Kenny Cooper chat on ESPN.com

Kenny Cooper: Hello everyone!
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Matt, St. Augustine, Florida: Kenny, How important is it to you to make the U.S. national team?

Kenny Cooper: I was named to the team today. I'm very excited and honored. It was a great experience last time to play in the Denmark game. I'm hungry to get more chances. I'm really excited. On a personal note, it's nice to go back to Tampa and Dallas and have a chance to play. I used to live in Tampa and have several people there and in Dallas who have been very instrumental in my soccer career.

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Travis Carmichael -12yrs old - Southlake Tx: As a kid - did you always dream of playing soccer? What advice do you have for a kid like me who dreams of playing pro soccer?

Kenny Cooper: Yeah, I've always as long as I can remember wanted to be a pro soccer player. The sport has always been in my family. It's always been a dream of mine. Through my experiences, I think it is important to stay positive and know that there will be bumps in the road. Just because you don't get playing time at oint point, things can chance quickly. That would be my advice. Just don't get discouraged. Keep working hard and enjoying the game.
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Josh (Dallas): Kenny, great season last year! Non-soccer question: what teams are in the Final 4 of your NCAA bracket?

Kenny Cooper: I haven't! We have something going on in the lockerroom but I forgot to turn my bracket in. I think I'm too late.

Kenny Cooper: I've always been a UNC fan. I'd love to see them do well.
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Nick (Birmingham,AL): Kenny, Congratulations on your recent call-ups. My question is how does the level of the MLS compare with that of Manchester United's reserve squad?

Kenny Cooper: The quality and intenstity at United was very high. So many great players. The standard was very high. I really enjoyed the players and coaches over there. It was a great experience but it is the same here. I really believe in American soccer. The standard is also very high here. After my first year and some opportunities with the national team, I think there is a high number of great coaches and players here as well.
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Frisco, Texas: Fist of all, Congratulations on your successes with FC Dallas. My question is : what is the most difficult part of being a pro soccer player?

Kenny Cooper: I feel very priviliged that my job and my work is something I love to do. Also something I can see brings joy to my family and friends and my girlfriend. It's a very unique situation. I love it all the time. I don't have too many complaints I guess!
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Alfonso: As a Hoops fan from New Orleans, I want to thank you for such a great run last year. We evacuated to Dallas during Katrina and going to a couple of the games lifted our spirits. How different do you approach your second year in as opposed to your rookie season?

Kenny Cooper: First of all, thanks for your support. That's great that you have taken Dallas on as your team. We appreciate that. I don't know if I really changed much. Last year and this year I came in wanting to work hard and be a positive contribution to the team.
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Kolby Sedalia, Missouri: Do you enjoy playing mid-field or striker the most?

Kenny Cooper: I'm a member of a team so I do whatever is asked of me. If they want me to play goalkeeper I'd play goalkeeper. I think I can contribute more as a front player, closer to the goal.
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Steve (Pittsburgh, PA): Kenny, during the radio broadcast of the Pioneer Cup, someone commented that you were trying too hard, instead of allowing your athleticism to do the work like you did last year. Why might someone think that after watching the preseason? (How) would you rebut that statement?

Kenny Cooper: I think hard work is something I try to apply to any game I play. That is something I hope I can always bring to the table, intensity and hard work. I think it wasn't the best result for us but we have a good opportunity to put things right against Chicago. We believe in what our coaches are telling us. It's been a great preseason and things are still coming together. Steve Morrow has done a great job since he has been here. We will stay positive and keep moving forward.
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Michael (denton, texas): how do you see the coaching change in dallas effecting the team?

Kenny Cooper: I have a lot of faith in Steve and his assistants. I've really enjoyed preseason so far. They all have great experience and are great coaches. It is a very positive atmosphere. As a player, it's fun to play for coaches like this. Every day has been fun so far. I'm looking forward to the rest of the year.
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Scott from Texas: Have you worked on any new goal celebrations? I hope you've dropped the twirling figure skater move you did last year.

Kenny Cooper: I've caught a lot of heat for some of my celebrations but scoring a goal is something I have enjoyed so much and get so excited. I don't know what gets into me sometimes.
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Jason S. Dallas, Texas: Who would you like to see wear the captain's armband this year?

Kenny Cooper: There are a lot of good leaders on this team. We have veterans with a lot of experience in the league. Carlos Ruiz and Richard Mulrooney both know what it takes to win a championship. Even among the young guys we have great leadership. Chris Gbandi and Bobby Rhine are both great veterans who bring a lot to the team. We have a great togetherness and have so much fun. No matter who is chosen captian, we will have a lot of great examples to follow.
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mudpoet - Richardson, TX: Can you and the rest of the players on the field actually understand what The Inferno (fans behind the goal) chant during the games, or does it just sound like generic cheering?

Kenny Cooper: The Inferno is really important to the team here. I know how much we all appreciate their support. They travel down for games and have supported us so much. The chants they put together and the atmosphere they create is so important. We can really feed off that.
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Steve (VA): Kenny, how's training going? Are you all revved up for the season?

Kenny Cooper: Training has been great so far. Like I said, I think the coaches have done a great job. The training has been intense. We've been working really hard and working tactically to get ready. We had a great trip to Brazil and have applied the same hard work we put in down there here in Dallas.
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Kenneth Adams - Houston, Texas: I am a Dallas native and a huge FC Dallas fan. The team has had a lot of regular season success but has had problems getting past the first round the last two years. What expectations do you have for this coming season?

Kenny Cooper: We have high expectations. I think what I love about this club is how ambitious we are, all the way from the fans up to the ownership. We want to win championships. We have such great leaders and people involved who have been in championship winning environments. We have a lot of people who know what it takes and we want to win championship here.
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Brad (Cincinnati, OH): Who was the most influential to your development during your time at Manchester United?

Kenny Cooper: There were a lot of people. That's the great thing about the club. They really take the time to put the focus on your development. Whether it was Roy Keane sitting down and talking to me or any of the first team players who took the time. They do a great job integrating the young players with the veterans. There is so much experience on that team and they don't mind passing down the experience. Jimmy Ryan, who brought me over there, became a mentor to me and I'm so thankful to him for all the opportunities he gave me. I can't give Jimmy or the club enough praise. I'm a better player for having been there for sure.
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Jairo, Dallas TX: what do you thing about the new signing Carlos Toja?

Kenny Cooper: I had the chance to meet him down in Brazil. He fit in great with the group. He seems like a great player and has some great experience. We know he is another quality player that will bring great things to the team. He seems like a great guy as well.