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Episode 242: The Cristian Roldan Interview from YachtCon II
52 Plays8 years ago
Let it be said that Cristian Roldan is a very good sport. The Seattle Sounders midfielder certainly did not have to agree to an interview that took close to an hour. He sure as heck didn’t have to then follow that up by going to YachtCon and participating in a panel. On top of all that, he did it with a smile.
Not only a smile, but he acted like he enjoyed the whole thing. When we told him that we wanted to ask him a bunch of questions about Jordan Morris and told him to get exacerbated at some point, he made it seem totally natural (it probably helped that the emotion likely came from a real place). When we suggested that he take a bite of pizza while answering another question about eating pizza during an interview, he proclaimed that he loved the idea.
Among the issues we touched on — aside from his friendship with Morris — were his upbringing in an immigrant family, what areas of his game he most wants to improve and his overall outlook on life.
I’ve enjoyed most of the interviews I’ve done over the years, but no one acted as if they enjoyed it quite as much as Cristian. Hopefully that comes across in this fuller version of the interview we first aired at YachtCon.
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Transcript
Introduction & Sponsor
00:00:00
Speaker
This episode of Nos Auderes is sponsored by Constellation & Co. Constellation & Co. is a letterpress stationery company and gift shop located in the Fisherman's Terminal, next door to Chinooks. Their storefront in the Magnolia Interbay neighborhood of Seattle is home to antique printing presses, unique greeting cards and locally made goods.
00:00:21
Speaker
They also offer design and printing services for weddings and special events. Mention NosAurieras for a 20% YNYA discount. For more information, visit ConstellationCo.com Yaaas! Exciting and new!
00:00:52
Speaker
Come aboard We're expecting you Yacht Life's sweetest reward Let it flow It floats back to you
00:01:33
Speaker
the bluest skies you've ever seen are in Seattle and the hills the greenest green in Seattle like a beautiful child growing up free and wild full of hopes and full of fears full of laughter
Roldan's Rapid Rise
00:01:57
Speaker
Jeremy O'Shan, Christian Roldan. We are here for Nos Adietes YotCon. Thank you so much for joining us. Hopefully you're already having a good time. Christian, welcome to the show.
00:02:10
Speaker
Appreciate you doing this. No, thank you. It's it's my pleasure. So you've had quite a couple of years here with the sounders, obviously drafted before the start of two years ago, got your feet wet. And and then last year kind of really came into your own. What was is it felt fast? Has it felt like a rapid ride for you or what's this felt like? I think last year specifically, it was a quick transition where I went from
00:02:41
Speaker
being a sub into being a starter and finishing off the year with the MLS Cup. I think that happened very, very quick. The transition was very fast. I think with the coaching change, everything going on, you know, it just happened all of a sudden. And, you know, I wouldn't ask for it in any other way. And I'm just happy, happy to be in Seattle and happy to bring back an MLS Cup.
00:03:07
Speaker
It seems like you've enjoyed the ride. It seems like you've done this all with a big smile on your face. And one of the aspects of that is it seems to me from the outside that your friendship with Jordan this last year got a lot of publicity. You guys have had a lot of fun with that. But did that
00:03:25
Speaker
Did that help a little bit to have like to have someone that was like a best friend on your team? Yeah, I mean, it makes things. I mean, it's a long season. It's a very long season and you want to have good buddies on your team. Obviously, my first year I
Friendship with Morris
00:03:39
Speaker
did. I definitely did. Gonzalo, but they were a little bit more older. You know, Gonzalo, Ozzy, all those guys, Marco Papa. And then this year I feel like with Tyler coming in as well, Jordan,
00:03:53
Speaker
especially, you know, we just became good friends all of a sudden. I think we were in the same position, you know, somewhat of the same position and I think we were able to grow together and I think it definitely helped both of us in the long run.
00:04:06
Speaker
And so how did that, I mean, it seemed like all of a sudden, you know, from the outside looking in, I'm sure it didn't happen this way in reality, but from the outside looking in, it was like, all of a sudden was like, oh my God, these guys are like best friends. How long have they known each other? But you maybe you knew of each other, but you couldn't have known each other before camp started. I said hi to him a couple of times in college. You know, I just said good game kind of. Right.
00:04:30
Speaker
Actually, I probably knew his mom more than anything. I mean, I just said hello to her and had more of a conversation with her than Jordan. And then season started. Actually, the first day he got there.
00:04:45
Speaker
he like was kind of upset that I didn't sit next to him. I was like, he's like, I didn't know anybody on the team and I expected you to be by my side. But now he's a good guy and he's a pleasure to have in the locker room for sure.
00:05:00
Speaker
So, has it become a little much for you the kind of the way that people like myself, people in the media have kind of played up the friendship? Or, I mean, I don't know, do you feel like the need to assert, like, oh, I'm my own guy here, too? Is this whole interview going to be about Jordan? I mean, rightfully so. That's fair. That's a fair point. Rightfully so, right? Yeah.
00:05:29
Speaker
No, yeah, I would say, you know, we both grew together and just having him around has definitely made me my own person too, but we enjoy all the publicity. I mean, it's fine as long as it doesn't affect our game, to be honest. Okay, so last one on that. What do you think of the nickname, Joristan Morden?
00:05:53
Speaker
I think it's hilarious. I didn't know how to pronounce it at first. I think that's what we're going with. We tried like 10, 15 times and it never went right. But no, I think it's awesome. And I think the two-pull, the several two-pulls that are out now and are incredible. I don't know how Bread does it. Shout out to Bread. Shout out to Bread. She's an amazing person.
00:06:21
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. So you've taken it back a little bit. The way you kind of came onto the national scene, assuming we ignore the commercial, but the way you kind of came into the national scene was the Gatorade Player of the Year. Alexei Lawless actually surprised you at school, right, to present that to you. But kind of one of the aspects of that that I think is somewhat interesting is that that always goes to like a prep player as opposed to like a club player.
00:06:49
Speaker
And it seemed like you kind of have made your way up the food chain in professional soccer in a way that a lot of players don't. I mean, you played prep soccer, you weren't at big clubs, you were lightly recruited, ended up at UW, which obviously worked out okay for you, but then even kind of with some attention at UW, you end up dropping to the Sounders at 15 in the draft.
Path to Professional Soccer
00:07:13
Speaker
And it seems like the story of a player who has a chip on his shoulder, or who maybe should have a chip on his shoulder, but you've never played that way. You've never kind of come off as, well, I got to prove everyone wrong. I mean, how would you describe your mentality going through all that?
00:07:28
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, everybody has their own story. I think mine is unique in the sense where, you know, I was nine years old. I ended up making an Adidas commercial when I was nine. Got this Gatorade award and seemed like everything was going my way. And then all of a sudden I felt like I had
00:07:48
Speaker
I was going to stop playing soccer right then and there, right after I got that award. I was applying for colleges where I was just going to go to school and I was lucky enough to... You were really considering not playing in college. Well, I didn't have any scholarship offers or any walk-on offers until really January of my senior year.
00:08:14
Speaker
After, by then I was already applied to eight schools just for school and, you know, UW and Cal State Bakersfield gave me chances and, you know, I can't thank them enough and, you know, Jamie and their staff.
00:08:29
Speaker
But UW really took a chance, and I just wanted to make the most of the opportunities that are given to me. And I think coming from my family, where they really had nothing growing up, and coming to the United States as immigrants, I think speaks volumes and speaks to my mindset going forward.
00:08:50
Speaker
Yeah, you know, a lot of, I would think that as a Southern California boy, you spent your whole life in Southern California before you moved up here. And I think at least you strike me as someone who's very comfortable in Pacific Northwest. How has that transition been? And do you now consider yourself kind of a Seattle guy or a Pacific Northwest?
00:09:11
Speaker
person yeah I mean I said many times I think this is my second home if not first honestly you know I my mom gives me a bunch of crap because she says that I'm never gonna come back to California and she's misses me and I just tell her it's your time to move up so yeah so I mean I like Seattle I like the Pacific Northwest and I think the city has been great to me I've been
00:09:37
Speaker
I think I've been received with open arms and definitely the fans from Seattle, from the Sounders have done that for me and I can't thank them enough. Yeah, no problem. You did that perfectly by the way. You found the right time, it was like perfect. Yeah, that was really good.
00:10:08
Speaker
So how did your parents meet out of curiosity? They're both here in the States already. My dad knew my mom's cousin and then they were like good friends. And my dad kept pushing like, hey, when are we going to go see your cousin? And I guess he was interested and they started dating from there.
00:10:27
Speaker
Because they both moved to the US. Yeah, because my mom is Salvadoran. That is Guatemalan. But ended up here in Los Angeles. Right. That's kind of where they clicked. Right. Go ahead. Yeah, that's an action. Someone's supposed to ask about it too. Let me just catch up here. OK.
00:10:51
Speaker
So one of the big transitions for you, aside from everything else that's been going on is last year or before, at the end of 2015 season, I remember I talked to you and you were talking about moving to play a Osvaldo Alonso type of position and you were saying you wanted to learn from him and that you
00:11:10
Speaker
you know, potentially wanted to even take his job, which I thought was a pretty bold statement at the time, but clearly something that you were kind of ready for. And as things worked out, you ended up playing kind of alongside him, but still you're playing this defensive midfielder role, something that I don't think you had, I mean, at least as far as I know, had never really played until then.
Defensive Midfield Transition
00:11:31
Speaker
What has that positional transformation been, or transition been like for you?
00:11:35
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's more mindset than anything. I never really defended it. I got away with it in college and high school, and I played more of an attacking role in those two environments. And once I got here, Ziggy asked me, hey, you might have to step back and play like a number eight or a number six.
00:11:58
Speaker
And I was for it. I mean, I just wanted to see the field. I wanted to find a role in the team where the team actually needed me and thought I'd do well. So I just focused on that position or those two positions and wanted to learn as much as possible from Ozzie. I think he's the best defender or defensive mid in the MLS. And I think he's been that way for the last
00:12:23
Speaker
several years and I think he's underrated and underappreciated and for us as Seattle fans, as Seattle players on our team, I think we're very fortunate to have him here. Jamie Clark, I remember, struck me as very funny because before the draft he was telling everyone that would listen, I think his best position is the number six. I think he's got a lot of Aussie Alonzo in him.
00:12:47
Speaker
I assume he told you that stuff as well. When you heard him saying that, were you just like, you're crazy? Or did it make sense to you? I was kind of like, you're crazy. I mean, I had never defended.
00:13:04
Speaker
was more of an attacking player all my life. All I want to do is get assistance, four goals, and then this coach who has done so much for me all of a sudden says that, and it speaks volumes for him, well, me knowing that he's a good coach and a great observer, because I wouldn't have guessed that I would end up like a number six or a number eight.
00:13:34
Speaker
And so one of the players I would imagine that helped with that transition was Gonzalo Panetta. You've talked a lot about your friendship with him. You guys were obviously very different ages, but how did that relationship evolve and what kind of stuff do you think you picked up from him?
00:13:52
Speaker
Yeah, I think it started when the Sounders asked me to come train my sophomore year in college and I remember playing as he was a trialist on the team and I recognized him right away. I watched Mexican soccer a lot growing up and I recognized him and I said, hey, I know who you are.
00:14:15
Speaker
teach me, like I want to learn from you. Then I think four months later we end up playing them, UW versus Sounders, and he was starting for them.
00:14:26
Speaker
And then, a year later, I get to the team and he recognizes me. And he's like, hey, I remember you. I'm like, wow, this is incredible. This is cool. And I just wanted to learn as much as possible. He was a great mentor. And he continues to be. And I respect him so much.
00:14:46
Speaker
Like I said with Ozzy, we're very lucky to have Gonzalo. He's a guy that's gonna give 100% to the team and I think he knows how lucky he has at being in Seattle. So your game has, like you said, has changed a bit over the years. When you watch yourself on tape though, when you're sitting down watching tape maybe with a Gonzalo potato, what are the areas that you feel like you most want to improve and that the areas that you feel like you need to kind of tighten up?
00:15:14
Speaker
Yeah, I think I can still improve a lot. I think I can always get better. I think my passing can always get better, my left foot, my awareness on the field. I think this year I've been focusing on looking over my shoulders a ton and taking less touches, trying to be more simple when I have to be, and then obviously try to be creative when I can.
00:15:42
Speaker
So I think you know my touches on the ball. I think they have to be a little bit sharper and and my Passing ability but that also comes with awareness on the field and see where your teammates are and where the opponents are So one of the things that one of the first names that Bruce Arena mentioned when he was taking over the team He actually name-checked you During one of the broadcast players that he had expectations for he obviously didn't get called into this last camp But what is your?
00:16:09
Speaker
your mindset when it comes to the national team, what have you been told as far as how you might fit into that picture? Yeah, I haven't been told much, to be honest. I just want a chance.
00:16:24
Speaker
I think everybody who plays professional soccer wants to play at the international level. For me, I just want to continue to play well with the Sounders. Obviously, that's not my first priority, being on the national team. I want to win trophies with this club, with this great club first.
International Ambitions
00:16:45
Speaker
But hopefully my future can be with some sort of international team that wants me day in and day out.
00:17:01
Speaker
Obviously, I was thrilled to hear my name by the men's national team head coach. And if I continue to play well, if I play better, I hope to be on that roster. So you're actually eligible for three national teams. You're obviously eligible for the US national team. But your mom is Salvadorian. Your dad is Guatemalan. You're eligible for both those teams if you want to.
00:17:26
Speaker
I feel like a couple years ago we may have even heard that you had been, they had talked to you about potentially joining them. Has that been a discussion since then? Since? Since, I don't know, I guess. Since when it started? Yeah, when it started.
00:17:41
Speaker
Yeah, it's certainly come up a couple times already. It doesn't happen more, so they don't call me specifically. They call the club or my agent, and they tell me about how things are going or what teams want me. And there's been talks, obviously, but I think I'm pretty young to make a decision at this point.
00:18:12
Speaker
Well, between the three, you know, so it's tough. I don't want to disappoint anybody and I want to have a good, good international career and, you know, but it starts with playing really well with the Seattle, with the Seattle Sounders. And I guess it kind of takes to some degree, it probably takes care of itself when you're playing well with the club.
00:18:34
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I want to play for a club that's going to go to a World Cup or an international team that's going to go to a World Cup. I think everybody dreams of that moment. And yeah, play well with the Seattle Sounders and hopefully continue to grow as a player and as a human.
Influence of Immigrant Upbringing
00:18:53
Speaker
So having immigrant parents, both of your parents moved here as, they moved here from their native countries. Was that, did you feel like that experience has shaped you much as a person coming from, I don't know, was English spoken at your home?
00:19:10
Speaker
Yeah, it wasn't spoken at first. Spanish was our first language, I think, for all three of us kids. My parents learned a little bit of English, and they've taken a big step into learning English and us speaking Spanish and being bilingual.
00:19:33
Speaker
But yeah, I mean, we grew up in a city, a city that or the high school I went to had 98% Hispanics. So it I mean, it correlates with with, you know, almost the whole city and how really how non diverse that the city is. And
00:19:57
Speaker
It's just a humbling feeling getting to where I'm at right now. And I think any Hispanic will tell you that they always want more and they're never satisfied. And I think that's my mindset because of them. And so you're able to kind of I'm always fascinated by this kind of walking in both worlds kind of way because you speak natively, you speak Spanish, speak English, obviously native effectively, natively.
00:20:26
Speaker
And you're able to kind of relate to players from all kinds of different backgrounds. Do you see yourself kind of as that bridge? I know that at various times the Sounders have seen guys like Mauro Rosales as kind of like a bridge player, Gonzalo Pineda kind of as that bridge player, guys that were able to kind of relate to factions in the team that could potentially grow. And do you see yourself in that way, being able to kind of go back and forth?
00:20:53
Speaker
Yeah, I think I would totally agree with you. I think there are times where I'm just hanging out with the Hispanics on the team, the Latinos, and we're speaking Spanish. And then I have to turn to Tyler and say, hey, oh, this is what he said. So it happens a ton. And I go to dinner with both parties.
00:21:17
Speaker
whatever you want to call it. But no, it's pretty cool because I can be familiar with both sides of things and hopefully relate to all different type of people.
Sponsor Highlight
00:21:32
Speaker
This episode of Nos Adieres is sponsored by Full Pool Wines. Full Pool Wines are based in Seattle, owned and operated by Sanders fans, and have been sponsoring Nos Adieres since 2011. They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, the Pacific Northwest. Their model is simple. One, the email compelling offers.
00:21:55
Speaker
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00:22:14
Speaker
All right, so I wanted to end the interview with a few questions that are a little lighter, a little more playful, and don't feel like you need to go overboard in answering any of these. So you can have fun with it. So one of the first questions I had, and this was my wife actually is a native Spanish speaker as well, and so she suggested this question. What
Dreaming in English
00:22:35
Speaker
language do you most often dream in? Dream. English. English, yeah.
00:22:42
Speaker
dreamt in Spanish. Yeah, I don't think so. Really? Yeah, I think English is a... I think it's because I speak English a lot more. So much more. Yeah. Because I'm not at home. Right. Yeah. But even when you were a kid, you didn't dream in Spanish? No. For some reason, no. How funny. But that is a good question. I need to start paying attention. You need to start dreaming in Spanish. So you're a Southern California boy. I'm always curious. You were also one of the... If I remember correctly, you were invited to
00:23:12
Speaker
to go to the Cali Burger soft opening. Can Cali Burger actually replicate in and out though? Does it get your fix?
00:23:21
Speaker
It gives me some type of fix. I mean In-N-Out's In-N-Out. I don't want to talk bad about any industry, any company, but In-N-Out's incredible. I actually had it in Arizona. What a treat. But Cali Burger does give you some type of sensation of In-N-Out. And if anybody wants to go with me, I'm more than willing to go.
00:23:47
Speaker
Along those lines, if you have a friend and you're going out in the U-District, what's the restaurant that you got to make sure to hit up that is kind of like your comfort food, bring you back to college? Wanako's Tacos. I don't know if you guys have ever been there. No. It's Pupu Seria. I don't know if you've ever had pupusas. Yes.
00:24:11
Speaker
it's
00:24:26
Speaker
my blood as well, and it's pretty just funny that... I'm going to have to check this one out. That's a good one. I was not... Okay. And I admittedly had to look this up, so maybe it's not. But if you're choosing between Pippian or Papooses, which one are you going for? Papooses. 100%. I am a die-hard Papoosa fan.
00:24:48
Speaker
But now that you do say U District or U Village area, Evergreen Salad is also another very good place. Yes, we saw you tweeting about that yesterday. Very good place. You guys should check it out. It's extremely good. Very healthy for you too.
Post-Victory Celebration
00:25:02
Speaker
So one of the iconic images of the Sounders winning MLS Cup was you conducting a post-victory interview with a piece of pizza. How satisfying was that pizza in that locker room?
00:25:16
Speaker
Well, it was pretty good. I'm gonna be honest with you. It was exactly what I wanted after 120 minutes and after MLS Cup. 120 minutes? You didn't get taken a PK. Did you want to? Yeah, Schmitzer actually told me that I was number seven a couple of days ago and I was ready for it. But I'm glad Ramon scored it because I was kind of nervous about that. You guys drafted
00:25:44
Speaker
A Stanford kid. Brian... I can't say his last name. I just say Nana. Nana. Are you worried about him stealing your man?
00:25:54
Speaker
Are we still talking about Jordan? What's going on? It's like the fifth question. That's what people want to know. No. I mean, Brian's a good guy. I think we're just going to have a big friendship between the four of us, with Tyler, the five of us, with Henry. Honestly, it's a big. So you've got your own teammates coming in. It's a big, happy family. There's a bunch of us.
00:26:21
Speaker
You know, I think the guys that we've added are really good players and really good human beings and are young, so they can add to the group. So speaking of Stanford kids, Aaron Kovar, why does he always look so mad?
00:26:35
Speaker
Because that's just the way Kovar's personality is, honestly. I mean, he's a jokester, but he's very pessimistic. But I like Kovar. Kovar's a good... You're always up for a good time with him, and that comes with being a Stanford guy, I think.
00:26:55
Speaker
So on the other end of that spectrum, Chad Marshall has kind of this public persona of not being necessarily the most outgoing, but yet he is very, everyone seems to love him. He's like the funniest guy in the locker room. Even now and then you see little glimpses of it. Is this the year we finally see Chad Marshall come out of his shell? I don't think so. I think that's part of who he is. You know, I think once he gets comfortable with people is when he starts being himself and
00:27:25
Speaker
Unfortunately, that's probably only in the locker room, and I hope, you know, one day the fans get to see it, but, you know, he's just super happy, always, you know, positive, and always a good time, always laughing, always... He's just a comedian, honestly. So we're gonna end it on this note. I gotta imagine you have at least one good Brian Schmetzer story. Brian. Yes, I do, actually. And it was...
00:27:55
Speaker
the first day back from the combine from the draft. He asked me to come into his office and he basically ripped me a new one and said, if I see what I saw at the combine, you're gonna not play on this team. And I said, okay, sir, I got your message. Went back to the car and I said, well, is this gonna be like each and every day? And then things lightened up and things worked out.
00:28:25
Speaker
So Brian could be a hard-ass when he wants to be. Oh, when he wants to, yeah, for sure. Good stuff. Well, you've been a great sport, Christian. It was great having you here. And yeah, hopefully you enjoyed this, and hopefully we can get you out on a boat one of these days. Yeah, of course. That sounds a lot like a lot of people. Thank you. Thank you. This is Nocerietes. Green, Douglas, where were the waters cut through? Down in wild mountains and tangents you flew?
00:28:52
Speaker
Canadian Northwest to the ocean so blue It's Roll-On, Columbia Roll-On Roll-On, Columbia Roll-On Roll-On, Columbia Roll-On Your power is turning our darkness to dawn Roll-On, Columbia Roll-On Alright, so we can try and put the pizza away now.
00:29:44
Speaker
Or you can finish it. You can finish your pizza.