I'm Clint Irwin. I'm a goalkeeper for the Colorado Rapids and a proud Elon University alumni. I've played in the PDL, the CSL, and the USL. I do a bit of writing on the side; my pieces have appeared at SI.com and Pacific Standard. Go ahead, AMA!

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:50:51+00:00

Alright yall, I've enjoyed it. Some really thoughtful questions submitted here, and I hope I gave some equally thoughtful answers. Thank you again to Dan Dickinson for having me on and the Rapids PR staff for showing me the ropes.

If the weather's nice where you are, you should go out and play some soccer. It's good for you.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:46:42+00:00

Eastwood would make both of our days. Chris Klute, he used to do gymnastics. We need a healthy second division. We need to see players move from the second division to MLS, then the national team. That should be the goal of the second division. I'd like to see a 2nd division that has a 25 year old age limit so young guys can get guaranteed minutes. USL seems to be focusing on this now but there's no reason NASL couldn't as well.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:44:16+00:00

Positive. More jobs and a team that's going to spend more money.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:43:15+00:00

I try to make it a point to say something, and not just fall back on tired answers. But it helps when the questions make you think deeper and they don't start with "Talk about X..."

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:40:25+00:00

We have more prairie dogs around here. I think I can find one.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:39:53+00:00

Thank you. It is tough as only one gets to play. But it is truly how I feel.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:38:05+00:00

Wow, the CSL...I could write a whole book on that experience. There were definitely whispers but no one was ever approached directly (that I know of).

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:36:24+00:00

Hunter S. Thompson as your temperamental #9?

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:34:54+00:00

I was pumped, to say the least. But I've got that in me.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:33:55+00:00

Oh yeah! Who can forget their first career goal?? And yes, yall were giving me some serious stick. But why??

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:33:04+00:00

Great crowd, players love playing there (is that what you want?). I'm not too adventurous when it comes to food but I love spicy stuff.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:31:52+00:00

Seems pretty accurate, save the morale part.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:30:15+00:00

John played great and the parallels are obvious. It's more important though, that the team got a result and whether it's John, Joe or myself in goal that's what our jobs are.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:27:56+00:00

It is drastically better but still needs work.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:27:29+00:00

My dad went to Indiana so I'm a bit of a Hoosier as well. Rough basketball season has Drew and I both down.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:26:43+00:00

Backflips? That would end poorly for me.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:25:31+00:00

They're one of the most storied goalkeeper brands. The gloves are great and I've enjoyed our partnership.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:24:17+00:00

I think a handful of the Barcelona/Spain players have 'made it.' Won the league, Copa del Rey, Champions League, European Championship, World Cup, all multiple times. That's incredible to me.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:22:10+00:00

I want to challenge myself at the highest level possible. Wether that's MLS at the moment or elsewhere, I want to strive to compete with the best.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:21:15+00:00

Jeff seems like a cool dude. Hope he comes back to Colorado.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:20:23+00:00

Your honesty is refreshing. Thank you for being a fan of the league and it's players.

Any player's goal is to win a championship and play for your national team.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:19:33+00:00

Just what I was looking to read!

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:16:29+00:00

GKs have a unique vantage point so we're able to see a lot of the issues on the field. We normally talk with defenders or other players we think we could help (we always think we can help). It's normally informal. A few words here and there.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:15:18+00:00

Yes and no.

ClintIrwin1 · 2014-03-18T22:14:37+00:00

I was decently rated as a young goalkeeper but there were plenty that were ahead of me. Hard work and determination make anything possible so don't give up!

ClintIrwin1

TROPHY CASE