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Man, Paris is one hell of a dirty city. Here's a bar of soap and rag - it's on me.
Mercy.
But before we head out to have a $200 dinner (after having a $60 lunch that consisted of a cheeseburger, some sushi, two glasses of wine and a Sprite...I'm starting to think that $2 Pepsi Showdown players meal of a hot dog, chips and a Pepsi was one heck of a deal), I wanted to throw this out on a Friday afternoon - the good, the bad and the ugly.
THE UGLY: Streamwood - period. This team, which was ranked No. 9 by the Sun-Times and No. 7 by the Tribune to start the season, returned a ton of starters from a 17-win squad in 2008. It also featured one of the area's best in Alex Perez. But since getting buried in the Pepsi Showdown semifinals to Lyons, Streamwood has stunk up the place more than the French guy standing next to me on the subway today. Yes, they've had injuries, but man it's been ugly.
THE BAD: The IHSA's stubborn and outdated attitude when it comes to its state tournament. Years of marketing can't hide the fact that a once proud tournament hasn't changed with the times and challenges the sport faces. If you want an AYSO tournament, where everyone has a chance to win a medal and go out for ice cream or Burger King after they play at North Central College in Naperville, then this is what you've got. If you want a tournament, where the state's best are represented, then things have to change. The sad thing is they won't even look at adjusting the format, and that's just like a bad teacher or coach unwilling to look in the mirror.
THE GOOD: The reason I saved this for last is because there are so many great stories this season. From team success stories to unknown players rising to the top, it's been an interesting fall. The Chicago Park District has a couple new turf fields in Chicago, which have improved field conditions for some lucky Public League programs who used them.
Between now and Monday, the board is yours to post the best story of the 2009 season. I will post mine next week.
Until then, get out to a game and I'll see you when I return to Chicago on Wednesday.
- Joe Trost
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I think Whitney Young deserves some notice for overcoming the doubters this year who thought they weren't the best team in the city...They proved they were head and shoulders better than any other city team. I hope they continue their 12 game win streak in the state playoffs...good luck Young!
Too often people look at winning as a successful program. A few weeks ago OPRF took on Lyons Township in a conference matchup. It was a heated contest going into 2 OT’s Lyons pulled out with a win with a few minutes left in the in the second OT. Lyons players congratulated each other for 3 seconds (after the golden goal) while the OPRF players visibly shaken sat down, kneeled, teared up…WITHOUT direction from their coach the Lyons players began helping the OPRF players up, patting them on the back, and thanking them for a solid match and wishing them luck during the playoffs…teaching character, respect, and class will open more doors in the future (for most hs soccer athletes ) than a soccer ball will…solid job LT.
Just so you know the rest of the state is as goofy as everyone else.
Your choice, is this bad or ugly? Quote from Wesclin High School soccer coach after his team got beat 4-1 by Gibault a regional game. "I don't want to be a poor sport," Beckett said. "We just lost, but no, I do not look for them to win state this year. I firmly believe they should have been beaten tonight, and they will get beat before they get to the state championship."
And this comes from a coach who's team had trouble connecting 2 passes together that night, had 2 shots on goal (the goal came after Gibault was up 4-0, had just taken 5 starters out and things were a little confused), who had 10% of play, and who marshmallows think played a soft schedule.
Full link to story in the BND: http://www.bnd.com/407/story/969627.html?commentSort=TimeStampAscending&pageNum=1
How about "the best coachable moment of the year":
On Sept. 1st, after dominating the run of play for 70 minutes and leading 2-0, Neuqua Valley allowed goals to Naperville North on back-to-back set pieces, the second in the last minute, to finish regulation in a tie. Since that eye-opener, Neuqua has run off 20 consecutive wins.
Or, "ignorance or disregard?":
An IHSA rule adopted prior to the start of this season (http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/2009-10/09-10%20SO%20state%20assoc%20adoptions.pdf) (see the last adoption) states that
"During the regular season, if any game ends in a tie and overtime or penalty kicks are not used to determine a winner then the game is marked as a tie. If any game ends in a tie and overtime and/or penalty kicks are used to determine a winner then a win or a loss is attributed to each team."
On Sept. 1st, Neuqua Valley won the penalty kick shoot out over Naperville North, 3-0. Did Neuqua have a "perfect" regular season? That would be a good story. When was the last one?
One question how do you rank? Is there a math equation or do you love or should I say live in Naperville?
Waubonsie Valley girls soccer...59 game winning streak. If Neuqua can make it through the playoffs without a loss, then we can talk perfect season.