...a new car!

I know that I've been extremely delinquent in my posts recently and for that I apologize. We are moving our offices into the stadium this weekend and opening day is less than two weeks off, so things have been quite hectic.

I had a pretty relaxing weekend over Memorial Day for a change. I typically referee that weekend out in the suburbs, but the tournament directors seem to have lost my application so I didn't get assigned to anything. Honestly, I could have used the money but it was a nice break for a change.

Last week, Mean Machine Arsenal played in our State Cup match up in Bensenville. The field was big and spacious and a perfect field-turf playing surface...clearly the best field we've played on to date. Unfortunately, we got spanked by a Polish club 6-0. No matter what we did, we weren't going to beat this team as they were flat out our superior, however, I think we could have fared better than that. Our captain didn't read the tournament rules and we didn't find out until 20 minutes in that substitutions were not allowed to re-enter. In our first brush with real soccer rules, we trotted out an injured left midfielder, a slow center midfielder, and a forward that spent the entire first half playing everywhere except where he should have been. We were missing a couple players that typically start for us and we managed to put our fastest two players, myself included, on the bench to start.

We get back into action this weekend as we take on Elk Grove Arsenal, one of the top clubs in the NSSL for the past decade, this Sunday. I also have a match for The Globe Pub on Sunday as we try to right the ship after dropping a match while I was in Florida.

I have also begun the process of looking for a new car. Most of you would be happy to know that I'm not going to be getting another purple neon, but I'm sure I will get some crap over the car I am looking at. My entire life I've always wanted a Jeep Wrangler, so I'm considering it, but Hutch also has a Wrangler so I know I'm going to take some crap for it. Fortunately for me, I obviously don't care what anyone thinks or I'd have never gotten that purple neon three years ago. This one is Pewter (very masculine looking) and has a soft top, so I'll be pimping through the city this summer. I have been looking for a spare tire cover with the Miami Indian logo on it, but have been unlucky thus far. If I don't find it I may have to go with an Ohio State one instead because I refuse to put the Miami Redhawk on my car. If anyone knows where I could find one, or have it made, let me know!

And the winner is...

KAREN!

Sorry I've been MIA, the vacation was incredible and I'm not completely back yet mentally.

Clearly everyone enjoyed your entry better than most, but now I have to come up with a little description underneath.

As for your prize, we'll have to work something out since I'm sure you and Erik don't want to fly to Chicago in three weeks for a soccer game. I currently have an autographed Chicago Fire soccer ball from this year's team if you want that. However, I may come up with some cooler stuff once we move into the new stadium and get some merchandise floating around the office.

Spaceballs the Flame Thrower perhaps? I hear the kids love this one!

Barry

Just a quick thought here on Barry Bonds. I think it's inevitable that he'll pass up Babe Ruth at this point, but does he really have 40-some more homers in him? He has looked quite un-Barry so far this season and I honestly think Hank Aaron's record is safe, for now. I can't see Bonds coming back for another season, at least in the National League. However, if he went and played as a DH in a warm climate in the AL, he might have a chance.

Either way, I don't think anyone really cares. At least about passing the Babe. Do you know how many sell-outs the Giants had during the past series with the Cubs? NONE. That's right, they couldn't fill the ball park despite having the Cubs in town (admittedly, they suck, but they have been one of baseball's highest attended road teams in recent years) and Barry approaching Ruth's mark of 714. Unreal.

The ever amusing match report...

05/10/06
The Globe Pub Football Team: Match Report
Link : League Table

This week the Globe took on Double True in an attempt to consolidate their position at the top of the league. A glorious sunny afternoon was met with an abundance of talent, with the Globe having the rare luxury of a substitute.

Manager El Tel Jones was not at pitch side, neither was the Chairman and questions have now been asked about the commitment of these two individuals. Likewise the questions must be asked of international playboy ‘Kidderminster Jamie’, as he had blatantly spent too much time in the tanning salon on Sunday morning and then had the nerve to complain of ‘sun burn’.

The game itself was played at a pretty slow place with the Globe imposing from the opening. The ladies were again in fine form. New signing Catherine looked inspired and made a number of sweet runs down the right flank. Sharon too had a fantastic chance in the opening minutes and her near lob, just crept over the bar.

The physical presence of Double True was a daunting one, with half of the team showing the physical build of boxers. Something Martin found particularly scary.

A second half corner was to be the key that unlocked the opposition defense. A low ball in confused the opposition and with boots and fists flying everywhere the ball fell to Wayne, who tapped home from 6 yards.

There was a moment of concern late in the second half when concern came about that Brandon had been shot by a lone sniper hiding in some near by bushes. 15 roles later, however the team were able to establish that he had in fact fallen over an uncut blade of grass.

Brandon luckily recovered from the career threatening injury to pop up and score the match winning goal, taking his personal tally to three for the season.

The game was again marred by cr@p refereeing, enough said.

Next weeks game is 6.30 pm. Will the Globe maintain their winning streak? Will El Tel turn up? Will Cheltenham beat Wycombe on Saturday? Who knows? If you want to play, contact the pub now if not be sure to come drinking on Sunday night and hear all about it

OH...and by the way...

I saw the spring review for the Big Ten on ESPN Insider today. Made me think of this:

Not so Mean Machine

We lost our "home opener" on Sunday morning 3-1, and boy was it pathetic. I'll be the first to admit that I had a very weak performance and wasn't able to get involved in the attack much until very late in the second half. We didn't even get to play this one on our home field since they still haven't replaced the 6-foot high youth goals with regulation ones as of yet. We played a "home match" in the same town, but instead over on Homa FC's field.

I started at left midfield, which is definitely not my natural side of the middle, and quickly realized that a two week layoff was not good for my lungs. We made it to halftime 0-0 and neither team had too many chances in the first half. In the second half the middle of our defense/midfield fell apart, allowing the same player to break through for three goals before we knew what hit us.

After being off the field for the third goal, I returned to the field in my natural right midfield position and began to get a little more involved in the attack. Unfortunately by then it was too late. We finally broke through in the final 5 minutes and got a goal back, but ultimately it was not our day. I'll be missing this week's game since I'll be in Marco Island, Florida, but I'll be back in two weeks and hopefully this time I'll be able to keep my fitness up.

Fortunately, after officiating a wild match in the Glenview League, I managed to play a decent match in my CoRec game with The Globe Pub. I started in the center-attacking midfield slot and put alot of pressure on their midfield to mark me early on. I had chances, but the field was so shoddy I couldn't get a decent hit on net and we went in to half tied at 0-0.

About halfway through the second half our captain, Wayne (one of the Brits,) scored off my corner kick. It was actually a pretty poorly struck ball on my part, but I felt with the crappy dirt and rocks around the goal that a low driven ball might be better than a traditional high, bending ball into the box. I was right. The ball bounced straight through their defense and Wayne was there to knock it down and into the back of the net.

Later, I managed to crack through for my second (really third) goal in the past two weeks with the Globe on a pure hustle play. Their keeper muffed a save and the ball was pushed wide of the post less than a yard from the end line. I got there first and quickly turned and fired a shot back across the goal line. The ball hit the back of a defender that was still in front of the goal and went up into the back of the net. We held on for a 2-0 win and remain in first place in the league at 4-0-1.

I'll try for a professional sports report by the end of the week, but if not I'll have some time during my vacation to relax and write some more then. Until then, enjoy the weather and have a beer for me.

Finalists

The weekend, though rainy as all get out, turned out to be pretty okay. I went with Amy to meet her dad, grandma, and a bunch of her aunts, uncles, and cousins on Saturday and had a pretty good time. Her father was fairly intimidating at first, but once I caught onto his sense of humor I think I rolled with the punches quite nicely. After dinner we came back into the city and I went with Nash to McGee's for Lesniak's birthday. Big dog turned 30 this weekend, crazy. We're getting old...and I'm one of the youngest in the crew!

Saturday was a long day of moving Nash out and Hutch in. We started early as Nash and I had to rearrange our place to make room for Hutch's stuff on the way in. The painters finished doing my room at about 11:30 or so, which made it a little slower than I had planned. As we were moving everything back into my room I decided to rearrange the place fairly drastically. It had been the same way for two years, since the days when I lived with "the little mermaid." I'll post pictures soon, but I like it much better as it opened up a ton more floor space.

We finally finished the physical act of moving furniture around 7:00 pm and then everyone met back at our place to head over to D'Agostino's. That turned into quite a riot as Miazga came out for the first time in nearly half a decade. Good times. Luckily it didn't rain too hard, though it did come down throughout most of the day/night.

My match for Arsenal on Sunday was cancelled earlier in the week because Vernon Hills had yet to fix our home field, so I picked up a full day of officiating instead. Unfortunately, I wouldn't get to make all the money I was expecting because the rain came hard.

I first had to referee a match in the Master's Soccer League between Romania and some German club up in Winnetka. This was the first time since college that I actually worked with an improper uniform on. I didn't have a long sleeve black rain jacket like the other two officials, so I left my sweatshirt on and pulled a short sleeve black jersey over top. Had we been assessed I likely would have taken some flack for it, but NOBODY was going to be out watching that match at 10 in the morning when it was 48 degrees and driving rain.

I next headed over to Glenview to referee a second match, but upon my arrival saw that the field was in extremely poor shape. We deemed it unfit to play and I turned around and drove home. My match for The Globe Pub was also cancelled, so I came back and Hutch and continued piecing the apartment together. Nash came over to put more of his stuff together (still not all out) and we watched the Soprano's. Apparently I missed last week because I was lost during the recap segment in the beginning. I'll have to "On Demand" that sucker tonight.

Finally, I would like to announce the finalists in the re-name my blog contest. They are, in no particular order:

Karen - Oops, I CAPped my pants.
Dave - Full of CAP
David - Bust a CAP in your ass
Amber - CAPital Punishment

Winner to be announce before I leave for Florida (May 12th.) Good luck to the finalists and let the lobbying begin!