The 22-year-old Tim Howard enters his fourth MLS season claiming the MetroStarsÆ starting keeper spot. Get to know the Jersey boy in this segment of SoccerAmerica.comÆs series on the USAÆs most promising young talent. Name: Tim Howard Position: Goalkeeper Height: 6-3. Weight: 210 Born: North Brunswick, N.J. Hometown: March 6, 1979 1998 Season: 1 game, 1.00 GAA. 1999 Season: 9 games, 1.58 GAA. 2000 Season: 9 games, 1.59 GAA International: Olympics (2000), U-20 World Cup (1999), U-17 World Cup (1995). INTERVIEWED BY BRYAN ALVAREZ SA: What is your favorite sport besides soccer? TIM HOWARD: I like to go out and play golf and basketball. SA: Who is your favorite actor? TH: Samuel L. Jackson. SA: Who is your favorite actress? TH: Julia Roberts SA: What is your favorite book? TH: “Friends and Lovers” by Eric Jerome Dickey SA: Who is your favorite musician? TH: Jay-Z SA: Does music gets you pumped before a game? TH: Always. I have my headphones on in the locker room. SA: What’s your current living situation? TH: I live in Kearny, N.J., by myself. SA: How did you adapt to living in a new city? TH: It was pretty easy. I’m from Jersey. So, I’m pretty used to everything in Jersey. SA: Do you have time to go out, be young? TH: Sure. There is always time if you make time to do it. SA: What are your impressions of the MLS? TH: It’s tough being a player in the MLS. Everyone who is on the outside looking in underestimates the league. The games are good the competition is high. It’s hard to crack a starting position. In terms of travel, it’s a lot of fun. It’s definitely a good choice that I made. SA: How is the MLS different from other games? TH: I bypassed college and came straight from high school. The two levels are not even comparable. The MLS is a professional league and it deserves to get all the credit that it gets. GOING PRO EARLY SA: What are your opinions about college and high school players coming out early? TH: It’s the best thing for American soccer. The sooner that young American players get into professional soccer, the better off this country will be. SA: What is the biggest adjustment you had to make? TH: The pace of the game is 10 times faster than anyone’s ever seen, be it high school or college. The players are more consistent at what they do. REMEMBERING THE FIRST TIME SA: What was your favorite moment from last season? TH: I got my first shutout. It’s something that I’ll teasure. SA: Who has been your greatest influence? TH: My first year, I was fortunate enough to play with Tony Meola who was a boyhood idol of mine. Also, my roommate and good friend, Mike Petke. He’s been starting for three years. He’s definitely been a calming influence on me. BEING PUSHED SA: How do you plan to improve in this season? TH: It will be a new situation: being a starter being pushed, not pushing the starter. It’s a lot different being a starter because now you are being pushed by someone underneath you as opposed to pushing the No. 1 keeper. It presents new challenges and a bit more pressure to perform on a daily basis. SA: What can the MLS do to retain its young stars? TH: It’s tough. As a young player, you want to play for your national team but getting the most money for your livelihood is also a factor. If they could compensate a player financially, then they will definitely be able to keep them here. SA: What is your opinion of single-entity? TH: I don’t know too much. I know enough. I wish it wasn’t so. As a player, we’d be better off without single-entity. Unfortunately, that is the way it is right now. Hopefully they can get that changed and see where the players are coming from. SA: What’s your commitment to the MLS? TH: I have at least two and a half, possibly three years on my contract. SA: What is your relationship like with the fans? TH: My relationship is good. I’m a hometown boy. I’ve been working hard and play with my emotions on my sleeve. They appreciate that. The fans always want to win. They are restless. Last year, we gave them a good season. Hopefully, this year we can do the same. SA: Do you get recognized in public? TH: A little bit. It’s fine with me. Anything I can do to help this league grow in popularity is fine by me. DERBY DREAMS SA: Can the New York-New Jersey area support two teams? TH: That’ll be the best thing for the league. We’ll have somewhat of a derby. I think you build a better fan base when there is a rivalry there. SA: What is the best play you made last year? TH: I made a number of multiple saves against Kansas City in Kansas City. I made three saves back to back to back. I helped preserve a shutout. SA: Who is the toughest opponent you faced last year? TH: Tampa Bay gave us a bit of a run at the end. They are a tough team. They are always looking to attack. SA: Do you have a good rivalry with Tampa Bay now, especially after the Mamadou Diallo incident? TH:We have pretty good rivalries with a couple of teams in the MLS, some are very heated, as well. We get excited to play Tampa Bay. The incident still sticks in our minds and leaves a bad taste in our mouths, but we do have other rivalries. Chicago would have to be the most heated and Dallas, too. SA: Are you a soccer fan? TH: I enjoy the game at the highest level. I like to watch and pick up anything that can help my game. I love to watch soccer. SA: Who is your favorite team? TH: My favorite team is AC Milan. I always enjoy watching them. SA: Who is your favorite player? TH: My favorite player is Edwin Van Der Sar. SA: Do you eventually want to play abroad? TH: I hope the opportunity presents itself. I think this league is a very good league. But, I also want to test the waters at some point. When that is, I’m not sure. SA: Are there any countries on your wish list? TH: The normal. England, Germany, Spain. I would like to get with a good First Division club no matter where I play. SA: What are your predictions for this year? TH: No predictions. Just a whole bunch of wishes. We’re shootinÆ to win the Eastern Conference championship again. We’re also looking to get to the semifinals again, win that game, and move on to the MLS Cup. Whatever happens there in 90 minutes is anyoneÆs guess. Bryan Alvarez is an assistant editor at Soccer America.