futbol frustration

I fly out of work at exactly 4:00 p.m. and hope the traffic is minimal. Yes!!! I make it home for the last 20 minutes of the US men’s team versus Mexico. It’s tied 1-1 since half….oh this is gonna be good! Wha…?!?! Are we playing adult soccer?? No, no. We have reverted back to elementary-style soccer of boot the ball as soon as you get it. Don’t worry about setting anything up. This is only one step above the follow-the-ball-mob-style of toddlers!!

Agghghghghghghghgh!!!!!! At this point, I think the best I can do is make a few observations, as objectively as I can:

> Mexico controlled the ball…this is helpful to winning the game
> US fogets to use the midfield and sends the ball long every chance they get…the odds are not good that they will successfully counter-attack on every possession
> US lost energy at least 15 minutes before full time…there was little off the ball movement; point proven with Mexico’s 2nd goal…one US defender had to shift to take ball and no one else stepped up to take open Mexico player…they (US players) were at the edge of the box while play was happening around 6yd line…can’t defend from this position!!
> Mexico did what they needed to do. Case in point: 15 shots, 7 on goal. US only mustered 4 shots, 1 on goal (this is excellent shots on goal to scoring ratio…but not enough shots!!)

Well, there were lots of other things that could be talked about…such as playing in Azteca stadium, the refs, etc., but I won’t.

Reflect-ing

I am taking a Christian Ed. class about how to develop a higher education course. I am really enjoying it…though the one aspect I see becoming slightly annoying down the road is REFLECTION. It is an emphasis in current education philosophy, mainly because it is toted as a “high level” learning activity. I’ll spare the details, but in honor of the emphasis, lets reflect!

This has been a much better semester than last, in terms of course load. I really don’t know what I was thinking trying to take that 5th class! However, my Greek and Hebrew classes seem to be taking more time than before…just never can get that extra minute…

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the US Men’s Natl. team play Mexico in a friendly (this is futbol I’m talking about). I was a little disappointed in the final outcome, but the US did field a youth-laden team. Seems the coach was trying to get a feel for their play in the interanational arena. The veterans were really the ones that disappointed. Donovan seemed to be a non-factor, especially at anchoring the midfield and possessing the ball, as well as making slicing runs to give some sort of target. It was entertaining to see Howard in goal, though. Props to the Wheelers for the venue!

In participatory sports….I played ultimate frisbee on Saturday. There are 5 teams and we played 2 back to back…and they were the 2 teams with the organizers, thus the group that apparently play every weekend. Yeah, so we were slaughtered 11-1 and 11-2. Of course our team captain was being a great encourager and focusing on the positive…we scored all of our goals when it was 10-0, so good job in not giving up. I couldn’t help but think about the fact that in both games, the opposing team changed their line-up at this point, so we were playing our 5 guys and 2 girls against their 3 guys and 4 girls…and NO, I didn’t mention that! Anyway, I think we will have a better result against the other 2 teams in the league.

We had an interesting debate in my church history class today. The prof split us into 2 groups, each having to argue support for the patriots or the loyalists in the American Revolution…from strictly a theological standpoint.  I was supporting the loyalists, which was splendidly easy. Got me thinking about which side I might have joined had I been a part of that time in history.  Hmmmm….not really sure….maybe I’ll just claim the pacifists!

Okay, that is enough “reflecting” for now. I have even reflected on my reflection and realized that I did not reflect effectively because I have not moved much beyond relating events and into analyzing what I have learned….ahhh enough of this!

I love sports!!!

I should probably be writing about how the things that I am studying are energizing and motivating me…and they are, truly. BUT, this week is littered with sports and it makes me happy And believe it or not, I am not counting the Super Bowl as one of those events! Yesterday I played racquetball (adrenaline level: 5, sweat level: 6), which I have not done in forever since my only competition had to run away to Bogota. I promised I would take it easier on him. Tonight is futbol, America versus Mexico (adrenaline level: spikes to 10, seat level: 2). Nothing like some old school rivalry from CONCACAF! This weekend I am playing ultimate frisbee (adrenaline level: 7, sweat level: 8 ) in DTS’s first ever intramurals. I think there are only 5 teams, but it is a start!