When out getting my weekly fix of high school soccer games recently, I remarked — not to anyone in particular — that the girls of a certain school may very well do better than its boys this fall, having seen both squads in action.
Someone responded, “I hope not.” Now, I would expect that comment from someone who maybe had a few dollars riding on the outcome of who progressed further with their local bookmaker for the fun of it. Only they don’t have bookmakers in Indiana (legal ones anyway), and I’m sure if they did they wouldn’t have odds on such scenarios.
So I can only put it down to what I call “begrudgeryism.” You probably won’t find that word in the dictionary because I made it up, but basically what it means to me is that the parent of Little Johnny has no interest in seeing the girls’ team at Little Johnny’s school outperform him and his teammates. Self-interest is another phrase that springs to mind.
Personally, this sort of attitude disgusts me and is not confined to this area. If the girls of high school teams go on a longer run than the boys during the state tournament this year — or any year — great. I’ll be waving their colors on the sideline in the regionals and beyond if they do, just like I would the boys.
And I feel that is more of a possibility this year because, despite the increasing popularity of the game in this area, I am disheartened that the standard of boys’ soccer doesn’t seem to have improved from last year (that’s another story for another day), but I am alternatively encouraged by the improvement on the girls’ side.
Just as a matter of interest, the only player in these parts to go professional in any sort of capacity as far as I am aware is a female (Floyd Central graduate Jaime Halas, English Premier League). And it’s the USA’s women’s team which has won two World Cups.
Starting today, USA goes go for a third title — and a first prize of $1 million — as it enters the China-hosted tournament as the No. 1 seed. It plays powerhouse North Korea this morning (re-aired ESPN2, 7 p.m.) before games against Sweden (Friday, 5 a.m.) and Nigeria (Tuesday, Sept. 18, 8 a.m.) in Group B.
You can follow all the action on the ESPN network (live and re-aired) over the next three weeks. You are bound to learn something from the skill, technical acumen and display of heart that will be on show — and that goes for whether you’re a boy or a girl.
Girlpower
Speaking of women’s soccer, Jeffersonville High School graduate Chelsea Grover opened the regular season at Western Kentucky University with 25 minutes as a reserve defender in a 3-0 win over Georgetown last week.
And Halas has helped Keynsham Town (mentioned above) remain unbeaten in four games in the English FA Women’s Premier League Southern Division. Keynsham beat Newquay Ladies 2-0 on Sunday and is now joint third in the table.
1 comment:
Jaime flat out rocks and is probably the toughest player(girl or otherwise:) to ever come out of this area - LOL Seriously though, she is tough.
Chelsea Grover is a great girl and I'm glad she is playing for western. I hope she plays all 4 years and moves back to coach here.
Chelsey Stanley(FC Grad 2006) is playing at Centre College and earned a starting spot as a freshman. Talking about a quality individual. Chelsey is a class act.
Our area will benefit in the years to come as more and more of our youth go off to play college and hopefully return to enter careers and hopefully consider coaching here.
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