Live from London: Thinking About Mount Carmel...

I remember standing with the legendary Frank Kiszka - the long-time Mr. Everything for the Mount Carmel athletic department - earlier this decade at a Mount Carmel hockey game. We started talking about the soccer program, because he referred to me as Mr. Soccer at times.

I asked him when the soccer field was going to improve, and he said in time. And to his credit, it did. It moved from the lovely, rock-hard ground of Jackson Park to the back of the Mount Carmel baseball diamond.

To be fair, the Mount Carmel football program has used Jackson Park, too.

But maybe it's time for the land-tight Mount Carmel athletic department to do what North Park University has done. North Park, which will be the site of the Public League Championship on Thursday, found a piece of land just east of the campus and turfed it. On that piece of land sits softball and baseball diamonds, a football field and yes, a soccer field.

Honestly, it's the best use of space I have seen in the Chicago area.

So Lenti, what do you think? I like the idea, and I think Kiszka would agree - it's time.

And I'm sure you're asking where you'll get the money from? Well, that's what I'm here for, too.

Here's an idea - print less football camp brochures and spread the wealth next year.

- Joe Trost