Hey yall! I hope that everyone is doing well and has had a great week so far! My week has been a little crazy. It started off real well and I wish it could have ended that way, but it didn’t. On Friday, our PR people had arranged for all us southern boys (Adam Christman, Brad Knighton, and me) to head up to the New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Friday for an appearance. Being from North Carolina, the home of NASCAR, I am a little embarrassed to say that this was going to be my first race. I have had tickets and opportunities to go in the past, but something always came up or got in the way. It was an absolutely awesome appearance! We got VIP passes and were able to be on the infield-where all the drivers are, their crews and their garages and so forth. We did take care of some business while up there and had a radio interview promoting our team and our upcoming game against Toronto FC, so it wasn’t all fun and games. We got to walk around and check out all the drivers’ garages and how they were preparing for the race. We got to watch the time trials from pit road, which was insane! Now I know some of yall might be thinking what rednecks we are, but I think anyone of yall would have enjoyed what we were doing. It is amazing how many people attend NASCAR races. Did you know it is the biggest spectator sport in the world? That’s pretty crazy huh?

My folks came up for the first time this year, to spend the weekend and part of the week with me. So I was eager to get back to see them after the NASCAR gig. Like my faith, family is extremely important to me. Without their love, sacrifice, and support, there is no way I would be where I am today. I owe them so much for all that they have given me over the years, so it was such a joy to have them up here with me for the weekend. It is such a joy and honor to be able to share my dream with them, because it really is part their dream as well. I do have an older brother, John Mark, and a younger sister, Mary Kathryn, but unfortunately they were not able to make it up this weekend. For the most part, we just hung around my house, in Wrentham, MA, taking it easy in preparation for our game against Toronto FC this past Saturday.

The game went well, and we came out on top 2-1 thanks to the two goals by our true captain and Iron man Steve Ralston. “Raleigh,” as we call him just turned 34 a little while ago, and his talent and athleticism never cease to amaze me. I sure do hope I am able to do half the things he does when I reach his age! Raleigh is a wonderful teammate and friend. I feel blessed to have gotten to know him off the field and to learn from one of the greatest in American soccer history!

My freshman roommate at Wake Forest, Brian Edwards, who was drafted by Toronto this year, got the start for TFC on Saturday. It was good to see him, and I am so glad to see that he is doing well and continuing to make Wake Forest proud. It was also sweet to get the victory over him. It is always nice to gain some bragging rights on a former teammate! I wish him the best of luck in his career, except when we are facing each other.

I was subbed on close to the 75th minute. I got a little run to close the game out, but still had to be ready to play in the reserve game the next morning. I was so excited to hopefully get a full 90, or close to it, in the reserve game, but unfortunately there were other plans in store for me. I was taken out from behind by Jeff Cunningham after about 20 minutes and ended up separating my left shoulder. I couldn’t believe it! Thankfully, it was just a separated shoulder and not a broken collarbone. I should be getting back on the pitch in no more than 2 weeks. It always sucks getting hurt, there is no doubt about that, but I think it is important to always try and look on the bright side of things. I just thank God that it was only a separated shoulder, it could have been a broken collarbone that would have kept me out for months. So I’ll be busy rehabbing and working hard to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. The team left me behind this weekend as they traveled out to LA to face the Galaxy on the fourth of July. It should be an exciting and good atmosphere out there with it being the 4th and all! I hate that I had to miss it. I have something like 5 days off now, so I will be looking for something to do, and that task should be pretty hard considering I am limited because of my shoulder. I will probably see every good movie that is out in theaters now, ha!

Anyway, thanks for listening, hope you enjoyed it! Have a good one, God bless, and until next time-be easy!

-Wells Thompson

1.

Hey Wells! I love your blog so far. I just was wondering, when did you realize that soccer might be a real career option for you? High School? College? Earlier? Thanks!

Jenn in Somerville

Jenn, thanks for your question, and I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying the blog and hope you continue to! I am not sure if I really realized I could make a career out of soccer until my senior year of college. I always knew, or at least thought, that I had enough talent to succeed as a pro soccer player, but I had to convince more than a few people along the way. My whole life I seemed to fly under the radar, so to speak. I never made an ODP team, wasn’t highly recruited for college, and was never an all American or all conference selection. That being said, all you need is just one person to believe in you and your abilities. As I grew older, I just continued to believe in myself and my abilities, continued to get back up after I stumbled or fell, and continued to work hard. It all paid off when Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner took a chance on me-and I will be forever grateful to them for doing so! I hope that answers your question. Thanks again, and hope you continue to enjoy the blog!

2

Wells! Hope everything is good in New Englandland, what player(s) do you spend the most time with off the field? Who’s the biggest jokester of the group?

-Steve M

Steve, thanks for the question. One thing about New England is that we have a great “locker room.” Meaning, for the most part all the guys on the team get along real well. The guys that I hang out with the most are probably Steve Ralston, Adam Christman, Brad Knighton, and Joe Germanese. Steve and I formed a bond when I got on the team because we both love to hunt and fish. So most of the time when we are hanging out away from the team we are doing some sort of activity involved around hunting and fishing. Raleigh and I have had a couple successful hunts this year together. I killed my first Coyote around the beginning of the year and Raleigh got a nice size turkey not too long ago. Adam, Brad, and Joe live near me so, considering all the free time that we have, we try and get together to pass the time. Brad, Joe, and I love to play golf-so we usually try and get out and play together at least once a week.

Determining the biggest jokester on the team is a tougher task. I would tell you that I am the biggest jokester, but some might argue with you. Last week, with the help of our equipment manager Brian Banfill, I put icy/hot in the sliders of Brandon Manznelli. Talk about uncomfortable! I was a victim of this cruel trick last year, so I knew all too well how bad it hurts. Other jokesters would have to include Matt Reis, and Steve Ralston. Matt is always being a goofball and acting like a clown, he is definitely our biggest entertainment on the team. Raleigh is a sneaky little bugger, he is good for a few pranks every now and then.

3

Heya Mr. Thompson, if you could play in one other country other than the US, which would it be? and Why?

Mark C

Mark, I would love nothing more than to go play in another country during my career. It is a perfect time in my life right now where I would be able to do something like that, and talk about an experience. There is not one place that comes to mind where I am dying to go play. I would love to go to Greece, Spain, Switzerland, or even Australia. The main attraction for me is the quality of football/soccer. I would want to go to the country that has the best football/soccer, that is definitely important. I do really look forward to the experience, and know that God will lead me where he wants me. I guess what I am trying to say, is that I am open to go wherever God leads me. I do not think I would be opposed to really going anywhere to play.

4

Wells, if you weren’t a soccer player what do you think you’d be doing? Keep up the great work! god bless!

-Richard W, Springfield

Richard, thanks for the question. That is probably the toughest question for me to answer, because I have no idea what I would be doing if I wasn’t playing soccer. That is the honest to God truth! When I graduated, if I did not go play soccer, I would have probably gone to live and work on a tropical island somewhere while I tried to figure it all out. I figure you have the rest of your life to work, so why not go on an adventure or do something cool and different right out of college.

I went to Africa this past December for two weeks doing mission work, and had the most amazing and incredible time of my life. I do feel called sometimes to be involved in the mission field and to be helping others out, so who knows, maybe I would be doing that full time. I hope to play soccer as long as I possibly can!

5

Hi Wells, really lookin’ forward to the blog, do you follow any other sports/teams closely? Good luck rest of the season! Lets go Revs!

Sophie O

Hey Sophie, thanks for the question! For the record I love all sports. I played pretty much everything growing up, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Indoor Soccer, Golf, Tennis, Swimming, and Lacrosse. A lot of my free time is spent either playing or watching sports. I continue to follow all my Wake forest teams and their success. I am also a big fan of the New Orleans Hornets. I grew up playing against Chris Paul and his brother CJ, and also knew Chris while he was at Wake Forest. Part of it is the hometown and college connection, but I also really respect Chris as a person and individual not just on the court but also off the court. I look up to him greatly and only wish the best for him in his career and throughout his life. Right now I am in a golf phase, I love to play golf. When I am not on the pitch these days you can usually find me on the range or on the course somewhere. My former roommate at Wake Forest, Webb Simpson, just turned pro this year, so I try and keep up with him and how he is doing. I am also a big fan of Andy Roddick. I always try and watch and root him on when I can.

Thanks for all the questions-I really appreciate them and look forward to reading them and answering them each week-so please keep them coming!

Do you have a questions or comment for Wells? Send them to Wells@americansoccerreader.com