Nick DeLeon is an ambitious dude.

I reached D.C. United’s first round pick (seventh overall) at his hotel this afternoon after the team finished up its first official day of the 2012 MLS preseason, and he was forthcoming about his goals for the future. "I want to eventually play for the national team, play in a couple World Cups," DeLeon told me on the phone. But he knows that he has plenty of work to do. And that work started today.

DeLeon is joining a D.C. United team that finished just short of the MLS playoffs last season, but that still finds itself caught in the middle of a rebuilding process with youth all over the roster. And in the coaching staff too. When I asked DeLeon for his impression of Ben Olsen and the rest of the coaching staff so far, he responded initially with just a single word: "Young." The 21-year old attacking midfielder recognizes the value in playing for a coach who can easily relate to his players. "They’re fun to be around," he added.

DeLeon scored 14 goals and nine assists in his two years at the University of Louisville, helping lead the Cardinals to an appearance in the College Cup Final in 2010, and the Quarterfinals in 2011. He brings a winning mentality to the field, and comes to D.C. with the reputation of being a "gamer."

DeLeon played almost exclusively as an outside midfielder for Louisville, and apparently we should expect that to continue this season for United. I asked DeLeon about his preferred position and he suggested that he would "probably fit in as a winger." With the news coming out last week from the Washington Post that Chris Pontius, United’s starting left midfielder, won’t be ready to participate in training until Mar. 1 as he continues to recover from a fractured right tibia suffered in September, DeLeon may even have to start immediately for D.C. The confidence that he conveys seems to hint that DeLeon will be up to the task.

Playing for the national team isn’t DeLeon’s only goal for the future though. The rookie has another lofty goal that might even land him with a spot on the prestigious D.C. United All-Time Best Hair Best XI. "I’ve always dreamt about being able to put my hair back in a ponytail," he said. DeLeon told me that he’s been growing out his hair for over a year, and it’s currently the longest it’s ever been.

Yep. He’ll fit right in.

Where do you begin with a player like Santino Quaranta? From one of the league's youngest debutants, to off-field personal problems, stemming from injury, to an emotional return to where it all began with D.C. United. Irrespective of your personal opinion, it can't be argued that Quaranta has left an indelible mark on Major League Soccer.

Now 27, he surprisingly announced his retirement last week after it was revealed D.C. United would not be picking up his option for the 2012 season. To retire is a big decision for any player, but as Quaranta explains, it was not an impulsive one. "I thought about it for a while," he said. "I've got a lot going on in terms of business stuff and youth sports. This way I get to walk away on my terms after a pretty long run at it."

I'm keen to ask him the obvious questions first, including what it's like being retired. He likens it to a bubble bursting, but not in a negative way. He reaffirms his love for the game and everything it gave him, but appreciates his time in soccer was spent living in a slightly self-contained environment.

Now working with Pipeline Soccer Club, a youth side based in his home state of Maryland, the end of his playing days does not mean severing all ties with D.C. United. Quaranta intends to stay in touch with the club's academy. He speaks with a genuine passion about enhancing young soccer players' lives, and potentially bringing through the next generation of American players.

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Ben Olsen said that the story of D.C. United vs. Toronto FC game shouldn't be about the referee, but by going the unprecedented route of issuing an official statement after the match, I feel that the referee just became the story.

Maybe a more experienced media member or a fellow SB Nation blog manager can correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think its commonplace in any way for referees to issue written statements after a match. And yet I received an email from the D.C. United Communications group just over an hour after the final whistle.

But before I publish it, I want to make very clear that I'm only taking issue with Toronto's second goal, not the red card to Bill Hamid. I happened to agree with the red card because Hamid's challenge was unnecessarily violent and he had no chance of getting the ball. I was in a room with several veteran soccer reporters, many of whom happen to also be accredited U.S. Soccer referees, and the room was split 50-50 on the card. It was questionable. Could have gone either way. It happened to go against us this time.

Now then. Here's the official statement from referee Jasen Anno:

Clarification of sequence of events for the substitution of D.C. United player, McDonald (out), White (in) in the 69th minute:

In the 66th minute D.C. United player, McDonald left the field of play due to injury and did not return. Play was restarted with a drop ball. After roughly two minutes of play, the fourth official notified the referee for the next available substitution for D.C. United. The next stoppage was a throw-in for Toronto in the 69th minute. Play was stopped and the referee beckoned the substitute, D.C. United player, White on to the field. At that moment, the Senior Assistant Referee and the fourth official told the player to enter the field of play, which he did. Play was restarted with the whistle and the ball was put into play by Toronto.

With a statement that reeks so heavily of excuses and a complete failure to acknowledge any sort of error whatsoever, I feel I must respond. My response contains both video, and a first-hand account of the situation from Ethan White himself.

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As you might expect from a Championship winning freshman who was just selected third overall in the 2011 MLS Draft, Perry Kitchen is a rather quiet young man. I got the chance to speak with him shortly after he became the newest member of D.C. United, and he spoke of the hard work and energy that it will take to be a part of Olsen's Army (my words, not his unfortunately).

In reference to being selected with the first draft pick under the Ben Olsen regime, Kitchen immediately pointed to the "determination and desire" that has allowed him to prosper as a soccer player. He said he knows that Olsen is "hard-nosed and loves to win", and he expects to continue that "tradition" (yes, his word, not mine).

I asked Kitchen next who he's looking forward to playing with at United and he pointed to fellow U-20 players Conor Shanosky and Ethan White. It will surely be a big help to have some familiarity with a few of his teammates. I also asked Kitchen what MLS players he looked up to and modeled his game after when growing up. He gave about the best answer I could imagine.

One of my favorite players was Eddie Pope. He's actually the reason I wore No. 23.

Well there ya go. Just like Pope, Kitchen has scored some big goals in his days, and he's got half the talent of Pope, we've got a real good player on our hands.

To close things out, Kitchen gave the requisite shout-out to United's awesome fans.

They've been great. I can't wait to see them at the game.

We agree, Perry. On both accounts.