COMEBACK

We all face adversity in life. During those moments, it is easy to give in to despair and to give up hope. On Tuesday, Nicholas and I witnessed Argentina's improbable come from behind win against Egypt after being down 2-0 in the 78th minute. The game was a reminder that the only way through hardship is through our own belief.

My own life has been filled with challenges - professional and personal. I have persevered and not let setbacks bring me down or cause me to give up on what I value most. That resolve has been tested these past 12 months in a particularly difficult year.  Indeed, there have been many days when it felt like the life I had built was no longer tenable. Something kept me going though, and somehow I have continued to try to move forward. Giving up always felt like a fait accompli and something I just could not countenance.

Last Tuesday, Argentina's predicament seemed particularly grave. They had not played good football and were lucky to only be down by two goals. However, despite being 12 minutes away from World Cup elimination, the crowd made up of 90% Argentina fans never wavered. They urged the team on, singing in full voice. It was a magical atmosphere, one in which the impossible still seemed possible. The players must have felt this deep inside of themselves, too, but it is hard to underestimate the power of their vocal supporters. 

Messi delivered a beautiful ball in for a headed goal by Cristian Romero in the 79th minute. I grabbed Nicholas in my arms, and we both jumped for joy. Four minutes later, Messi latched onto a ball in the box and lashed it into the top of the goal to tie things up. We went wild again. 

The crowd urged the team on, and the Albiceleste grew in confidence. The chorus from the crowd felt like having a twelfth man on the field, and Argentina continued to press forward. 

In the third minute of stoppage time, Enzo Fernandez headed home what would be the game winner! We went wild, high-fiving and embracing each other and the friendly strangers in blue and white all around us. What a comeback! What an inspiration!

That night, I was reminded just what hope and resilience mean. I was also reminded how much I have been through and how I, too, like Argentina am still standing. I used to think that optimism was the belief that everything would work out. I now know that optimism is the belief that one will be able to handle a situation no matter how fraught it is or how things work out.

Last night in Kansas City, Argentina completed another great escape in extra time against Switzerland, scoring the game winner in the 112th minute of extra time. This team reminds us that if you think you can win, you still have a chance. While failure is an option despite our efforts, not trying should certainly not be!

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

The National Championships for youth soccer only come around once per year. This year was our third trip there, and the third time must have been a charm because Cate's Michigan Tigers 08 Girls Team finaly came away victorious!

It has been six years since Cate joined this club after our move to Ann Arbor. The first year, she was on their second team, but she quickly established herself and was promoted to the first team. Since that time, she has grown incredibly as a player and leader on the field. She plays central midfielder, which is like the quarterback of the team, and she is responsible for controlling play, starting attacks, and helping with defense. It is one of the hardest positions on the field, but she always excels in this position.

At Nationals, we swept the group stage without conceding a single goal. In the semi-final, we played our old nemesis, Plymouth Reign, who had knocked us out of Regionals in Kansas City one month earlier and who also beat us in the State Cup last Fall. Our girls had extra motivation for this match, and we took a 1-0 lead. Plymoith equalized, and the game headed in to extra time. In the second period, with just a few minutes left, Cate heaved a thunderbolt from near midfield. It clanged off the crossbar, and the keeper could not handle it. A teammate slammed the ball home for what would be the game-winning goal. The girls exploded in excitemnt at the game's conclusion, and a number of us parents embraced on the sidelines. They had slayed the dragon.

The final was much more comfortable as Tigers beat Ambassadors from Ohio 3-0. Cate was named "Player of the Match," as best player in the tournament for her age group. They even got some love from local media in a numbers of articles!

I am so proud of Cate and this team! It was a dream come true for Cate, and I am so glad I was able to witness it up close. 

This trip will go down as one of the most special of our 16 year soccer odyssey with Cate. Congrats, champions!

A MASTERSTROKE IN MILAN

Like life, soccer is full of ups and downs. Last night, the Greenhills Gryphons evinced that saying on their way to the 2025 District Championship!

The Gryphons started off strong with a goal within the first five minutes. Soon thereafter, their opponent, Milan High School, countered with a goal of their own after the Gryphons' goalie bobbled a weak shot on target. From there, the game became a tight affair with few scoring opportunities. Despite the lack of additional goals, there was still plenty of excitement - mainly due to hard fouls committed by the Milan players, most of which went unpunished without yellow cards.

Time and again their players came in hard on our players, often knocking them to the ground after clattering into them. The referee had completely lost control and seemed quite unfazed by the violent level of play on the pitch. Similarly, the Milan parents were unbothered by their team's tactics. On spectator, presumably a father of a Milan player, echoed the same refrain every time one of their players victimized our girls, saying, "It's called soccer!" Needless to say, I was infuriated by that attitude and phrase.

The game went to extra time. Immediately after the kickoff, a Milan player rammed into Cate, who was defenseless and without the ball, sending her to the ground. There she lay for several minutes, though it  seemed like an eternity. I was so worried that it might be a ligament or a joint injury. Fortunately, Cate was able to walk off on her own power after sustaining what turned out to be a quad contusion. Within a few minutes, Cate was back on the pitch but visibly limping.

As the first period of extra time was winding down, the Gryphons won a corner. The ball was delivered expertly, and Cate rose up to meet it with her head, scoring what would turn out to be the game winner! Somehow, I had decided to film this play, and you can enjoy it for yourself below! Even more surprisingly, after the goal, I bit my tongue and did not utter the oft-repeated line, from the Milan supporters, "It's called soccer!"

Greenhills were able to run out the clock in the second period of extra time and seal the victory. Afterwards, we all basked in the golden hour of pre-dusk, late Spring, soaking up the win!

I could not be more proud of these young ladies, especially our Cate. She was a fearless leader all game long. I cannot wait to see what this team does in Regionals next week!

COME ON YOU MIGHTY OAKS!

We have always been major supporters of the local soccer teams where we lived, especially in Portland. This weekend, we attended our first match for Ann Arbor's United Soccer League semi-pro team, Ann Arbor Football Club (FC). The team's mascot is the Mighty Oaks, and their saying or motto is "Come On You Mighty Oaks," or COYMO for short. 

It was a beautiful Memorial Day weekend night in Ann Arbor with sunny skies and temperatures in the low 60s. The atmosphere was vibrant in the football stadium where Pioneer High School plays it games with adults and children in attendance.

We met up with one of Cate's friends from soccer and enjoyed the Mighty Oaks 2-1 victory, including a sensational free kick by the home team!

Nicholas is writing feature articles for the team this summer and doing player profiles, so I will look forward to learning more about the team and its exploits. Until then, COYMO!

MY WORD THAT GIRL'S A STAR

Cate has been on an absolute terror these past few weeks on the Greenhills Soccer team. In the last three games alone, she has scored seven goals, including two occasions when she was the team's only scorer. Notably, nearly all of these goals were scored from shots taken outside the box, i.e., at least 18 yards from goal. That is a remarkable achievement over such a short stretch and something that few footballers at any level can claim, even Lionel Messi! 

As the team continues their playoff run next week, I look forward to seeing the magic that Cate will weave. She is truly one in a million!

GO 'HILLS!

We are in the midst of high school soccer season, and it has been a delight to watch Cate play again!

Unlike with her club team, Cate plays farther back as a defensive midfielder. Despite this, she is very involved with the attack and has created some wonderful scoring opportunities for her teammates. Additionally, she has gotten in on the action and scored some amazing goals that fall into the category of rockets!

Here are two recent examples from the last week. Enjoy!

SEIZING THE DAY

Sometimes it is difficult to appreciate how quickly one's children are growing up. This was not one of those days. 

Cate left for a soccer tournament in Arizona on Thursday with Kathleen. The Tigers played their first game yesterday. Cate scored the first goal. After the other team pulled one back, Cate converted a penalty as cool as you like to make it 2-1!

The Tigers added a third to secure a 3-1 victory.

Beyond the win, though something even more important had been taking place behind the scenes. We were aware that there would be several college coaches attending the tournament to scout players. However, unbeknownst to us, Cate had reached out to one of the coaches from a highly selective school beforehand and expressed her interest in that school and that team. As a result, the coach came to see her play. 

What happened afterwards was even more astonishing. Cate went up the coach and introduced herself and shared her interested in the school and the subjects she was passionate about. He complemented her, talked about the academic advantages of the school, and invited her for a school visit. She was so excited afterwards that she called us from the car to let us know what had happened! I was in awe!

I could not be more impressed by Cate's proactiveness and her self-advocacy. Pursuing your dreams is scary, especially when one does not have a good guide who has navigated that terrain, themselves. I know I often struggle with putting myself out there due to imposter syndrome. However, I have learned time and time again that achieving one's dreams is 90% hard work and just showing up. The other 10% is about luck, but we make our own luck! 

I am so proud of this young woman, who is growing up before our eyes. I know she has a bright future ahead of her, and I feel so lucky to be able watch her grow and take off!

THE STING OF DEFEAT IN GOING FOR THE THREE-PEAT

Yesterday, Cate's soccer team, the Michigan Tigers, made it to their third straight State Cup Finals. They had won the prior two against a local team called Legends. However, this year they were playing Plymouth Reign, who knocked out Legends in the semifinal.

Plymouth has done better than us than most teams, and they knocked us out of the State Championships playoffs three years ago. We have drawn them on several occasions as well, and I am not sure we actually having a winning record against them.

The final was a contest of two very different styles. We play an expansive, attacking form of soccer, while Plymouth is content to sit back and park 10 players behind the ball in a zonal defense.

We made a mistake early on, giving them ball away in midfield that led to a quick counter and a peach of a finish by one of their forwards. At was 1-0 at halftime. 

We committed a foul in the box, which led to a penalty early in the second half. They dispatched the penalty with ease, making it 2-0.

With about 15 minutes left to play, we pulled a goal back. There was everything to play for. With a few minutes left, Cate got the ball in midfield and drove forward to the goal with a defender going toe to toe with her. She just got off a shot towards the near post that was not covered by the keeper. However, the shot skidded just wide. We were not able to put away other opportunities, and so the game finished 2-1.

I know that they entire team felt badly about the loss, but there is a reason why so few teams three-peat. I am sure they will build on this adversity and come back stronger and more deliberate next time. I feel privileged to watch these talented and poised young ladies play the game I love so much. Getting to see my favorite players of all time bring her creativity to the pitch is a privilege that I will never get tired of. We will get them next time, Tigers! 

ROAD WARRIOR

While I was at Syracuse for Parents' Weekend, Cate was away another weekend with her travel soccer team - her second weekend trip to another state in two weeks. I was fortunate to join her with Kathleen last weekend as we traveled to Milwaukee and then Madison.

We were able to catch up to one of my good friends from med school, who lives in Milwaukee, and then it was on to a weekend of soccer!

Cate's team won the first game 3-2, coming back from two goals down. In the second game, we again went down but fought back an tied it up for a 1-1 draw.

More than just watching Cate's exploits on the field, I enjoy spending time with her and seeing new things. I realize she will be gone from our house in just three years, and I want to take in as much time as I can with her until then. 

I have seen with Nicholas just how quickly time flies, and before they both fly the coup, I will try to drink up every minute we have together. Life is a sweet gift, but it is until further notice.

CUATRO REYES

Today, Spain became the first nation to win the European Championship four times after beating England in a spirted match in Berlin.

Three of their European championships have come since 2008, making them champions in three of the last five championships. Importantly their 2008 and 2012 championships bookended a 2010 World Cup win, the first in their nation's history.

However, since 2012 Spain have looked a team adrift. Their tika taka, death by a thousand passes approach that won them the 2008, 2010, and 2012 titles, had become predictable. Oftentimes, their play lacked a killer instinct, and goals were few and far between.

However, things seem to have changed for the better with the appointment of their current coach Luis de la Fuente. He has brought a more aggressive, possession with purpose style of play and has also ushered in a new generation of players, including the fantastic 17 year old Lamine Yamale from Barca and Nico Williams from Atletico Madrid.

Today, these young man and the rest of the Spanish players were too much for England. Coupled with their UEFA Nations League title last year, Spain look to be the dominant men's team in Europe - just like their women's team whose World Cup victory we witnessed in 2023 in Australia.

I cannot wait to see the Spain team in the USA in the 2026 World Cup, where they have to be considered one of the favorites.

Until then, vamos Espana! You are truly cuatra reyes (four time kings)!

COPA MAGIC

During our trip to Houston, we took in a Copa America match with Argentina and Ecuador! It was a cagey affair and not very attractive football. However, it was a chance to see Lionel Messi play once again.

Fortunately, the match took place indoors in the NRG Stadium, so we were spared the 90+ degree heat and humidity of July in Houston.

There was a dramatic end to the game after Ecuador scored late, sending the game into penalties. Messi uncharacteristically missed his shot using a technique called a Panenka to chip the keeper. The ball sailed over the top bar!

Thereafter, the Argentina players made good, and their keeper, Emiliano Martinez, made two great saves. Thank you!

After a win in the semis against Canada, they have all to play for in the final tonight against Colombia! Viva Argentina!

SHE SHOOTS, SHE SCORES!

Cate has been playing on the Greenhills Varsity soccer team this season, and she has done an amazing job! Last week, they began the playoffs, facing a local Catholic High School, Father Gabriel Richard.

From the first whistle, Greenhills dominated possession, and Cate was particularly dynamic on the ball, sending multiple beautiful passes through to the forwards. Unfortunately, we were unable to capitalize on any of these, and the scores was knotted at 0-0 at half.

In the second half, Cate sent a looping ball to one of the forward, who has able to latch onto it and slot it home. From there, Gabriel Richard began to grow into the game, and they had a strong run of possession and several chances on goal that nearly went in.

Later in the game, one of their players handled the ball in the box, setting up a penalty. Cate rushed forward to claim the ball and volunteer to take the penalty. Cool as you like, she dispatched the penalty and doubled the lead  to 2-0 - a lead which would stand at the end of regulation.

I do not know how far the Gryphons and Cate will go this year in the playoffs, but I will enjoy every minute of seeing the magic my mini Iniesta/Xavi weaves on the field. Go 'hills!

NOT THE WAY YOU TREAT A LEGEND

I consider Xavi Hernandez to be the greatest midfielder of his generation - and possibly the best #6 of all time. Xavi is not only a greater player, but he is a leader who led Barca and the Spanish national team to so many trophies and to a stratospheric level of play. He has also been a tremendous coach during his time at Barca, ending a 4 year trophy drought in the Spanish League when he led Barca to the league title in 2023. 

For all those reasons, it is shameful to witness how the club dismissed Xavi last week. I will not attempt to summarize the affair. Sid Lowe has done that in his piece for the Guardian. However, I can say that any football club that throws such a loyal and transformational employee under the bus is a club that forfeits the right to called itself by its own motto - mes que un club (more than a club). In fact, their action are below the dignity of the club that I once loved and that I have seen torn apart by presidential mismanagement for more than a decade. This is what happens when powerful, dishonest people who lack a clear vision or moral compass are given the reigns of an organization - disaster. I have been unfortunate to witness something similar myself at various stages of my career, and it is an affront to all who care about an organization or who have given so much of themselves to a cause bigger than themselves embodied in such an organization.

To Xavi, thank you for being such an amazing ambassador of football and for never settling or taking short cuts. Your play and your players play brought me so much joy these past 14 years. I hope you come back to Barca one day to restore the club to what it once was and what you helped to make it into. Visca Xavi!

SEEING RED

Earlier this week, Barca were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the Champions League to PSG. In many ways, this was same story, second verse and yet another humiliating exit after taking a lead into a return leg.

It all came undone despite Barca winning the first leg by one goal and after leading 1-0 in the return leg. Late in the first half, Ronald Araujo, the last Barca defender, pulled down a PSG player who was breaking towards the goal. The foul occurred right outside the box, resulting in a red card and sending off. One could feel the oxygen leave the stadium. The stress on Xavi's face was palpable, knowing that Barca would be forced to play down one man for nearly 60 minutes. 

Before half, PSG scored to tie it up the score 1-1. However, Barca were still up by one goal on aggregate. Soon after half they gave up another goal. Shortly thereafter, Xavi became incensed after a no-call on a foul on a Barca player and kicked a sign board near the touchline. He, too, was sent off.

I have loved this team for fourteen years, but the past eight years have been one disappointment after another - not because they failed to win trophies like their golden era from 2009-2015 but because of the indignity of so many self-inflicted, humiliating collapses. Enough!

It is hard to see something one loves die. I am not sure I will watch another Barca game again because the depths to which this team has fallen due to mismanagement and malfeasance of the board and presidents - current and former. 

Life is frustrating enough. I will save my energy and sanity for other pursuits.

REPEAT!

Dani Rojas from "Ted Lasso" famously said, "Football is Life!" Our lives definitely resemble that remark with hours of watching soccer played by professionals or our kids.

Sometimes one is lucky to witness a masterpiece, and that is just what Cate's team the Michigan Tigers gave us in the Michigan State Cup Final, a resounding 6-1 victory! 

The team has played well this season, but this game was next level. Cate had a beautiful goal and 2 assists, and she completely bossed the midfield. I cannot wait to see what else this team achieves the rest of the season, but for now we will savor this big win!

Congrats campeonas!

WHAT A RUN

This past Wednesday, we went to the England-Australia Women's World Cup semifinal match. The entire nation was behind the Tillies, or Matildas, as the Australian team is called, but alas England were too strong. In the end, the Lionesses prevailed 3-1, a scoreline that flattered the Tillies, who were outplayed for most of the game.

There were moments for Australia, including a breathtaking solo run from midfield by Sam Kerr that was capped off with a gorgeous strike - a shot many are calling one of the greatest goals in men's or women's World Cup history. Watching it again on replay, I truly appreciated exactly how much Kerr had to do on her own to score that goal, level the match at 1-1, and bring Australia back into the game.

Alas, Australia's defense wavered, too. They gave up two preventable goals, giving England an unsurmountable 3-1 advantage.

Despite this result, this nation was and remains captivated by its Tillies. There is still the third place match to play tomorrow in Brisbane, and I know the country will be behind the girls. I know I will. One can only hope that an entire generation of young girls will be inspired by this historic run to participate in soccer and to reach for their dreams, whatever they might be. One also hopes that the men in Australian society will get behind this team and women's sport. Half your population is an awful lot to waste!

LA ROJA

Last night we watched the first Women's World Cup semifinal on the television in the flat we are staying at in Sydney. We had worried about our ability to watch the match because we had heard many of the game were not being televised locally. Fortunately, our hosts subscribed to the right streaming package!

Not surprisingly, the Spanish women's team shares a similar style of play as the men's team who helped me to fall in love with football and their style of play during their World Cup run. Every player is prepared to receive the ball and make positive forward passes. Any number of players can beat you because of their quick interchanges and ability to effectively read the game.

On this night against Sweden, it was a very tight affair. Though Spain had the majority of the ball, they were not able to penetrate the Swedish defense. That was until the introduction of Spanish attacker Salma Paralluelo, whose entered the game late into the second half. She struck the back of the net off a loose ball in the box in the 81st minute. However, Sweden picked up a loose ball of their own and leveled in the 88th minute. Though Sweden were considered the experts at set pieces, it was ironically Spain who made them pay on a late corner. They played it short to the left back Olga Carmona who struck her shut with venom with her left boot.

The Swedish goalkeeper Musovic, who was a hero against the U.S. in their round of 16 match barely got fingertips to the ball, tipping it into the undersurface of the bar and into the goal. 

What a comeback! What fight! Spain stayed true to their style of play but also improvised to get the job done. One must imagine that losing 4-0 to Japan earlier in the group stage and then giving up a late goal to the Netherlands in their quarterfinal match before prevailing in extra time must have given La Roja - as Spain are called  - the belief that they can pick themselves up and keep going. Tonight, they provided once and again that the state of Spanish football is very healthy, indeed.

LIONESSES

This past Saturday, our first night in Sydney, we headed to Stadium Australia for the quarterfinal match between England and Columbia immediately after taking in the Australia-France match nearby.

The stadium was mostly made up of Columbia fans decked out in yellow, and they were in full voice throughout much of the match. It was only after moments of brilliance for England that one could make out the English fans.

England are the reining European champions, and many considered them the favorites. However, it was a cagey match. England scored first, but Columbia equalized before halftime. England got a second goal in the second half. By that time, we were exhausted and falling asleep. 

We headed for the doors early and beat the crowds home on the public transit. All in all, it was a great day for soccer and a great start to our Australian World Cup adventure!

MATILDAS!

We arrived in Australia this week for the Women's World Cup! It was a 24 hour journey from Michigan to Sydney, including a four hour layover in LA and then a 14 hour flight to Sydney. Fortunately, we sleep much of the way here, and so we were in decent shape for the main events of the day - two quaterfinal matches. 

While we had tickets to the England-Columbia match our first night in town, we first wanted to watch the other quarterfinal that day - Australia vs. France. Therefore, we headed to the stadium early with the goal of seeing the Matildas, as the Aussie women's team are known, in a sports bar prior to the England match.

We found a nice pub called The Locker Room nearby and made our way in prior to kickoff. All the tables were taken, so we just sat on the floor. 

The crowd, understandably, was decidedly behind the Tillies, the Aussie's term of endearment for the Matildas. The game was an epic back and forth clash, and it finished 0-0 at the end of regular and added time. Therefore, it was on to penalties. Australia outlasted France after the shootout, which went to 10 rounds, capped by a peach of a penalty by substitute Clare Hunt!

Subsequently, we found a nice documentary about the Matildas on Disney Plus, which we have been watching. It is really quite good, and I sense a true team spirit that is missing from a lot of the other national teams.

We are routing for the Matildas to go all the way. We will see them take on England in 2 days time. Until then, Go Tillies!

STRAIGHT UP BALLER

This weekend the Greenhills Middle School Girls' Basketball team took part in the St. Paul Invitational in Ann Arbor. Cate had played basketball at the park or in the driveway of our neighbors on occasion, but she had never played organized basketball until joining her school team this year. That is why it was such a revelation to see her command of the court at this tournament. She reminded me of a mini Magic Johnson with her vision of the court, spatial awareness, and command of basketball's fundamentals.

Perhaps it is true that skills from one sport transfer to another, and soccer and basketball have many similarities. However, I like to think that certain athletes have attributes that are inherently well-suited to certain activities. For them, playing a range of sports allows them to develop disparate skills that create a much fuller package and end product. This is a thesis the writer David Epstein discusses in his book Range.

Cate's skills were on full display in all three games in the tournament - a single elimination event. She rebounded, started fast breaks, made shots, and delivered some "dimes" - inch perfect passes, which her teammates often put away for baskets. In the end, the Gryphons prevailed and took the title. Here's to the generalists and here's to Cate!