3/31/13
Sidney Crosby
sports can cause frustration and happiness
This can be one of those blog posts you skip if you came here looking for pictures or family updates.
I stopped writing about the Sharks and Earthquakes and stuff like that because I know there is NO interest for that here. I've also tried to avoid writing bad things about people, because ANYONE can type "Guymon" into a search and find this blog, EASILY....
but here goes-
Quakes- Chris Wondolowski is making me SO mad. He, during the off season, got a HUGE raise, I mean, his salary DOUBLED. Part of the reason he is so well liked was because he was performing so well and was such a good deal financially. His lower salary, I thought, helped the Quakes to get him some quality teammates. I know soccer players make WAY less than football, baseball, basketball, even hockey players, but I honestly don't think one guy on a team should make 5 times as much as most of his teammates. They all practice the same amount. Run the same sprints. Take the same time away from their family. It's a team sport! His goals wouldn't be "game winning" if the defense and keeper let more goals in. Ever since Wondo asked for and accepted his "DP status" he hasn't been the same. He did score the "Goal of the Week" last week, but he has changed this year. With his antics of constantly yelling (and swearing) at himself, his teammates, and the refs, he has turned me off as a fan. AND, two other things add to my Wondo dislike. He's MESSING up BIG TIME my fantasy MLS team....and he hasn't written back to EITHER fan mail I wrote to him and one of them even ASKED him to write back, included a self addressed stamped envelope, and a picture for him to sign. Just RUDE.
Sharks- The Sharks have been winning lately and that make me very happy. I don't know what changed, but these may be a few factors-
1- trading slow Murray
2- benching slow Handzus
3- playing Burns at forward, which allows Burish to be benched
4- trade rumors around Boyle made him improve his game
5- the line of Marleau, Couture, and Wingles is really good together
6- Pavelski on the 3rd line works so well
7- they play better at home
And youth soccer- I really don't know how much I've blogged about this Spring season, I know I've posted a million photos...but I don't think I've really blogged about what a horrible season it has been. Well, first off the team had NO talent, well, except for Bradley. They had a ton of 11 year olds, and even some who have never played soccer before. It was a young, inexperienced team. Bradley was not the oldest kid on the team, there were actually 3 eighth graders, so he was only the 4th oldest...but he was the best. Last season he was on a team (funny that they were gold (same color as this season), the Explosion (same name as this season), and he was #7 (same number, too) that was really good. It had a good coach, good players, and actually no "bad" players, no real weaknesses. They played "the beautiful game" by passing, moving, talking, working together, having fun, and winning. This team and this coach never really turned what they were doing on the field into soccer. Now, someone COULD try to say that Bradley was PART of the problem, but he had no support, his teammates weren't even good enough to get him the ball, his teammates couldn't even tap in crosses to their feet, if he did take long shots, it was because he tired of his passes and crosses and set ups getting constantly missed. So he was (I'm sure) labeled with the "ball hog" tag. I am fine with that. There were a few times where he would come to the side line and ask me, "Should I just take it in myself?" And yes, I said, "yes"! He did have a few "breakdowns" where he'd get so frustrated at the refs for non calls or missed calls that he would talk to them...that never helps. And his mannerisms make him look bad, like when a teammate would mess up, he'd grab his head or shake his head or kick at the ground in frustration. Those are not the actions of a leader. The team had a lot of internal problems and never became a real team. They didn't like each other. Early in the season, a mom complained to the league that 4 or 5 players were "bullying" her son and she only knew two of their names- "Bradley and Andrew"...she wanted the league to discipline them. That happened at the same time as I coached the team that one week while the coach was gone for a practice and game. The kid who felt "bullied" was actually the "bully". In fact, he HIT a kid, that's real bullying. His mom was the type who dropped him off at practice and left....she really has no clue of what was going on. I'm sure he lied to her! It's actually almost comical that Andrew could be included in her bullying accusation. Andrew never goes along with Bradley's tactics and is harmless. In all the discussions with the league and coach (but not the mom, she remained "anonymous", but I know who it was) about the bullying, whether it took place or not.....we all agreed that boys will be boys, that "bullying" is the new catch phrase and is a word that is used wrong and over used, and that what took place with the 4 or 5 boys and her son was NOT "bullying". The coach made the team and parents sign a non bullying contract, he discussed it with them and it all sort of went away.
So the "ball hog" label, the "bully"ing label, the fact that practice was never fun and was always the exact same drills twice a week for an hour and a half, the fact that the team-mates ranged in age from 5th grade to 8th grade and didn't like each other, and having Bradley and Andrew on the same team- all these factors really created a not fun season! I love soccer, but I'm glad it's OVER!
For the team party, I brought cup cakes and drinks and bought, with my own money (didn't collect any money from the rest of the families) the coach a gift. I helped him when he was out of town. He has been both Bradley and Andrew's coach in the past. I've coached against him many time. We see him at scouting activities. I guess I sorta consider him a "friend". So, after the last game yesterday, I went over to say "goodbye" and talk to him. He talked a bit...for a second...then the other coach, who is a JERK, started to talk to him right in the middle of me talking to him...it was sooooooo awkward because I could TELL he was not listening to me, didn't want to talk to me, and wanted me to go away. So I did, but I was upset that he was rude to me!
I thought about writing him an e mail pointing out how rude he was, but I didn't.
I also thought about writing an e mail to the league (or just the board member whose son was the ref) about how bad the ref was at the game yesterday, but I didn't. The referee supervisor had already came over and talked to him about his missed calls...so the problem had already been addressed. But I really wanted to ask the dad (board member) to ask his son if he was ignoring OBVIOUS fouls on Bradley because Bradley is an idiot. Was it because the fans were yelling "get up you flopper" and the ref was intimidated by the fans. Was it because he didn't see them. (his missed hand balls and offsides and the ball going out of bounds, so it's very possible he honestly didn't see the tripping, pushing, kicking). What a bad ref. I wanted to tell the league that he needs more training or to just not be an u 14 ref because he really wasn't doing his job of keeping the players SAFE.
So, I guess you could say, I'm feeling bitter, but having this blog to write it all out is like having a friend to talk to. Now all of you need to RESPOND with comments, so it will really be like talking to actual people, not just words out in cyberspace.
I stopped writing about the Sharks and Earthquakes and stuff like that because I know there is NO interest for that here. I've also tried to avoid writing bad things about people, because ANYONE can type "Guymon" into a search and find this blog, EASILY....
but here goes-
Quakes- Chris Wondolowski is making me SO mad. He, during the off season, got a HUGE raise, I mean, his salary DOUBLED. Part of the reason he is so well liked was because he was performing so well and was such a good deal financially. His lower salary, I thought, helped the Quakes to get him some quality teammates. I know soccer players make WAY less than football, baseball, basketball, even hockey players, but I honestly don't think one guy on a team should make 5 times as much as most of his teammates. They all practice the same amount. Run the same sprints. Take the same time away from their family. It's a team sport! His goals wouldn't be "game winning" if the defense and keeper let more goals in. Ever since Wondo asked for and accepted his "DP status" he hasn't been the same. He did score the "Goal of the Week" last week, but he has changed this year. With his antics of constantly yelling (and swearing) at himself, his teammates, and the refs, he has turned me off as a fan. AND, two other things add to my Wondo dislike. He's MESSING up BIG TIME my fantasy MLS team....and he hasn't written back to EITHER fan mail I wrote to him and one of them even ASKED him to write back, included a self addressed stamped envelope, and a picture for him to sign. Just RUDE.
Sharks- The Sharks have been winning lately and that make me very happy. I don't know what changed, but these may be a few factors-
1- trading slow Murray
2- benching slow Handzus
3- playing Burns at forward, which allows Burish to be benched
4- trade rumors around Boyle made him improve his game
5- the line of Marleau, Couture, and Wingles is really good together
6- Pavelski on the 3rd line works so well
7- they play better at home
And youth soccer- I really don't know how much I've blogged about this Spring season, I know I've posted a million photos...but I don't think I've really blogged about what a horrible season it has been. Well, first off the team had NO talent, well, except for Bradley. They had a ton of 11 year olds, and even some who have never played soccer before. It was a young, inexperienced team. Bradley was not the oldest kid on the team, there were actually 3 eighth graders, so he was only the 4th oldest...but he was the best. Last season he was on a team (funny that they were gold (same color as this season), the Explosion (same name as this season), and he was #7 (same number, too) that was really good. It had a good coach, good players, and actually no "bad" players, no real weaknesses. They played "the beautiful game" by passing, moving, talking, working together, having fun, and winning. This team and this coach never really turned what they were doing on the field into soccer. Now, someone COULD try to say that Bradley was PART of the problem, but he had no support, his teammates weren't even good enough to get him the ball, his teammates couldn't even tap in crosses to their feet, if he did take long shots, it was because he tired of his passes and crosses and set ups getting constantly missed. So he was (I'm sure) labeled with the "ball hog" tag. I am fine with that. There were a few times where he would come to the side line and ask me, "Should I just take it in myself?" And yes, I said, "yes"! He did have a few "breakdowns" where he'd get so frustrated at the refs for non calls or missed calls that he would talk to them...that never helps. And his mannerisms make him look bad, like when a teammate would mess up, he'd grab his head or shake his head or kick at the ground in frustration. Those are not the actions of a leader. The team had a lot of internal problems and never became a real team. They didn't like each other. Early in the season, a mom complained to the league that 4 or 5 players were "bullying" her son and she only knew two of their names- "Bradley and Andrew"...she wanted the league to discipline them. That happened at the same time as I coached the team that one week while the coach was gone for a practice and game. The kid who felt "bullied" was actually the "bully". In fact, he HIT a kid, that's real bullying. His mom was the type who dropped him off at practice and left....she really has no clue of what was going on. I'm sure he lied to her! It's actually almost comical that Andrew could be included in her bullying accusation. Andrew never goes along with Bradley's tactics and is harmless. In all the discussions with the league and coach (but not the mom, she remained "anonymous", but I know who it was) about the bullying, whether it took place or not.....we all agreed that boys will be boys, that "bullying" is the new catch phrase and is a word that is used wrong and over used, and that what took place with the 4 or 5 boys and her son was NOT "bullying". The coach made the team and parents sign a non bullying contract, he discussed it with them and it all sort of went away.
So the "ball hog" label, the "bully"ing label, the fact that practice was never fun and was always the exact same drills twice a week for an hour and a half, the fact that the team-mates ranged in age from 5th grade to 8th grade and didn't like each other, and having Bradley and Andrew on the same team- all these factors really created a not fun season! I love soccer, but I'm glad it's OVER!
For the team party, I brought cup cakes and drinks and bought, with my own money (didn't collect any money from the rest of the families) the coach a gift. I helped him when he was out of town. He has been both Bradley and Andrew's coach in the past. I've coached against him many time. We see him at scouting activities. I guess I sorta consider him a "friend". So, after the last game yesterday, I went over to say "goodbye" and talk to him. He talked a bit...for a second...then the other coach, who is a JERK, started to talk to him right in the middle of me talking to him...it was sooooooo awkward because I could TELL he was not listening to me, didn't want to talk to me, and wanted me to go away. So I did, but I was upset that he was rude to me!
I thought about writing him an e mail pointing out how rude he was, but I didn't.
I also thought about writing an e mail to the league (or just the board member whose son was the ref) about how bad the ref was at the game yesterday, but I didn't. The referee supervisor had already came over and talked to him about his missed calls...so the problem had already been addressed. But I really wanted to ask the dad (board member) to ask his son if he was ignoring OBVIOUS fouls on Bradley because Bradley is an idiot. Was it because the fans were yelling "get up you flopper" and the ref was intimidated by the fans. Was it because he didn't see them. (his missed hand balls and offsides and the ball going out of bounds, so it's very possible he honestly didn't see the tripping, pushing, kicking). What a bad ref. I wanted to tell the league that he needs more training or to just not be an u 14 ref because he really wasn't doing his job of keeping the players SAFE.
So, I guess you could say, I'm feeling bitter, but having this blog to write it all out is like having a friend to talk to. Now all of you need to RESPOND with comments, so it will really be like talking to actual people, not just words out in cyberspace.
3/30/13
Final Game of the Season
This picture shows perfectly the way the red team played Bradley today....5 defenders, all marking Bradley. Not just marking him, but tripping him, pushing him, doing anything to upset him. Unfortunately, it worked. Bradley did a lot of whining to the ref (which didn't work) and pushing back (which got him penalized). It's just too bad that Bradley and Andrew's team doesn't have enough good players to match up with this red team (which is stacked).
I dont want to be one of those losers who say "the refs were terrible", but THE REFS were TERRIBLE. Their job is to call the game, run the clock, keep score, but in RECREATIONAL YOUTH soccer, their main job is to keep the players safe. Bradley was not safe. I was even glad when the coach subbed him out. Andrew was even knocked around and so was Daniel, our second best player. (His parents were angry, too.)
I'm glad the boys played soccer this season. Soccer is AWESOME! But I think I will chalk this up as a bad season. Not necessarily the win-loss record. They won 3, lost 4, and tied once. Not too bad. Three of those losses were to the red (cheaters, stacked) team. The red team was undefeated this season. Bradley scored just about all of the team's goals this season. Andrew scored twice and was great on defense. But the games weren't really soccer. The players didn't improve much. A lot of random kick ball.
On to the next season, which for Bradley starts next week or the week after, and for Andrew is Junior Giants baseball!
Because I only took like 5 photos, MELANEE, this one counts as an Andrew picture!!!!!3/29/13
Easter Eggs
The kids decided that even though it was 10:30 at night, it was time to dye Easter Eggs.
They have a friend over and they plan on staying up all night (not going to happen), plus they wanted him to have fun dying eggs with them....so I let them. They had a lot of fun...
And they enjoyed eating them, too!
3/27/13
Lucky kid
Bradley had been interested in BMX riding and has wanted a light, nice, name brand BMX bike for a while. I have looked into getting him one, but they are EXPENSIVE. Well, we were just lounging around, sitting on the couch, wasting the day away the other day and we get a knock on the door....look what one of our friends gave Bradley---
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| With just a little work and money, Scott and the kids have fixed it up into an excellent bike! (well, the brakes still need some work). Bradley loves it! |
3/24/13
1 Year
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| Today is Melanee and Dax's 1 year Anniversary. |
The year went by fast for me! WOW! My daughter has been married for a year. She's a college graduate! She doesn't really need me anymore! Where has time gone!
Congratulations you two, I'm so happy that you are SO HAPPY!
What a beautiful day that was one year ago!
Love you both!
GO Quakes!
Not the best photos ... not even close.... but I wanted to share some items I got in the mail today----I have a friend who is a San Jose Earthquakes season ticket holder, and I really wanted a quakes t shirt...REALLY wanted one. I asked him to get me one and send it to me and I'd pay for it and the postage. Well, he bought it TWO WHOLE weeks ago and finally sent it yesterday! YESTERDAY and it got here TODAY. I think he must really like me or he felt bad for taking so long to send it...because he included this Quakes scarf in the package (the other side says "San Jose" and there are logos down the sides, it's realllllly cool. And Bradley wore it during the game today (and I wore my new t shirt) and the Quakes won...so, I'm thinking they are lucky. I'm going to try to wear my new shirt during the Sharks game and see if it's lucky for them too. (here's hoping)
Soccer Week #7
The Spring 2013 season is almost over and the Explosion picked up another win. After the shaky start to the season, the team has now put together a few wins and they seem to be having more fun.
I think they've actually even improved and they are looking a little like they know what they are doing. The game they play resembles soccer. Woo Hoo! (I'm trying to be funny, not mean, if you can't catch my tone.)
I think they've actually even improved and they are looking a little like they know what they are doing. The game they play resembles soccer. Woo Hoo! (I'm trying to be funny, not mean, if you can't catch my tone.)
Bradley didn't have his best game, but he did score the game winning goal and the goal after it. The final score was 4-2.
Andrew had a few attempts on goal, but was unlucky. It's hard being probably the youngest one in the league (his birthday is Dec 27th and the cut off day is Dec 31, so unless someone was born between 28th and 30th of 2001, he's the youngest. Should have stayed inside a few more days longer Andrew, then you'd still be in under 12's, with all your classmates who play...but I'm glad you came when you did, so we could get the tax credit that year! 
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| yeah, he scored easily on this one! |
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| The sun was right behind me AND the flash went off, or this would have been the sweetest picture ever...the two Andrews! |
Happy Birthday Dad
Today is my dad's birthday! March 24th. It's also Melanee and Dax's anniversary....so I think I may have forgotten to say Happy Birthday to my dad last year....(hope not!!!!!).
We got to see him today at Andrew and Bradley's soccer game and he looks GREAT for someone who was born way back during the Great Depression!!! Actually he looks a lot like this photo from when he was in the navy!
He has raised a very good family. He has three successful kids and 8 really cool grandkids. We have a lot of fun talking about the kids and our favorite sport teams. It's fun to go to his house and watch his high def tv and eat his tasty food. But I think the best thing about my dad is that he is just a no nonsense, this is the way it is, straightforward guy. He is strong and righteous and taught us right from wrong and expected us to do it. He spoiled us with nice vacations every year. He attended all of our sport games and activities. I still remember a daddy daughter dinner he took me to when I was in Blue Birds and I dressed in clothes he brought home from Japan and our group sang, "It's a Small World". He played football, catch, three flies up, pickle, and any other game we invented with us in the front yard. He made the best waffles and we had to draw sticks to see who would get the first one (the one after the "tester", which we made into "quarters"). He worked hard and my mom stayed home to raise us. We were lucky kids to have such great parents.
I am glad my dad lives fairly close and he can come down the hill to watch my kids games and we get to see him fairly often (not often enough, but I dont want him to get sick of us!!! haha).
I am so glad that he is my dad.
Here are the words to our family birthday song, just for you, dad....beware, we will be calling to sing this to you and none of us can carry a tune!-
Birthdays come but once a year
so we send this message clear
happy birthday Dad dear
happy birthday till next year!
I love you A LOT! You are the greatest! Thanks for EVERYTHING. You've given me the best life. Happy Birthday!
3/16/13
Happy Birthday
William has always been such a good son. He's a friend, he's a good example, he's fun to be around. I really miss him. I hope he had a great birthday. This is his first birthday away from home. I'm sure there will be many more. I hope he has enjoyed his life as much as we have enjoyed having him in our lives.
He was born on St Patrick's Day 1993 at 8:20 in the morning. It was a Wednesday. I don't remember much about it anymore. Some things I remember- There was fog on the way up the Skyway. Grandma was in town to stay with Melanee. He came without me having to be induced or take any drugs. He was the only boy born that day and there were a lot of babies born. They were going to give him a green baby cap, but he came too fast before they found them out of storage. After he was born, Scott rushed off to make it to one of his classes for a test.
I love this kid, who is now a man, so much. Every mom says that, and I love all of my children, but believe me when I say that William is special. He is! Happy Birthday 20th birthday, William, even though you will never read this.
game recap
Bradley and Andrew's team has only won one game this season and it was the first game of the season, weeks ago. They have tied once since then, but with all the off field drama and in team fighting, it has been a very disappointing season so far for the kids. I was trying to count in my mind how many goals Bradley has scored, but I honestly don't remember...but I do know that he has scored all but 5 of the team's goals this season. Andrew scored one. A player named Danny scored 2, a player named David scored one, and James scored one. ALL the rest have been scored by Bradley. He's really good. Andrew is pretty good too, but their team is AWFUL, like laughingly bad. The game they play doesn't really even look like soccer, but they ARE getting better. It showed today. It was a fun game to watch.
Bradley and Andrew's team (the Explosion) scored first and the score stayed 1-1 for a while....but the other team came back with two goals of their own. The Explosion play a line up with 3 defenders and 5 forwards. The defenders never move up, they just defend, standing back by the box. The "forwards" NEVER go back and help on defense. Once they lose the ball or it gets kicked past them, they become spectators...it drives me crazy.
Right before half time, an exciting/interesting play happened. It was very controversial, too. And Bradley was in the center of the controversy. He went down the field on the left side line, then got to the touch line and came toward the goal, he passed it and a teammate shot it, right to the goalie, who bobbled it, Bradley was still coming in pretty much at full speed and went for the loose ball, he obstructed the goalie from getting to it and the goalie grabbed him with both hands and pulled him to the ground on top of him, as Bradley was going down he was somehow able to manage to get his foot on the ball in the air and chip it up over the defender coming at him and it went into the goal...and luckily, the teammate (who has had two goals (one was Bradley's) called back this season for being off sides, then touching the ball, when if he wouldn't have done anything it would have been a goal) (Melanee remember that girl on the Badgers who wanted a goal so bad and she did that!!!???!!!! (Nikki?)(Amanda?)) Anyway, the kid was smart enough, and learned his lessons, and stopped and DIDNT touch the ball and the goal counted. 2-2, now. The parents were all in an uproar, the opposing coach, everyone was calling it "no goal", but the refs still let it count and restarted with a kick off. The goalie got hurt, though, so I feel bad about that...but I think it was a good goal. The goalie didnt have possession and he's the one who pulled Bradley down onto him, Bradley was very alert and talented to be able to kick that ball the way he did in the mist of a chaotic play. It was pretty spectacular. But I can see how the opposing fans wouldn't want it to count. We've had a few goals called back on us from touching the goalie and a few where they were called back from the other team touching our goalie, so I know the rules are there to protect the goalie.
After half time, Bradley played more of a half back than a forward and he set up a bunch of other guys with nice passes, but the score stayed 2-2 for a long time. He, the whole game, pretty much was a "show boat" in that he did the fancy step overs, back heel passes, stop and starts, just playing with the ball and the other team, so most of the fans on the side line for the other team were yelling things like "take him out", "don't let him do that" and they would cheer loudly when anyone would crash into him. (That became their defensive tactic, just take his legs out, forget about the ball.) Well, he got a free kick right outside the box. While they were setting up the wall and the ref was moving them back, Bradley set the ball down and shot it into the upper far corner of the net with a really neat bend. Perfect shot. But it was called back because Bradley didn't wait for the ref's whistle. So he did it again, but this time he leaned back too far and hit it over the cross bar....buuuuuuuuuuuuuut, the ref said, "you didn't wait for my whistle". I didn't think they'd give him another chance...but they did and he made that one. 3-2....but after they all ran back to the center of the field for the kick off, the refs discussed and called it a "no goal" for some unexplained reason. It should have been a "direct kick" since it was a harsh foul. And even if it was indirect, the goalie tried to stop it and it went in off his fingertip. Or maybe, he shouldn't have gotten a 3rd shot for not waiting for the whistle on the second one????? I don't know, but no goal. It kind of deflated Bradley. He didn't play very "hungry" after that. I'm sure the tripping and pushing and double/triple teaming wasn't fun, and I am sure he could hear the fans (they would cheer when he would hit the ground and they would compliment their players for taking him out)...and I don't think he understood the call (no one did)....but a little while later, he just got it in his head he was going down to score, and he did....just dribbled past everyone and set it in away from the goalie. So now, it really was 3-2. Bradley takes really good corner kicks, but they usually just go right past everyone, well, not today, he hit a rocket, low, past everyone and right to a teammate who easily put it away for 4-2 and that was the final score.
Andrew had a few chances and almost scored 3 or 4 times, but got unlucky on a few and missed wide a few times. He was happy not to have to play defense the entire game.
Bradley and Andrew's team (the Explosion) scored first and the score stayed 1-1 for a while....but the other team came back with two goals of their own. The Explosion play a line up with 3 defenders and 5 forwards. The defenders never move up, they just defend, standing back by the box. The "forwards" NEVER go back and help on defense. Once they lose the ball or it gets kicked past them, they become spectators...it drives me crazy.
Right before half time, an exciting/interesting play happened. It was very controversial, too. And Bradley was in the center of the controversy. He went down the field on the left side line, then got to the touch line and came toward the goal, he passed it and a teammate shot it, right to the goalie, who bobbled it, Bradley was still coming in pretty much at full speed and went for the loose ball, he obstructed the goalie from getting to it and the goalie grabbed him with both hands and pulled him to the ground on top of him, as Bradley was going down he was somehow able to manage to get his foot on the ball in the air and chip it up over the defender coming at him and it went into the goal...and luckily, the teammate (who has had two goals (one was Bradley's) called back this season for being off sides, then touching the ball, when if he wouldn't have done anything it would have been a goal) (Melanee remember that girl on the Badgers who wanted a goal so bad and she did that!!!???!!!! (Nikki?)(Amanda?)) Anyway, the kid was smart enough, and learned his lessons, and stopped and DIDNT touch the ball and the goal counted. 2-2, now. The parents were all in an uproar, the opposing coach, everyone was calling it "no goal", but the refs still let it count and restarted with a kick off. The goalie got hurt, though, so I feel bad about that...but I think it was a good goal. The goalie didnt have possession and he's the one who pulled Bradley down onto him, Bradley was very alert and talented to be able to kick that ball the way he did in the mist of a chaotic play. It was pretty spectacular. But I can see how the opposing fans wouldn't want it to count. We've had a few goals called back on us from touching the goalie and a few where they were called back from the other team touching our goalie, so I know the rules are there to protect the goalie.
After half time, Bradley played more of a half back than a forward and he set up a bunch of other guys with nice passes, but the score stayed 2-2 for a long time. He, the whole game, pretty much was a "show boat" in that he did the fancy step overs, back heel passes, stop and starts, just playing with the ball and the other team, so most of the fans on the side line for the other team were yelling things like "take him out", "don't let him do that" and they would cheer loudly when anyone would crash into him. (That became their defensive tactic, just take his legs out, forget about the ball.) Well, he got a free kick right outside the box. While they were setting up the wall and the ref was moving them back, Bradley set the ball down and shot it into the upper far corner of the net with a really neat bend. Perfect shot. But it was called back because Bradley didn't wait for the ref's whistle. So he did it again, but this time he leaned back too far and hit it over the cross bar....buuuuuuuuuuuuuut, the ref said, "you didn't wait for my whistle". I didn't think they'd give him another chance...but they did and he made that one. 3-2....but after they all ran back to the center of the field for the kick off, the refs discussed and called it a "no goal" for some unexplained reason. It should have been a "direct kick" since it was a harsh foul. And even if it was indirect, the goalie tried to stop it and it went in off his fingertip. Or maybe, he shouldn't have gotten a 3rd shot for not waiting for the whistle on the second one????? I don't know, but no goal. It kind of deflated Bradley. He didn't play very "hungry" after that. I'm sure the tripping and pushing and double/triple teaming wasn't fun, and I am sure he could hear the fans (they would cheer when he would hit the ground and they would compliment their players for taking him out)...and I don't think he understood the call (no one did)....but a little while later, he just got it in his head he was going down to score, and he did....just dribbled past everyone and set it in away from the goalie. So now, it really was 3-2. Bradley takes really good corner kicks, but they usually just go right past everyone, well, not today, he hit a rocket, low, past everyone and right to a teammate who easily put it away for 4-2 and that was the final score.
Andrew had a few chances and almost scored 3 or 4 times, but got unlucky on a few and missed wide a few times. He was happy not to have to play defense the entire game.
Soccer week 6
I'm going to share the pictures now...and do a game recap later when I have more time! Enjoy! (They are starting to look all the same....I'm going to try to click my camera at a different time next game.)
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