With professional sports around the world still on hiatus due to the COVID-19 crisis, Sounders players and staffers are looking for new ways to connect with fans.
On Tuesday, Homegrown winger Jordan Morris took over the Sounders Instagram account for a live AMA with supporters, presented by Heritage Distilling.
“Before we get going, I’m going to give a quick shout out to one of our partners: Heritage Distilling,” said Morris.” They’re doing great work in this time, creating hand sanitizer for people. During this time, that’s super necessary. It’s great to see people doing great things in the community, and we really appreciate everything that they’re doing.”
Morris hopped on the AMA for about 30 minutes, fielding dozens of questions from supports across myriad topics. His favorite players growing up? Ronaldinho and Wayne Rooney. Favorite shows? The Office and Parks and Rec, which are objectively correct answers. Funniest guys on the team? Xavier Arreaga (duh) and Raúl Ruidíaz.
Morris also dived into some deeper topics during the AMA, including his advocacy work for kids with Type 1 Diabetes.
Morris meets with a fan after a match as part of his T1D Playmaker program
| Mike Fiechtner
“My main advice that I give to young diabetics is that, whatever they want to do in life, diabetes can’t hold them back from accomplishing their goals,” he said. “I was nervous at first that this could hold me back. I remember after a couple of years, I just kind of told myself I was going to let it hold me back from doing what I wanted to do, what I had worked so hard to do.
“I started a foundation and I meet with kids after every game. It’s been one of my favorite parts of being with the Sounders – getting to talk to these kids and just outreach to diabetics in general. It’s been super rewarding for me as well.”
Morris also told the story of how he burst onto the scene with the United States Men’s National Team while still playing college soccer for Stanford University.
Back in 2014, the USMNT went to Stanford’s campus for a pre-World Cup training camp. Former USSF coach Tab Ramos, who coached Morris with the U-20’s, told then head coach Jurgen Klinsmann that, if he needed an extra player for a training session, Morris should be his go-to guy. The Mercer Island native got the call and took his opportunity, impressing the Stars & Stripes staff.
But where he really turned heads was in a scrimmage the next day between Stanford and the USMNT. Fast forward a few months and the college kid was suiting up for his country in a friendly against Ireland.
“Growing up as a kid, I always dreamed of playing for the national team,” recalled Morris. “To get to play that early on in my career was something that was super special. Playing for the national team is such a big honor. I never take it for granted because putting on that jersey is just so amazing. I remember my first game, listening to the national anthem and just getting chills knowing what it meant to represent this country.”
Later on in the video, Morris teased his potential debut on TikTok. Although he fully admits he’s not entirely immersed in the app, he did mention it’s been beneficial as he attempts to improve his dancing in the locker room.
“My fiancé and I have been working on a few TikToks of our own while we’ve been at home,” he said. “I’ve been told, and I’m sure a lot of you guys know, I’m not the best dancer. So, I’ve been working on my dance skills a little bit. It may or may not be coming out on Instagram at some point.”
Tune in next Tuesday when another member of the Sounders Family hops on Instagram for live AMA.
