Monday, October 30, 2006
A Legend Passes
I just finished reading the George Vescey column on the passing of Red Auerbach. It’s a great read if you can get a hold of the NY Times from Monday. Auerbach was still a daily name in basketball in the early 70’s when I became obsessed with basketball. Part of my obsession was pouring over a book entitled simply “NBA Statistics and Records” – I checked and rechecked that book out so often from the Lane County Library I thought they might just give me the book. They did not give me the book but I discovered the copy machine at 5 cents a page. I copied the pages for all the greats including Celtic legends Bill Russell, K.C. Russell, Bob Cousy, John Havlicek, and Jo Jo White, among so many others. I was actually a Milwaukee Bucks fan (I loved Lew Alcindor and the Big O – what self respecting black-top playing12 year old wouldn’t?) but I loved the lore that was Red Auerbach. And although I had no idea what a cigar meant - when I saw those pictures of Red with a big one – I knew that was about a lot of NBA championships.
There is a great story in Vescey’s column (apparently hijacked from John Feinstein’s Auerbach book about Red’s drafting of Bill Russell. Now of course we know Russell was the cornerstone of every Celtic championship from 1956 until 1969 (in case you are counting that is 11 championships in 13 years!). But Red knew in 1956 that he would be good, so when draft day approached, he traded two popular Celtic stars to move up in the draft. However Rochester still had the #1 draft pick – so Red convinced the Celtic owner, who also happened to own the popular dancing show the Ice Capades, to offer Rochester a week of free Ice Capade shows at the Rochester Gym if Rochester would not draft Russell in the #1 spot. I guess you could say if it were not for the popularity of ice dancing, Bill Russell may have never become the basketball legend he is. Now how come that kind of stuff doesn’t happen today?
Oh our game report – we had an easy game and after 20 years one of those now and then is fine by me. We won 4-0 on lovely goals by Julie, Erin and Michele, who blessed us with two beauties. Michele had a particularly nice game – and my theory is that the size of the field was directly proportionate to Michele’s ability to keep the ball right at her feet and do her usual Tasmanian devil twirling tricks. Both of her goals were on drop passes from the forward line which tells me that Michele is always in the right place at the right time and that we should do that play more often!
Kate came to cheer us on and it is always nice to see her on the field – and we eagerly await the day she is back in uniform and with us on the pitch. Kate, I came across this pic from Sonohomish a couple of years back. A lovely day.
I will never complain about the weather, the game, the refs, the opponent (unless it is Escape) ever again knowing how badly Kate wants to be playing. When I find myself watching (are you watching or are you playing?) I kick myself knowing I am lucky to be able to head the ball, make a pass, venture a tackle and take a run down the field.
There is a great story in Vescey’s column (apparently hijacked from John Feinstein’s Auerbach book about Red’s drafting of Bill Russell. Now of course we know Russell was the cornerstone of every Celtic championship from 1956 until 1969 (in case you are counting that is 11 championships in 13 years!). But Red knew in 1956 that he would be good, so when draft day approached, he traded two popular Celtic stars to move up in the draft. However Rochester still had the #1 draft pick – so Red convinced the Celtic owner, who also happened to own the popular dancing show the Ice Capades, to offer Rochester a week of free Ice Capade shows at the Rochester Gym if Rochester would not draft Russell in the #1 spot. I guess you could say if it were not for the popularity of ice dancing, Bill Russell may have never become the basketball legend he is. Now how come that kind of stuff doesn’t happen today?
Oh our game report – we had an easy game and after 20 years one of those now and then is fine by me. We won 4-0 on lovely goals by Julie, Erin and Michele, who blessed us with two beauties. Michele had a particularly nice game – and my theory is that the size of the field was directly proportionate to Michele’s ability to keep the ball right at her feet and do her usual Tasmanian devil twirling tricks. Both of her goals were on drop passes from the forward line which tells me that Michele is always in the right place at the right time and that we should do that play more often!
Kate came to cheer us on and it is always nice to see her on the field – and we eagerly await the day she is back in uniform and with us on the pitch. Kate, I came across this pic from Sonohomish a couple of years back. A lovely day.
I will never complain about the weather, the game, the refs, the opponent (unless it is Escape) ever again knowing how badly Kate wants to be playing. When I find myself watching (are you watching or are you playing?) I kick myself knowing I am lucky to be able to head the ball, make a pass, venture a tackle and take a run down the field.
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Thistlenation - the Blog Begins
Hi there and welcome to Thistle Nation. In the above picture are some of the many great gals that I play soccer with and who entail Thistle Nation. We are a women's soccer team from Portland, Oregon. Most of us have been playing together for over 20 years. Presently, of course, we are much more than just a soccer team and there will be more about that later.
That picture was taken in 2002 (I think oh how the memory goes) when we played in the National Over-40 tournament in Hawaii. This was after our semi-final loss - we were in the second overtime of a 0-0 tie and they scored with about 2 minutes left. To be honest it was a defensive battle for us - we were not the better team that day but it would've been nice to go to PK's. Our goalie (the incredible Mary V) was having the tournament of her life and I believe to this day we would've won based on her performance alone.
It was a great 4 days filled with gritty and sweaty soccer games followed by nights of Hawaiian music and food and enjoying the trade winds and the sounds of the ocean. I grew up in Hawaii so this was a wonderful time for me - enjoying the islands with my greatest friends and their families.
One of the highlights was celebrating Kelly Kelly Kelly's birthday with MaiTais on the beach. Walking from bar to bar without a care in the world and only the sound of laughter and palm leaves rustling to keep us company.
We have a game today so I better run - we are playing the Cosmos? The weather is perfect soccer weather - cool, we had rain this morning so the field will be soft (hey 40 year olds need soft ground), and the sun is out.
We will be missing one of our great defenders S. as she will be off watching her daughter battle it out in U-14 ball. It's their final game of the fall season and they always battle with this particular team so I wish you luck Jojo and hopefully your mom's team will survive without her.
Cheers!
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