Olsen's baptism under fire

Ben Olsen has had some baptism into coaching - going from being a key player in DC United's team, to an apprentice as a young assistant coach, to the interm head coach after Curt Onalfo being dismissed.

It is not uncommon for a first-year player or rookie being thrown to the lions straight away to get their feet wet and learn their way as a player, but very rarely do you see that for a manager.

Mike Wise of the Washington Post writes about Olsen's baptism under fire as the head man at DC United.

While recently taking a bullet for his employer, Ben Olsen called his former coach and sought advice. Before hanging up with Tom Soehn, though, he also wanted to make amends.

"Yep, I called him after I got the job and I said, 'Yeah, I also wanted to apologize - for all the [crap] I put you through,' " Olsen told Soehn. "Because that's the other side you get on this. You'll see all the things you have to juggle and . . . "

Since most of you are culturally deprived because you continue to read nothing that's not about Strasworth or Haynesburg, we should explain:

Ben Olsen, one of the most popular soccer players here ever and way cooler than almost every sports person in town except maybe Chris Cooley, finished playing professional soccer for D.C. United, like, last week. (Okay, about nine months ago.)

His post-playing career was supposed to include a gradual transition to coaching, where he would unobtrusively serve as an apprentice to his former teammate, Curt Onalfo, who took over for Soehn as United's coach in November. It would also include sippy cups and cleaning up various sections of The Washington Post, which his almost-2-year-old daughter Ruby just tossed violently off the couch and onto the floor of his District rowhouse because her father has yet to order "Yo Gabba Gabba!" from On Demand and his wife, Megan, has yet to return from teaching dance at a middle school to give Daddy a break.

Which is fine and enjoyable and all - except Ben Olsen isn't an assistant coach anymore. He's . . . the guy.