SUPER FIRST HALF SEES ARGENTINA THROUGH TO THE QUARTERS

Nicholas Alumkal

Seattle, WA

In Seattle at Century Link Field on June 14 Argentina faced Bolivia and outclassed them 3-0. Argentina had a great start to the game as they scored early at the 13th minute from a spectacular free kick by Erik Lamela. Ezequiel Lavezzi doubled their lead two minutes later. Victor Cuesta made it 3-0 before halftime.

At the half, Argentina made two substitutions, including bringing on Lionel Messi for Gonzalo Higuain. The second Messi came on, Bolivia were double teaming or even triple teaming him. Therefore, Argentina just passed the ball around, dominating possession. At one point, Messi got through on goal. He actually got behind the keeper on the end line and passed the ball through the keeper's legs, a move called a "nutmeg."Unfortunately, Messi was called offside on his initial move.

All in all, it was a spectacular game. I am super happy I got to attend it. GO ARGENTINA!

TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE

Nicholas's coach from his former club that recently cut him contacted us yesterday. He said that several boys decided to not continue with the program, and he wanted to offer a Nicholas another opportunity to play with the club.

I asked Nicholas for his thoughts before responding. He said, "I have my new club, and I would rather play with them." I agreed with Nicholas. So I emailed his old coach back thanking him but explaining that Nicholas was now a member of a different club.

After all the heartbreak, who would have thought that our little guy would have ended up being so sought after?!

SECOND CHANCE

One gets a second chance sometimes in life. After having been cut from his former team, Nicholas' second chance came in the form of a tryout with a different soccer club in Portland. This second opportunity came about after I discussed Nicholas' plight with several parents. Having seen him play, these parents expressed incredulity that Nicholas was not selected by his former club. These parents encouraged me to contact other clubs in town and inquire about the possibility of a formal tryout, even though the deadline had passed.

I discussed this possibility with Nicholas, and he said that he knew there were no guarantees but that he would love to have another shot at making a competitive team. Therefore, I decided to contact a nearby club, and they agreed to have Nicholas come out.

The first night, Nicholas was assigned to practice with the "A" team. The little guy held his own and played much more aggressively and focused than I am used to seeing. After the trial, the coach said,"I think I see something, but I am not sure. Can Nicholas come out one more time?" I said yes and felt encouraged by Nicholas' performance and the coaches comments.

I was out of town for the second day of Nicholas' tryout and was worried that the little guy might get his heart broken twice. However, Nicholas did not fail to impress, and he was selected to play for the new club. Needless to say, my boy was ecstatic, and we celebrated with donuts from a nearby shop!

I do not take any credit for Nicholas making the team. I also do not feel as though I overstepped my bounds by inquiring about a tryout. In my mind, this was not helicopter parenting. Rather, I merely tried to create an opportunity for Nicholas to try to succeed. His success came down to him and him alone though.

We will rejoice in this moment - particularly after realizing how Nicholas learned two valuable lessons through this tryout process. He learned about dealing with life's disappointments and adversity. However, he also learned that resilience pays off and that sometimes one is given a second chance. Without loss, can one every truly appreciate victory? Without resilience, can one ever get up the nerve to try again? I think we know the answer to both those questions for my boy!

MESSI IS BACK WITH A HATTRICK!

Nicholas Alumkal
Portland, OR

The greatest player in the world was sidelined with a back injury for there weeks. However Lionel Messi made a statement Friday in his first game back against Panama whom the albiceleste (Argentina) beat 5-0.

The scoring started in the seventh minute with a diving header by defender Nicolas Otamendi . Things got worse for Panama as they went down to 10 men when Anibal Godoy got sent off at the 31st minute. Despite the sending off, the game was pretty even until Lionel Messi came on and changed the game very quickly.

Messi scored a hattrick in the space of 19 minutes, as the Argentinians marched away from Panamanians. At the 90th minute Kun Aguero put the final sprinkle on Panama's cookie with a powerful headed goal, Argentina's fifth, to end the game 5-0.

A SPECIAL GUEST

Last week the Copa America and European Championship tournaments started. To channel Nicholas' passion for soccer and his artistic creativity, I suggested he write short articles with accompanying illustrations. Nicholas thought about it and was a little hesitant because he viewed this as "work." However, he quickly agreed and said he thought it would be fun. Therefore, keep your eye out for 270's first guest blogger and chief soccer correspondent, Nicholas J. Alumkal!

A LIFE LEFT UNFINISHED BUT LIVED IN FULL

Tonight, the Arbor community received word that one of its parents - Kara Larson - passed away after a year-long battle with cancer.

I did not know Kara until her diagnosis, but afterward I had the pleasure of meeting her and her husband John. Kara's vitality and their love for each other was very powerful, and I was truly inspired every time we met or spoke. Their son Will rides the bus with our kids, and he always struck me as a very quiet but kind soul. Unlike your average seventh grader, he was also coping with his mom's illness, but his attitude and his demeanor were always very level. That is as much a tribute to him as to his parents and their unconditional love for him.

I lose patients all the time, but it never gets easier or becomes rote. This is because each patient is an individual who had his/her own hopes and dreams and story that is still unfolding. While I was not Kara's doctor or know her well, I know that she was someone who made a big difference - in the lives of her family, her friends, and customers of her dress and toy shops in Northeast Portland. Hers is a tale that remains unfinished and that was sadly cut short. However, I know that Kara will live on through John and Will and that Kara knew that there could be meaning in her death. In fact, the message announcing her passing included an exhortation to "be more present, spend more time with family, and follow our dreams." What more is there in life, really?

Today, even before receiving word of Kara's passing, I came home early from work. This was because Nicholas had sent me a text message that he wanted to play together at the park. Nothing seemed more important than that at the time, and I am so glad I came home to him.

I know that life is too short for us all and that life is until further notice. Because of that, we must make the most of the time we have together and treat each other as though each encounter may be our last. I think that is something Kara knew far before she became ill, and it is a message that no one has made more clear to me than Kara through her words and deeds.  I promise we will look out for your boys and that we will heed your words and follow your example Kara. May you rest in peace.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER ASTONISHING PERFORMANCE

Barca won its 28th Copa del Rey trophy this past weekend, their fifth trophy of this season's campaign. It was a very different sort of victory because the team went down a player beginning in the 36th minute after Mascherano was justly sent off for a foul on a Sevilla forward right outside the box.

Barca did not have time to feel sorry for themselves and quickly organized into a makeshift lineup whose sole purpose was to defend. Again, it was a very un-Barca performance for a team that is most comfortable attacking with the ball.

The team held out, and the score was 0-0 at the end of 90 minutes. Shortly thereafter, Sevilla had a player sent off for a last-ditch challenge of their own, and then we found ourselves on a level playing field: 10 vs. 10. Barca then poured it on and fought hard to kill the game in extra time in order to avoid penalties. In the first of two overtime periods, Messi sent a beautiful 40 yard ball into the path of Jordi Alba, who was heading toward the goal. Alba deftly slotted the ball home, and the Catalans never looked back. Neymar added another - again set up by Messi - in the dying seconds, and we all breathed just a little bit easier.

It was unconventional. It was uncanny. However, it was also inspiring. This team found a way to overcome the most difficult of circumstances and triumphed once again. While I should not be surprised at this point, I am inspired. It almost seemed like they took a page out of Nicholas' book - resilience, pride, steel. Visca Barca!