Back in the day, I used to pretend I was Pele and practice doing bicycle kicks. I always landed on my head, and I feel fairly confident that's where most of the damage came from, but I loved it. Soccer in America to a young kid was (and probably still is) the coolest thing ever. I loved the orange slices the most, then the Gatorade, then the goalie gloves, then the shin guards...then the game. Specifically in that order. It had that same quality that t-ball has-- no one wanted to watch and no one really wanted to play. But your friends had to do it too, so you loved it, and the parents just drank beer from their Lil Oscar coolers to make the time more bearable.
The AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) was the bomb back in the day... A total blast! And soccer was awesome...until you turned 11. Then you played football, at least in Kansas. It was like you hit a mythical line in the sand, and there was no more discussion. The greatest part about playing football as a kid was the one who made me play-- who never let me say no or quit-- was my mom! My mom loves football--still has Chiefs Season Tix-- and by God, you were gonna have your scrawny butt out there on the field if she had to drag you out there herself. One of the many reasons my mom was the coolest mom ever!
"Mom, playing football hurts."
"You don't think giving birth hurt??? I don't even want to hear it. No more whining until you score a touchdown!"
Maybe my memories are a bit warped, but it was a blast regardless! 😄😄😄
BEST MOM EVER!
