| Page 2 of 2 < |
Quaranta's Second Chance
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
The surgery served as a wake-up call, he added. "They told me there is a chance you don't come back from this," Quaranta said. "I was down and out and I was so depressed and just couldn't believe I let this slip away. It really hit me: 'What are you doing?' "
He said he went through a difficult period -- without further explanation, he called it "a really dark place" -- before attempting to revive his career. He turned to an all-organic diet and strenuous exercise, losing 18 pounds in the process, and got himself into what he calls the "best condition of my life."
"We stopped with the Twinkie jokes," said United midfielder Ben Olsen, who has known Quaranta since 2001. On a serious note, Olsen said that Quaranta is "a young, great talent but I think he knows now that is not enough. There is more to becoming the player he should be."
Added midfielder Clyde Simms: "He's definitely taking it more serious this time around."
Quaranta said that although he has firm offers from other MLS clubs, he wants to prove himself here.
"I owe these fans," he said. "I cheated a lot of people in the process, and most of all, myself."
United Notes: Cezar, a 21-year-old forward from Brazilian club Atl¿tico Mineiro, began a tryout yesterday. David Blumer, a 22-year-old forward for Grasshoppers in Switzerland, will start workouts this weekend. . . . Rookie defenders Grady Renfrow (Gonzaga High, Penn State) and Spencer Allen (Sidwell Friends, Maryland) were cut. . . . Defender Pat Carroll (West Springfield) and his former West Virginia teammate, English midfielder Dan Stratford, said they have agreed to developmental contracts.
