MI CAPITA, MI CAPITA

My love for soccer came late in life nearly five years ago during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. What captivated me most about watching the game then was the controlled possession of the Spanish National Team.

If that team had an architect or a soul, it would belong to Xavi Hernandez. This is why I was so saddened to hear today that Xavi decided to retire from Barca, his club for the past 25 years.

What has Xavi meant to Spanish football and to Barca? Everything. He helped the Spanish team win its first World Cup and two consecutive European Championships as bookends to the World Cup win. For Barca, he was even more prolific, winning 22 trophies over a 17 year career with the first team as the team's #6, or central midfielder. However, it was Xavi's control and discipline more than the silverware that will leave an even more lasting imprint.

It is clear that Barca's style of tiki-taka, or quick-passing, possession-based, attacking football would not have been possible without Xavi pulling the strings. His vision of the game, his use of space, and his anticipation of his teammates' movements is unrivaled. Indeed, people called Xavi "Chameleon Eyes" because it was as though he could see in all directions at once! Similarly, it was not a surprise when Xavi was the unanimous choice to replace Barca legend Carles Puyol as Capita, or captain, when Puyol retired.

Do not take my word for Xavi's greatness. Here is what his teammate Dani Alves had to say, "While we live in the present. Xavi lives in the future, He thinks ahead of everyone else and he tries to makes everything so much easier." His partner in crime in midfield Andres Iniesta said this, "I have run out of compliments for him. There is no one who can compare to what he represents as a person and player." Finally, his Spanish National Team teammate and Real Madrid rival Iker Casillas said, "People ask me every year who I'd take out of the Barcleona team to give us a better chance of winning, and every year I tell them the same: Xavi. His control and use of the ball make him their best player."

We celebrate Xavi tonight, but both he and we cules realize there is more work to be done this season. We play the final League match of the season this Saturday. Then, we will play the Copa del Rey Final and the Champions League Final over the next two weeks.

Let's make it 3/3 for our Captain and Legend!

Visca Xavi! #6racies! Simply the best!

A FITTING TRIBUTE

This weekend I attended the funeral ceremony of one of my dearest patients - Laszlo Szarvas aka Coach.

I had the privilege to know Coach Las and his son for the past three years. Seeing them always brightened my Tuesday clinic days for several reasons. First, seeing Coach Las gave me the opportunity to talk football with an expert and giant of the game. Coach Las played in two World Cup Finals and one European Championship and also coached Hungary to the World Cup Finals in Spain in 1982. However, I was also moved every time I witnessed the banter devotion between Coach and his son Laszlo during their visits. It was as though they were giving me a lesson on how to stand by someone whom you love and how to keep one's dignity amidst the whirlwind of something as serious as metastatic cancer.

For all those reasons, I was honored when the younger Laszlo invited me to his father's memorial service at the Washington Coast. I was not the only from our clinic who had been touched by this family, and several members of our staff joined me at the memorial. These included two of our study coordinators who met Coach when he enrolled on clinical trials and my nurse.

We talked about how much Coach meant to us on the drive there. We also shared how much our interactions with him and his son had taught us about the importance of living a life one could be proud of like Coach.

Not surprisingly, the memorial was beautiful. The younger Laszlo was a wonderful host. He brought so much dignity to the proceedings and did not misplace a single word as he led us through the remembrance of his dad and finally the scattering of his ashes - fittingly in the shape of a heart.

All this time, I had thought of Coach as my teacher, but it was the younger Laszlo - a man not much younger than me - who was my teacher yesterday.  He showed so much strength and character amidst this greatest loss of his life. I told Laszlo that I knew that he would be eventually be stronger after losing his dead. I also told him that I knew that he would live his life the way his father had - with virtue and compassion and comfort in the fact that if he could survive his dad's passing, he could survive anything.

Afterwards, my team and I stopped off at local bar on the way home. We all raised a glass to Laszlo the older and the younger. What a life we have a chance to live. What tremendous families whom we get to know. What amazing role models these men and women are - these patients, these heroes, these life teachers.

WORTHY WINNERS

Today, Barcelona won its seventh Spanish League title in 11 years and 23rd League title overall.

Fittingly, today's victory came in the Vicente Calderon Stadium of last year's winners Atletico Madrid. I say fittingly because 364 days ago Atletico Madrid wrested the League title from us by drawing us 1-1 at our stadium, the Camp Nou.

The match was very intense - just as the entire season has been for Barca this year. The Catalans were in attack all game long, and the game was decided early in the second half by Leo Messi. He played a beautiful one-two (give and go pass) with Pedro in the box and then slotted the ball home at the far post past the Atletico Madrid goalie. Thereafter, the Barca coach Luis Enrique used all three of his substitutes. That brought both fresh legs and greater defensive purpose to the game, and we easily saw the match out.

Back in Barcelona, Real Madrid defeated our cross-town rival Espanyol. However, it was for naught. This is because our win today left us with a four point lead with only one game - or three points - remaining.

Barca's title this year was a surprise for many reasons. First, we brought in several new personnel both on the pitch and in the dugout.

The Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez was recruited. However, he was forced to miss the first two months of the season while serving a ban for biting an opponent in the World Cup. Further, he was not mentally sharp in the first half of the season and found it hard to integrate into our squad.

Second, we also recruited the talented Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic who took over the spot of the great orchestrator Xavi Hernandez in midfield. At times, we did not seem to have cohesion in the middle of the pitch, and many blamed Ivan.

Finally, we also brought in a new coach - Luis Enrique - who was a former Barca player and coach of the Barca B team. Enrique had coached two other first division sides after leaving Barca B, but he had not achieved much success and had never won a trophy as a coach. His policy of rotating stars and picking a different line-up every week for the first half of the season left fans and players scratching their heads.

Despite all of these adjustments, the team had some noticeable strengths this season. First, they were immense defensively and only conceded 17 goals in 37 matches so far. In fact, Barca did not concede a single goal in 33 of those 37 matches. Further, the attacking trio of SNM (Suarez, Neymar, and Messi aka Show No Mercy) selflessly distributed the ball and shared in the goal-scoring responsibilities. This attacking trident left defenses in their wake, scoring 108 goals in League play to date.

After a trophy less 2014, this League title feels very sweet and deserved. It was truly a team title despite individual greatness that specific players demonstrated in specific games. Importantly, we have two more chances at silver wear in the next three weeks. In two weeks, we play the Copa del Rey final at the Camp Nou. In early June, we also have a chance to win our fifth European Cup when we face Juventus in the Champions' League Final.

For now though, let us savor the League title and these wonderful men. If I had to pick one word to describe how I feel about these Barca players, it would be love. Visca Barca and Visca Catalunya!

NICHOLAS' STRENGTH

Nicholas participated in tryouts for a Boys U11 "Classic," or competitive team this week. We were told in advance that this was going to be challenging and that not all kids would be selected. Nicholas was unfazed by this fact. This was quite remarkable since I knew many parents whose children told them that they were too afraid of rejection to even try out.

Nicholas came back from each of the two sessions happy and more confident than when we dropped him off. We were not sure if this was delusional or simply healthy. After the final tryout, we were told to check our email in the morning to see the final decisions.

When I woke up this morning, I found Nicholas downstairs drawing as he often does. However, he did not ask me to check the email or inquire if I knew the status of his acceptance or rejection. I gave him a big hug and told him that I thought he was a world class player and son. I told him that I was proud of him no matter what the decision by the club was. He smiled and went back about his business.

Later this morning, I did receive an email from the club. Nicholas was selected to join the team!

When I returned at the end of the day, I told Nicholas about his acceptance. He was excited.

I asked him how he could be so confident that he would be accepted. He replied that he did not know if he would be accepted. However, he knew that he had tried his best and that he thought his best would be good enough.

I hope he always maintains this same sense of self-confidence without becoming cocky and that he also maintains such a high level of self-worth. Win or lose, accepted or declined, I love this boy like no other.

Here's to Nicholas!

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER

There have been many beautiful European nights in the Camp Nou in the history of FC Barcelona. However, there have been few that were sweeter than last night when Barca dismantled Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions' League semifinal match up.

There was quite a bit of drama leading up to the game. This is because this was the first time Barca's former manager and Bayern's current manager Pep Guardiola had faced his old club. In addition, the last time these two teams met in 2013, Bayern won the tie 7-0 on aggregate between the two games.
It is noteworthy that Lionel Messi, the world's best player, did not participate in those two games versus Bayern in 2013, although he bore witness to those blowouts from the bench.

This time the fans held up signs that said "We Are Ready," and the Barca team clearly brought their "A" game last night.

Early on, Barca were the better side, but they could not put away their chances. Similarly, Bayern missed a great opportunity from close range. At half, the score was 0-0. Despite this, Barca looked the much more dangerous of the two sides, and one felt that it was only a matter of time until the Catalans found a breakthrough.

Unsurprisingly, that breakthrough came from the left foot of Lionel Messi at the 77th minute mark. The play started with a turnover in the Bayern end that was forced by Dani Alves. He then slotted the ball to Messi outside the box, who hammered home his first goal in the knockout round of this year's Champions' League competition. Only four minutes later, Messi followed up with a brilliant attack. This attack began with a feint that left the Bayern defender flat on his back and was followed with a cheeky chip by Messi over the Bayern keeper.

Finally, in the 94th minute, Messi sent a through ball to Neymar, who Neymar made the most of the opportunity. That made the score 3-0, and the referee called time on this match shortly thereafter.

You can watch all the highlights here.

Unsurprisingly, the one statistic that Bayern and Guardiola did "win" was time of possession (53%-47%). However, possessing the ball is not enough to decide a game. Controlled possession is much more important, and Bayern were rarely in control. This was due to the collective effort of our players who harassed the Muncheners all night long. Indeed, despite my description of Messi's and Neymar's heroics, this was match decided by the entire Barca team who did not even allow Bayern a single shot on target.

We will enjoy this European night for a long while, especially since I recorded it with my DVR! However, we will not rest until we finish Bayern off next week and win the remaining 5 games - make that 6 games if we make it to the Champions' League final in Berlin later this month! The Spanish league title and the Spanish Cup also hang in the balance, and we must deftly navigate this competitive tightrope if we are to secure the treble (winning all three trophies).

My money is on Barca who never fail to astound me and who continue to create one beautiful European night after the other.

Visca Barca!