TUCSON, Ariz. - As the Portland Timbers finished their time in Tucson today and the team returns to Oregon, we spoke to a number of players about their time in Arizona.
With warm desert air and cacti all around, we wanted to get a closer look at what a player's full experience in Tucson was like. With two weeks of concentrated time together, training sessions, preseason games, team meetings and more, we asked about what was their most important item they brought with them, which teammate they would want with them if they were stranded in the desert, their favorite desert film, their favorite thing to do off the pitch and how their time in Tucson helped prepare them for upcoming MLS season.
<a href="/players/Nick-Besler"><strong>Nick Besler</strong></a> |
<a href="/players/Fanendo-Adi"><strong>Fanendo Adi</strong></a> |
<a href="/players/Nat-Borchers"><strong>Nat Borchers</strong></a> |
<a href="/players/Diego-Chara"><strong>Diego Chara</strong></a> |
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<em>Most important item in Tucson?</em> |
"I wear my sunglasses a lot. It’s a good opportunity to bring out the shades since I’ve heard it’s pretty cloudy in Portland." |
"My phone of course. Definitely my phone. I use it to Facetime with the family." |
"I think it’s multiple things I think you need to have. A good van [to get to training] and I think you need to have good banter." |
"For me, the Bible. This is very important for me." |
<em>If you were stranded in the desert, what Timbers teammate would you want with you?</em> |
"I think I might bring <a href="/players/Michael-Nanchoff">Mike Nanchoff</a> just because he seems pretty funny, seems like he could entertain the two of us with his jokes and humor." |
"I think <a href="/players/Taylor-Peay">Taylor Peay</a>. I think he would definitely figure a way out." |
"I’d probably have to say I’d take <a href="/players/maximiliano-Urruti">[Maximiliano] Urruti</a> with me because I whatever the situation is, it’s never dire when you’ve got a funny guy like that." |
"I think <strong>Maxi [Urruti]</strong> because he’s a fun guy. I would hang out with him." |
<em>What is your favorite desert film?</em> |
"One of my favorites is <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJvosb4UCLs" target="_blank"><em>Castaway</em></a>. I’m a big fan of that movie. Tom Hanks does a good job in that and his good buddy Wilson. You can’t forget about him. <br><em>Ed Note: </em>Castaway<em> is more deserted island than desert movie but we'll let it slide because it's so good.</em> |
None. |
"I don’t know why but <em>Independence Day</em> just comes up. I know it wasn’t all in the desert but that scene where <a href="http://klipd.com/watch/independence-day/welcome-to-earth-scene" target="_blank">Will Smith is fighting that alien and it’s in the Nevada desert.</a> That’s probably one of my favorite scenes." |
"I remember this movie with Jackie Chan. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BP2k1zRAgQw" target="_blank"><em>Armour of God 2: Operation Condor</em></a>. This is a good movie. I like it." |
<em>What's your favorite thing to do off the field in Tucson?</em> |
"We had a team dinner one of the nights here where we all went out to a restaurant down here and just got to spend some time together. It was pretty fun to get to know everybody. |
"Just hanging around with the guys. It’s been excellent...Here you know you are fully committed to the game, fully concentrated." |
"I would say it’s just been hanging out with the guys off the field and getting to know them and getting to know the personalities has probably been the best part." |
"I like to play Playstation video games because here I have time because my family is at home.<br><br>
Sometimes I like to learn English with my books." |
<em>How does your time in Tucson prepare you for the regular season?</em> |
"I think trips like this where you kind of get away from everything can bring a team together.You’re with the team pretty much the whole time at practices and meals.. .It’s all soccer here for the most part. You don’t have to worry about stuff back in Portland and stuff at home. It’s all business here." |
"You have to train, you have to eat well, you have to go back to the hotel and rest. You are fully concentrated on the work ahead. Preparation is basically the most important part of the season. Physically and mentally, you never know what to expect in the new season, so the preseason is used to just to prepare for that." |
"For me, as a new guy, it was just really important for me to have this time with my teammates to kind of get to know the personalities and the group. Just to find out what I can do to help, that’s been the most important thing for me. |
"I think this is good for us to maintain the team together. Here in Tucson, we are spending more time to know everybody. I believe this is good for for the team. These actions help for the season. It’s different because, in Portland, everyone has family and they have more things to do. This is different. It’s more in focus." |
