Meet the Rebel: Justin Powers

With such a successful first Meet the Rebel, we move on to our next Rebel.  We would like to introduce you all to Justin Powers!  We recently chatted with Justin and asked him some questions to get to know him.

 

Rebellion:  Justin, where are you from?

Justin:  I grew up in Mansfield, MA

Rebellion:  What would you say is your first Revs memory?

Justin:  I went to my first Revs game in ’99. Some guy in the next row up shushed me, the clock was counting backwards and stopping, and there was a shootout in a regular season game. I couldn’t understand why MLS had these odd rules differences from the IFAB and I felt disappointed by the casual atmosphere in the stands. The experience actually turned me off to MLS for several years.

Rebellion:  Now, that we know what your first memory was, what you say is your worst Revs memory?

Justin:  Ha, that first Revs memory I just described is probably also my worst. So maybe I’ll explain what brought me back to MLS? A few years ago during a break in a pick-up game MLS came up in conversation and I had some pretty negative things to say about it. One of the other players said that a lot had changed since the league began, and that basically I had no right to complain about the popularity of soccer in the US if I not only didn’t take an interest in MLS but also totally dismissed the local club without really knowing anything about it. She was right – my country, my league, my club.

I started following MLS and the Revs and of course my first instinct was to make all the usual complaints about how poor attendance is, how outside of The Fort Gillette is a morgue, etc. But by not going to the matches I was part of the problem. I was saying I want the atmosphere at Gillette to be like Jeld-Wen Field or CenturyLink Field, but I was saying that to my TV while sitting on my couch. So I finally put my money where my mouth is and started attending matches in The Fort.

Rebellion:  What would you say has to be your favorite Revs memory?

Justin:  Believe it or not, the recent home game against Sporting KC. It was the last game I attended with two of my best friends, Kelsey and Sara, who are both moving this week, one to NYC and the other to LA. Almost every Revs game I’ve been to has been with Kels. Going the following weekend to the Montreal match without them just wasn’t the same.

Rebellion:  What’s something we might be surprised to know about you?

Justin:  I’ve worked as a gravedigger.  It really wasn’t a bad job.

Rebellion:  For those Rebels that do know you, what is something they would be surprised to know about you?

Justin:  I get anxious about juggling a soccer ball in a  group. If anyone knows a good sports psychologist, let me know.

Rebellion:  Do you work?  In school?

Justin:  I graduated from UMass Amherst in 2005.  I’m employed so I’d have to say college was worth it.

Rebellion:  Do you have Twitter?  Would you like to connect with other Rebels & Revs fans?

Justin:  Find me on twitter @powersjustin

Rebellion:  Lastly, will you be joining us in Montreal in October?

Justin:  Pretty sure.  Rather than just going for the  group. If anyone knows a good sports psychologist, let me know.

We’d like to thank Justin for being a part of our series!  Hope you got to know him just a little better; we did!

 

If you would like to be featured in our Meet the Rebel series, just send us an email!