Not a bad rookie year: 16 regular-season games for the L.A. Galaxy, then picking up the CONCACAF Champions Cup title. Plus, starting for the USA during its fourth-place Olympic campaign and getting his first full international cap. Pete Vagenas is the focus of this weekÆs edition of Socceramerica.comÆs series on young American talent. INTERVIEW BY BRYAN ALVAREZ Pete Vagenas Age: 23 College: UCLA Hometown: Cerritos, Calif. Position: Midfielder Ht.: 5-8 Wt.: 150 MLS Career Stats (L.A. Galaxy): 16 games, 3 goals, 1 assist, 7 points. International: 2000 Olympics. Debuted for full national team Oct. 25 vs. Mexico SOCCER AMERICA: What are your impressions of your first year in the MLS? PETE VAGENAS: I was surprised with the level of play. I didn’t think it would be as high as it is. Of all the international games I’ve played, the speed of the game is definitely a step faster than those games. I think the league has been stereotyped and I don’t think it gets the credit it deserves. SA: How is the MLS different from the college game? PV: Speed of play is a lot faster, which sometimes works as positive and negative. Sometimes it gets going so fast that tactics go out the window which is not a good thing. I think as the league continues, you’ll find that medium of when to slow it down and when to speed it up. SA: What is the biggest adjustment you had to make? PV: Starting over with a new team and accepting a different role as a first year player. I was coming from UCLA and the Olympic team where I was a fixture on the team for years. It was a little different having to start over, learning the intricacies of different guys, which is what soccer is all about. I think adjusting to my teammates and their style was probably the biggest adjustment. SA: What was your favorite moment from last season? PV: My favorite moment from last season actually just happened a month ago when we won the CONCACAF Champions Cup. PROJECT SHAKE UP THE WORLD SA: What do you think about the teams that will participate in the World Club Championships this summer? PV: I think the Galaxy has a huge task on their hands, not only for the club itself, but for American soccer. If we show well there, it’s another step in the right direction to prove that our club teams are just as good as yours. We’re taking it very seriously. We’re not only looking to represent the city of Los Angeles, but the MLS in its entirety. We want to shake up the rest of the world tell them that the MLS has some good soccer teams. We can carry what we did in the qualifying rounds into the finals. SA: Who has been your greatest influence? PV: All the older guys have been very receptive. I think I lucked out that I am from UCLA. I knew a lot of the guys. Definitely having Sigi and Ralph there as coaching figures made the transition a lot smoother rather than learning how to deal with a new coach. The older players, though, definitely made it a smoother transition period. SA: You played four years of college ball. What are your opinions about college and high school players coming out early? PV: It’s personified in all sports. For every one or two that are ready to come out, there are 15 to 20 who aren’t. It’s a double-edged sword. Some players can do it and other can’t. You have to decide if it’s worth having those players or dealing with the ones that are unprepared. I think that’s a player’s choice and you can never really tell at that age. The game is physically much faster than what any high school player would be used to. I know college helped me climb the ladder. When kids come out early sometimes they’ll miss a step. For some kids that’s no problem while other kids will struggle more. Speaking from my personal experience, I think college and playing with the Olympic team so long helped prepare me for the professional game. æCRUSH THE STEREOTYPEÆ SA: What can the MLS do to improve? PV: Begin to market its American players. Put more emphasis on the American game. I definitely think that there is a stereotype out there, that just because we’re Americans, we don’t know how to play. We have to crush that stereotype. So I definitely think we have to push the American kids and market them as the primary spokespeople for the league. SA: What can the MLS do to retain its young stars? PV: Make sure that they get all they deserve. Show the same respect toward the American players that they do to the foreign stars. I think the foreign stars get what they deserve, but at the same time, there are American players that are just as good. From the leagueÆs standpoint, American players have to continue to improve. At the same time, the league should reward those players by putting them at the forefront of the league. SA: What is your opinion of single-entity? PV: You have to give credit to the guys running the league that they have gotten it on its feet. It is a growing league. I’m not too much into the lawsuits and whatnot. They need to take a look at the other leagues. For example, the NBA started similarly to the MLS. It was a small market from the get-go. It continued to grow. So obviously those guys know what they’re doing. I’ve been told single-entity is not a good thing. It’s obviously got its negatives from the playersÆ point of view. SA: Do you eventually want to play abroad? PV: The option has presented itself here and there. It’s definitely something I might pursue in the near future. But as of right now, for this next year especially, my mind is solely on the LA Galaxy. If after this season, those options arise, I will take a serious look but, definitely not for this coming year. SA: What’s your commitment to the MLS? PV: I’ve got two more years left on my contract. SA: Do you have time to go out, be young? PV: Yeah, but it’s tough. Going between your professional team and the national team. You’re traveling a lot but that something you give up to do what you do. The positives definitely out weigh going out and having a time with your old buddies. Every once in awhile when I get a few spare days, then I’ll definitely go out with my inner circle of friends. GLOBETROTTING SA: Being on the road so much, do you get homesick? PV: Every now and then but I think I’ve gotten used to it now. I’ve been traveling for awhile so it really doesn’t bother me any more. SA: What is your relationship like with the fans? PV: I think we have a great fan base in LA. They definitely support the team. The fact that we have been winning consistently helps. I hope we can continue to develop the relationship we have them and continue to make to make them happy. SA: Do you get recognized in public? PV: Every now and then around the Pasadena area. You’ll catch people staring at you and they’ll come up to you. There’s definitely people interested in an autograph, now and again. It’s a flattering thing. SA: (Jokingly) Have you had any Tiger Woods type situations where people rush and knock you over? PV: (Laughing) No, not yet. I don’t think we’re at that level yet. Maybe someday. The typical week SA: Give me an example of a week during the season. PV: Sunday we’re usually arriving home from a road trip. We’ll get Sunday afternoon off. Monday and Tuesday, we have light training in the morning. In the afternoon, there’s usually free time on your own. You could do some work on your own. Last season, we had games on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday are more of the same thing. You practice in the morning. Free time in the afternoon if you’re home. If not, we meet at the airport, tour the country. It’s a pretty simple life. SA: We know you’re a player, but are you a big soccer fan? PV: I’m not the biggest fan. But, I try to watch and learn from other players. I definitely follow sports, mostly the NBA. SA: What’s your favorite sport besides soccer? PV: Basketball. SA: Do you have a favorite soccer team besides the L.A. Galaxy? PV: I’ve always been a little biased toward Ajax of Amsterdam, but other than that, no man, LA Galaxy! WATCH OUT WIZARDS! SA: Who is your biggest rival? PV: I’d have to say in the MLS, you definitely form many rivalries. For the Galaxy, we’re looking to draw blood against the Wizards this year. That’s one I have already marked on my schedule. There’s always the D.C. United game. The Chicago Fire, too. SA: What was your Olympic experience like? PV: It was probably the most surreal experience or extended moment of my life so far. Not even from a soccer standpoint but as an athlete, the Olympics is something all athletes strive for. I didn’t realize what I was getting into at the time. At the time it didn’t feel that special, it was just soccer. It didn’t hit until after I got home when I saw the reaction from the fans and the media. Hearing about it day in and day out. It was an amazing thing. I thank the lord that I had a chance to participate in such an event. Bryan Alvarez is the assistant editor of Soccer America Magazine