I am pushed by my critics. I don't want to say I want to prove them wrong, but it pushes me on the field to play with a chip on my shoulder, and I play best when I have a chip on my shoulder.

When I did 'Dancing With the Stars,' everyone in Hollywood was saying I had too much muscle.

She [my mother] struggled, abusing alcohol for quite some time, and so we just kind of drifted apart. I went to college. But I dedicate the book to her because she is the true champion of the family. She kept our family together. She provided us with a roof over our head. She always worked.

In truth, 2007 was the hardest year of my life. I lost my best friend. I lost my father.

I need a life outside of soccer. So I very much welcome, you know, new love interests and dating and friends and family.

With each year that's gone by, and as I grow up and get older, I've become more mature, of course, but you have a sense of who you are, and you find confidence in that.

My life is a beautiful struggle.