Public Defender continued from page 11 aggregate goals. (Houston’s two-goal victory in the fi rst of the two-game series served as a tie-breaker.) Sinovic, after notching his fi rst professional goal, grabbed the ball out of the net, ran to the middle of the field and slammed it down. That was as far as his celebration went; he knew there was still work to be done. “That was awesome,” Besler says. “That’s the kind of team we are.”
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n the offseason, Besler made two commitments to Kansas City. He got engaged to Amanda Miller, and he signed a three-year contract with an additional one-year club option. In negotiations with Sporting, the man who wears No. 5, in honor of George Brett, made it clear that he was listening to other offers but preferred to play in Kansas City. “I think a lot of who Matt is with Kansas City and his career comes across in interviews and when people talk to him,” says Miller, who works for an apparel company in Overland Park. “He’s just a hometown kid that loves playing here and wouldn’t have it any other way.” “Matt got a substantial raise,” Heineman says. (According to the Major League Soccer Players Union, Besler’s previous contract paid him $92,000 in 2012.) “But in the context of getting a big raise, he was the first one that said we need to keep our core group of players together and was willing to take less than his fair market value to make sure that happens.” At the same time, the team’s identity shifted. Two offensive playmakers, midfielder Roger Espinoza and striker Kei Kamara, are now in England. While C.J. Sapong and new forward Claudio Bieler work on their timing, Sporting’s defense has kept the team near the top of the conference standings. It would be easy for Besler to take some credit. Instead, he echoes one of Vermes’ mantras. “You’re going to do the best individually if the team does the best,” Besler says. “I put everything into helping the team do well. I don’t worry about myself. I don’t worry about my career. Because if the team does
well, it comes back around and then personally you do well.” His first goal is to get Sporting KC back to the playoffs. But Besler admits another ambition. “When you put on that U.S. jersey, you don’t know what it’s like until you do it,” he says, grinning. “But it’s almost addicting. The feeling you have is so good. And once you have that feeling, you just want more.” With an aging U.S. squad — longtime star Landon Donovan has an unclear timetable for return to the team, and defender Carlos Bocanegra is in the twilight of a strong career — Besler may factor in this country’s performance in upcoming World Cup qualifying matches and the Gold Cup this summer. The American defense has been characterized as the team’s weak spot, so a series of strong performances from Besler could help cement
his role with the squad. He’s also relishing the chance to play Kansas City ambassador on the national stage. Over the past two months, his teammates on the U.S. squad have been asking him about the culture and facilities here in the Midwest. “It’s the best place in the country to play,” Besler says. “I tell them to let me know if they want to come play. But I also tell them they’ve got to earn it.”
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ast month, while Zusi and Besler were warming up on the sidelines at Estadio Azteca, a group of their Kansas City teammates gathered to watch the game at Coal Vines, on the Plaza. “He’s elevated his game to the next level,” says Myers, who was at the restaurant. “It
Besler (left) and Benny Feilhaber take part in a passing drill. was a dream come true for us to see him on the field.” A little more than a week after the game, Besler is having lunch at Coal Vines. On his way out, he stops to greet one of the restaurant’s owners. “We haven’t seen you in a while,” the owner says as the men shake hands. “Oh, well, we’ve had training and the preseason.” “Hey, some of the guys were here Saturday night to watch the match. Were you here?” Besler gives him a small smile. “Actually, I was playing.”
E-mail jonathan.bender@pitch.com
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