2013: The year in quotes

Writers are always looking for a good quote.
It can be be anything really – praise for a teammate, a dig at the opposition, or something completely out of the blue.
Moments of honesty and openness tend to result in the best soundbites. That's why we think of Allen Iverson whenever we hear the word “practice."
Here's a look at some sound that stuck out this season, from players, to coaches, and everyone in between.
The Best Quotes from 2013:
“I had a guy come up to me at Wawa this week. He didn’t say hello. He didn’t introduce himself. He just grabbed me and said, ‘Hey, you better beat New York.’”
- Union manager John Hackworth after the 3-0 home win against Red Bulls.
“That guy was so about it. So I was like, ‘All right dude, you get a hug.’ I don’t know who that guy is. But it was a good celebration. And I’m glad he was happy.”
- Right fullback Sheanon Williams explained why he hugged a random fan after scoring a side volley against Columbus

“Play today, live tomorrow, it’s a cliché, but that’s all that was going through my head...at that moment, I just blacked out. You just run and don’t give up. You keep pushing and pushing."

- Union defender Ray Gaddis who made a pair of cross field rundowns to stymie Toronto FC counterattacks on Oct. 5
“When you get weather like that, with the rain and the hail before the game, it kind of throws [traditional] soccer out of the window."
- Sheanon Williams describing how the elements played factor in a 1-0 win over New England on March 16
“Guys were laying down sleeping with their legs up on [the chair in their stall]. We all had our feet up on the chair watching some other games around the league; you know just kicking back and relaxing. It was all about staying focused but I think we all realized that we needed to chill out a little bit."
- Union midfielder Brian Carroll describing the mood in the locker room waiting out a 53-minute weather delay against Portland on July 20
Voicing Displeasure
“I don’t like Philly either, to be honest with you.”
- D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid, who is not a Union fan
“We're going to win. We've made it our lives. Three points is what we need and three points is what we are going to get."
- Hamid guaranteed a win before the Union-United game in April. Philadelphia won the match, 3-2
"I'm gonna be honest, I don't like this stadium. I'm sure I'm not the only one who dislikes this stadium. It's a (good win), it's against a rival, it's three points that we needed...(those guys) in the other locker room were guaranteeing wins, so we definitely wanted to come out and make sure that didn't happen.”
- Sheanon Williams, from RFK Stadium after the Union's win there.
"I don't know what it is. Something about D.C. United always brings out a bit of animosity."
- Williams again when Philadelphia and D.C. United were paired in the U.S. Open Cup for the third straight season
“How long did [Philadelphia] take on every set piece? How long did they take on every situation? I thought we were playing [Nicaraguan side] Real Esteli at the end of the game here, with everybody going down. How many guys are going to lay down on the ground? At some point, the referee has to step in and take care of that. And I don't understand that. Every time they come into this building with a full stadium, it doesn't get take care of.”
- Kansas City manager Peter Vermes was critical of the Union and the referees after the 1-0 win at Sporting Park
Foreign Perspectives
"We get MLS back at home now and I watch the odd game here and there. Certainly some players (in MLS) have played in the Premier League, so we all take an interest in it now and I think it's progressing. That's why a lot of teams come out to North America now, because they know that obviously there's no language barrier and they're going to get a good test. I think you'll see more Premier League teams coming out here [in preseason].”
- Stoke City striker Peter Crouch offered up this positive assessment of MLS after his side's 2-0 friendly win in July
"We watch a lot [of Major League Soccer] because we've got a few Scottish players here. It's good, it's progressing every year and it's getting better. It's one of the leagues that's coming to the top and you never know what could happen in the next few years."
- Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam echoing the sentiments of Crouch
The Best of the Rest
“If you consider the Philadelphia area your home territory, as a country, you know I think Nick [Sakiewicz] mentioned that there's around seven million people that we can recruit from. That's a country. That's bigger than Scotland. I need to put in place a comprehensive scouting network that looks right across that region. We did a Union day in Northeast Philly and a team came and worked with some of our players. We recruited a player from that team. We may not have normally been in that area looking at those players. So our scouting needs to be comprehensive and inclusive, not focused on those who have the ability to pay but those who have the ability to play. That's the most important thing for me.”
- Union Academy director Tommy Wilson, in a sitdown interview with Philadelphiaunion.com
“It's a responsibility, and it's a new job, it's my new career and I take it very seriously. I want to make sure I do well for all of those people that believe in me, coming out of my soccer career and really giving me a chance in this broadcasting career.”
- Former Union forward Alejandro Moreno on his new television career
“We call him the 'Iron Man'. The amount of running he does game in and game out is amazing. He’s one of the more underrated players in the league, but he doesn’t really care. He just goes about his business and that’s why he’s lasted longer than some other guys.”
- Amobi Okugo, on Brian Carroll reaching 300 career game.
"I’m excited about the future but I know I’m going to miss the game and miss competing with the guys. I think I’m going to miss the locker room the most. The interaction you get day to day – that’s an atmosphere that is unlike any other working environment in the world. It’s a sacred place of bad language and all kinds of stuff you could never pass as politically correct anywhere else. That’s what I’m going to miss the most.”
- Chris Albright on his retirement
“I am extremely lucky to have played in MLS for the past 15 years, for five exceptional organizations. The game itself has afforded me opportunities and experiences that I would not have had otherwise and I'm forever grateful. Most importantly, I'd like to thank my wife Leah, and my parents John and Patti for their continuous love and support. The men that I have had the good fortune of calling coaches and teammates have truly shaped my career and I'm especially honored to have been able to end it with my hometown club, Philadelphia Union.”
- More from Albright's retirement
Think of something we might have missed? Leave your best soundbite from this season in the comment portion below.