Off to Florida with some friends for the weekend. Going to catch the Florida/Auburn game in Gainesville on Saturday night, which will be live on ESPN. Back on Sunday night, and I'm sure I'll have a couple interesting blogs to follow after a couple hours on Southwest. (Hey, I own Southwest stock - have to support the best airline in the business.)

I'm willing to bet my first blog next week will be about high school administrators throughout Illinois. I'll bet 9 out of 10 administrators don't know the rules of soccer like they do baseball and football. If I put a basic soccer skills test in front of them, you would be stunned.

Now that I think about it, it's probably more like 9.5 out of 10 - trust me.

Thoughts?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 11:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

It's been an interesting couple of weeks. The Chicago Magic, Sockers F.C. and Fire Academy are jockeying for position with their new year-round academies. The IHSA is ticked at the Chicago Fire, while the Magic and Sockers are trying to figure out how they can compete for the best players against a professional franchise with top-notch facilities.

This is going to be interesting - not so much this year, but come next spring.

When I was in Orlando last December covering the Adidas Showcase at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, I'll never forget a conversation I had with a well-known person saying there were a lot of people against the Fire. But it's safe to say not everyone is in love with the Magic and the Sockers either.

As I wrote back in August, it will be interesting to see what happens over the next 12 months. From these academies to high school soccer.

Posted by Corner Kicks at 09:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm glad I didn't go to Vegas with my pick. But I should've known better - you never pick against a champion.

And when it comes to the Pepsi Showdown, Wheaton South has the Pepsi logo tatoo'd on its chest like the 'S' on Superman.

Granted, ithe Pepsi Showdown is only a 32-team seeded tournament. But as one person asked me today - is it time for the IHSA to look at a new state system?

Out with sectionals, in with eight regions that are seeded and feed into the state quarterfinals?

Thoughts?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 09:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Finally - the end is near. Since Sept. 4, teams from throughout the Chicagoland area have been battling to get to this point - Toyota Park. Wheaton Warrenville South and Lincoln-Way Central will battle for the title of the largest tournament in the Midwest - the Pepsi Showdown - at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Toyota Park.

So who wins and why?

Trost's pick - Lincoln-Way Central.

Why you ask?

You have to love Wheaton Warrenville South's program. Year in and year out, coach Guy Callipari has one of the better teams throughout the area. I've seen all but one of Wheaton Warrenville South's games in the tourney. They have one of the best goalies in the state in 6-foot-6 Randall Babb (read all about him in Taylor Bell's spotlight column in Friday's Sun-Times). Babb saved the day for the Tigers in the second round when Kelly had a couple chances to knock Callapari's group out. Wheaton Warrenville South eventually lived to see another day after four overtimes and a shootout.

But when you look at Lincoln-Way Central, it doesn't take much or long to realize it is loaded in every position. The Knights have so much talent that some of their bench players would be starters on other teams throughout the area.

Wheaton Warrenville South's vs. Lincoln-Way Central's attack will be fun to watch - http://www.pepsishowdown.us

Before making your pick, read Matt LeCren's preview of the matchup - http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/566048,091907pepsi.article

So who wins?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Ray Navarro had been a fixture along the Stagg soccer sidelines for years. But now when you bring up his name around District 230, it's dead silence. Rumors are flying.

Has anyone seen Navarro?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 11:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Stories, stories, stories.

1. Lyons knocks off Hinsdale Central, who beat New Trier on Saturday. Oak Park and others are rising.

2. Morton has eight players kicked off its team.

3. Gage Park and Foreman brawl last week in Public League action. Police and ambulance called to the scene. Gage Park had problems in the postseason last year, and according to Public League coaches - the Public League offices kept things covered up and quiet.

4. Pepsi Showdown final set for Sunday at Toyota Park.

Are these the most interesting storylines or are there others that should be up there?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 10:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

So much for a lovely relationship between the IHSA and Chicago Fire.

Cornerkicks has learned the IHSA has threaten to never play another state playoff game at Toyota Park after this year if the Chicago Fire goes through with its Fire Academy.

Last Saturday, the Fire officially presented some of the Academy players to the media at Toyota Park - http://www.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20070917&content_id=117773&vkey=news_chf&fext=.jsp&team=t100.

I will say in my 12 years of covering soccer, I've said this time and time again - there is more in-house battling in this sport than any other in the country.

Thoughts?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 09:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

From Naperville Central coach Jay Konrad:
"This kid, Joe Sawa, deserves some spotlight. He is underrated. And he is an awesome kid, not to mention smart. 35 ACT!"

High School: Naperville Central
Position: Center Defender
· Sophomore/Junior/Senior: Varsity Starter
· 2006 Sectional Players - Honorable Mention
· 2006-2007 Academic All Conference
· 2006-2007 All Conference Honorable Mention
· 2006 Regional Champions
· 2005-2006 Academic All Conference

Club Soccer: Downers Grove Roadrunners
Position: Center Defender
· U 15/ U16 Schwan’s USA Cup Finalists
· 2006 U 17: Ranked 6 in Illinois
· Spring 2006 NISL: Premier League II Champions
· Spring 2006 GCSL: High School Division Champions

Academics/Honors/Activities (class of 2008)
· GPA: 4.5 (out of 4.0)
· ACT Score: 35
· SAT Score: 2250
· Naperville Central High School 4.0 Award (6 Semesters)
· J. Kyle Braid Leadership Finalist
· AP “5” Score: Calculus BC, Chemistry, American Government and Politics
· American Chemical Society Scholarship Examination Certificate
· NCHS Certificate of Commendation: ACS Scholarship Exam Honorable Mention
· German student of the year – 3 years
· National Honor Society
· German National Honor Society

So who are some of the other top defenders in the area?

Posted by Corner Kicks at 03:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

First, let me give Calvin Davis a hand. (I'm clapping...and now I've stopped.)

As Public League sports director, Davis has made sure the media has known his every move helping the Public League gain more exposure and improve in certain areas. Nice job, Calvin. It's always good to be friends with the media when dealing with a major organization such as the Public League - the largest conference in the state.

But when it comes to Public League soccer, Davis has played the role of "Casper the Ghost" perfectly. Unless it's the Public League title game, where Davis makes an annual appearance just like a seasoned politician, Davis has been a non-factor.

On Tuesday night at Montrose Park, a tripleheader was held in the opening round of the Pepsi Showdown - the largest tournament in the Midwest and third largest in the country (http://www.pepsishowdown.us). Three Public League teams played against premier suburban powers along Lake Shore Dr., forcing overtime in each one of the games and bringing a lot of respect to Public League soccer.

Where was Calvin I asked? "If this was a basketball game, he would have been here," a Public League coach responded.

Where was Juan Espinoza, the Director of Soccer for the Public League? "Juan who?" a Public League coach responded.

I know, I know - it's easy to pick on the Public League. But I don't. I realize there is a ton of talent there, which is why the Sun-Times is basically the lone paper in Chicago to cover Public League boys soccer.

It's just too bad though its own administrators ignore it more than the Ivy Tower.

Posted by Corner Kicks at 10:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

At the end of the day, it is better than nothing I guess.

The IHSA adjusted a couple sectionals, moving the Downers and Hinsdales of the world to a new sectional this fall. But the south suburban sectionals, a place near and dear to my heart, are now some of the worst sectionals in the state.

When it comes to the Class A and AA state finals, the IHSA has the same approach as AYSO - it doesn't care who receives a trophy, just as long as someone does.

So what do you think?

Here is a closer look at the IHSA Class AA sectional assignments:
http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/2007-08/2assign.htm

Posted by Corner Kicks at 10:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)