Sports talk hits new lows

"All my life I had been looking for something and everywhere I turned someone tried to tell me what it was. I accepted their answers too, though they were often in contradiction and even self-contradictory. I was naïve. I was looking for myself and asking everyone except myself questions which I, and only I, could answer. It took me a long time and much painful boomeranging of my expectations to achieve a realization everyone else appears to have been born with: That I am nobody but myself."

– Ralph Ellison, “Invisible Man”

This week has become a difficult one for sports media personalities. They have been thrust from the comfort zone of barstool politics into sociological meditations on identity. From Rob Parker’s stereotyping of Robert Griffin III’s “blackness” to Steve Czaban and Andy Pollin calling 50-year-old transgender basketball player Gabrielle Ludwig “it,” this has been a rough couple of days for sports journalists and D.C. sports in particular (Czaban and Pollin host a D.C. show).

In the case of Ludwig, there are many intelligent questions that can be asked about transgender athletes and how best for the NCAA (and other prominent sports organizations) to incorporate the needs of transgender players. For Czaban and Pollin, it is clear that discussion should have begun with, “What does transgender mean?” They are clearly ignorant of the struggles of individuals with gender identity issues and, more importantly, have turned their ignorance into a joke for their audience.

Sports talk radio is disappointing in its reliance on misogynistic and borderline (or outright) homophobic qualifiers. There is a disturbing tendency to define a player’s worth by arguing about his manhood, as though testosterone level alone makes a player great. Any player that is struggling or does not seem to be giving his all is automatically described in feminine terms or called a “pansy.” This happens so many times during the course of a four-hour block of radio that most of us don’t even realize that it’s being said.

Czaban and Pollin will be grateful to Parker for taking some of the heat off of them by calling out a far more mainstream and popular athlete, but also for making a much more mainstream generalization. Calling out someone for embracing (or not) his or her race is much easier for the average fan to digest and respond to then is making a comment about gender issues.

Make no mistake, both are bigoted comments. Unfortunately, there will be far fewer people who step up to the plate for Ludwig.

It’s unusual when Stephen A. Smith is the voice of reason, but his comment following Parker’s diatribe about what it means, at least in his mind, to be black was dead on. He said after a noticeable pause, “I am uncomfortable with where we just went.”

I think we can all agree that when sports talk hosts begin to make broad statements about matters that take place off the field, we have started to enter dangerous territory. There are many sportswriters that I trust to embrace controversial topics and, whether I agree with them or not, produce something that is thoughtful and thought-provoking. Writers like Dave Zirin, Jeff MacGregor, Steve Wulf, Howard Bryant, and yes even Jason Whitlock can look at a tough subject and not reduce it to a glib, useless, and bigoted sound bite.

RGIII seems like a smart guy and he seems to have embraced his multiple roles as an African-American, an African-American quarterback, and the leader of an NFL team. I’m assuming (and hoping) that whatever Rob Parker’s opinion may be it will have little effect on Griffin and ho he views himself. I know that there will be plenty of people standing up for him in the next week or so.

My hope is that Ludwig (for whom personal identity has had a far greater impact on her life) her teammates, and Mission College will stand firm and support each other so that the unwanted publicity will not tear down what is really a remarkable story.

These comments should not be acceptable in the “barbershop,” or wherever Parker normally discusses identity politics, but it is embarrassing, disrespectful, and dangerous to use a national sports forum to start airing ill-informed opinions about race and gender. Rather than making snide, ridiculous comments, we should be holding both Ludwig and RGIII up as models of what is possible today in America. We need to embrace differences and marvel at the opportunities we all have to realize our dreams and to understand, as Ellison put it, "I am nobody but myself." We should not need to be questioned at every turn if we don't fit into a pre-defined package.

We have the right to free speech, but when you make comments such as these ESPN should also have the freedom to terminate your contract and get you off the air. It won’t happen, but it should.

Warrior on the Rise: Former KP star Jake Layman looks forward to first season of ACC basketball

Maryland photos courtesy of Mark Clem, Terrapin Times

King Philip photos courtesy of HockomockSports.com

_________________________

During the 2012 Division 2 state tournament, the suddenly relevant Warriors were forced to play home games at neutral sites because the 600 seats available in their sparse gym could never hope to contain the crowds that would watch them battle some of the best teams in the region.

How did the program go from invisible to the star attraction of the winter season?

In the months leading up to the 2008-09 season, King Philip hired Sean McInnis as the new head coach and he immediately set about changing the program and building from the youth leagues. The MetroWest leagues are now a solid feeder system for the high school team and young players look forward to (pulling) on the Green and Gold Jersey.

Yet, McInnis’ influence could only work with a main attraction to get fans excited.

In stepped a tall, lanky superstar from Wrentham that easily towered over just about everyone in the Hockomock League and had the skills to dominate at several positions. By his senior year, Jake Layman would grow into a 6’9” league all-star and top Division 1 college recruit.

As Layman’s skills developed, the KP basketball program grew into one of the best in the ultra competitive Hockomock.

Layman towered over the competition in the
Hockomock League.

“I think when I first came here, there wan’t much of a program and over those four years we really turned it into a high level program,” said Layman by telephone from the University of Maryland where he will be playing this season.

He added, “The biggest thing for me was just bringing the community together like that. When we first made the playoffs and brought KP back to being a winning team- that was the most exciting thing for me.”

Fans were craving top-level basketball and people streamed in from Norfolk, Plainville, and Wrentham to pack the gymnasium for games against powerhouse teams such as Mansfield, Stoughton, and Franklin. Thanks to the prodigious talents of Layman, who became the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,752 points, the Warriors were not only on the map, but a prime destination for fans of good basketball.

Layman’s talents were also being noticed nationally as many schools began making recruiting trips to Wrentham. The forward, who also played AUU basketball for the prominent BABC program, had a variety of options including spending a year in prep school, a choice made by top recruit Nerlens Noel of Everett and, locally, within the Hockomock, by former Stoughton High guard Aaron Calixte.

The family atmosphere at King Philip was too much of a draw for him to consider playing with anyone other than the warriors, “Don’t get me wrong, every kid can use that extra year, but I really just wanted to stay with my friends and be with them.”

At Maryland, Layman will be expected to use his size
as a defensive presence on the wing.

“I felt that I was getting enough exposure playing with BABC and I didn’t need the prep school experience,” Layman added.

That exposure led to a tough choice of where to play his college ball with offers from Maryland, Boston Colllege, Providence College, Florida, and others. This could be an overwhelming and difficult choice, but once the Terrapins came calling, Layman knew it was the right place for him.

“My dad’s whole family lives in the area so I’m going to get the chance to see them a lot and they’re going to be able to see me play,” he explained. “It was a new beginning when I came here last year and we’re definitely on the right track to being a winning team.”

Layman is enjoying his time with the Terrapins and is several weeks from beginning his freshman season as one of Maryland’s small forward options. Layman will be expected to provide scoring from the wing and is sure that his shooting will make him a threat against ACC defenses.

“Going from the Hockomock to D1, ACC, is a little different,” mused Layman. “It’s definitely a lot faster and the physicality of the game…there’s a lot more big guys out there.”

Layman can build on his experiences in AAU ball to help transition to the next level. He should also be full of confidence after spending the summer representing his country at the 2012 FIBA Americas U-18 Championship Tournament that was held in August in Sao Sebastiao do Paraiso, Brazil.

Learning from coaches such as Billy Donovan (Florida), Mark Few (Gonzaga), and Shaka Smart (Virginia Commonwealth) and playing with top recruits from across the country, should give Layman the platform to shine at the next level.

It was also pretty nice to take home a Gold medal.

Layman throws it down during Maryland's
Midnight Madness event.

“That was an unbelieveable experience. It was the experience of a lifetime. Every kid wants to represent their country like that so it was awesome. I think that I’m going to have a chance to tryout again next year for the U-19 team so I’m really excited about that.”

Wrentham basketball fans will be packing the King Philip gym again this winter hoping that the Warriors can make another run at the postseason, and the player that helped bring them back to the program will be keeping his eye on the team from afar.

KP basketball is still a priority even with games against Duke, North Carolina, and Florida State on the horizon, “I definitely pay attention. I built a lot of good relationships with my coach and guys on the team so I talk with them all the time.”

The growth of youth programs in the King Philip region, the continued success of the high school team in the Hockomock League, and the thriving Warriors fan base can all be attributed to Layman’s arrival on the scene. Now it is time for Layman to look forward to making that big of an impact at the University of Maryland.

“I can’t wait for the first game. I think we have all the tools and this should be a good year.”

A Decade of Dominance: Westwood High Girls’ Lacrosse and a Legacy of Success

The scoreboard was not working properly. It read 99-96 before the game even got started. As the first half wore on it began to feel as though at least one half of that score line was possible. The girls in white were winning every face-off and swarming the opposition goal. Their two All-Americans would combine for 12 goals and 7 assists. It was a rout.

It was also the cap on a decade of dominance by one of the most successful programs in any sport in the state. The 20-6 victory over Algonquin at Worcester’s Foley Field was the 6th state championship in 10 years for the Westwood High girl’s lacrosse team and 3rd in four years for the star-studded senior class.

Losing players of the caliber of Kate Rich, 5 goals and 2 assist in the finals, Laura McHoul, 7 goals and 5 assists, and goalie Mollie Brown, 7 saves, would seem to imply an upcoming dry spell, but Head Coach Leslie Frank has dealt with this before and has never missed a beat. One of the reasons for the team’s continued success is that when players graduate they don’t leave the program, but rather come back and attend practices, cheer their former teammates on from the sidelines, and give advice to the new squad members.

The program has talent, that is unquestioned, but the strength of history and the legacy of winning pushes the Wolverines to title after title.

“Every year a team leaves something behind and the new players pick it up,” said McHoul (who along with Rich was named an All-American in her senior season) following the team’s triumph in Worcester. “Each year you just want to carry the legacy of what each year has left behind. And just to carry this on and to set up the sophomore class to go four for four was great.”

This past season did not start in typical manner with Westwood losing their opening game of the season to Lincoln-Sudbury, one of the few teams to challenge their supremacy in Division 1. Later in the season, Westwood would fall to their South Sectional rivals from Needham, a team that Coach Frank would later call the best they had played that season. In the playoffs, both those losses would be avenged and the season that began with Westwood looking like they might finally be dethroned ended in a very familiar manner.

Laura McHoul, a senior captain and All-American,
searches for an opening against Needham.

Frank has become a legend in the lacrosse community with the program that she has built at Westwood High and her focus and modesty has translated to her players. Rising senior midfielder Marina Burke noted, “It all started from her and she is an amazing coach. It might be possible that someone could match her in the number of wins or something, but I don’t think anyone could ever match the positive impact she has had on a lacrosse program.”

Following her team’s title, the reporters in attendance asked Frank what it was about Westwood that made them consistently dominant. She answered, “It’s the mentoring. It’s the legacy. Those girls are here year after year coming back to support them. We love the game and we are going to help anyone that’s going to grow the game.”

One of those former players is Erica Nangeroni, a 2010 graduate who won two state titles in her four years on the varsity squad and is currently playing as a junior at Bowdoin College. Nangeroni admires the ease with which former players are welcomed into practices by the coaches and current players. Advice is not only welcomed - it is sought and, despite winning titles of their own, current players want to learn from those that have already gone through the pressure of being the best.

“In my experience with the Westwood program, all of the players are so determined to learn as much as they can and to always better their play; Westwood players take advantage of every opportunity to learn and get better and they were absolutely willing to listen and try new things to do so,” said Nangeroni by email.

The former players add perspective to the hard work that the girls put in everyday on the practice field. The championships are great and seem to happen every year, but after graduation it is easier to realize how important it is to enjoy the celebrations with teammates and to appreciate how short the time really was during those intense playoff moments.

Senior captain and All-American Kate Rich
 pumps her fists to celebrate a goal against
Needham in the Sectional finals.

Nangeroni commented, “Being such a consistently strong program, a lot of the players know what it’s like to participate in the high pressure games; what they don’t realize is how fleeting those moments are. I advised the girls to really have fun and enjoy each game and to cherish the time with their team on and off the field because they won’t realize how special this time is until after it’s gone.”

Chasing a championship each season adds a certain pressure but both Burke and Nangeroni insist that the legacy of Westwood’s success has not added stress. According to Burke, “I don’t think there is added pressure because every year is a new year and a new team and we try to look at it that way. There is definitely added desire and ambition to do the same as the years before, but not too much pressure.” Nangeroni agreed, “Though the past success of the program may appear to add pressure to the current team, I think that there is more of a sense of pride. Within the team, the past success of the program was something that we always use to boost us up, never to bring us down.”

The new season is still over six months away, but already Westwood are the heavy favorites to be lifting the trophy again at Foley Field. Already the teams at Needham High, Lincoln-Sudbury, and Algonquin are plotting their revenge and trying to find the strategy to end the Wolverines’ title tradition. The target squarely on their backs again, Westwood will take the field confident in their ability to rise to the challenge.

What has made Westwood capable of continually finding a way to surpass all opponents? Erica Nangeroni believes that she can provide the answer:

“Ultimately, it has been the combination of incredible physical and mental effort, a lot of talent, and incredible groups of girls with chemistry on and off the field and a coach who has the ability to better her players as people that has led to the success of the Westwood program.”

The Westwood Wolverines clinched their 6th state championship in 10 years at Foley Field in Worcester.

Kevin Lynch Finding Gridiron Success in Poland

Kevin Lynch leading the Warsaw Eagles. Photo Courtesy of Kevin Lynch.

Medfield High graduate Kevin Lynch put together a stellar rookie season for the Warsaw Eagles in the Polish League Football Americansky on the heels of a record-breaking three years at Southern Connecticut State University. The former Warriors quarterback led the Eagles to the PFLA championship game and threw for nearly 30 touchdowns in his first season in Europe.

Lynch, who became the starting quarterback at Medfield High in his sophomore season, was not a top college quarterback prospect when he left the Warriors after a 9-2 season in 2005, despite being named Tri-Valley League MVP for his performances under center and as the team’s starting middle linebacker. Instead of heading right to the collegiate level, Lynch took a year of prep school at New Hampton. He credits that year for “paving the way” to the success he found at Southern Connecticut.

“The year of prep school really enabled me to learn the game more but also allowed me to focus on my studies. All in all it was a great experience for me,” said Lynch by email from Poland. As great as his prep school experience was, Lynch was forced to make another jump when he arrived in college, “The schemes of the plays are much more complex and it is really like a full time job when you play in college. I learned a lot in prep school but really learned a lot about the game once I got on campus my freshman year of college.”

Lynch set numerous records in his time at Southern Connecticut State.
Photos courtesy of SCSU Athletics.

His former coach at Medfield High, Mike Slason raved about Lynch’s technique, intelligence, and attitude, although there was a wry chuckle when describing his athleticism, “I was skeptical at first. He doesn’t have great speed, but we ran the option with him and he was so mechanically sound. Our fullback was tackled so many times because of his fakes. He ran everything to a T.”

In three seasons at Southern Connecticut, Lynch became a star. His 42 touchdown passes rank fifth in the program’s history, and he is third overall in career pass completions, attempts, and yardage. This past season he led the Owls to a 7-3 record and was given an invitation to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Senior Bowl in South Carolina. Lynch was named MVP of the Division II versus NAIA Senior Bowl.

It was in South Carolina that the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Lynch was first introduced to the general manager of the Warsaw Eagles, Jacek Sledzinski. Prior to that meeting, Lynch says that he had given no thoughts to playing past college.

Although Europe has grown as a destination for aspiring basketball players that just miss out on the NBA and is considered the pinnacle for those pursuing a career in soccer, it is rare for a football player to seek out an opportunity overseas. In the PFLA, four American players are allowed on the roster, but only two can be on the field at one time. The hope is that by limiting the amount of Americans there will be an increase in interest from local Polish players.

With a contract offer on the table from the Eagles, Lynch spent hours with his family and friends to decide if this was the right move. “To be honest there was some hesitation about playing in Europe, it took me a couple of days of talking to my family and people I respect to realize that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

The guarantee of a starting spot at quarterback helped to convince Lynch that moving to Warsaw would be the right option for his career. It also helped to know that his family could follow his success on the field through the Warsaw Eagles Facebook page and website (www.warsaweagles.com), which offered live streaming of all of the team’s games.

It is rare for a local high school quarterback to make it to the professional level, but Slason is not surprised that Lynch has succeeded, “No one has the passion for football that he does. There was never a day that he didn’t want to play. He is a true student of the game.”

Lynch led Eagles to the championship game in the Polish League.

The Eagles, led by Lynch’s 26 regular season touchdown passes, finished 8-2 and qualified for the postseason. The Eagles beat the Wroclaw Devils 37-20 in the semifinals, but at Warsaw’s National Stadium on July 15th, Lynch and the Eagles fell to the Gydnia Seahawks 52-37.

Despite the loss in the championship game, Lynch is enjoying his time in Poland and the opportunities to explore Europe. One of the surprisingly fun aspects of playing in Warsaw has been the enthusiasm of the fans, “They are truly passionate about the game of football and I cannot say enough about the support that we get from them. They are like our 12th man out on the field.”

It is a road less traveled that has brought Lynch to his current success. He may not be thinking about next year quite yet and has no illusions about where his career path may end, but he knows that it was only through determination and hard work on and off the field that he has achieved this rare chance:

“I would say to anyone that is interested in playing football at any level is to just give it your best shot, don’t settle for anything. If your goal is to play in college, than you must work for it because there are a lot of other athletes that have the same goal. You must be willing to put in the extra time in the gym and the field when nobody else is around because that will truly make the difference in your ability.”

"Rally for Aly"

Standing at the front of Power Hall, dripping sweat like I just completed my own gymnastics routine (apparently A/C wasn’t available), I watched groups of kids, many wearing their homemade Aly Raisman and Team USA t-shirts, with ear-to-ear grins waiting impatiently for NBC’s live stream to get a glimpse of the Needham’s “Golden Girl.”

Gabby Douglas would steal the show and, in the process, begin her short reign as the new “America’s Sweetheart,” but this crowd and this community belongs to Aly Raisman. A 4^th place finish (on a complicated tiebreaker after a tie for 3^rd, why can’t they give out 2 bronze medals like they have in other sports?) did not deter the 500-plus fans packed into Needham’s Town Hall from standing as one to applaud “their” athlete.

I have to admit that I have never been a fan of the Olympics. I don’t appreciate the phony Olympic idealism or the creative editing that NBC imposes in an attempt to fulfill Americans’ need for buzzer beaters. I don’t like the tape delay, the outright terrible announcing, and the mythology of the Olympics as the pinnacle of pure sporting competition (I could just as easily be talking about D1 NCAA sports too).

Still, my cynicism died a little on Thursday morning (it’s never going to disappear altogether). I got to see what the story of the Olympics should be about. The real story is a community rallying together to cheer on one of their own. The story isn’t about wins or losses, medal counts, or even ridiculous badminton scandals. This was a bunch of kids looking up to someone from their town and realizing the potential that they hold within.

Needham Selectman Jerry Wasserman spoke of Aly being a “role model” for the kids and her former coach Tatiana Kamaskaya called her a “leader” for aspiring gymnasts. These are terms that get tossed around all the time, but being in that room and seeing the faces of those kids, especially when they talked about Aly attending Newman Elementary or being a Needham High Rocket, brought home the impact of these Olympics.

Everyone wants to succeed in life, no matter what the goals that we set for ourselves. No one ever wants to be a failure, but there are many cases when the opportunities seem finite and we start to believe that there is only so much that we can achieve. Sometimes, we need the impetus to look forward and see endless possibility. Sometimes we need someone to show us what hard work and determination can create.

Again, from Kamarskaya, “This is inspiring for the kids. It gives them a dream and that’s how we achieve things, by dreaming of great things and setting goals.”

My cynicism hasn’t completely faded. There are plenty of things wrong with the Olympics (and those who televise it) and I’m not a total convert. But there is something magical about watching a group of kids cheer on their hometown hero and beginning to think that in a few years it could be them. 

Calling it Quits, Brah

These are the moments that will be missed

He stood there holding his beer in one hand and soon to be smoked cigarette in the other and talked nervously about his knee. One ACL surgery already past and the potential for another now looming, he simply shrugged his shoulders and mumbled, “What are you going to do?”

The injury took place at one of those early Sunday morning games in Kingston where you drive 45 minutes to play 11 on 8 and, in the process, cause even those that are closest to you to wonder if you have might need therapy. He jumped for a meaningless goal kick somewhere in midfield in a midseason game and took a “slight” bump on the knee (one of his teammates later told me that he heard a loud popping sound).

Just an innocuous challenge and that was the end of his game, but now he was considering it a very bad moment in a day filled with other games waiting to be played. He felt like he had to test it- to give it another shot.

We stared at him incredulously, questioned his intelligence, and then slowly, limped right behind him onto the field to play the 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th indoor soccer game of the day. He lasted maybe two minutes before his day was most certainly over. A loud scream of angry resignation and a slow, simmering crawl to the bench was all that was left.

_______

This post is not about the lunacy of my friend trying, and ultimately failing, to play through a second ACL tear in three years. That is only a recent example of the mindset that has pervaded my life for over a decade. This is how I, and countless other friends, have reacted to a variety of injuries and ailments over the years. Nothing is serious enough to keep us from showing up every week.

This is about the last 12 years worth of Sundays (and sometimes Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and even Saturdays) that I have spent at RI Indoor/Teamworks in Warwick, RI.

______

I was going to hold a press conference at the soccer bar to make this announcement, but it’s so much easier to do without the fanfare and the crying. I am retiring from the game of soccer after this session. I know what you’re all thinking. “How will the teams continue without me?” Don’t worry, I know that somehow everyone will find a way to carry on and maybe reach those high levels that I have enjoyed keeping us away from all these years. While I am at it, I am also officially retiring from international football too, just in case I was in line for a call-up.

(As I was leaving on Sunday, listening to teammates screaming uselessly at the team we had just played, to a surprisingly well-played draw for what it’s worth, I realized that if I hadn’t already put over $300 into this session, I would stop playing immediately. There is no right or wrong at that point, everyone’s a loser. Life is too short to waste time on that crap.)

______

This is about weeks of limping for days after games, having a morass of scrapes and bruises that stretched from above my hip to just above my knee, pulling off a goalie glove to watch my middle finger flop insolently across my pinky, scraping an elbow and watching it swell into a staph infection that left me getting three shots in my ass, or twisting my ankle bad enough that my entire foot turned into a swirling black, blue, and jaundiced piece of contemporary art.

This is about watching friends break ankles chasing after a useless through ball on a gross pitch in Westerly or have fingers that look like they were designed by Guillermo Del Toro, or get knocked out going after a header at Cranston Stadium (actually the same friend as the broken ankle).

(There’s also the side issue of the smell of a soccer bag after it got left for a week unwashed and the particularly vile smell of goalie gloves that is something akin to what the bathroom in Trainspotting probably smelled like.)

I spent the equivalent of over two full years (and I don’t even want to think how many thousands of dollars) residing in a metal-roofed shack, alternately sweltering or freezing, all the while causing potentially life-altering damage to my body both on the soccer field and up in the bar before, in between, and after games. This doesn’t even take into account the amount of family dinners, Sunday events, beach trips (I actually hate the beach, but it seems like a reasonable place to spend a nice summer Sunday), rounds of golf, and money-making opportunities that have been passed up with the simple excuse that I have to play soccer. My sister actually apologized to me for scheduling my niece’s Christening on a Sunday.

I love the game (LOVE it, in fact), watch it constantly, follow it intensely on Twitter and the blogosphere, and try to know as much about it as possible. Soccer just isn’t fun to play anymore.

Partly that’s because I’m not very good. I have heard the phrase, “Easier to miss brah!” more than I ever thought possible and I have found more ways to miss an open net from two feet than anyone over the age of 3. There was a time when I was pretty solid playing in net, but it hurts too much to try and dive face-first in front of a point-blank shot when you don’t receive anything more than a plastic trophy.

I have met an incredible core of friends through playing soccer.  I have had great moments (saving a PK in the playoffs or scoring the tying goal just before the buzzer for instance), and all of them will remain important as I move forward, but to quit playing feels like progress and that really says it all.

When I got back from Phoenix, I told myself that I wouldn’t fall into the same old rut and that I would push myself to something better. In fairness, I didn’t fall into the same old rut- I created a new one. Playing soccer became twisted in my heart with the failure that I felt in coming home. Soccer turned into the warm blanket I would wrap myself in and try to pretend like nothing was wrong no matter how obviously false that had become.

I’m not sure what I will do with Sundays if I’m not at the soccer place (although I know getting a job will be first and foremost on the list). I was recently told, “It’s scary because nothing seems to make you happy. You need to find something that makes you smile.”

Couldn’t agree more. Just a couple weeks more and we’ll see where that leads.

Interview with Revs Captain

When you pick up the phone to speak with a professional athlete you’re never quite sure what you are going to get. Sports treads right on the line of entertainment and it is difficult to ascertain whether the person you watch on the TV screen or live on the field is only a character that comes out when the uniform is pulled on.

I recently spoke on the phone with New England Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph for an upcoming work event that he will be at and the first thing that came to mind was, “This is the same guy I see on the pitch tearing apart everything in his path?” Turns out the wild-eyed, dreadlocked 6’3” midfield monster that dominates a soccer match is also a gentle giant that loves to laugh and seems content with where he is in his career and his life.

“People always tell me I’m a different person off the field,” Joseph chuckled after I pointed out that the soft-spoken voice I was hearing did not quite match the player I had watched for so long. “Off the field I’m a gentle giant who is fortunate enough to be playing the game he loves.”

I was a volunteer stats guy for the Revs for several seasons during the pinnacle of the team’s success. I was in the booth with play-by-play man Brad Feldman and analyst Greg Lalas and it was my job to keep track of the corners, write down the goal scorers/times/assists for Brad, and to block the door during pre-game and halftime tapings. I got yelled at occasionally, I was almost always scrambling for info, and I even had a pen thrown at my head one time, but it was great to be even a small part of the team’s amazing run.

(Brad Feldman got a little wound up sometimes in the booth, but I always knew it was because he wanted the perfect broadcast and as I found out during my own time as a play-by-play guy, even on a much smaller level, it’s an extremely tough job. It really was an amazing learning experience and a lot of fun and I am thankful to Brad and the Revs for letting me be a part of it.)

The joy of the gig was watching that great Revs squad under Steve Nichol play a brand of passing, fluid soccer that was ahead of its time in the MLS. Being able to watch Taylor Twellman, Clint Dempsey, Matt Reis, Pat Noonan, Steve Ralston (my favorite), Michael Parkhurst, and Andy Dorman was a luxury that not many other MLS fans would be lucky enough to experience.

The key to it all however was Joseph. He would race down the field to put in a crunching tackle and protect his defenders and then immediately get up and find the key pass to send the Revs into the attack. Nominally a defensive midfielder, Joseph was as likely to make a tackle, as he was to provide an outlet for a pass, subtly create space for the attackers, and/or arrive from deep to create a scoring opportunity.

Joseph, who has made 8 All-Star teams and been named to the MLS Best XI 4 times, has arguably been the most consistent performer in the league over the last decade. Twice, the Revs received offers from Celtic for a transfer and both times the Revs and the league turned the offer down.

When I asked how he felt about those possibilities, Joseph answered honestly, “I was pissed for a few days, but then I had to get over it.” He later added, “God needs me to be in MLS and working hard to be a better player every day and to push forward. I love Boston and the area and I am very happy where I am.”

It has been difficult to watch the Revs for the past few seasons as the great team of the past has been dismantled by age, transfers, and loss of form. The uncomfortable relationship between the team and ownership, which has continued to force the Revs to play in the cavernous Gillette Stadium, has led to a weakening relationship between fans and the team.

Through all the adversity there has been Joseph, new coach and former defender Jay Heaps, and goalie Matt Reis. (Shalrie on Matt- “I wish I could be more like Matt. He always has a joke and makes everyone laugh in the locker room.”)

Watching the team this season I have not been depressed about the results but excited to see a return to passing soccer and versatile, hard-working players that has marked the Revs style at their cusp. Despite the Revs still being near the bottom of the league, there was no bitterness in Joseph’s voice when he told me, “I was lucky to be part of a great team. We kept going to the playoffs and it’s been a little frustrating trying to get back. We take for granted success. The young guys are improving but we’ve only won 2 games (since the interview they’ve won twice more including a fantastic 4-1 win over the weekend) and results are all that matters.”

The Revs may never have as talented a team as they did during their three straight MLS Cup trips but there is reason for optimism watching the team build with youth. Luckily for the Revs, they still have Joseph patrolling the middle of the field as the foundation on which to build.  

Now if they could just get a stadium that’s worth showing up to….

Champions No More

Here are 5 thoughts in the aftermath of the Boston Bruins reign as Stanley Cup Champions coming to a close last night in overtime against the Washington Capitals:

1. Good bye Tim Thomas and Thanks for the memories- The two-time Vezina Trophy and 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy winner was arguably the main cog in the Bruins run to the Cup last season, but seemed to wear down as this season went along (as did most of his teammates). The goalie was not at his outstanding best in the playoff series against the Capitals as evidenced by some soft goals, including Alex Ovechkin’s go-ahead goal in Game 6 off the faceoff.

There should be no hard feelings from Bruins fans or from Thomas himself, but it is time for Boston to look to the future and to promote Tukka Rask to the number-one spot. Also, there is plenty of value in trading Thomas and he could provide key pieces to help the Bruins make the playoffs in 2012-13. It’s been a great run from the porn-stache, but winning organizations know when to move forward.

2. Has the love affair with Milan Lucic ended- Lucic is one of those players that everyone tells you is great, but when you actually watch him, you’re left completely underwhelmed. After the fifth backhanded, no-look pass straight to the stick of a Capitals player ended a Bruins attack, there was notable frustration from fans at the Garden and on Twitter (we’ll get to THOSE fans on Twitter later). It was an unforced error by Lucic that set up the first Capitals goal and, while it was clearly a bad bounce, the nonchalance that Lucic seems to play with doesn’t match his ability to positively affect the outcome.

I know Bruins fans love to wear his shirt and love when he runs over goalies or puts Flyers into the boards well after the play, but these aren’t positive contributions and he is stalling the progress of his linemates. He has the tools but has been a disappointment in the playoffs.

3. Have we seen the emergence of Tyler Seguin- While two goals in seven games doesn’t seem like a great output for a forward with Seguin’s skills, the diving, scrappy goal he scored in the second period to tie the game showed a desire and willingness to sacrifice that had been missing from his game. Seguin played very well in the final three games and was very unlucky to not have more goals in the series. The combination of fortuitous defending and the great play of Capitals’ goalie Braden Holtby kept his numbers down. Still, Seguin showed more fighting spirit and (although I don’t have stats to back this up) hit more players in the series than he had all season.

The best part about Seguin’s play in the series was that this should have been his freshman year in college. The future looks bright.

4. Great Cup defense- While it won’t go down in the history books as the greatest season for the franchise, the Bruins showed great determination to battle the fatigue of two extra months of playoff hockey that allowed them to win the Cup. A slow start was followed by a dominating stretch where the Bruins led the league in goals scored and fewest goals allowed. Eventually, injuries and plain tiredness would slow them down, but the Stanley Cup hangover probably gives the team a pass. The Capitals played strong and smart and rode a hot goaltender into the second round and the disappointment of losing Game 7 shouldn’t take away from how well this team played over the course of the season.

5. THOSE fans- I use the term fan loosely. The morons that took to Twitter in the drunken hours following Game 7 and decided to racially abuse Capitals forward Joel Ward have embarrassed not just themselves (if that was possible) but the entire city of Boston and state of Massachusetts (probably all of New England).

Barry Bonds made a comment in 2004 about black players not wanting to come to a racist city like Boston. A city dealing with the racial history of the Yawkey years and still stigmatized by the 1974 Busing Crisis and its aftermath, Boston seemed to have moved on from its history. The Pedro Martinez/Manny Ramirez years at Fenway and the Big Three era had given all of Boston a warm, fuzzy feeling about their newfound color blindness. Obviously nothing has changed. Maybe Barry was right after all.

The biggest problem is that Twitter (and the internet in general) allows a modicum of anonymity and distance for these morons to spout whatever racist crap comes to mind. It is easy to be abusive when Joel Ward isn’t standing in front of you ready to knock you unconscious. In England, they prosecute those that racially abuse soccer players (or other fan groups) on Twitter. It might be time for the US to start looking into cracking down as well.

Last night the Bruins went out like winners, giving it their all on the ice. Bruins fans showed that they are nothing but losers.

Mohawks on the Brink

Millis-Hopedale players celebrating a touchdown in their playoff game against Mashpee.

The scoreboard read Mashpee 30 and Millis-Hopedale 12, but anyone who knew the back story, who had seen how hard this team worked to get to this point or who had watched the program dwindle to near-extinction could be forgiven for not caring about the final score.

The players hung around the field long after the final whistle as though clinging to the season; willing it to continue just a little longer. Eventually, with tears streaming down many of their faces, the team made its way to the locker room, to the buses, and to the adoring fans who knew that it does not get much better than this.

Senior captain Jimmy Perkins encapsulated the feelings of the team after the game: “Looking back, you can’t be mad at what we accomplished. I wasn’t mad about losing, just that the road had come to an end.”

It is only in looking back on the road that brought Millis football to the brink of the Super Bowl that one can understand why the community valued the shared experience far more than winning or losing.

The threat of extinction makes everything relative.

*******

In the summer of 2009, Head Coach Dale Olmsted held a mandatory meeting for anyone interested in becoming a member of the Mohawks. Only 18 players showed up.

“It was very disappointing for kids and coaches,” said Olmsted. “Lifting and coaching clinics start in February and every year it decreased. Kids were reluctant to come out because of the way the team was getting beaten.”

A demographic shift had hit the town of Millis over the preceding decades and a lack of growth in the community was finally affecting the high school population. With only 199 boys in the school, there was a small pool to choose from. Smaller numbers meant success on the field was less likely, which led to even fewer students wanting to play.

It was a vicious cycle that school administrators feared might trickle down from athletics to the overall school population. According to Principal Bob Mullaney, “There are no conclusive statistics, but it’s a concern that with no football program, we would certainly have kids moving out of the district.”

Following the meeting in August, it was clear something drastic needed to be done to save football at Millis High. Dennis Breen, then principal of Hopedale High, approached Mullaney at a principal’s conference and suggested the idea of pooling resources. Hopedale, without a football program of its own, could supply players and Millis could supply the infrastructure to get the team on the field.

Breen, who is currently the Superintendent of Schools in Hopedale, was a former Millis captain and saw an opportunity to save his alma mater while giving his students “a great opportunity.” He added, “Hopedale was never going to be big enough to support a football team and I felt this would be a good marriage.”

The idea intrigued Millis Athletic Director Chuck Grant; but with only a few weeks until the first game there were a number of details that needed to be worked out before approaching parents in either town. Fortunately, in 2009 the Tri-Valley League had split into two divisions, meaning that the combined Millis-Hopedale team would not have to compete with D1 programs like Holliston and Hopkinton for a playoff berth.

With the playoff situation already settled prior to the proposed merger, the MIAA worked quickly to assist the schools so the season could begin without a hiccup. Olmsted put it succinctly: “It was better than thinking about it. There was no time, we had to just react to the situation.”

Despite the logistics of creating a practice schedule, finding rides for the players from Hopedale, buying uniforms, and a thousand other details that still needed to be worked out, the two schools were in agreement that this was the right path.

Now they just had to convince the players and their families.

Tri-Valley League MVP Jimmy Perkins races in for a touchdown on Thanksgiving Day

against Medway. Perkins rushed for over 1,600 yards on the season

*******

It had been five years since Millis had last beaten Norton. Two wins to begin the year, over Latin Academy and Carver, had given the team confidence but everyone knew that in order to win the TVL and to reach the playoffs, they had to go through the Lancers.

On a muddy Adams Field the Mohawks would announce to the rest of the league that there was a new contender for the crown.

Jimmy Perkins, Millis’ 5-foot-7 running back, set the tone for the game with a 43-yard halfback option pass for a touchdown on the first series, and the team never looked back. Perkins would rush for 195 yards and three scores and the Mohawks secured the victory that pushed them to the top of the TVL standings.

“Norton was the defining game when we knew we had the chance to be special,” said senior captain and linebacker Mike Meuse. “I had been to the Super Bowl three times in Pop Warner, and I wanted to win again.”

*******

The immediate reaction from the players and their families when the plan for a merger was presented in late August of 2009 was not outright hostility, but it was certainly cautious. The combination of Principal Breen’s knowledge of Millis High and the no-nonsense honesty of Coach Olmsted had to serve as a balm to ease some of their fears.

“We hated it. Some town we never even heard of is going to be playing with us,” said Meuse.

According to Perkins, “At first we were all hesitant just bringing in another town to play with us. We all wanted to make sure no one from Hopedale took one of our spots.”

In meetings with parents from both towns Grant, Breen, and Olmsted emphasized the similarities between Hopedale and Millis. These are two small, working-class towns that missed the technology boom and the development that came along with it. These are blue-collar towns that share the toughness and love for community that is the backbone of small, formerly industrial, New England towns.

Once the players got on the field all the concerns melted away. Suddenly, they were Mohawks and it did not matter which town they came from because once they put on the Millis-Hopedale jersey they were a team. Mullaney noted, “The kids right from the start got along great. They all love football and that is their common bond,”

The Millis and Hopedale communities had little time to acclimate to the radical changes before the 2009 season began, but once the season was underway there was no question that the right move had been made.

“Proud is an understatement,” said Grant. “The carpools, donating gas money to get to practices, all with no guarantee of anything more than getting in shape.  Coach Olmsted deserves credit for inspiring the kids to come back to the program without the guarantee of winning.”

The merger was given credibility with the players because the coaches ensured that everyone was treated the same. Being late to a practice held the same punishment whether battling traffic from Hopedale or getting stuck in the hallways at Millis. Players were given the same opportunities and worked just as hard regardless of what color jersey they wore in other sports. Instead of focusing on the separate schools, the coaches forced the players to concentrate on the shared goals of attendance, grades, and winning football games.

Coach Dale Olmsted's honesty and focus on putting the best team on the field

helped ease tensions between players.

*******

“Westwood was the best game,” said Mike Muese, the league’s Defensive MVP. “They have this giant sledgehammer they put on midfield. We haven’t won there in years and it was pouring rain. That was great.”

Winning against the TVL’s expected champion was a giant step but it was the game against Westwood that would give the Mohawks legitimacy with a much wider audience. As Grant put it, “The win over Westwood showed we belonged.”

The Mohawks jumped on top early with quarterback Bay Tangney finding Derek Latosek for a score. Then sophomore defensive lineman Jon Baker recovered a fumble deep in Wolverines’ territory. Perkins, the league’s Offensive MVP, powered his way into the end zone from two yards out giving Millis-Hopedale a 12-0 lead.

A 38-minute lightning delay following the score stalled the Mohawks momentum and seemed an omen of a Westwood comeback as the Wolverines got on the board several plays later. The Mohawks defense fought through the conditions and Joey Meuse had a key interception to preserve a reputation-building win for the squad.

*******

Following a 3-8 season in 2010, the second year of the merger, Coach Olmsted and his staff implemented a strict off-season workout program at Joel St. Cyr’s Sports Performance Academy in Franklin. The program put the players through weeks of grueling, early Saturday morning lifting sessions. The team was pushed to its limits as the coaches knew that only through hard work in the gym could the team change its fortunes on the field.

“These are blue-collar towns with tough kids who are willing to put in the work,” said Olmsted. “We had been under .500 for almost a decade and the hard work put in the foundation for a great season.”

The work in the gym brought the team even closer. Players from both towns proved to each other the lengths they would go to in order win. “The Hopedale kids showed they were willing to bleed for us,” said Meuse. “It’s nice knowing someone has your back and is willing to put in the work.”

Perkins agreed, “The off-season workouts were the main difference (between 2010 and 2011). We did it as a team and it was really important that we had done it together.”

For Grant the work itself was an achievement, whether it translated to wins on the field or not, “These kids learned to never stop working hard. Winning football games won’t make you successful but working hard will.”

The hard work in the gym was important, but there were also signs of improvement on the field. The team made a late season run that, because of numerous injuries to upperclassmen, had given the younger players much needed experience. There was confidence flowing throughout the program for the first time in years and, before the 2011 season began, Coach Olmsted walked into Chuck Grant’s office to predict that this season, “We’re going to make some noise.”

*******

“Alumni kept coming up to us before the game to tell us how important this game was,” said Perkins. According to Meuse, “Alumni kept coming up to thank us for getting us back on the map.”

The Thanksgiving Day game is a rich tradition in Massachusetts and for most schools, Millis included, it is the biggest rivalry. It is a game that gets circled on the schedule before all others. The cliché is that Millis-Hopedale can go 1-10 as long as that one victory is the Medway game. Unfortunately it had been eight years since the last Mohawks win in the 82-year rivalry.

It was another rainy day, another muddy field, and another performance to force people to take notice of the newly-crowned TVL small division champions. The 2011 Mohawks had taken on a ‘team of destiny’ look and on Thanksgiving morning at Welch Field they once again stepped up and wrote a new chapter in their incredible comeback story.

After a Perkins touchdown and an Ian Strom touchdown reception made it 12-0, Medway cut the lead with a dramatic 90-yard kick-off return. In most seasons this would be the point where Millis faltered and the Mustangs pushed on to take the win, as they had done 46 other times in the series.

This was not ‘most’ seasons.

Millis-Hopedale took their very next drive 54 yards on six plays for the touchdown that put the game away. Tangney dove for the score from one-yard out, which allowed the home crowd to exhale and celebrate the win over their archrivals.

Now the Mohawks could turn their focus to the Division 4 playoffs against unbeaten Mashpee.

*******

There was a time when Millis football making it to the playoffs was not only unsurprising- it was expected. Historically Millis was a powerhouse in the Tri-Valley League and it is a history that Coach Olmsted and the program hope to recapture.

Under legendary coach Ernie Richards the Mohawks won numerous league titles, a state title in 1980, and had an undefeated season in 1994. The program’s last trip to the Super Bowl was 1999. Twelve years does not seem that long ago, but considering the circumstances, it might as well have been the 19^th century.

The players were always reminded of their part in the Millis High legacy. The coaching staff was filled with former Millis players including Brian Rizzutti, Class of ’90, Jack O’Rourke, Class of ’69, and James Heffernan, Class of ’00. There was no attempt to forget the past. History was used as an added spur to push the players to greater success.

If the players needed more incentive they only needed to walk the halls on the Monday after a big win. With banners adorning the walls, students cheering them on, and the instant cache that football confers, more than any other high school sport, the players became superstars within the small communities of Millis and Hopedale.

Both principals saw this impact the first week of the school year. Bob Mullaney commented, “When you begin the year with a successful football team it adds to the spirit. It’s another reason for kids to want to come to school.”

Dennis Breen, who watched football transform the spirit of his students when it was introduced in 2009, said, “Sometimes starting back at school can be tough, but success on the field can create a camaraderie, a spirit in the building unlike any of the other sports. This season has been so much fun.”

The Friday Night Lights phenomena is not limited to the Southern U.S., but is played out in different ways throughout the country. With little to do on a Friday night in Millis, the whole community packs into Welch Field and cheer on their team, visits the concession stand, purchases their new maroon and blue sweatshirts, and provides inspiration for even more success.

Chuck Grant points out that the benefits extend beyond the confines of athletics, “It gives the players instant credibility at the school. It creates instant leaders in the classrooms. If you see the captains behaving a certain way then the other players will follow suit.”

******

As the fans piled out of Taunton High School there was no discussion about 2009, there was no talk about whether the Hopedale players were needed, and there was no mention of the still-unbeaten Mashpee Falcons. This was a maroon-and-blue army full of proud smiles, even in defeat.

Mashpee advanced to Gillette Stadium with a 30-12 win, but on the Mohawks sideline there were no regrets about the loss. There was no disappointment at not taking the final step to the Super Bowl, only recognition of their achievement at having come so far.

Coach Olmsted emphasized, “We are not trying to have great seasons. The goal is to make a great program.”

The Millis-Hopedale Mohawks brought two communities together, created a team, and saved a historic football program that was in danger of disappearing. Along the way, they proved that hard work and perseverance could accomplish great things.

From the work of Chuck Grant in those few weeks before the 2009 season, to the parents who made sure the players made it to each practice on-time, to the coaching staff pushing each player to reach his fullest potential, to the players giving up their Saturday mornings for a punishing workout program, the Mohawks are a study in power of determination.

The story of the 2011 Millis-Hopedale Mohawks ended without the ultimate prize, but the players are not disappointed. They understand that sometimes it is the path that you take that matters far more than the trophies that get handed to you at the end.

Jimmy Perkins, the Boston Globe and Boston Herald All-Scholastic and Tri-Valley League MVP: “I wasn’t mad that we lost, just that road had come to an end. I think about it everyday. It was the best experience of my life. I couldn’t ask for anything more from my senior year.”

Fellow captain Mike Meuse, the Tri-Valley League Defensive MVP and TVL All-Star: “I cried after the (Mashpee) game not because we didn’t go to the Super Bowl but because we wouldn’t have anymore practices- that the season was over. I cried because I wouldn’t be with my brothers anymore.”

Ed. note- Special thanks to Dennis Breen, Chuck Grant, Bob Mullaney, Dale Olmsted, Jimmy Perkins, and Mike Meuse for agreeing to be interviewed for the story. Also, thanks to Michelle Jones and Tony Risica Photography for the images used in the article.