What am I thinking...

While I wish I could keep up with this blog on a daily basis, I've come to realize there are going to be times when I can't....and that drives me nuts. When there are 101 things going on, sadly, there is only so much time in the day to do 100 of them.

I've always believed in this saying - you might not have as much talent as someone else, but there is no reason anyone should ever out work you. My high school baseball coach screamed that at us one Saturday morning and to this day, it's something I'll remember for the rest of my life. I just wish there were 25 hours in the day, so then I could do that one extra thing.

As I've said many times before, I blame Lincoln-Way East coach Brian Papa for this. Back in Aug. 1996, Papa looked at me and said, "Why do you guys even come out here and do a preview? All you care about is football and basketball."

I actually wanted to tell Papa, "You know something, you're right. I got stuck coming out here to do a preview on your stupid team, because it was between this and cross-country. I'm a college freshman at Columbia, and I got what was left. The thought of watching kids say they like running three miles only to get to the finish line and puke was worse than watching a scoreless soccer game. So smile, at least someone is here."

But I didn't.

I got back in my car, drove back to the office and thought the entire way. Why wasn't soccer, which was and is still one of the largest youth sports in the country, on the same level? It was no-brainer to me. Years later, the sport I once made fun of is now the sport I can't get out of my blood. It goes to show you that you really can do anything.

Since that moment, I've created the largest high school soccer awards banquets in the state; the largest high school soccer tournaments in the Midwest; won awards; had a soccer column before I turned 19; hired on staff at one of the largest newspapers in the country at the age of 22; and wrote my first story for ESPN.com at the age of 23.

There have been times when I've sat back and shook my head knowing that I've sat down with millionaire businessmen to pitch a soccer idea to them in casual clothes and my black Nike hat on. "It's a win-win for everyone," I've said in meetings. "You, the kids, the newspaper, the community. Everyone wins. It's common sense."

If it wasn't for Papa making that statement, I probably wouldn't be doing this. I've annoyed a lot of people over the years for being a bulldog, forgetting to knock on the door before opening. I still remember what my high school journalism teacher wrote in my senior yearbook, "You don't have to run over every door. You can knock." I listened, and I do knock every so often.

But through it all, one thing I know is that I've helped a ton of people - players, parents, coaches, businesses and the sport. One decade down and another decade ahead to make a difference.

And that's why I created the Pepsi Showdown College Showcase, which you can learn more about at www.pepsishowdown.us.

I actually received a text this morning from AJ Maestas, President of Navigate Marketing. He joked, "I told you two years ago that you were going to be the Sonny Vaccaro of soccer. Now it's just a matter of time."

Maestas is one of the best networkers I've ever met in my life. He's also one of the brightest people in his industry. While that is funny to read, I don't want to be like anyone - I want to be Joe Trost.

When I first started out in the newspaper industry at The Star Newspapers, the same place where the Chicago Tribune's Mike Downey and The Score's (670 AM) Terry Boers began, I created what was called the Rising and Senior Star Classics. Obviously, I had the "Star" in the name to promote the newspaper, but these were events for players from the south suburbs to come out and shine.

It was their chance to showcase their skills, meet other players and play in front of college coaches. At that time, there used to be a saying that teams south of I-55 couldn't hang with the teams from north and west suburbs. I started those Classics in 1997 after I created the largest high school sports awards banquet in the state. I wanted that area to gain the attention and respect it deserved - not just from the rest of the state, but from the people in its own area, including football-first athletic directors.

In my mind, I was building a brand for The Star to own. I created an award-winning soccer column called Cornerkicks, which created The Star's All-Area Boys and Girls Soccer Awards Banquets, which created the Rising and Senior Star Classics.

"It's a win-win for everyone," I said in meetings. "You, the kids, the newspaper, the community. Everyone wins."

I was never told to do those things. I wanted to, because I saw the potential. The interest was there, the community was there. If you reached out and supported the community, the community was going to support you.

I created a team community service award in honor of the Michele Bingham, who was killed at practice one day back in 1994 when a car ran her over. Thousands of door prizes at the banquets from Nike and countless other partners were given away to average players, and we honored every soccer team and every player. I lined up so-called no-name speakers, who are now big names throughout the country. This so-called area that couldn't hang with the rest of the state honored its best players, who are now professional players.

And yes, there were key helpers that helped make these events outstanding, and I'll be thankful to them all the way to my grave. They know who they are, and I still stay in touch with them to this day because of the friendship that build as they helped "little Joey."

But when I was hired by the Sun-Times in 2000, I just didn't have the time to run them anymore. I watched what I built disappear in a heartbeat and it drove me nuts. I told Papa a few years back that I missed those events and that's why I'm so excited to finally be able to restart them again.

When the Pepsi Showdown College Showcase takes place on Nov. 28 at the Sports Zone in Melrose Park, it will be a 12-hour day full of so many different things. Players from high schools across the state will play at the same site on the same day. It will feature not just seniors, but juniors, sophomores and freshmen.

This isn't the 1950s when only seniors can play. In many cases, the freshmen are better than some seniors. People don't like to hear that, but it's true - I've seen it.

Kids will meet other kids from the city, suburbs and Downstate. They'll meet high school coaches they've read about in the paper or only heard about. It's a chance to play at one of the finest entertainment sites in the Midwest (also practice home to the Chicago Storm) and in front of college coaches. Parents and relatives can come out and watch their favorite player play. I know there will be some idiot parent that will be scholarship crazy, but I hope they see the whole picture when it's all said and done.

It also will help aid the Diana Drenth Leukemia Fund. Drenth, 31, mother of a 1-year-old baby, passed away a week ago.

This is a win-win for everyone - the players, the coaches, the colleges, the partners and the Drenth family.

There is a saying that teachers quote all the time, "If I make a difference in just one child's life then it was worth it" or something like that.

Garbage.

When you have a chance to have an impact on hundreds of kids lives each year, you do whatever you can do to that. In this unique media position, I do. Next Friday, I get to help hundreds of players in so many different ways. And yes, I hope a number of players open the eyes of college recruiters in attendance, too.

This is what the Pepsi Showdown College Showcase is all about.

And guess what? This is only the beginning.