Even Calichman’s Recovery Is Feisty
His broken leg is still healing, so Dan Calichman still walks with a limp. But that did not stop the Galaxy defender from chasing down a Major League Soccer executive before a recent game.
With a personality as fiery as his red hair, Calichman was intent on discussing the play that got him injured.
Tonight’s game against the Colorado Rapids at the Rose Bowl marks six weeks since the controversial incident. Going for a loose ball on May 6 against this team, Calichman collided with Rapid defender Marcelo Balboa.
“I have no bad blood for him,” Calichman said of Balboa, overseas with the U.S. World Cup team. “But he made the choice to go lunging for the ball, straight-legged, studs up.
“At least the league should acknowledge it was a bad tackle.”
His argument did not move the MLS executive, but that same feistiness has made for a surprising rehabilitation.
Despite fresh scars on his right leg and a steel rod screwed to his shin and calf bones, Calichman shows up at practice most mornings to chat with teammates. From there, he heads to a Pasadena clinic for physical therapy. The work is tedious, especially for a 30-year-old who tossed his crutches only six days after surgery. There are no fancy exercise machines, just some balancing and light weightlifting.
At this point, Calichman must learn again to walk.
Said Kevin Wentz, who directs his therapy, “Limps are really hard to get rid of. Your hip starts bothering you, your back starts bothering you.”
Calichman moves slowly across the therapy room, taking long strides, looking wobbly. Sometimes he rides a stationary bicycle. The only running he does is in a nearby pool.
This is the first time in a lifetime of playing soccer that Calichman has been severely injured. He was team captain, in part, because of his consistency and durability.
“He’s champing at the bit,” Wentz said. “But we have to make sure he’s not doing damage.”
The physical pain is bearable. The tough part is sitting out during World Cup hoopla and missing out as the Galaxy sails through a 12-2 season with new forward, Carlos Hermosillo.
Team officials initially believed Calichman would miss the rest of the season. Now, with his rehabilitation ahead of schedule, there is hope for a September return.
“I thought there was no way he could come back,” Coach Octavio Zambrano said. “But he’s got a competitive spirit.”
The Galaxy could use his steadying influence on the back line. And Calichman, for his part, is bored of chasing league executives.
“I don’t want to talk about [the injury] anymore,” he said. “I just want to get back on the field.”
