MLSsoccer.com’s Entrance Exam continues with five questions for the Crew’s rookie striker, Justin Meram. The former University of Michigan player was a first-round draft pick and is expected to provide depth off the bench for Columbus this year.
MLSsoccer.com Question 1: What’s been the most unexpected difference between MLS and college so far?
Justin Meram: Just the pace of the game, how physical plays are, and stuff like that. You always gotta be on your A-game.
MLSsoccer.com Question 2: Which veterans have provided the most guidance, and in what way?
Meram: Uh … Which veterans have guided me? We’ll skip that question. Let me think about that one. [Laughs]
MLSsoccer.com Question 3: It’s the MLS cup final. It’s tied and it’s heading to penalties. Do you want to be one of the five penalty-takers?
Meram: Yeah. I’ve got confidence in my penalty kicks ability. So, if we ever come into that situation, I’ll be one of the five.
MLSsoccer.com: What’s the biggest penalty you’ve taken up until now, in your amateur career? Have you ever taken a huge penalty like that?
Meram: My junior year of college, I took one in the national finals, for a shootout.
MLSsoccer.com: So you have a little bit of experience with it.
Meram: Yeah.
MLSsoccer.com Question 4: You’re a goalscorer, so have you come up with a goal celebration yet, or will you go spontaneous?
Meram: I haven’t had a celebration yet. I know my first one at home, when I score, or if I score, will be with the Nordecke, you know the fans.
MLSsoccer.com: So will you do kind of a Lambeau Leap thing, jumping into the stands?
Meram: Yeah, something like that.
MLSsoccer.com: You know, Rich Balchan said he was gonna do some sort of disco dance, if he got a goal.
Meram: He’s gonna do a disco? Well, if he does that, then I think I’m going to have to laugh and like, help him out. Maybe a little robot, to correspond with the disco.
MLSsoccer.com Question 5: Anything you’d like to say to the hardcore fans in the Nordecke?
Meram: We love you, and we’re ready to have a successful season.
