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Soccer-Mania
The article came out of London via the Reuters News Service. "Soccer has become the most exciting sport for the last 100 years ..." is the finding from a panel of scientists who studied the outcomes of sporting events over the past century. Go-kart racing, NASCAR and darts weren't included in the survey so that leaves many of us in the North Country with a bone to pick with this finding right from the get-go.
But soccer? Exciting? Most exciting? Most of us growing up in the city of Plattsburgh in the Fifties and Sixties didn't even know what a soccer ball looked like. Oh, it was played, but by those boys outside of the city, like in Dannemora and Ellenburg. Only they had big enough yards to play that game anyway. Did you ever really look at the size of a soccer field? Plus, those boys wore shorts to play a fall sport, while most of us were bundling up in football pads and helmets for the real fall sport, you know, the manly one, football.
Somehow when us baby boomers weren't looking our kids started playing soccer... and wearing those shorts! My one experience with the sport came sometime around 1980 while I was teaching at Stafford Middle School. I was an athlete back in high school, so I can play this sport, I thought. But I'm not wearing those shorts! So off we went (the faculty, I mean) to challenge the eighth graders in an after-school soccer game. Did you ever really look at the size of a soccer field? I did that day. That is one big field, bigger than a football field.
But I ran and ran, and even laughed a bit at my own fatigue, and then, in one quick moment, my days as an athlete were over! There was that soccer ball just a few feet away from me (so that's what a soccer ball looks like!), ready for me to kick a game-winning goal. Taking aim I moved my formerly-agile body into motion for the heroic kick, just at the same moment that my colleague Gale Carroll (you know Gale Carroll, former star athlete at Peru Central prior to Title IX and now an outstanding math teacher at SMS) took similar aim at the soccer ball. We collided. Oh, it was an event to behold! Gale went one way, I went the other way, and the ball stayed right there without being stirred. Parents ran with their cameras to capture the exciting event! Gale ended up with grass stains on her shorts and I ended up in traction! Okay, it wasn't that bad, but I did have to wear one of those cushiony collars to school for the next week and a half!
But that's not what this blog is about. It's about the excitement of soccer, and I saw that firsthand this past high school soccer season. I was invited to videotape the Plattsburgh High School boys' soccer team during the season. And, indeed, I gained a new respect for a sport I really didn't know much about. Yes, they wore those shorts! But the real excitement is when a guy like Dustin Rabideau headbutts a ball past the goalie for a game-winning score. Or when goalie David Rosoff dives fully-extented to grab a ball that was destined for the back of the net. Or when a player like Ean Kelleher or Patrick Shaughnessy weaves past the defenders with the soccer ball. The quickness, the agility, the stamina that it takes to play soccer became apparant to me. Hey, I bet if I'd had the chance to play soccer in my day ... oh, wait, no way! I would never wear those shorts!
Comments
I remember that game when Dustin scored the first goal on the new field. Wow what an event. I'm a little disappointed you didn't mention me though Foxy. I helped out a lot at sweeper. Just Kidding. I realize defense isn't as exciting as offense which is just as well i wouldn't enjoy the attention.
-Declan C.
Posted by: Declan | March 13, 2006 7:51 PM
Hey Foxy my name is Howard LaBombard. I go to AuSable Valley High School and play soccer for the AuSable Valley Patriots. If you think soccer is hard on the field you should try my position. I play goalie and alng with David Rosoff I also made the ALL STAR TEAM but I made division 2 where he made division 1 and all champlain which is a goal that is simply amazing. Soccer is a very intense sport and it's not to be misunderstood because the game of soccer isn't just running around kicking a ball, you need to have skill and muscle to take shots to the face and the stomach because in my position I'm getting kicked, punched and I even get stepped on, so soccer is very interesting. Thanks for putting sports on here. I love to read articles about sports.
Posted by: Howard LaBombard | January 9, 2006 10:00 AM
Hey, if you want to hear Foxy and his take on North Country high school sports, listen to the "Champlain Valley Sports Report with Chris Fells." The show is on ESPN1070 at 9:00 on Sunday mornings. Foxy has been a TREMENDOUS addition to the show and his knowledge is simply amazing.
Posted by: Chris Fells | January 6, 2006 7:24 AM
Fox, I too grew up in a time where football ruled
the fall season, but as you know, I've seen plenty of soccer over the last several years (they never offered women's football!) soccer is a great game..and affordable to all!
a ball, some shoes and a goal, and maybe some shin guards. Great game for young kids of all skills levels to learn what team sports are all about. and local success...wow...those Chazy teams and how about Chris O'Connor and Plattsburgh State's run to the final four! and by the way thanks...we don't want to see you in shorts.
Posted by: casey | January 5, 2006 11:04 PM
Fox....I was just trying to remember if I've EVER seen you in shorts. Don't think so! Maybe that will happen this year....pony tail and shorts!!
WOW!!!
(Foxy's note: No, I have never worn shorts in public in the North Country. I suppose our basketball uniform bottoms qualified as shorts in those days, but that is certainly the last time I showed my legs in public. I will admit, however, that when I visited California ... 106 degrees in Palm Springs ... I did opt for shorts ... to the knee! I figured I was safe from anyone knowing who I was.)
Posted by: Gale Carroll | January 5, 2006 10:04 AM
Hi Foxy...I remember that game like it was yesterday!! What a great time!! When you came to school with that neck collar, you took all kinds of grief, which today would probably be classified as harrassment. I was in fine shape...not sure what your problem was. After all, you're only one year older!! Anyhow, you really should have cited Gwen Queguiner who played on and coached our team and REALLY knew what he was doing!! Of course, we also had a few other standouts like Vickie McMillan, Mal Cutaiar and a young whipper snapper named Pat Goodell!! I think the kids really thought they were going to beat us....HA!!!
Posted by: Gale Carroll | January 5, 2006 8:20 AM