RIDING THE WAVE OF SUCCESS : BRUINS' STAR SUPPLEMENTS HIS PLAY ON FIELD WITH PLAY IN OCEAN.Byline: Eric Noland Daily News Staff Writer The day before an important game, his UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX soccer teammates might pace their dorm rooms, or dribble a ball endlessly. Winding their personal springs ever tighter. Frankie Hejduk Frank Daniel "Frankie" Hejduk (born August 5, 1974 in La Mesa, California) is an American soccer player who currently plays midfielder and defender for the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, where he is team captain. would have nothing of this. He would drive down Sunset to Pacific Coast Highway Pacific Coast Highway may refer to:
``Every time you go out in the water, it's just so relaxing,'' said Hejduk, a defender on the U.S. Olympic soccer team. ``The mindset mind·set or mind-set n. 1. A fixed mental attitude or disposition that predetermines a person's responses to and interpretations of situations. 2. An inclination or a habit. it puts you in is just incredible. I mean, it's just you and the ocean out there.'' Hejduk (pronounced HAY-duck) developed this passion while growing up ``a minute from the beach'' in Cardiff, just north of San Diego San Diego (săn dēā`gō), city (1990 pop. 1,110,549), seat of San Diego co., S Calif., on San Diego Bay; inc. 1850. San Diego includes the unincorporated communities of La Jolla and Spring Valley. Coronado is across the bay. . He says surfing has also enhanced his soccer game in areas beyond the maintenance of a healthy mental balance. ``Surfing is a cardiovascular sport,'' Hejduk said. ``You need endurance, stamina. You're constantly paddling, taking off. You're getting a leg workout and an arm workout. ``I think one of the pluses to my game is I can run all day long. I attribute that to surfing.'' His frenzied, tireless play is, in fact, one of the most notable aspects of Hejduk's game. ``He does not stop working on the field,'' said Cal Poly Cal Poly may refer to:
Hejduk, 21, who plays for the Tampa Bay Mutiny The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a professional soccer club located in Tampa, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1996-2001. The club played its home games at Houlihan's Stadium from 1996-1998 and at Raymond James Stadium from 1999 onwards. in Major League Soccer, was second team All-American and first team All-Far West as a junior, his last season at UCLA. He tied for second on the team with six goals, four coming on penalty kicks. And he rarely seemed rattled, no matter how daunting daunt tr.v. daunt·ed, daunt·ing, daunts To abate the courage of; discourage. See Synonyms at dismay. [Middle English daunten, from Old French danter, from Latin the competition - a trait that figures to serve him well in the Olympics, given the high caliber of competition the young American team will face. ``You get some soccer players who are so settled on that one thing (soccer). They're too intense,'' Saldana said. ``Frankie was kind of a free spirit off the field. I think his having a hobby really helps him.'' Hejduk says his land-and-sea athletic pursuits came naturally. And while he was excelling in soccer from an early age - All-American on the AYSO AYSO American Youth Soccer Organization AYSO All Your Saturdays Occupied AYSO Alabama Youth Soccer Organization AYSO Albuquerque Youth Soccer Organization (Albuquerque, New Mexico) boys' under-16 team - he was not exactly a slouch slouch v. slouched, slouch·ing, slouch·es v.intr. 1. To sit, stand, or walk with an awkward, drooping, excessively relaxed posture. 2. To droop or hang carelessly, as a hat. v. in the other sport. In '88, Hejduk was a national junior high school surfing champion. In high school, he starred on both the soccer and surfing teams at San Dieguito. Today, he uses one to complement the other. Said Hejduk: ``Every time you have a tough game, or play a bad game, or it's the day before a big game, it's always good to get out in the ocean and kind of chill out chill out Informal Verb to relax, esp. after energetic dancing at a rave Adjective chill-out suitable for relaxation after energetic dancing: a chill-out area . Watch the sunset, and not worry about anything.'' PROFILE Age: 21 Hometown: Cardiff, Calif. Position: Defender Fast fact: Hejduk was named NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association second-team All-American and first team All-Far West in 1994 for UCLA. When to Watch Pool play: July 20 vs. Argentina; July 22 vs. Tunisia; July 24 vs. Portugal Playoffs: July 27, 28, 29, 30 Medal games: Aug. 2, 3 p.m.; Aug. 3, 12:45 p.m. SOCCER Fourteen of the 18 members of the U.S. Olympic soccer team - including UCLA alumni Frankie Hejduk and Chris Snitko - also play for Major League Soccer franchises. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos, 3 Boxes Photo: (1) A prolific scorer at UCLA, Frankie H ejduk relaxes and maintains intensity by surfing, which has helped his tireless work ethic on the soccer field. (2) Frankie Hejduk (3) THROUGH THE YEARS 1975: Born in La Mesa, Calif., Aug. 5. 1988: National Junior High School surfing champion. 1989: Earns AYSO All-American boys' under-16 honors in soccer. 1994: Ranks second on the UCLA soccer team in goals with six and adds three assists in his final season with the Bruins. 1996: Is named to Olympic soccer team. Box: (1) PROFILE (see text) (2) When to Watch (see text) (3) SOCCER (see text) |
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