Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Simon Colosimo Colosimo on his move to South Melbourne in 2001… Diegos: "After a tumultuous 12 months that included your battle against career threatening injury, the cash-death of Carlton, a futile Middlesborough trial and a dodgy Olympics, you are now back to the Colosimo of old, playing for the top team in the country, South Melbourne. Has the move to South given you the stability and refocus that perhaps, has been missing in your game over the last season?" Colosimo: " Yes it's been great .The South Melbourne of today is a bit like the Carlton side in its first year, in terms of professionalism. A full medical staff, fitness adviser and a home ground to train on, makes a hell of a difference." Diegos: "You joined the Lakesiders in a blaze of publicity and high expectation. Mickey Peterson however, the thoughtful and exacting coach that he is, decided to make you wait for your chance, plucking bench splinters out of your backside. Now all great players are able to throw the best dummy-spitting tantrums. How about you? Did the problem child in you come out?" Colosimo: " No we a had good chat about it and Mickey P told me that the team was sitting pretty at the top of the table so I didn't really expect to be getting a run right away. Also the uncertain situation at Carlton did not lend itself to great training sessions in fact you could say it was a little relaxed. So coming to South has allowed me to gain my full fitness. I think this South team is a lot more established. The Carlton team seemed to be thrown together and was playing on adrenalin. On the park as individuals there was not much difference between the two teams but as a team I find that South is far more unified.' Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: "Congratulations on your Socceroo call up for the upcoming World cup qualifiers. You had to do it hard though, having to impress Frank Farina in the thin air and gun-toting climate of Colombia. You showed some good touches on the field playing football and great moves off the field basically trying stay alive. How tough were the conditions?" Colosimo: " The conditions were very difficult. We only got told five days before the game that we were actually going. I don't envy Frank Farina in his position. It is incredibly difficult to get a team together on such short notice and have to play in Colombia of all places. We basically didn't come out of our hotel rooms, and when we did it was for training sessions at 2600 meters above sea level at poor facilities. So I guess you could call it tough." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: " It's been eight long months since you and Manchester United's Andy Cole danced on that fateful afternoon at the Sydney Football Stadium. He has continued to disco at the highest level in the sport whilst you have been condemned to what seems like an eternity slow dancing in the gym and at the physios. You stage dived into the mosh pit once again and played your first full competitive game recently. How did you pull up and were you apprehensive at testing the knee out for the first time in a game situation?" Colosimo: " I pulled up well, I thought. I tried to work on not getting too scared to get involved in the game. I think the hardest thing about coming back after an injury is the fear of getting too close to the opponents and feeling comfortable with passing or tackling. I tried to keep mentally focused on alleviating that fear and I think I succeeded. However, my performance proved that I'll need a few more training sessions before I am up to speed." Diegos: "Throughout the whole of your rehabilitation when did you feel your worst? Was it during the long hours of monotonous lonely pumping of weights in the gym, the frequent visits to the physios or just watching your team mates play when you couldn't?" Colosimo: " The hardest part was the first couple of days of my injury. It happened in Sydney, so I couldn't come for a few days. Finding out that I needed a complete knee reconstruction was difficult to endure. Apart from that, training was hard to watch as well. Watching the games wasn't so bad but not being able to participate in the training was tough." Soft Sombrero Moment 2001
Diegos: "The Diegos social spies tell us that your long layoff it hasn't been all hard work and depression. Apparently a Lillian Frank socialite paparazzi photographer caught you and your girlfriend hanging out with the 'glitterazzi' at the Melbourne Cup last year. Was the wedding suit you were wearing on the day a Croce Colosimo (Mrs. Colosimo's fashion company) ensemble and did you pick a winner on the day?" Colosimo: " I couldn't pick a winner if my life depended on it! Actually, the lovely lady was not my girlfriend, it just happened to be a friend of my mother's who I escorted to the Melbourne Cup. I did have a lot of fun. I haven't really had a long term break for the last three and a half years so it didn't work out too badly that I had a bit of a break going into the Olympic Games. I didn't really want 6 or 7 months away, but the time off has freshened me up for the Olympic Games and then the obvious move overseas that I will be looking for." Soft Sombrero Moment 2000
Diegos: " In years to come, your recollections of the 1999 treble winning Manchester United tour of Australia will no doubt bring bitter sweet memories. Excellent performances by yourself at the MCG and Stadium Australia against the likes of Ryan Giggs and Jesper Blomquist brought rave reviews and then came 'that tackle' that seemingly has put your career on hold for an indefinite period. Can you tell us what was going through your mind once you hit the ground clutching your knee?" Colosimo: " Where the hell is that doctor???? There was just a lot of pain and I wanted the doctor on as soon as possible to get a look at it. I sort of knew as soon as I got tackled that my knee had gone. How bad it was I didn't know, that's why I wanted a medical opinion immediately." Diegos: " Since the incident, the Andy Cole tackle has been described variously as horrific, horrendous and unlawful. An immediate apology wasn't forthcoming but apparently you did receive a basket of fruit and flowers from the Manchester club. How is the fruit and flower compost heap going in the backyard and were you surprised at the lack of regard such a prestigious club and one of its high profile players had for your welfare after the incident?" Colosimo: " I wasn't really surprised but if the situation were reversed, I would've probably gone up and apologized. At the end of the day, I really didn't expect anything from him." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " In the aftermath of your knee injury you accused Andy Cole of possessing a big ego. He apparently is a big fan of Skyhooks and knows all the words to 'Ego is not a Dirty Word'. Some say that you must be arrogant, surly and almost ruthless to make the top of the professional ranks. You are, on the other hand, known as an unscrupulously fair player. Has this experience toughened you up and will you adopt a different attitude on the pitch in the future because of it?" Colosimo: " I think the ego comment was just out of anger. The whole saga has toughened me up. I'm not going to approach games against the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, AC Milan or anybody for that matter, having too much respect for the opposition. Previously my approach was that I didn't want to go into the game wanting to kick anybody now, after what happened, I'll adopt more of an uncompromising approach." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " There has been a lot of talk of legal action by your club, Carlton against a range of parties including Cole. What are the overseas club opportunities you've missed out on because of the injury and do you think that the issue will go all the way to court?" Colosimo: " On the issue of suing Manchester United, Andy Cole, Rivkin or Soccer Australia, I don't know where that's going. That is up to my club Carlton. They have hired a law firm and are pursuing the case and exploring their rights. I'm just more worried about my knee getting better. As far as overseas opportunities go, there was a couple of good offers from Italy, Spain and around Europe but they are just going to have to wait." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " The diagnosis was tears to the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments of the knee. Was the surgery a success and how is your rehabilitation going? Have you set any goals for your ultimate return to playing?" Colosimo: " I actually got my anterior cruciate replaced with a piece of my hamstring tendon. The medial ligament was completely torn so they had to repair that. My cartilage was also damaged so they cleaned that up too. The surgery went really well and I'm feeling a million dollars at the moment. My doctor, Dr Young did a really good job. I'm moving around and I can put weight on it. I've got good movement in my knee so given that it's only been three weeks since the operation things are looking good. I haven't specified any particular round next season as my comeback game but I'm looking at the six-month mark. I've decided to take a week by week approach." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " Will you try and seek out high profile athletes from other sports who have had to undergo similar rehabilitations?" Colosimo: " As soon as I can hop into a car and drive I'll try to visit Western Bulldogs AFL player, Tony Liberatore and North Melbourne player, John Longmire. It's well documented that they both did very well with their knee rehabilitation. In Libber's case, he was back playing senior football within four months. So I'm definitely desperate to speak to guys like that." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999
Diegos: " You have been declared Carlton's official ambassador for the period of your layoff. How are the cocktail parties, state dinners and weekend invitations away on the yachts of the various rich and famous going?" Colosimo: " It's going really well. To really hang out with the rich and famous I'm going to start going out with Eddie Krncevic though. I plan on visiting his tailor and getting a few stylish suits made. I'm sure with similar classy threads I won't feel out of place." Soft Sombrero Moment 1999 |