Monday, November 11, 2002

HEY THERE, GOALIE BOY

We had an impromptu scrimmage on Friday afternoon. I think I counted 22 out there, plus a couple who stopped by in street clothes. The Boarders were half way to Copper Mountain by then, I am sure. The problem was that we were goalie challenged, meaning we didn’t have any. There is always an "enthusiastic volunteer", so I keep a goalie stick and chest protector handy at all times.

That enthusiastic volunteer was once me. It’s hard to believe that it has only been a little more than 10 years since I had enough courage to get in the goal (with a short stick) for a UCSB JV game vs, UC Davis in Davis, CA one Sunday morning (Ain't no thang). I was the coach of the UCSB JV, and one van, the one with Carlos the goalie, "got lost" on the way to the field. They finally showed up after I had played one quarter. I did not give up a goal, making perhaps one or two actual saves. We led 2-0 or something. We had attackmen playing defense with bent poles. I was yelling to the defense exactly what I wanted them to do so that I wouldn’t have to see many shots, because other than positioning the defense to protect the goal I had no idea what I was doing in there. It turned out so weird. The lost van with about 8 players finally showed up, and we all got totally pumped because the "Dirty Dozen" had "held the fort". We were all finally there. Surely we would cruise now. We promptly went out and got spanked. I couldn’t understand it at the time, but I have since learned to recognize what I might call a "team hangover". Mormons will not play on Sundays. I try to not schedule games on Sunday either, but for a whole different set of reasons.

Anyway, we did some 5 on 5, with Melon playing the part of the volunteer goalie. Most of the players out there Friday were our prime timers, which shows me that this team is hungry. Plonkey looked like he had just played the day before. It’s amazing how out of shape most of them can get in two weeks, though. I will need to be their collective "e-mail conscience" through the next two months, reminding them to run and "go to the gym."

TO OBSESS OR NOT TO OBSESS

Right now that is the question. I almost feel guilty because I am not busy plotting and scheming for the next season. Maybe it is because I trust that we all believe now that it is one extended season, and that it means we don’t have to start over every time we get together, no matter how long it might be between sessions.

I trust myself in these matters, which is not to be confused with always being right. If I was disturbed by things this fall, or worried about specifics, I would already be "asking questions" to myself. I would be doing this even if Ada were pregnant with twins, which thankfully she is not.

As it is, I have not been thinking that much about lacrosse on the field stuff. I am busy with it off the field, though, from web sites to checking up on eligibility, and fund-raising. I am charging my coaching batteries.

HOMEMAKER’S LOCAL 2002

I need to come up for air once in a while, and that is maybe what I am doing now, spending time with and thinking mostly about my actual family, the one that I live in the same house with. It’s been a Mr. Mom couple of weeks for me, and now I believe that "Homemaker" is a much better description for the job than "Housewife." They need a union. There should be a cap on the number of times you have to drive to Montessori in a week. If I am the Chief of the Homemaker Union, there can be only so many doctor/dentist appointments per family per week. I do enjoy grocery store duty, however. There is always much to observe and do at King Soopers. Plus, you can shop for the stuff you want. Parking lot driving is starting to really scare me, though. I think it is a most dangerous proposition anymore.

LEAVING LAS VEGAS?

Ryan Ferrin, noted CSU alumnus and lacrosse helmet designer, thinks that he knows why we play well in Las Vegas. His theory is that other teams get excited and somewhat overwhelmed by the Sin City distractions, while these distractions are "present every night in the Fort". This somehow gives us more self-control?


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