Treadmills are Boring

There is one sure way to get me to exercise. Organize a game of anything that involves two teams playing against each other. Send out an email asking for participants and I will be there. Soccer, I'm there. Softball, I'm there. Team thumb twiddling, count me in!

I've loved team sports since I was kid. I'm sure that my parents remember all the different sports that I needed to play when I was younger (which they paid for and drove me to). I don't know why, but individual sports never appealed to me as much. I do like golfing, but that's more of a "get out with the guys" activity than a sport for me. I certainly don't like going to the gym and walking/running on a monotonous treadmill or going to a track and running in circles.

As I get older, I am lucky to get out and play one game of football a year (Turkey Bowl!). The muscles ache bad after the day of annual exertion. One aspect of my assignment that I've loved has been playing 5-on-5 soccer on Monday/Tuesday nights. I sucked early on, but my play has gotten much better - specifically in goal. However, I still have two left feet when trying to dribble and pass.

My goal keeper skills have won me the starting position for an 11-on-11 grudge match between my company and the hotel where we're working. Next Tuesday night we'll see if I can translate my skills from a small, artificial pitch to a large, grass pitch. I don't have any cleats with me, so I'm not predicting a particularly good showing. Also, I have to protect a goal that is much, much bigger.

Wish me luck!

It's Just a Game

The USA Men's soccer team drew 1-1 against England yesterday, much to the chagrin of England fans across the globe. The Three Lions came out strong against the Stars & Stripes, putting the Americans down 1-0 in the fourth minute. However, Steven Garrard's goal would not be the focus for discussion when the match was over.

Later in the half, USA's Clint Dempsey put a shot on goal that slipped through the England keeper's hands and rolled slowly over the line. The equalizer was the focus of sports writer's and analysts as that was the end of the scoring in the game. Robert Green, keeper for the English side, stood up and took responsibility for his mistake, yet he still suffers the wrath of the whole of England.

I understand that the harassment and verbal abuse of players on the field is part of the game - it's part of home field advantage. But when that harassment follows the players off the field, that's when it becomes a problem. How far will it go? Let's not forget Andrés Escobar, a Columbian soccer player, who was murdered after the 1994 World Cup where he accidentally scored an own-goal (scored against his own team). The gunman shouted "Goal!" each of the twelve times he pulled the trigger. I don't propose that Green's life is endanger, however, he'll be heckled by English football fans for the rest of his life.

If you think that we Americans are any better, look at how Cubs fans treated Steve Bartman after his attempted catch of a foul ball got in the way of Moises Alou trying to catch it during the 2003 National League Championship Series . They drove him out of town. In fact, it was Cubs fans treatment of Bartman that led me to abandon my loyalties to the Cubs and become a White Sox fan.

As my wife reminded me when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup, "It's just a game." That's the truth. I know that most people aren't as fanatical Escobar's shooter and not all Cubs fans crucified Steve Bartman, but its sad that these things still happen. I hope for Robert Green's sake that English supporters can remember that it's just a game. Lord knows that it's enough of a burden to bear that he screwed up, he doesn't need his country piling on.

Pelé, I'm not

Since last October, I've been playing off and on in the project team's Monday/Tuesday night soccer league. Actually it's more like a pick-up game than a real league. I've probably played in ten games out of the fifty available to play since last October. Last night I finally scored my first goal.

Actually I scored two. I haven't played competitive soccer since I was 6/7 years old. I've been vowing to score a goal since the second game I played (last October). I have noticed that as an American, I really don't have much to go on for foot skills. Our sports tend to be more hand-eye coordination sports (football, basketball, baseball and even hockey), so I'm not accustomed to all this foot control. So at soccer, I've sucked. I don't like to suck. I don't need to be great, I just don't want to suck. Last night, I felt like I was a level above sucking, so it made me feel a little better.

Since last October, however, I have taken solace in my ability to play goalkeeper in a not-so-bad fashion (more of a hand-eye coordination job). It appears that the Europeans think it a shit job and rarely know how to play effective in front of the net. In fact, it's the place people go to "take a break." Thus, I'll often volunteered to play keeper anytime I can. Otherwise, I mostly play defense and throw my full-figured, American body around to get people off the ball.

Also, with the World Cup around the corner, I thought I'd also throw out a heads up for everybody to throw their support behind the American team. We've drawn into a group that we should be able to advance out of. England is the favorite to win our group, but the top two teams can advance out. So, we just need to beat Slovenia and Algeria to make it to the elimination round. Should be a doable task. Heck, we might just win our group.

We kickoff against England on June 12th. Good luck guys!

Oh, American Sports, How I've Missed You!

I've been home three days now and have had time to catch up on the two greatest sports in the world: Football (American) and Hockey.

I was lucky enough to catch the Blackhawks last two playoff games which were phenomenal. Saturday's game was particularly exhilarating with Kane tying the game shorthanded with 13 seconds left, then Hossa winning it in overtime - skating out of the penalty box straight to the net to score the game winner.

I also had time to catch up with my Chicago Bears and see what they've been doing in the offseason - who they brought in and who they let go. I'm happy to see Julius Peppers in the Navy and Orange. I'm not overly thrilled with the draft picks, but we traded a lot away to bring Cutler in. Still waiting to see Cutler to earn his paycheck.

Don't get me wrong. I have loved learning all the new sports that have been introduced or re-introduced to me while in Ireland: Soccer, Gaelic Football, Hurling, Rugby and Cricket. However, since I don't have any real reason to cheer for any teams in these sports, a lot of the experience has been lost on me.

I have been cheering for the Kerry Gaelic Football team (my company sponsors them) and Irish Soccer and Rugby, but it just isn't the same experience for me as sitting down in front of the TV on a Sunday afternoon and watching a Bears - Packers game.

Perhaps, I'll regain some enthusiasm this summer during the World Cup. USA is in the same group as England and we have quite a few English people working on our project team that I can taunt and be taunted by. I'll definitely have to deck myself out in the Red, White and Blue for those matches.

In the meantime: Let's go 'Hawks! Stick it to the Canucks!