August 2009 Archives

Two years ago, I jumped all over the Eclipse Select Soccer Club for practicing at the Howe Mental Facility in Tinley Park.

Growing up in the south suburbs, I know the area well. I know the issues the facility has had from mental patients escaping and walking down 183rd St. or out in the open land.

Last year, I reminded Eclipse Select that it continued to put its paying players and families in harms way.

And guess what?

Today, Gov. Pat Quinn announced the closure of Howe, which was stripped of its federal certification and blamed in the deaths of at least 31 disabled adults since 2005. While an independent commission of state lawmakers in April recommended closing the center, Eclipse Select continued to put children on the property.

All it would've taken is one accident to make this a bigger story. The club dodged a bullet, but it needs to use common sense.

It's funny to see how some people react after one game, one week.

Holy christ, the sky is falling. Relax people.

I think Barrington coach Scott Steib said it best after his team lost to Deerfield to start the season. "It's one game. We have some stuff to work on."

It's amazing how a win has people saying one thing, while a loss has people saying another thing.

Seriously, some people need to get a life. This isn't football where one loss puts more pressure on you, because you need so many wins for the IHSA tournament.

Yes, everyone wants to win. But maybe some people should think like St. Viator coach Mike Taylor.

I always try to cut the Public League some slack.

Suburban coaches for years said I was going out of my way to cut the Public League slack and gave them too much publicity. I don't think they were right, because you can never give anyone too much publicity - especially the Public League

But here we are again, another year and no new soccer fields for Public League teams.

I know, I know - blame it on the economy.

But what about the previous 10 years?

I know, I know - poor leadership.

It's only a matter of time before a player is hurt and they sue the hell out of the Public League for playing on poor Chicago Park District fields. Mark my word, the time is coming.

But while we wait for that day, maybe the Public League sports administration office can send out a schedule of its boys soccer games?

I know, I know - it's a lot of work.

No, no - it's the same lazy story as last year and the year before and the year before.

I was listening to former Chicago Bears running back Neal Anderson talk this morning on The Score (670 AM).

He said he couldn't see himself coaching today's athletes because he has an old-school approach when it comes to work. You work hard all the time - period. He, like so many other former professional athletes, believe today's athlete is different.

In other words, they believe today's athletes are lazy.

Anderson, who now resides in Florida, has three kids and two of them play soccer.

As was the case during the girls season, the Pepsi Showdown will feature a number of showdowns on Sundays this fall season at area colleges.

Some of the teams will be from the 2009 Pepsi Showdown, while others will take part in these showcases to earn more exposure for their players and teams.

What match ups would you like to see?

Each year when I sit down to do the preseason rankings and try to list the true players to watch, I always have to figure out which coach is sandbagging and which ones think they are better than what they really are.

Trust me, coaches have track records and I keep track. It's actually pretty funny at times when you see the patterns.

People need to remember that just because you played well over the summer or have 101 seniors back doesn't mean you deserve to be ranked. The summer season is nothing compared to what it was five years ago or even 10 years ago.

I used to always preseason rank the summer champion of the Western League, which is a competitive high school summer league. But as club has grown, there are many high school teams that field a second-class team during the summer - which isn't a bad thing. It allows coaches to see other kids in action and gives them more time to evaluate.

As I said to Naperville Central coach Jay Konrad on Saturday, this is a flip-a-coin season. Just like in the spring where Waubonsie Valley was the hands down, clear cut favorite on paper to the start the season, Neuqua Valley is Grade A while everyone else is Grade B, C and even D+.

So is it a down year?

Man, it was a good summer.

Some people moan that it wasn't warm enough or went by too quick, but summer 2009 was perfect for yours truly.

From trips to Washington, D.C., Miami, Denver and St. Louis with friends to watch the Cubs to spending time at the lakehouse in Culver, Ind., the past three months were perfect. It was the first time since I started covering soccer in 1995 that I walked away from the sport 100 percent. I didn't respond to emails, didn't return phone calls - I didn't care.

Guess what? It felt great.

And guess what else? The same B.S. that has plagued this sport for the past 10 years is the same B.S. that I came back to. From clubs and high schools knocking heads in some areas to parents sending emails complaining about coaches, I almost feel like I've reentered Bill Murray's classic movie "Groundhog Dog" once again.

Last fall, I told you Larkin was the boys team to watch.

And they were.

Last spring, I told you Huntley was the girls team to watch.

And they were.

This fall, Streamwood is the team to watch. Loaded with talent, led by underappreciated all-around star Alex Perez, the Sabres will open plenty of eyes.

The Sun-Times Preseason Top 10 is complete and will be announced in the coming days.

Neuqua Valley is hands down the area's No. 1 team on paper, but we saw how much paper meant last spring with the Waubonsie Valley girls. Tons of talents at Neuqua this fall, and Tony Kees returns to the high school sidelines after spending time with the Chicago Fire Academy.

If that isn't enough, there's also a very interesting transfer at Neuqua Valley - Keegan Balle.

The 5-11 defender played for Lincoln-Way Central and the Chicago Magic. He left the Magic when the ship (of what was once the premier soccer club in the area and nation) started to go down and moved to the Chicago Fire Academy.

According to Lincoln-Way Central principal Steve Provis, Balle withdrew from the New Lenox school this summer, which also was the same time his club coach Kees was named the new head coach at Neuqua Valley. Kees left Conant High School two years ago to join the Chicago Fire Academy as a staff coach and is now back coaching high school.

Whether the timing was ironic or not, it's odd to see a senior, who owns a 4.0 GPA, transfer before his senior year. He informed Lincoln-Way Central coach Dan Radz of his move via email a day before practice began.

According to IHSA assistant executive director Beth Sauser, she has yet to see any paperwork regarding the transfer. She is out of the office today, but has made a call inquiring to see if anything has come in.

Neuqua Valley principal Robert McBride said in an email: "I can tell you that Keegan Balle is enrolled at Neuqua Valley High School. He has met all the residency requirements of Indian Prairie School District 204 and the protocols of the IHSA for such transfers. The principal at Lincoln Way High School signed an IHSA 'principal's concurrence' on his transfer."

Balle is the son of former Sandburg football coach Marty Balle, who is now the offensive coordinator at Providence in New Lenox. He still teaches at Sandburg in Orland Park.

From Tony Kees, Jay Konrad and Mike Taylor to Mike Wiggins, Jim Konrad and Jim Corsi, there are some great coaches out there.

So who are some of the best high school coaches walking the sidelines this season? And keep in mind, not all great coaches are at powerhouse programs.

Every year I hear the same thing from coaches and parents - the officials are horrible.

And when they say that to me, I turn and say - there are some horrible coaches and parents.

It's so easy to pick on the officials, we all know that. With that in mind, not every official is bad. There are actually some very, very good ones.

So who are the best officials still working high school games these days?

The IHSSCA Wall of Fame Ceremony will take place Sunday, Sept. 20 at Toyota Park - the same day as the Pepsi Showdown doubleheader with the Chicago Fire.

With that in mind, who has made the greatest impact on high school soccer in Illinois?