Strong. Solid. Dependable. Flexible. Long-lasting. Able to stand up to wear and tear. Packing a punch for the price.
Those words describe goalkeeper Jon Busch. He's hoping the same can be said about his new line of goalkeeping gear.
The San Jose Earthquakes keeper, a 10-year Major League Soccer veteran, put the gloves to good use as his team trained in Tucson over the past week.
The Jon Busch Gear line, which opens with gloves coming out this week, is part of company called High Performance Goalkeeping. Jerseys, pants, training shorts and socks will also be part of the line.
"I'm excited about it because I'm all about goalkeeping - whether its training, playing or what we like to wear," said Busch, who was named the 2008 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. "Everything I make has a specific reason why I made it and how I made it. It's not just a mass production. Everything is very specific in the line."
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The pants in the line certainly have the user in mind. While most brands have full-length pants and versions that are cut high on the calf, he's come up with a new look.
"We cuffed from the last 7 inches of it, so it's tight around your ankle. I used to train in a pair of pants like that years ago," he said. "You don't have to worry about pulling them up or pulling your socks over them. They stay tight; they don't move on you."
But comfort wasn't Busch's only concern.
"When I grew up, an expensive pair of gloves was like $45, $50, and I remember having to save my allowance and beg mom for a couple extra bucks," he said. "Now I look at it and the kids I train in my facility in Columbus, Ohio, their parents are complaining to me about it because they are paying $145 a pair and I'm going, 'That's crazy.'
"We just want to give them a viable option and say, 'Hey, this is the same-quality glove, with a different name on it, for a much more reasonable price.'"
The gloves in his line will cost $79.95 and can be purchased online at www.hpgoalkeeping.com
"We're by no means here to compete with Nike, Puma, Adidas - the big names," said Busch, who set a club record for minutes played in a season with 2,970 in 2011. "We want to make this a viable business, where the parents and goalkeepers can go get the same quality stuff at a much reduced price."
Corner kicks
• Sporting Kansas City defeated the Earthquakes 2-1 in a scrimmage at Kino Sports Complex on Saturday. San Jose took the lead in the third minute on a header from Chris Wondolowski. Less than a minute later, Sporting evened on a goal by Kei Kamara. Konrad Warzycha bent in a free kick in the 81st minute to give Sporting the win. The match was closed to the public, but that didn't stop about 25 people from watching through chain-link fences.
• The scrimmage ended San Jose's training in Tucson, while Kansas City will remain here until Feb. 14. Four other teams will arrive Feb. 22 for the first of four Desert Diamond Cup doubleheaders. Tickets for the opening pair of matches and for the other three doubleheaders (Feb. 25, Feb. 29 and March 3) can be purchased at www.fctucson.com
