END OF AN ERA

This past weekend Barca was unceremoniously defeated 1-1 by Atletico Madrid. Defeated, you ask?

Barca trailed Atletico by three points going into this final game. The Blaugrana needed a win to secure the Spanish league title. For Atletico, a draw would be sufficient for them to win the title.

Barca came out strong. Soon thereafter two of Atletico's top players had to leave the field due to injuries. Then, Barca took the lead after a blistering shot by Alexis Sanchez. At halftime, Barca clung to a 1-0 lead.

However, in the second half, Atletico came out like men possessed. They quickly put Barca on the defensive and soon scored an equalizing goal. The air left the stadium, and it was clear that Barca were on the ropes.

Barca tried mightily to score once again, but most of there efforts were individual. A single player trying to doing it himself. There was no cohesive in the attack and no coordination. This was a great departure from the tiki-taka, or total football, team approach that is ingrained in the club's DNA.

Atletico, on the other hand, played as a team. They hunted the Barca players in packs and functioned in concert. Soon, the final whistle blew, and the best team had won.

We will bounce back. Our club will see better days, but this will only happen if we learn from the defeats of this miserable trophyless season. We need new players, but we do not need a new way of being.

Indeed, if Atletico has taught us anything, it is that playing team football is not only beautiful, it is also highly effective.

TICKING CLOCK

Today, I gave out some good news in clinic, but I also had to give out some bad news. My patients' reactions to the bad news made me wonder how I would feel if I were in the same position.

"The average patient in your situation lives three to five years." I could not imagine having such a short time frame left especially with a five year old and eight year old whom I love more than anything on earth. That would mean no graduations, no weddings, no grand kids. In short, it would mean missing out on the most important things in the lives of the most important people in my life.

"Treatment is generally effective for one and a half years." I cannot plan one and a half days ahead let alone one and a half years ahead. However, plan one must when one is faced with such a stark prognosis. One patient decided to quit his job. Another patient has decided to take the motorcycle trip to Europe he had always dreamt of. One man's suffocation is truly anothers' liberation.

"Prostate cancer is a race. However, it is not a 5K, a 10K, or even a marathon. Prostate cancer is a crazy 50-100 mile ultra marathon. There will be starts and stops and ups and downs, but we will run this race together." I would want my oncologist to be on my side if I had cancer. That sense of fraternity is something I try to impart to my patients. I may not be the best co-pilot, but I will not abandon ship... ever.

Just a few thoughts from today's cancer wars...

HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES II

Nicholas is a mere eight years old, but he already has a long list of accomplishments. Indeed, Nicholas has been accepted after every "try-out" he has attended. These try-outs include admissions assessments at three private schools before kindergarten and recently the Portland City United (PCU) Soccer Development Team. Nicholas played for PCU this winter, and he had a good season.

Northeast United (NEU) is another club in the area to which many of our friends' kids belong. Therefore, we decided to check out this club, too, before making a decision on the Summer/Fall seasons. Sure enough, Nicholas did a great job at his two NEU try-outs and was invited to join their Development Team.

It was difficult for Nicholas to decide which team to play for. This is because he felt loyal to his PCU coach and teammates. Ultimately though he chose NEU. I think this was because he sensed that both Kathleen and I thought the teaching methods were more rigorous and because he knew many kids at NEU whom he liked and who were equally passionate about the game.

Deep down, I think Nicholas would have succeeded with either club because he is one hell of a kid with a great head on his shoulders.

Consider me impressed and consider me proud!

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY TIMBERS-STYLE

Today was Mothers' Day. We had a day filled with soccer and family outings. In the morning, we first went to Cate's soccer game. Then, we made a mad dash to the Timbers' game.

Last week, I had emailed our Timbers customer service representative Chris Wilson to see if the team could display a Mothers' Day greeting to Kathleen from the kids on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, all the spots were already taken. Chris, though, said he would make it up to us and bring a gift to our seats. I told him this was not necessary.

However, sure enough, Chris came by in the first half and handed Kathleen a sweet Timbers' scarf. This is an item of clothing that fans often bring to the game to show their support for the team. Kathleen's was truly beautiful, and she wore it throughout the game. Perhaps it was good luck because the Timbers came back to tie the game 1-1 in the last minute of the game!

Here's to the Timbers and Chris Wilson, and here's to Kathleen and all the moms out there!

I RAISE 10s, NOT 9s

Each position in soccer is traditionally assigned a number between 1 and 11. The lower numbers are reserved for "defensive" players. The middle numbers are for "midfielders," and the higher numbers are for "offensive" players.

The number 9 is assigned to the striker, or main forward on the team. This is often a tall, strong player with relatively limited dribbling or passing ability. Traditionally, the 9 is the main goal scorer, and 9s play the farthest up the pitch. In many teams, the 9 is the player who is the central focus, to whom the other players provide "service" - play that supports the 9's success. If scoring goals is your thing, you probably want to be a 9.

Another prominent position on many teams is the 10, or so-called "false 9." This is the preferred attacking player for team's like Barcelona and the Spanish National Team that do not play with a traditional striker, or 9. Leo Messi is the 10 at the former, and he is the best player at this position in the world.

Unlike a 9, a 10 is much more versatile, and height and strength are dispensable for this position. Tens are very engaged in the build-up of play. They are great dribblers,  and they often drop into midfield to make decisive passes. Tens can often be prolific scorers but doing so requires quite a bit of work. This is because a 10 sits back farther in midfield unlike a 9 who often sits far up the pitch awaiting for service.

Nicholas and Cate, especially, score plenty of goals on their soccer teams. Parents and coaches often comment on this to me. However, parents and coaches are even more astounded by Cate's and Nicholas' ability to seamlessly take on the role of defender, midfielder, and attacker during the course of a game. Their pinpoint passes, called "dagger balls," often leaving coaches and opposing teams, alike, dumbfounded. They truly can do it all when they are at the best.

You see, in this house, we do not settle for 9s. We make perfect 10s!