2006年VOA标准英语-Goalkeeper Kasey Keller Key to US World Cup Cam

By Teresa Sullivan
Washington
30 May 2006

US football goalie Kasey Keller   
  

The U.S. Men's National Soccer Team heads to Germany this week for the 2006 World Cup to compete with 31 other nations for the sport's ultimate prize. This will be the first time in four World Cup appearances that goalkeeper Kasey Keller is the undisputed starter for the U.S. men.

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Off the field, Kasey Keller's conservative appearance and wire-framed glasses make him look more like a mild-mannered accountant than one of the world's top netminders. But on game day, Keller's intense glare is filtered through a pair of contact lenses and his attitude is all business.

The 1.88-meter tall goalie is known for his uncanny shot-stopping ability and talent for making big saves. That, combined with a calming leadership presence, makes Keller what U.S. head coach Bruce Arena¹ calls a "top-class goalkeeper."

"Not only does he do what his primary job is, to stop shots, but the comfort level for the team is much greater when Kasey is on the field. And I think as you trace Kasey's history with the U.S. team we have been successful a high percentage of the time when he is in the goal, and he's a winner as well, so he brings a lot to the table," Arena said.

Coach Arena also praises Keller's work ethic². "I am amazed because there are days, obviously, when you don't feel like going to work, and it seems like Kasey every day is into it. That is really outstanding for a guy his age and his experience that he brings it to the field every day," he said.

U.S. goalkeeper coach Phil Wheddon agrees, and says the 36-year-old Keller's composure beneath the crossbar sets him apart from other goalies. "Kasey just makes good decisions on the field and that really distinguishes him as one of the best goalkeepers in the world. I don't think that he ever really changes his mood during a game. He is very calm at all times, whether he is under pressure, or whether he is not under pressure. The other thing that builds confidence within the team is his leadership. He has tremendous leadership. The fact that he commands the box both physically³ and verbally," he said.

Keller's leadership and disciplined work ethic have made him the backbone⁴ of the U.S. national team.

He is the all-time leader for U.S. goalkeepers with an amazing record of 51 wins and 45 shutouts in 93 international appearances. He is the first-ever three-time recipient⁵ of U.S. Soccer's Male Athlete of the Year award, winning the honor in 1997, 1999 and 2005.

Keller helped lead the U.S. team to two regional CONCACAF Gold Cup championships in 2002 and 2005, and the semifinals in 2003.

Wheddon says Keller is a big reason the U.S. will be playing in its fifth straight World Cup. "Every goalkeeper at this level can save shots. Everyone can make saves, everyone can do the simple things, but the mark of a great goalkeeper is coming up with the big save when it is needed, and Kasey does that time and time again. And if it was not for Kasey Keller, I am sure we would be in a little bit more of a tricky⁶ situation right now," he said.

Keller has spent his 16-year club career in England, Spain and Germany, playing in three of Europe's top leagues. He currently is the starter for Borussia Monchengladbach in the German Bundesliga, so he will be familiar with the World Cup stadiums.

Despite all his success, Keller spent all but two games of three previous trips to the World Cup on the bench.

For 10 years he dueled⁷ with Brad Friedel for the starting job on the U.S. team. It was not until Friedel retired⁸ last year that Arena elevated Keller as his undisputed number one goalkeeper.

At the age of 36, Keller is the oldest player on the 23-man U.S. roster⁹. He says he does not feel the need to impress anyone, and enjoys his role as a team leader. "At my age and my experience, it is a role that [coach] Bruce [Arena] expects out of me," he said.

Wheddon also appreciates Keller's experience and skills. "I think now that he is at the top of his game, I have said before, he is like fine wine, he seems to get better with age instead of losing a step as many older players do," he said.

Keller says having the 2006 World Cup in Germany is very comforting. In fact he lives only about an hour's drive from where the United States plays its opening match June 12 in Gelsenkirdhen against the Czech Republic.

Keller and his family live in a rented 1,000-year-old castle outside the German city of Duesseldorf, complete with a moat and a luxury spa. Keller says it is just a small castle built in the year 970. "My wife found it online. It is just a great experience and the kids are really enjoying it, and it is out in the country, which kind of takes me back to my roots," he said.

Keller's roots are in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. He grew up on an egg farm in the state of Washington outside the city of Olympia.

He says the variety of sports he played growing up in America helped him develop as an all-around athlete. "There is no question if you look at American sports everything you do growing up - either your are playing basketball, baseball, football - that most of our sports are with the hands. There is a lot to that, why we create such good athletes is because of the multiple sport facet¹⁰ that we have in this country. It creates total athletes as opposed to just one person who is good at one thing," he said.

Keller has asked his fans from home and Europe to give him a shout and a wave from the stands at the World Cup. He says chants and cheers from the fans really mean a lot when you are facing the best in the world.

1 arena   

n.竞技场，运动场所；竞争场所，舞台

参考例句：

• She entered the political arena at the age of 25. 她25岁进入政界。
• He had not an adequate arena for the exercise of his talents.他没有充分发挥其才能的场所。

2 ethic   

n.道德标准，行为准则

参考例句：

• They instilled the work ethic into their children.他们在孩子们的心中注入了职业道德的理念。
• The connotation of education ethic is rooted in human nature's mobility.教育伦理的内涵根源于人本性的变动性。

3 physically   

adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律

参考例句：

• He was out of sorts physically,as well as disordered mentally.他浑身不舒服，心绪也很乱。
• Every time I think about it I feel physically sick.一想起那件事我就感到极恶心。

4 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

5 recipient   

a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器

参考例句：

• Please check that you have a valid email certificate for each recipient. 请检查是否对每个接收者都有有效的电子邮件证书。
• Colombia is the biggest U . S aid recipient in Latin America. 哥伦比亚是美国在拉丁美洲最大的援助对象。

6 tricky   

adj.狡猾的，奸诈的；(工作等)棘手的，微妙的

参考例句：

• I'm in a rather tricky position.Can you help me out?我的处境很棘手，你能帮我吗？
• He avoided this tricky question and talked in generalities.他回避了这个非常微妙的问题，只做了个笼统的表述。

7 dueled   

vt.使（另一人）参加决斗（duel的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In the 19th century, men often dueled over small matters. 19世纪人们经常为了小事而决斗。 来自互联网
• Ionce dueled with puppy LuLu, because she robbed Ktten JiJi of a fish. 我曾和小狗鲁鲁决斗，因为它抢了猫咪吉吉的小鱼。 来自互联网

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 roster   

n.值勤表，花名册

参考例句：

• The teacher checked the roster to see whom he would teach this year.老师查看花名册，想了解今年要教的学生。
• The next day he put himself first on the new roster for domestic chores.第二天，他把自己排在了新的家务值日表的第一位。

10 facet   

n.(问题等的)一个方面；(多面体的)面

参考例句：

• He has perfected himself in every facet of his job.他已使自己对工作的各个方面都得心应手。
• Every facet of college life is fascinating.大学生活的每个方面都令人兴奋。