Sept. 27, 2010

BERKELEY - CalBears.com recently caught up with California junior goalkeeper David Bingham to chat about the current season, his start in soccer, the 2010 World Cup and other issues. A local product from nearby Pleasanton, Calif., the 6-2 Bingham has produced a 0.77 goals-against average for the 4-1-2 Golden Bears going into its Pac-10 Conference opener at Stanford on Saturday, Oct. 2.

Calbears.com: How is the season going so far?
David Bingham: It's going really well overall. The team is working really hard and we are just taking it one game at a time.

Calbears.com: You have played five overtime games already. What is that like as a goalkeeper?
DB: Goalkeeping is not as physically demanding as other positions, but it's more mentally demanding. I can be just as tired as other players without even touching the ball. Overtime is tough, but our team has prepared well and we are playing really well in overtime.

Calbears.com: Since you're from nearby Pleasanton, do you have a lot of family and friends attending home games?
DB: My family comes to all of the home games and sometimes travels to some of the closer away games. My parents and sister always come and my grandparents sometimes do as well.

Calbears.com: How did you start playing soccer? Did your sister, Kim, who played for Arizona State and the U.S. national team, have anything to do with that?
DB: I grew up around soccer with my sister playing and she definitely had an impact on me deciding to play. I started playing when I was about four years old and grew up on the sidelines with my sister playing.

Calbears.com: What made you to decide to be a goalie?
DB: I started playing goalie when I was young, but usually played out half the time too and only half the time played goalie. When I was about 16, I started playing goalie full time. Since my sister played goalie, I tried that to start when I was young and really liked it.

Calbears.com: What is your favorite professional club?
DB: My favorite is probably Cagliari in Serie A. I also like Barcelona a lot, too. I travelled to Italy in high school and have always liked the Italian and Spanish styles of play more than others, like the English or German styles.

Calbears.com: Who is your favorite player?
DB: My favorite is probably Iker Casillas of Real Madrid, but I also really like Atlético Madrid goalie David de Gea. I like their style of play and have always looked up to goalies that are more my size rather than 6-4 giants. They are always so calm and in control on the field.

Calbears.com: Other than the United States, which country did you root for in the World Cup?
DB: I was rooting for Spain because my grandparents and my mom are both from there. I also really like the Spanish style of play.

Calbears.com: If you could play for any team in the world after you leave Cal, what would it be?
DB: I'd love to play anywhere after school, especially in Italy or Spain, though. I'd be thrilled to play for any team in the top leagues of those two countries.

Calbears.com: What kind of career do you want to have after you're done playing soccer?
DB: Hopefully I have a long career playing, but after I think I want to get into coaching. I started coaching some goalies when I was 17 and this past summer worked with my sister coaching the goalies for the West Contra Costa club team. I always help at the Cal camps as well and enjoy that.

Calbears.com: Did you play any other sports other than soccer growing up?
DB: I played baseball and basketball until I was about 13. I liked playing golf with friends throughout high school, but it was just for fun. The more competitive sports I played were paintball and soccer.

Calbears.com: What are your hobbies?
DB: When I was in high school before soccer totally took over my life, I used to compete in paintball on a team. We would go to tournaments, and it was a lot of fun.

Calbears.com: What are your favorite TV shows?
DB: My favorites are "House" and "24." "House" is just funny and "24" is just lots of action and excitement.