MF: Mike, let me ask you the first question. Diallo, it's this week...
Mike Petke: (laughs) I'm not answering any questions about Diallo. It's two years old now. It's done.

MF: It's one year old, remember the little incident at the end of the Tampa game last year?
MP: That incident really, that was play of the game. People might think it's from our history, but I am not answering any questions about that, it's over. My wife won't let me.

MF: Ok... Now, there was a theory that with the dispersal draft, Diallo might have become a Metro this year.
MP: I think it would have been fine. I am not sure how the fans would have handled it, but it's all part of the game, if he came to the team, I am sure he would score a lot of goals for us. Maybe they would put us in a room together, a padded room, and let us beat the crap out of each other to get it out of our system and it would have been fine after that. It's all part of the game.

MF: And Serna, any hard feelings about him?
MP: Well, Serna is the guy I battled a lot with throughout the years, and I'm extremely happy he is with us now so that I don't have to go up against him anymore. He is a good player, it's good to have him, and I hope he puts other defenders through hell like he put me through hell.

MF: You entered the league in 98, you played some left back, and now you are more central.
MP: When I came to the Metros in 98, I played the outside back position, that was the first time I played anywhere else but central defense. Now I am back at central defense, and I'm extremely happy. That's my natural position, that's where I'm more comfortable. I was a rookie in 98, and they needed someone at left back, so put me there to fill in.

MF: With Balboa, Jolley, and you, it seems like three for two spots.
MP: Balboa has been injured a lot, and when he comes back, he'll be playing at defensive midfield at this time, he can be moved back a couple of times, where Jolley would move to the right. I don't have an answer to all of this, but if they need to put me back on the outside, I'm not complaining. If it helps for the championship, I will play anywhere.

MF: Last year, there was lots of talk of Germany, Sweden. Was there ever any chance of that happening?
MP: I had the contracts in my hand, both teams. But I also had the contract from the MLS, so it's all true, it was more true that I wanted it to be. I wasn't the one in the papers saying it, they were coming to me and asking about it. So I had all the contracts in my hand, and the MLS contract I got last year is very good. Why would leave where I am from, I am from New York, it's where I want to be. It's good money, I'm making a living -- more than just making a living, I'm doing extremely well, I'm happy, I'm here.

MF: After the World Cup is over, do you see yourself getting a second cap and maybe see yourself in the mix for 2006?
MP: Possibly, I am not thinking about that though, if it happens it happens, it would be great. The more you think about it, the more you hope that something happens, it's seems like it's never gonna happen, it takes forever. So I am playing professional soccer, I'm making money, I do what I love, I'm married, I'm happy. So if it happens with the World Cup, that's gravy on top of the cake.

MF: Do you think that Bruce is biased against certain players?
MP: (laughs) I don't think so, no. I think he has many people to chose from, it's a tough decision for him. I don't think he is biased though.