My Soccer Story

Soccer:  The Most Marvelous Game!

It was 1973.  I was about to turn 16 and attended my first professional soccer game.  Up to that point in my life I never gave the game a second thought.  Fortunately, it all changed on that summer evening in Bloomington Minnesota where I first experienced the Minnesota Kicks!

They played outdoors in the same stadium that was home to the Twins and Vikings.  And even though I had been to this venue many times over the years, this time it was different.  It was literally a turning point in my life! Up to that time I was an American football fan (some might say I was a crazed, lunatic football fanatic!).   But something changed that night.  I really got into the game with its combination of skill and grace (which I liked about American football), with very little of the uncontrolled violence (which I didn’t like about American football).

Shortly thereafter I joined my friend’s soccer team, realizing immediately that the game wasn’t as easy as it looked.  Because of my inexperience, (and my tendency to bowl over people on a regular basis) my new teammates decided I would do the least amount of damage playing goalkeeper.  This turned out to be a momentous decisions as I went on to play goalie for my college team… and now over 30 years later I’m still playing the game that I’ve come to love so much.

The best part of this story is that my love for soccer has been handed down to the next generation.  On this site you’ll find pictures of my nephew (Philip) and my Granddaughter (Emily) competing their hearts out and having a blast in the process.  I’m actually finding more satisfaction watching (and coaching) these two kids than I do playing the game.  It has provided them an outlet for the frustrations of life and the opportunity to learn teamwork, camaraderie, etc.

No doubt about it.  The game has immeasurably enriched my life and the lives of the little ones in my family.