New Star Impresses in Windenburg

 

Brooke Larimer (Nordhaven)

 

Well, fans, I'm sitting here in the locker room as the players file in after what will surely go down as one of the most exciting matches in the historic rivalry between Windenburg 04 and Gammelvik FK. Although neither team could get the better of the other, as they fought to a 2-2 draw, Windenburg have to feel good about the action they saw from their young star Devon Douglass, who came off the bench in the middle of the second half, and knocked in the goal that leveled the match in the 80th minute.

 

 

This reporter has exclusive rights to his first interview, as this is the third of three sittings between us, for this feature that you are reading right now.

 

 

So before we talk about that, let me dig into my notes, and tell you what I've learned about Mr. Douglass these past six months.

 

It started when he was a freshman at Foxbury, already recognized as the best young star that college had seen in decades.

 

 

He was living in some off-campus housing, and sat down for an interview with yours truly.

 

 

From the beginning, I could tell that he had his head on straight.

 

"Look, I know I'm young," he said. "At this point, I'm just trying to get better and help my team win."

 

 

Pretty standard talking points, you might say. But refreshing to hear them from a kid who just a few days earlier was celebrating his 19th birthday, rather than the brash bravado you mostly get from guys in that age group.

 

 

He had a great situation, he said. Besides his studies, he could focus on his physical training.

 

 

And it just so happened his roommate was a fitness nut, too, so they could push each other.

 

 

He was glad he didn't live in one of the party dorms, but rather with someone he shared such interests with.

 

 

And he also had only praise for the support given him by the Foxbury program and their boosters.

 

 

I asked him about the rumors, which were already going around at the time, of him cutting school short and going pro.

 

 

"Look," he told me, "I'm going to do what's best for me in the long run, of course. I'm not stupid. But right now, I'm just focused on helping Foxbury win a championship."

 

 

And, of course, as we all know, Foxbury did win that elusive championship, and Douglass was a huge part of that success, and shortly after the title game, he announced that he was leaving school, and had been signed to a three year contract with Windenburg.

 

So the second time I sat down with him, it was at his newly purchased mansion in the wealthier section of Windenburg. Locals knew it as the house that used to be owned by the rich (and notorious) Villareal family.

 

 

I asked him how training was going.

 

 

He said it was great, he was getting to know his teammates, all that stuff, but of course, as with any young person with enormous newfound wealth, he just wanted to show off his stuff. He'd refurbished the mansion a bit. It was nice. He had a huge kitchen.

 

 

And even huger outdoor pool.

 

 

A luxurious bedroom.

 

 

And, of course, his personal touch, a private gym.

 

 

So what did he get up to in this giant domicile?

 

 

Well, he was learning to cook. Spent a lot of time in the kitchen researching healthy recipes that would fuel his body.

 

 

Of course he spent a lot of time in the gym training.

 

 

But he also invited friends over to work out together.

 

 

Sounds like the life, right? So that brings us back to now. He's just scored his first goal in the top league. Against his club's biggest rival. How did it feel?

 

 

Still sweating from the match, he tells me, "Honestly, our two clubs both have so much history, and that comes with respect. Do we want to beat them? Yes. But I don't hate them. I just relish the great competition."

 

 

Such mature thoughts for such a young guy. As he's getting changed into his street clothes, I notice between his many muscles a tattoo.

 

 

A stylized heart that says "Shiv" in the center. I ask him about that.

 

 

"She's my girl, since I was in high school," he tells me. "She's a couple of years behind me, so she's still there. We rarely see each other. She visited once, that's when she got me into cooking and eating healthy."

 

 

"But mostly, it's long-distance. We chat on the computer."

 

 

"Or maybe Facetime."

 

 

So you hear that, girls? He's taken! This Shiv, whoever she is, is one lucky girl.

 

But I have to ask him one more question. I noticed that he got a lot of cheers even here in Nordhaven, as a member of the visiting club.

 

"Well, like I said, it's mutual respect. I also like to think I play the game the right way. No cheap moves. No flopping. I think true soccer fans like that."

 

"So your star is taking off all over?" I ask him.

 

"In fact, I found out recently I already have a fan club chapter up here. I got to meet the president and shake hands and share my autograph."

 

 

So there you have it, folks. Soccer's upcoming newest star. You can bet this reporting will be following his career very closely.