SPOKANE, Wash. — Maybe it's the creative yet skillful play or the free-flowing, fast-paced style, but Brazilian soccer has always captivated Alec Cutter in a way nothing else could. In his mind — and a great many others, for that matter — the notion of soccer as "the beautiful game" begins and ends with Brazil.
"I grew up watching the great players that played for Brazil," Cutter said. "They have such a rich history in soccer and the World cup — I have always just been in love with it."
Maybe that explains why Cutter, a senior forward on the Gonzaga University men's soccer team, jumped at the chance to fulfill a lifelong dream. He spent a chunk of his summer in Rio de Janeiro, attending the Brazilian Soccer Academy. From early May to the end of June, he trained with Fluminense FC, a professional soccer club that competes in the top tier of the Brazilian leagues.
"It was the best month-and-a-half of my life," Cutter said. "It was incredible."
Cutter grew up in Spokane, where he was a standout at Ferris High School. His sports hero was Brazilian legend Ronaldo, a two-time World Cup champion widely considered one of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport. Even now, Cutter still gushes like a star-struck boy when discussing his soccer idol.
"I still have a jersey of his from when I was 8 years old," he said. "I loved watching him play."
On the pitch, Cutter is still more accustomed to American soccer, which tends to be more physical and defensive. Adjusting to the attacking, artistic version of the game made famous by the likes of Ronaldo was a challenge during the early stages of his training with Fluminense FC.
"I was intimidated at first," Cutter admitted. "These kids just have so much drive, passion and skill — they were absolutely incredible. I've never seen anything like it."
Academy attendees consisted mostly of Fluminense FC reserves and members of the club's under-20 team. On most days, Cutter and the other players would wake at 7 a.m. for breakfast and then participate in a three-and-half hour training session. Following a break for lunch, players would lift weights before spending much of the afternoon scrimmaging.
The daily scrimmages often featured appearances by some of Fluminense FC's most decorated players, past and present. Cutter, for instance, met Frederico Chaves Guedes and Anderson Luis de Souza, better known in the soccer community simply as Fred and Deco, respectively.
"These are some of the best players in the world," Cutter said. "It was really cool to meet them and just be around that culture."
In addition to on-field challenges, Cutter also had to overcome the language barrier. Hardly any of the academy attendees spoke English and he knew very little Portuguese, just enough to make his way around the city. Cutter, though, feels he acquitted himself well on both counts.
"Near the end of it, I almost felt like I could play with these guys," he said. "Obviously, they are much better than me, but I feel I improved. I don't think I was at their level, but I definitely felt like if I can play with those kids, then I can play with almost anyone in the world."
Indeed, Cutter has not only helped his Gonzaga squad tally a 4-2-0 record so far this season, but the Zags have also received recognition in a few national polls. Cutter even scored his first collegiate goal recently.
Cutter's time in Brazil, however, transcended more than just soccer. It also opened his eyes to a stark reality facing so many people in South America's largest country, including a majority of the players at the academy. According to figures from Brazil's government statistics bureau, about 26 percent of the population lives below the poverty line. Furthermore, approximately 16.2 million people, or about 8.5 percent of the population, live on less than $70 per month, while nearly a quarter of those people survive on no income at all.
An examination of Rio de Janeiro, a metropolis of nearly 13 million people, shows one-fifth of its inhabitants live in neighborhoods known as favelas, or slums, where there are no housing regulations. There are more than 1,000 favelas in Rio, many of which violent drug gangs control. As a result, crime is a regular occurrence in daily life. For example, according to the Overseas Security Advisory Council, there were more than 5,200 homicides in the greater metro area in 2012.
That is why so many of Rio de Janeiro's youth focus on sports, particularly soccer. If they are talented enough, they just might be able to turn their country's pastime into a brighter future.
"This is their only way out, and it was impressive to see these kids holding it together when so much pressure is on them," Cutter said. "In the United States we have school — we have different pathways to a good future, but that is absolutely it for them. If they don't make it, they'll be back in the slums."
That grim reality has not soured Cutter's outlook. This was his second trip to Rio — in 2010, he and his family vacationed in the city — and it likely won't be his last. Following graduation, Cutter plans to spend a year living there, taking in the breathtaking scenery, soaking up the laidback beach culture and partying during the popular festival known as Carnaval
"Rio was just something that I've never seen before," Cutter said. "It's a big city, but it has a vibe to it that's hard to explain. I really love it."
When he does return, Cutter, of course, plans to watch as much soccer as possible. As luck would have it, Brazil is hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup. And, yes, he already has his ticket. His beautiful game awaits.
