(Editor’s Note – Jason McClanathan is the coach of Will’s sister Katie’s soccer team – called OFC U12 Elite; Will plays soccer for the same soccer club in a program called TOPSoccer – designed for soccer players with disabilities)

Hey Jason,
I think you know who I am. I am #23’s brother. I get dragged to most of your games.

Anyway, I play soccer too. On Sunday nights. For TOPSoccer. You probably saw me last night. I was the one with all the moves.

Now listen, I like soccer as much as the next guy but the really great thing about TOPS is the volunteers. One Sunday there were 18-year old blonde co-eds from the University of Nebraska soccer team. The next Sunday there were 16-year old brunettes from Omaha Football Club. I could think of worse ways to spend my weekends.

So this Sunday on my way to TOPS, I notice my sister is wearing her red practice jersey. Well I don’t think too much about it…… until I get to the field. Then I see Parsons – she is in red too. And there is Rieff in red. And Lundgren. Red. Red. Red. Everywhere I see red.

And then it hits me………the volunteers this week are U12 Elite?!?!! Not cool bro!!!

Not only did you kill my buzz but I figured you were going to ruin my rep as a baller too. You see my peeps see me as a great athlete. But I knew what these girls would have planned for the next hour: “Oh Dibby you’re so cute”….“Give me a hug Dibby”. Ughhhh………

Well……..I am man enough to say when I am wrong. And I was wrong. I knew those girls take their soccer seriously but apparently they take all soccer seriously. They made us work! Dribbling, passing, shooting. I worked with McIlnay. She was relentless. They didn’t even let up in the scrimmage!

And don’t forget, we are not an easy bunch to coach. Many of us don’t talk. Couple of us don’t walk. And pretty much all of us like to do our own thing.

I gotta admit the girls handled it all with maturity and grace………………….sorry, I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. Anyway, I guess what I am trying to say is that if they want to come back another time that would be ok with me. But don’t be afraid to throw a heads up to the little man next time.

And Jason, I ask you man to man, please no mention of this letter to the girls. No need to let them think I actually LIKE to hang with them.
Later Bro,
W

Tops Soccer April 13, 2014