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Checking in and checking out Boston
Posted: Thursday November 18, 1999 08:53 PM
One of the most recognizable soccer players in America, Cobi Jones was named U.S. Soccer's player of the year in 1998. He was also a finalist for the 1998 MVP award in Major League Soccer. Jones and the Los Angeles Galaxy will play D.C. United on Sunday in MLS Cup '99. As he prepares for the league's championship game, Jones is filing an MLS Cup diary for CNNSI.com.
Thursday, November 18, 1999 The championship match is now only three days away and spirits are high. We have now spent a full day in Boston and have gotten used to the time difference and perhaps the weather. It is now time to just enjoy the following days and let the game come to us and not try to change anything that has gotten us here. We got up this morning and had breakfast as a team. We had a pretty good spread with everything from hard-boiled eggs, pancakes, eggs, bagels, toast, oatmeal and several different juices. Following our breakfast, we all went to register and pick up our [personal MLS Cup] tickets and post-game party tickets while autographing some last items before the final on Sunday. After we checked in, everyone went to their individual rooms to get ready for training. The guys all jumped on the bus and headed to Babson College, where we trained for about an hour and a half. It was a good practice, because the weather was nice at a mere 55 degrees, and from what I am hearing, the weather is supposed to be just as nice on Sunday for the final. It was a little funny to see some guys trying to adjust to the weather change. Some of them were wearing ski caps and gloves to fight the slight chill factor. The good thing was that once we got going, the gloves and caps came off as the guys got warm and got used to playing in the cold weather. While at practice, we had a visit from Dan Calichman, a former Galaxy teammate who now plays for the New England Revolution. It was good to get to catch up with him. He was part of our team from 1996 before being traded prior to this season, so it was good to see him. Dan was actually here in Foxboro in 1996 for our first trip to the finals, but did not play because of yellow-card point accumulation. Following our practice, we had yet another team meal as we replenished our systems with chicken, pasta, vegetable, bread, fruit and plenty of liquids. Once we finished having our team meal, I got an opportunity to go to mine and Simon's [Elliott] room to play some video games. Kevin Hartman and I got to play some new games before getting ready to go to have a nice dinner with Dan and some of the boys in the city. We have a full day ahead of us tomorrow as we practice at 9:00 and then go to the World Trade Center for a luncheon with the media and the presentation of the league's Most Valuable Player. The festivities will now begin in preparation for the cup, but it will be important that we all stay focused. Well, got to go and catch some zzzzzz, but stay tuned to the Galaxy's road to the MLS Cup final at Foxboro on Sunday.
--Cobi
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