is a lot I want to accomplish. I’m looking forward to it and living one day at a time.
My First …
Job: Baby-sitting my cousins.
Car: A white ’98 Chevy Cavalier.
Cap: In 2001 against China in Oakland. It was good to get that first cap. I had been trying for awhile, but I kept getting injured. It was a fun experience. Also, it was great that we won the game.
People In My Life
Family: They’ve been behind me 100 percent. My mom, my dad and my brother have always been there for me.
Friends: They don’t let me get the big head. When I go home, I don’t have to worry about soccer. I can be myself and have fun with them.
Teammates: They’re my “homies”! From Chicago to the national team, they are my friends on and off the field.
Referees: I have a lot of respect for refs. They do a hard job.
Fans: The Barnburners are the best fans in MLS. They don’t just jump on bandwagon. Even if I have a bad game, they still cheer.
Bob Bradley: He let’s you be yourself. A great guy, a great coach and a great friend.
Bruce Arena: Another great coach. Bruce has a good sense of humor. He knows what he wants. He knows what to do with his players.
Heroes: Muhammad Ali is my hero. He was confident in what he wanted to do and be. His cockiness was good for the people.
by Soccer America Assistant Editor Bryan Alvarez