Youth Sports Post: Iris Trophies

It has not been unusual in the past for me to post photos of youth sports. Both of my sons have been involved in sports for the past eight or nine years. That meant we were involved, too.

That changed over this past year, and now neither son is active in organized sports. I miss it.

So imagine my delight a few weeks ago to see this photo of my granddaughter Iris just embarking on her sporting career. She just turned four, and she's all kitted out and taking over the pitch.

Imagine my further delight to receive this photo today of Iris and her best friend posing with their trophies. I believe these are participation trophies, but they couldn't be prouder or happier if they had won the World Cup. 

I couldn't either. Nicely done, girls.

Isaiah and Jeremiah, eat your hearts out.

Youth Sports Post: Soccer Tournament

I usually spend the longest day of the year on the lake, but this year I was in Pasco, Washington for a soccer tournament. I've mentioned before that my son Isaiah is playing this summer for the FC Spokane U-17 team. This is club soccer, a step up from high school sports. This was Isaiah's first chance to play with them in a tournament, and it was our first chance to see him play with them. So it was two nights and three games away from home.

We learned that five of their regular players couldn't be at the tournament, which explained the fact that they lost all three games. But the coach explained that it was OK, that the main reason for playing was to get ready for the next tournament, which is more important somehow.

So it was hard work for Isaiah and the team. Isaiah was discouraged the first day, but by the end of the tournament he was feeling good about the improvement he had made.

As usual, we thought he played great.

Youth Sports Post: Spring Sports

With Spring comes spring sports.

My son, Jeremiah, will play baseball. These photos are from practice. We've had one game but Jeremiah didn't play because of grades, alas. We lost. I think he's got those grades up now, so maybe he can help us to our first win this weekend.

Soccer has kicked off as well.

That's Isaiah's sport. Last month he made the FC Spokane U18 team, and will play for them this summer.

As for the high school season, he, too, hasn't played yet because of grades, more's the pity. But he's busted his butt to be eligible, and should be playing this weekend. So far we have a record of 2 and 1, and Isaiah's return, I believe, will help us get firmly on the winning track.

Isaiah did play in a pre-season jamboree, and our team dominated. Isaiah looked very good.

I was surprised to see that last photo of mine on the front page of the Sports section in the local paper.

Actually, it's not mine. It was taken by Al Camp, one of the local sports reporters. I was out there taking photos, and so was he. He came over to talk to me, and give me pointers, so we were standing right next to each other when we shot the same play just a split second apart.

Youth Sports Post: Header

Isaiah is playing soccer in a local Men's League this summer. He got a great header in the last game. A little taste of the World Cup in our own backyard.

Fly Fishing and Soccer

I think I'll go fishing on Father's Day. It's a tradition of sorts.

But for now I'm staying home to watch soccer. Two games were on Thursday, three today, and tomorrow there will be four. I haven't looked at Sunday's schedule yet.

This is a new thing for me. I used to find the game boring. But then my son Isaiah started playing and I took some time to learn the game. And the more I watched him play the more I got hooked.

I don't want to stretch the point, but I find the ebb and flow of the play on the pitch similar to my fishing experience. I don't catch a fish on every cast, but I don't get bored. No, the accumulation of repeated casts while simultaneously solving problems of technique or current or wind, and the buildup of anticipation and expectation, all finally culminate in the thrill of a take. Just like the buildup to a goal.

Soccer is called "the beautiful game," and it can certainly be that. But I know one thing for sure: watching these games with Isaiah is a beautiful thing.

To celebrate, I pulled out this video of highlights of one of Isaiah's team's best wins this past season.

Youth Sports Post: A Busy Spring Continues

Spring Sports: Orientation

Baseball--to the left.

Soccer--to the right.

Spring sky--everywhere you look.

Family Post: Soccer Season Opener

Spring sports have begun. The first soccer game was Tuesday in a nearby town, and I lost track of how many goals we scored. They scored nil. But the season will get a lot tougher very soon.

Isaiah did well. He loves this game. The good news is he has worked hard and made great improvement, and is a starter on the varsity squad. The bad news is he has worked hard and made great improvement and now finds the high school game, with all that interference from the coaches, frustrating. If only he could go straight to the Premiere League, or, if necessary, the Sounders!

Kids today. They want it all on a platter.

But I'm proud of the kid. And I'm glad he can dream big. And I'm confident he will work it out and achieve his dream, one step at a time.

So here's to Isaiah and the Tigers, a good season, and a great first step.

Youth Sports Post: Dream, Dedication, and Reality

In the post Dream and Dedication Isaiah was working hard on his shot, and dreaming of the chance to use it in a game.

On Saturday it happened.

He's still not 100% after his ACL surgery, but he gave it all he had. His knee is stronger, but the brace restricts his movements.

But his shot was strong and true. He scored two of the team's three goals in a losing effort. One goal came so fast I missed it with the camera, an opposing goal kick that went awry, and that Isaiah gathered up and kicked in from outside the box.

The other came when our team was awarded a penalty kick. The coach called out, "Isaiah! That's you!" And it was.

Take a dream, add dedication, and it becomes reality.

Youth Sports Post: Dream and Dedication

There was a double header on Saturday.

We were there, watching Jeremiah and his teammates sweep their opponents.

Meanwhile, behind us, there was a soccer game going on. Isaiah was there but didn't play. He still doesn't have enough practices in to be eligible. And, as I've pointed out before, his role will be limited because he's still rehabbing from ACL surgery in September.

Every time I glanced behind me the other team was scoring a goal. Knowing Isaiah, I can imagine how excruciating it is for him to have to just sit there on the bench and do nothing to help the team.

The soccer game was long over and the second baseball game was winding down when we started to wonder why Isaiah hadn't joined us yet. I looked over and saw why.

Over and over and over.

Take a dream, add dedication, and there will be no stopping it.

Click for Update: It all pays off.

River Report: Fishing For Life

The day was sublime. The sign in town said 66 degrees. It would have been a perfect day to make the trip to Rocky Ford, but I had things I needed to do. After that I still had time to get to the river for awhile before the soccer game. I knew Isaiah wasn't going to play today, so I was going to see how I did at the river. If I was catching fish, I'd stay. If not, I'd go check out the soccer game.

I decided to drive downstream a couple of miles to the bridge and familiar waters. I hadn't fished this stretch since last summer before the move. It was good to be back.

The river is up a bit. Once I was in it I estimated it to be up over a foot. The current is proportionately more lively.

I worked the Bridge Run awhile. I was thinking steelhead, but I would have been happy to catch anything--a fat smallmouth, a strong trout, even a whitefish. I was fishing for life.

I waded upstream along the bank toward The Glide.

I took a pass through The Glide, but from the opposite side I usually fish. Seemed worth a try. And the current was just fast enough to make a crossing seem dicier than I was in the mood for.

I worked my way back upstream a ways. Midges were thick on the water and in the air and I watched for rises. This is a prime area for pods of whitefish and even smallmouth to feed on top, but I saw none today. I did see an old basketball drifting past, and a big blue plastic drum where it had washed up on the tip of the island. It was a windy, gusty day. That could explain the drum, and, who knows, maybe the basketball, too.

I came to a beaver slide and decided to climb out.

Up above the river the south wind blew with nothing to slow it down, and it did its best to blow me back into the river as I wended my way to the truck.

I thought about the fishing. There had been no signs of life at the end of my line. The river still seemed dead, or sleeping. But, like the field, it will come to life. Soon spring growth will completely hide the stark signs of winter's harshness.

I got the thermos out of the truck and sat above the river under the bridge. I was sheltered from the wind, and the sun was warm.

I reflected on the swallow ghost towns around the bridge pylons. There were flocks of killdeer all up and down the shorelines, and once a single bird against the sky had made me think for a moment that the swallows were back. Not yet, but soon. It won't be long before life inhabits everything again.

Meanwhile, there are warming days, waking rivers, greening fields, and soccer games. It was time to head for the soccer field. Plenty of life there.