BROTHER T HAS BEEN playing soccer since before, well, since before he was a brother. And these days he’s still heading and slide-tackling away. He recently helped to form a whole league of soccer players in the area to play against each other on Sundays. He rounded up his soccer buddies and found a business sponsor, had shirts made and collected money for the refs. The only problem was that he’s been scheduled to work every Sunday!
So T went to his supervisor at Canyon Ranch and explained all the work he had put into this soccer league (in my head, I see him with charts and graphs and pleading clasped hands), and they granted him Sundays off. I was so impressed with him that I had to get in on the action. So last Sunday I went to his game.
The weather was not on their side (what’s with all this crappy weather, anyway!?) and the field was quite spongy and soggy. But the guys forged on, sending the ball down-field, only to have it spin uncontrollably in a deep puddle.
T was playing full-back defense, sprinting around and shouting to his teammates. (Can you tell I don’t really play sports?)
In the end they put up an incredible fight but were robbed of the win! I had a good time hanging on the sideline with friends, wives and daughters. (I didn’t meet any other sisters, though.) I can only imagine how nice it will be to watch on a Sunday when the sun is out!
P.S. Marion wrote about sitting on the sidelines of her daughter’s many athletic endeavors, but how about you, readers, do you go to your siblings’ games?
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Before I had children, I didn’t realize the huge physical and mental health benefits of teen sports. And being a part of my kids sports events and games helped my mental health by supporting the illusion that if they were practicing and playing so hard, they wouldn’t be involved in …! I don’t want to know because, here they are as young adults still valuing the physical challenges for the health benefits and attention it gathers. I remember attending my “little” brother’s high school football games where he starred as player #69. I took such pleasure in yelling “go 69″.
Dear MOM (aka deborah salem) you are toooooo funny.
We lost 3-2…the last goal was scored after everyone had stopped playing because of an obvious offside that the ref didn’t call…my point is that we should have won. Additionally, that was pre-season. The season kicked off last Sunday and we won 4-2. You can follow this league at berkshirecountysoccer.com
I just love you guys and all your very funny and insightful stories. And happy belated birthday T. How could I not note that memorable day, Deborah firmly stating, “I can’t do this”, and out comes an amazing head of hair. You are beautiful.