In this edition of Burning Questions we sat down with rookie defender Austin Berry. Since being drafted in the first round ( 9th overall) of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Austin has become a mainstay in the Chicago Fire defense, starting 26 consecutive matches for the Men in Red and scoring three goals along the way to help the Fire secure their first playoff berth since 2009. The Rookie of the Year front-runner from Cincinnati, Ohio, Austin was a standout at the University of Louisville where he helped the Cardinals to their first ever NCAA National Championship appearance in 2010. Austin took the time to answer our Burning Questions about Berry-themed nicknames, his prowess on the basketball court and the Berry family Halloween tradition.
Always on the Inside:
What is the worst Berry themed nickname you’ve ever had?
Austin Berry:
The current one that Arne [Friedrich] has given me, “Jerry Berry.” The origin is unknown, so is the spelling.
AOTI:
The
is also named Austin Berry. Do you play any musical instruments?
Jake Bronowski, Massage Therapist
: Is there a difference between a regular harmonica and an Irish harmonica?
AB:
Maybe theirs goes up and down. Instead of left and right, they go up and down. But no, I don’t play any instruments. Absolute no.
AOTI:
You lettered in basketball from 2003-2005 at Summit Country Day. Can you still ball?
AB:
I’m an awful basketball player. I just played for fun. I had no jump shot. I was a defensive specialist. I was in there for rebounds and defending. But I had fun. It was fun because my junior year, my last year, five of the starters from the soccer team were the five starters for the basketball team. It was something that I did personally to stay in shape between club soccer seasons.
AOTI:
In an era of fluorescent cleats, you rock white ones on game days. Why is that?
AB:
Those are the ones that have metal studs. And because it’s classy.
AOTI:
You haven’t grown your goatee out in a while. Are you mellowing as you get older?
AB:
I can’t really grown facial hair. The goatee takes me a good four weeks before it actually comes in and it’s not even a good one at that. So when it comes out, it’s just me being too lazy to shave for a month.
AOTI:
What are you going to be for Halloween this year?
AB:
I’m not big on dressing up, I’m just big on candy. As long as I get enough candy, I don’t need to celebrate it. I love candy. Mambas and Shock Tarts are my favorite.
AOTI:
What’s the best Halloween costume you’ve ever had?
AB:
I know the worst ever Halloween costume is my parents had a tradition of dressing their kids up as a purple grape and attaching a bunch of purple balloons to you so you were a grape. That was always one of our Halloween costumes and it was awful. At a certain age, we all had our purple grape stage. It was young, before we could make decisions for ourselves.
AOTI:
What do you make for dinner if you’re looking to impress Martha Stewart who is stopping by the rookie crib?
AB:
If I was impressing her, I would order delivery, put it in the oven then take it out. But I like making Teriyaki salmon with stir fry.
AOTI:
What’s the theme song for the “Austin Berry: Rookie Year” reality show?
AB:
by AWOLNATION.
