Professor Pedro Valente, currently in Los Angeles assisting in the production of a documentary by the Biography Channel on the life of Grandmaster Hélio Gracie, met soccer super stars Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo. The players, who admitted being fans of Royce, asked to learn a few moves and demonstrated good technique. Royce and Kaká, also talked about how today the fact that they do not drink alcohol or smoke is a rarity in professional sports. As Kaká said, “we are old school athletes!”
Note – Real Madrid, the Spanish soccer team that has been dubbed the most successful club of the 20th century, began practicing today on the UCLA soccer field, with hordes of journalists and spectators attending the highly anticipated event.
Stars such as forward Cristiano Ronaldo, the highest paid soccer player in the world, and defenders Pepe and Marcelo Vieira, kicked soccer balls and ran scrimmages on the enclosed field behind UCLA’s John Wooden Center. Other players, such as midfielder Kaká, are due to arrive next week.
The Real Madrid visit is part of the team’s pre-season tour, which will include games against Club America in San Francisco on Aug. 4 and against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Aug. 7 at the Rose Bowl.
