Q: What is your favorite part about Seattle?
A: Summer and the being near the water.

Q: What is your least favorite part?
A: The rain during the winter.

Q: What is your worst fear?
A: Snakes and licorice. Licorice is absolutely terrifying.

Q: What did you want to be growing up?
A: A professional athlete in either soccer, baseball, or basketball.

Q: If you could be a superhero, who do you imagine yourself being?
A: Superman or someone who can fly.

Q: If you were not a professional soccer player, what would you be?
A: I would probably go back to graduate school and get my MBA.

Q: You played for the U-20 US National team. How did you feel playing for the U-20 National team as youth player?
A: Being a member of the U-20 National team was an honor. In terms of soccer training, there is nothing better than the incredible competition and high level of play at the US team residency camp [in Bradenton, FL].

Q: Did any of your former teammates go on to professional careers?
A: Most of them went on to professional careers and many have become quite famous. Among some of my teammates were Tim Howard [of Everton], Carlos Bocanegra [of Fulham] and Danny Califf [of Aalborg BK in Denmark].

Q: You played four years of college soccer at Duke University. Did Coach K ever give you any soccer advice?

A: [laughs] No, Coach K never gave me any soccer advice, but I did know the family quite well and roomed with one of his relatives.

Q: Wednesday’s game against Portland will be your 100th consecutive start as a Seattle Sounder. What does that achievement mean to you?

A: It is a great achievement. I love the club, my teammates and my coaches and I am proud of this accomplishment.

Q: What has been the secret to your health?

A: I have had a bit of luck on my side, but maybe it is [Sounders teammate] Roger Levesque’s cooking [laughs]. I have played through injuries, including a torn meniscus during the end of last season.

Q: Do you dream of playing in Europe someday?

A: No, not so much anymore. Obviously like every young player I dreamed of playing in Europe and at the highest level, but I am happy where I am now.

Q: Who is your favorite soccer player? What famous professional soccer player do you think plays like you?

A: My favorite soccer player is Zinedine Zidane. As for the player that plays like me, hmmm… somebody slow [laughs]. [Sounders teammate] Sebastien Le Toux always compares me to Lilian Thuram.