Football

P Cox asked:


Just started in a community league and I’m concerned that with the indoor soccer ball being suede, gloves (while protecting my hands) would give me worse grip of the ball. Is this not the case or are there keeper gloves particularly designed for indoor soccer?
By the way, I’m looking for real answers from people who don’t have a bunch of testosterone to throw around. Thanks!

Charles

Duke Clarke asked:


Copyright (c) 2007 Good News Publications

I want to explain one of the greatest life lessons you will probably ever hear. It was brought home to me again last Friday night in an unusual way.

For 16 years I coached High School Football in Eastern Virginia. That’s the 757 area code of Virginia. If you know anything about College Football, you will recognize that area code as one of the most talented areas in the country.

But our school was small in number, in fact for the past 16 years we had to apply for an exception to the rule in order to play AA football because we were a single A sized school. This meant we never had the numbers (most of our varsity teams never had over 25 players, so our kids had to go both ways all season). We rarely had outstanding talent and if we did it was one or two players every five years or so. This means we were always out-numbered, the players rarely got a rest, a lot of them played hurt and to top it all, we played in a District where a team went to the State playoffs every year.

So how is it with so many disadvantages, we sent players on to college football at every level almost every year?including both of my sons? Not only did we send them, but our players were successful. The old coaching staff and I got together after the game and counted up 9 Championship Rings that our former players had won at the college level from Division III all the way to a National Championship in Division 1AA and an Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in Division IA, with our former player being named ACC Player of the Year.

How could such a small school with an unimpressive win/loss record have such successful players? Because we coached these young men to love the game, give all they had all the time and never, never waste an opportunity when it is given to you.

I was reminded of this last Friday night when I saw the team play once again. We were playing the cross town team who had already won the District Championship with a 9-0 record and we were their last game.

Once again we were outnumbered, outsized and outplayed. By half time we were down 37 to nothing. The game finally ended 44 to 0. Our school was in a down cycle to say the least. With a miserable 3-7 record and only 21 players on the team you would think that a 44-0 loss on your last game would be so hurtful you would want to just leave and go home.

But after each game, down on the field the coaches talk to the team and let the players talk about the game. This was the last night of the season and the last night for the seniors, so the head coach let all the seniors talk. There was no finger pointing, there were no regrets, each one, to a man, talked about how much he loved the game and how much he loved his teammates and coaches. Tears flowing, hearts open, and these young men saw the game bigger than win/loss, bigger than points on the board, bigger than the final team record.

At one point during the game, the team we were playing broke through the line of scrimmage and took off on a 60 yard run to the end zone. We were already down by 30 points, but the middle linebacker chased this player down and tackled him on the 4 yard line. Two plays later the team scored anyway. But for that one moment, our player had the heart not to let his teammates down, not to let himself down and gave everything he had to stop that man before he scored. He had been playing both ways the whole game, but his team and the pride in himself came first.

No one would have blamed him if he only tried half-heartedly to stop him, we were already down 30 points, but that’s not what we teach!

After the huddle at the end of the game when we broke up, several of the seniors were hugging each other and crying. They were not crying because they lost; they were not crying because they had a bad game or a bad season. The reason they were crying was summed up in one player’s sobbing outburst?”It’s over!”

He and the others were crying because they would never again put on a uniform; never again walk on the field as a player, never again be a member of a team on the field pulling for a united goal?it was over.

I have seen seniors in the past go down to the end zone and just sit down as everyone left the field. They just sat there gazing at the field reliving every moment they could. The stands were empty, the field was empty but they just sat their not wanting to leave.

Of course they will go on to other things in life and hopefully carry this passion with them. But the life lesson that is so important to learn here is that we never allow time to pass us by, never take an opportunity for granted, before you know it, that window is closed and “It’s over!”

Live with passion. Love what you are doing or find something else to do. You only get one shot at life, make the most of if before?it’s over.



Terrance

Gerry McDonnell asked:


As a society, we’re obsessed with appearance. I blame teen magazines for perpetuating the myth that skinniness equals beauty. If I had to choose between a thin girl and a lady with a fuller figure, I’d choose the one with the better personality. Obviously, if they’re equally pleasant, then fatty’s out of luck.

Men are far less uptight about how they look. Petr Cech was happy to return to work when half of his face was hanging off; he wasn’t concerned that he looked like Steve Bruce’s better looking brother.

Cech was back between the sticks within no time, as he managed to borrow the necessary protection from Ashley Cole. Not many people own chin guards, but Cashley is always wary of bouncing balls. I’ll be jumping up and down when Everton beat Chelsea at 14/5.

Juande Ramos believes that his players should take pride in their appearance, and has banned cakes and sweets from the canteen. I agree with Juande on this one; I’ll only consider a muffin once a year. If Wigan get their head down against Tottenham, they can take a point at 5/2.

Gareth Southgate is far more relaxed with his players’ diet. In Mido and Alves, he has the fattest pair up front since a heavily pregnant Jordan. Bolton are about as pleasing to the eye as Peter Andre’s often visited partner; a relatively attractive Boro will overpower them at 11/10.

Thaksin Shinawatra is taking a real gamble in considering Phil Scolari as a future coach. Big Phil once punched an annoying player at the end of a match; there’s a real chance that he might raise a fist to Ashley Cole. Pompey haven’t won away at Manchester City since 1963, I’m going in deep on Sven’s men at 11/8 to gain revenge for being tucked up on the Benjani deal.

Steven Gerrard has suffered panic attacks ever since a gangster threatened to break his legs; he now collapses without warning roughly every 30 minutes. The precipitating midfielder and his pals have lost on their last two trips to the Cottage; current circumstances dictate that we back Fulham at 3/1.

Arsenal’s season can be compared to putting your hand up Lily Allen’s blouse: it’s been exciting, but the end result is a disappointment. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Gunners laid a marker for next season by pounding Reading at 4/11.

Paul Jewell’s move to Derby is officially the greatest mistake since I fell for the ‘I’m on the pill’ line. After a six goal humiliation at home to Aston Villa, the Rams travel to West Ham to face a side who beat them 5-0 at ‘Pride’ Park. Derby have two hopes in this one, Bob Hope and no hope; and Bob Hope’s dead. The Hammers are the weekend banker at 2/5.

Many people believe that Mark Hughes will be the next manager of Manchester United. I’m not sure if Hughes is ready to succeed Sir Alex just yet, he needs to work on his referee-haranguing. I’d consider offering the position to Fergie’s son; he would soon knock them into shape. United will pile in to Blackburn at 8/13.

I was shocked to receive an email suggesting that I was out of line for calling Karen Brady unattractive. I guess the old adage is true: one man’s meat is another man’s poison, unless you’re Ashley Cole. Aston Villa are one win away from their second straight double over the Brady bunch, and they’re guaranteed a goal start if Ridgewell plays. I’ve seen worse bets than the 5/6 for a Villa win; I tipped them up last week.

If Freddie Shepherd is to be believed, and why wouldn’t he, the women of Newcastle are not the best looking breed. No wonder Jimmy Nail, Paul Gascoigne and Peter Beardsley left the area. It could get real ugly when the Toon Army host Sunderland; I’ll side with Newcastle at 5/6.

If, like me, your partner is less than pleasing aesthetically, feel free to use my adage to help them feel a little bit better about themselves. ‘Beauty fades, but a solid ironing technique will last forever’. I’m not sure how long the 13/1 will last about this week’s accer: Arsenal, West Ham, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Manchester City are the quite stunning selections.



Alisha