Chris Pontius is back in the eighteen for the first time in 2014 since undergoing hamstring surgery in April. As D.C. United's longest tenured player, the California native never took a break from being a leader on the squad as he battled through his rehab. His teammates of new and old took notice of his commitment to remain positive, to regain fitness and to improve his ping pong game.
What has Chris been like around the locker room this year?
Bobby Boswell: He’s really been itching to get back. He’s always around the locker room, and you can tell he wants to be a part of it more than he is, and that’s good. He’s hungry. I think the team success has only make him more hungry. He wants to get back in it and contribute. His biggest contribution, aside from rehabbing and what not, has been out in the community. He’s been the face of the club for a while. He’s carrying the torch in whatever way he can.
Steven Birnbaum: He’s kind of taken me under his wing since I got here since we are from the same area and have some mutual friends. He has kind of shown me the ropes, and we live in the same area now so we’re good friends off the field.
Davy Arnaud: I think it’s tough when you’re injured to be around the locker room cause you’re itching to get back out there. I think anyone who has been out for a long period of time can tell you that it’s not a fun experience. He makes it a point to stay in the group, because he is important on the field, but he is also important off the field within the team.
Lewis Neal: To be fair, he’s done really really well. He’s been really positive, which is difficult when you’re in the position he is in. I was in his place last year, and it’s not easy. He’s been a really good sport about it, as you’ve heard. He’s been a shining light in perspective to how he could be reacting, and we are all very excited to have him back out on the field.
Bill Hamid: I’m sure its been a struggle for him 'cause I know how much of a fighter and a competitor he is. But he’s coming along in training sessions. He is getting his touch back, he's getting his strike back. He’s good right now, just breaking through the fear of tackles and stuff right now is important, but once that passes, he will be a great addition to the team to have him back.
What will he bring to the team on the field once he is back at full strength?
Boswell: I’ve played against him; He's a great player. He can do some dynamic things, things other guys cant do. So, I'm really looking forward to playing with him as opposed to against him.
Birnbaum: Just from seeing him in training, he brings great energy. We are coming to a point in the season when we need people. We’re excited to have him back.
Arnaud: He’s been in the League for a few years now. He’s obviously a very good player who can only help. He’s getting his sharpness back in training, but he’ll get there once he’s back in games.
Hamid: He’s very talented in how fast he can pull the trigger. He can pull the trigger from distance. He is very precise; he can place the ball. It’s going to be something that will help us tremendously in the attacking end. If we struggle to break teams down, and he gets the ball at the top of the box, his placement alone will cause trouble, cause some havoc and make some goalkeepers show some fear when we get him on the field.
We've heard he's a good ping pong player these days. How do you rate him?
Boswell: No that’s a lie. He is decent at best. I’d say he’s like mid-table . He’s done better than his ranking reflects, just cause he plays ping pong more than anyone else, 'cause while we’re training, he's got the paddle in his hand. He’s a bit like Forest Gump in more ways than one.
Birnbaum: He’s alright. I’m not gonna give him too much credit. I don’t want it to go to his head. But he is decent. The whole team is pretty good at ping pong.
Arnaud: I play him a lot. I’ll just say that he is good, but if we play 10 games, I’m winning 6.
Neal: He’s been very very impressive, the way he’s been playing on that ping pong table. He probably moves quicker on that than he does on the field.
Hamid: I think he needs to step it up. I don’t think he is good enough. I think he thinks he is the best player in the locker room, but I think Chris Rolfe has the upper hand on him, and Pontius needs to come stronger at the ping pong table.
Rumor also has it that he has a pretty good singing voice. (Read: Chris tells us he would win American Idol) Can you confirm?
Boswell: I actually don’t know. I’ve never heard him sing in the locker room. He does talk a lot, though. So take that for what it's worth.
Birnbaum: That's not true. That’s not true at all.
Lewis, do you have any messages for Chris, anything you would like to say to him?
Neal: His pockets have gotten even smaller, which I thought was impossible to do since he is getting lots of that appearance money. But maybe once he starts playing, he will start treating one or two of the players.
We're glad to see you back out there, CP.
