A Perfect Weekend
Footie Girl has a post about why she loves soccer tournaments.
There's only an hour between games, which is just enough time for your muscles to all stiffen up before you have to play again. You take off your shoes and socks and jersey and lay them out in the sun, hoping that they'll dry out a bit before the next game. You lie back with your head on your bag for a pillow and talk about nothing and everything with the guys on your team, or talk trash about the players in the games between your own.Sometimes -- far too often -- the games aren't pretty; a mad scramble after the ball, nobody seems to be playing their position, neither team holds onto possession for more than 30 seconds at a time. But then sometimes it all comes together -- a one-two down the line, a pretty passing move around the 18-yard box, a gorgeous goal -- and it reminds you that this is why you're playing.
Go, read the whole thing.
I'd give up my weekend for that if I could - one of these days, perhaps, when my foot that's been sore for over a month finally heals. (We'll see what the doctor says on Wednesday.) Meanwhile I've got the next best thing for this weekend, a road trip to Houston to visit my family and see DC United play. I couldn't talk my cousin into standing with us - "I'm not cheering for that team!" - but he may attend the game, and even tailgate with us, my aunt tells me. She said he wanted to know whether soccer fans drink.
Anna was very disappointed that she couldn't come to Houston with me, although she's still so enamored of kindergarten that preparing for school was enough to distract her. I set the Tivo to record the game for her, and told her that she should be sure to wear her Jaime Moreno shirt tomorrow, so that we'll win. "I will!" she promised. We're all counting on you, Anna!
UPDATE: While I'm linking to stuff, Soccer Dad of On the Pitch has a post reviewing various websites that you can use to find soccer games in your area. When my foot is better...