Sick of Sick

Biggles, that's me, has been a sick puppy since returning from Argentina/Uruguay. I am so sick of being sick that I think I may be sick. Which to me seems increasingly sick.

I went to the RSL game on Saturday and honestly was pleased at the improvement of our side. We really are a better team. The only bummer is that we ended up with the same stinking result. We tied!

I guess the pain of a true fan is loving your team when they are good, loving them when they are bad, and loving them when they are working out the kinks in-between the two.

Cuando nos enfrentamos a los chivitos creo que se ve que tipo de cuadro tenemos.

One-sided love

The band, downdowndown, sings in their recent song, PROPAGANDALOVE, "Who wants a non-existent, pretend, one-sided love?" After lifting this angst enveloped statement to the sky, the singer confesses, "I do." We all want to be loved. We all need to be loved and if we aren't, we construct a love suitable for our perceived needs (real or not).

The fans of sport franchises, for example, are paradigms of this need. They desire to be loved by their teams. Be it seen through ticket sales, merchandise sales, or crazy outfits on game day, all fans desire to be loved by their teams.

Now that love is not a real expression like hugs and kisses or "'til death do us part" (although for some franchises the latter may be more true than not), but an expression on the field, court or pitch. They want to see their team win. And, if their team can't win, they must, at least, compete. Their team must fight, scratch, claw, and give of themselves to express that love to their fans.

Sometimes this truth becomes reality. Sometimes, perhaps often, it does not.

My Real Salt Lake experience in the last few weeks has prompted me to shout out, "I do!" I want to see this reality. I want to hear the cries (of joy) on the coming Saturdays of the MLS season. I want to high five my fellow "lovers." I want to raise my hands in victory on those summer days to come AFTER the whistle has blown. I want to be loved. And do you know what I know? IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN THIS YEAR!

ReALity is coming. Do I still want it? I do.

Back from the South

I arrived Friday back to the United States from my little junket down south. Hours on an airplane, in row 43, recovering from 3 days of a more southern version of Montezuma's, was almost too much for the aging hulk of a carcass that I have become. I don't know how people can travel week after week all over the world and remain healthy, focused and emotionally stable. I purposed in my heart at the end of this journey to seek FIRST CLASS from now on or I don't go (I am sure that this bold statement of purpose will return to bite me in the butt some time in the future).

I will say, however, that my time with Real Salt Lake was awesome. It was great to get to know the new crop of guys for this year and dream a little about what may become in the area of success for this burdened club. If the quality of character is any indication, coupled with the the quality of play that emerged at times, I see a much more competitive year and more of a lion's heart for this squad. I may not be much of a soccer player any more, but I think we will give everybody in our league a rough time. And minimally, we look more unified then I have seen in the three previous years of play (top to bottom).

Having said all that, I myself am preparing for another year at the helm of ICS's boy's soccer team. I don't know how this always happens, but the schedule consistently has a game somewhere about the third day of practice. There is no way anyone can prepare a team in a few days, but I suppose, that is the nature of the spring sport experience.

Anyway, I am glad to be home and have some good ol' home cooking from my beautiful wife. I didn't think it was possible to say this, but I got a little tired of always eating STEAK!

Argentina and the sport

I say "the" sport because I have forgotten how rabid this area of the world is in regard to soccer. There is a soccer game on the television every day, all day long. People are always talking about their team and the prospects of winning or the desperation of dropping out of the first league. It is also not possible to walk down the street and not see almost every third person wearing some form of team jersey.

The air here is thick with "aficion." The other day I saw a bus filled with supporters for Rosario Central (a team fighting to stay in the first division) waving their flags, wearing their jerseys, singing and heading toward the stadium to watch their team play Colon. Some of the guys from RSL had tickets and I was supposed to go with them. We were running late from practice so I opted out, knowing it was going to be standing room only on the steps. I watched the game from the hotel room and it was packed! The two teams played with all the fervor of a cat fight.

Anyway, I will be on my way to Uruguay on Tuesday to see some of my friends and enjoy la bella orilla. I will be returning to Salt Lake on Friday, back to the cold, back to the beautiful mountains and back to my beautiful wife.

Trip to Argentina and Uruguay

I will be visiting el cono del sur starting today joining Real Salt Lake on their preseason training there. I hope to be enjoying some asado like no other and some "yerba mate."

I also will take a few days and visit Colonia del Sacramento, my old soccer team Club Atletico Juventud, and some of my old friends in Uruguay.

The only bummer is that my beautiful wife cannot join me on this trip. And by the way, does the use of the word "bummer" date me?