German Engineering
Last week's hiring of Jürgen Klinsmann as U.S. soccer coach, one day after the dismissal of Bob Bradley, who was 43-25-12 in his five years at the helm, did more than cap a five-year-long pursuit in which Klinsmann twice said no to the U.S. The arrival of the German playing legend and coach of his home country's 2006 World Cup semifinalists heralds a new era of U.S. soccer, one that will be defined by Klinsmann's undeniable charisma and his desire to cultivate a recognizable American style. "Soccer in a certain way reflects the culture of a country," said Klinsmann, 47, at his unveiling on Monday before nearly 100 media members in New York City. "You have such a melting pot in this country, so many different opinions and ideas."
Klinsmann appears ideally suited for his new task. Not only has he played and coached at the sport's highest levels, but he also has lived in Southern California since 1998 and spent plenty of time learning about soccer in North America as a partner in a sports marketing consulting agency and as a consultant with MLS's Toronto FC. He promises to pursue a more entertaining style with the U.S.'s youth and senior teams, both by bringing in more Latino players—"There's so much influence coming from the Latin environment over the last 15 to 20 years that has to be reflected in the national team"—and by being less reactive on the field. "America likes to decide on its own what is next," Klinsmann says. "This guides me toward a proactive style of play, imposing more of the game on your opponents instead of sitting back and waiting."
Klinsmann won't finalize his staff for a few months, he said, preferring to use a cast of "guest coaches" in the team's upcoming friendlies. But it was encouraging that two names he mentioned as potential right-hand men were Claudio Reyna and Tab Ramos, the most creative midfielders in U.S. history. Victories are by no means guaranteed—Klinsmann's potential for spectacular success or failure, such as his dismissal from Bayern Munich after less than a full season as its manager in 2008--09, is a fascinating aspect of this project—but his hiring has injected a jolt of electricity into a U.S. men's program that had been stagnant in the year since the World Cup in South Africa. Klinsmann won't have much time to settle in. After a handful of friendlies, qualifying for Brazil in 2014—from a group that includes upstart Jamaica following the FIFA drawing last week—starts next June.
The Perils of Pastrana
Charting the career Xtremes of an X Games superstar
Since his dizzying moves on a motorbike began turning the action sports world upside down more than a decade ago, Travis Pastrana has built a gnarly—and gnarled—legacy full of sparkling accomplishments and horrific injuries.
BUST
BOOM
1998 Back Breaker
Lands short on a 120-foot jump, separating his spinal column from his pelvis, and suffers massive internal bleeding. Doctors tell him that only three people had ever survived such an injury.
1999 X Factor
Wins his first gold medal at the X Games in Moto X Freestyle.
2000 Grimy Glory
Wins AMA 125cc national dirt bike racing championship.
2001 Gorge-ous
Jumps his motorcycle into the Grand Canyon for the first time, ditching the bike during free fall and parachuting to safety.
2002 Knee Jerk
Undergoes emergency surgery after crashing and dislocating his right knee at the Gravity Games.
2003
2004
2005
2006 Twofer
Completes first motorcycle double backflip executed in competition at the X Games.
2007
2008
2009 Flying Leap
Sets Rally Car record by jumping 269 feet over water in Long Beach, Calif.
2010
2011 False Start
Two days before scheduled NASCAR debut in Nationwide Series at Indy last Saturday, breaks right foot and ankle attempting 720-aerial in X Games' Moto X Best Trick event.
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OSVALDO AGUILAR/AFLO/ZUMAPRESS.COM (AGUDELO)
LATIN FLAVOR Colombia-born Juan Agudelo is the type of player Klinsmann (right) wants for the U.S.
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JASPER JUINEN/GETTY IMAGES (KLINSMANN)
[See caption above]
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BRANT WARD/SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/AP
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BO BRIDGES/CORBIS
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JAE C. HONG/AP
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JEFF GROSS/GETTY IMAGES