Ricky Garbanzo named national player of the week by ESPNrise for his performance in this past weekends epic state championship game at Memorial Stadium. He scored 2 fantastic goals against Shmiro. He was way too much for the overrated defense to handle. In my opinion one of, if not the best in the sophmore class in South Carolina if not the nation. Y'all better watch out for this kid next year to have an even more dominating display of excellence for his team the future 2010 THREEPEAT State Champions, Northwestern Trojans. ESPNrise story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/soccer/news/story?id=4209434He is a badger!!
He was outstanding! The scissors kick was priceless. Irmo looked dead in the water against him and the Northwestern attack the second half.
Great Player! Congratulations Ricky!
i like what i saw. good stuff kid.
squanc, why would you rip on Irmo like that when you are attempting to give props to your player. Be happy you don't live in a larger state where NW would have ended up with a loss if they played quality teams week in and week out. Bring your team up here to the Chicago area, and we'll see how well they do. Probably as well as the academy team from SC does against the three academy teams, that's right, three from Chicago alone.
Why do you bring up this same topic just about in many different threads. What is with this Chicago crap you speak of? In case you have not noticed , but we are all from SC (South Carolina). Teams in chicago are irrelevent to anything and everything on this site. Go talk trash in your own state
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squanc, why would you rip on Irmo like that when you are attempting to give props to your player. Be happy you don't live in a larger state where NW would have ended up with a loss if they played quality teams week in and week out. Bring your team up here to the Chicago area, and we'll see how well they do. Probably as well as the academy team from SC does against the three academy teams, that's right, three from Chicago alone.
You are forgetting that it is better to say nothing and let peole think you are an idiot, than it is to open your mouth (or keyboard as the case may be) and remove all doubt! 
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squanc, why would you rip on Irmo like that when you are attempting to give props to your player. Be happy you don't live in a larger state where NW would have ended up with a loss if they played quality teams week in and week out. Bring your team up here to the Chicago area, and we'll see how well they do. Probably as well as the academy team from SC does against the three academy teams, that's right, three from Chicago alone.
your seriously talking about Chicago again... why don't you go on their message board since you obviously have nothing relevant to say in this state's. I was just stating the facts about the game Irmo got taken to school shutting all of those up who said talked about how Irmo was gonnna dominate NHS in the final and your just bitter now cause they ended up 23-1 and Northwestern is national champions of the spring so why dont you either start talking about South Carolina soccer or just shut up completely
Just stating a fact...here is what I just heard get spewed from your mouth....I really don't have anything to say, whine, whine, whine, complain, complain, complain.....I graduated from Irmo, but realize that large metropolitan areas tend to have overall better quality soccer than smaller states. Just a fact, it is based on population, when you have a larger pool of players to choose from, you get better talent. Don't get all defensive, it is ok. NW may be #1 in the spring boys season, and good for them. But let them have to play the "big boys" teams week in and week out, and you would probably sustain a loss. Don't get all emotional and start name calling again, I was just stating my opinion.
I'm not trying to take anyone's side in this, but on the issue of Soccerboy mentioning Chicago...it would be distasteful to bring up Chicago if we were just discussing Garbanzo in the SC setting, but this is talking about him being the NATIONAL player of the week...and the nation does include Chicago. Once you start talking about players on the national level, you can't expect people to stick to discussing South Carolina.
northwestern is not just the spring national champion, chicago boy (emphasis on boy). according to the espn rising article northwestern is the 2008-9 national champ. and as mechie said that does include mighty chicago and all those quality players and all those quality teams. that aint my opinion, that is espn's opinion. northwestern will play anybody any where any time. problem is other teams and schools dont feel the same. 24-0 doesnt lie, just cold hard truth. northwestern IS THE national champion. nuff said
whats all this chicago thing?
i played with a former chicago sockers player up in palos verdes california, the kid was alrite, he was not as good as he though he was, he was just tall (about 6 4") but not that great. half italian, all he did was to talk about his national camp invitations and stuff, and he was so proud of being half italian, i though why isnt he playing in italy if he is so good?
if anything lets talk florida, texas or cali. who plays soccer in chicago anyway?
Soccerboy, your comparisons to Northwesten and teams in Chicago are irrelevant. Please stop. You are digging yourself a hole my friend.
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Did someone call?
go back to sleep. sorry i woke you.
Okay..Thought I heard my name..While I'm here..Go Ricky!!
From what I've heard I thought Maryland has quite good soccer programs. High school and college level. Wasn't Maryland national champs last year and year before too?
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Just stating a fact...here is what I just heard get spewed from your mouth....I really don't have anything to say, whine, whine, whine, complain, complain, complain.....I graduated from Irmo, but realize that large metropolitan areas tend to have overall better quality soccer than smaller states. Just a fact, it is based on population, when you have a larger pool of players to choose from, you get better talent. Don't get all defensive, it is ok. NW may be #1 in the spring boys season, and good for them. But let them have to play the "big boys" teams week in and week out, and you would probably sustain a loss. Don't get all emotional and start name calling again, I was just stating my opinion.
im not whining or complaing i have nothing to whine or complain about the team i pull for is national champs.. and check my post didn't call you one name.. hey you maybe right i dont pay attention to Chicago soccer and i dont really care about them they may be as good as you say they are but if you think Northwestern is overrated and cant handle the "big boy" schools imagine Irmo against those teams.. do they have a mercy rule out there cause shmirmo would need it!
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imagine Irmo against those teams.. do they have a mercy rule out there cause shmirmo would need it!
SQUANC... why all the hostility toward Irmo? They weren't even part of this conversation. Just trying to figure out why you're attacking them.
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He was outstanding! The scissors kick was priceless.
Garbanzo, sorry for the (late) crappy picture....one just can't be ready for a shot like this 
Warning: Comments induced by jet lag and few shots of cheap (but tasty) Scotch to follow:
I had the privilege last weekend of watching (close up) possible the best two high school soccer teams I have ever witnessed.
To the Irmo fans: Your team played great, but you were not robbed.
To the Northwestern fans: You team played great, but you did not dominate.
Both these team played with the intensity and heart I expected. They exceeded my expectations.
I had read the post previous to the game and had gone back and forth on who I was going to pull for (this preference was based mainly on posters I disliked, not on the team I liked). To be condescending of either of these teams was ridiculous, (pinger baby, you sort of topped my list)). However; I truly ended up on mutually ground and just wanted to see a good (great) game. Which I did.
I saw competing headers in the mid field like I have never seen in any other game. I do not recall a 50/50 that was not in contention. (http://scsoccer2009.winkflash.com sorry for the shameless promotion (again)). I saw hard nose play which I was glad the refs didn’t over analyze. I saw Enzo do sliding tackles, and was back on his feet so quickly that I had to wondering, did he actually do the slide in the first place. I saw a bunch of Irmo kids that were so quick and played together so well that I could not believe the score was 0:0 at half. I saw two teams that, if they had played any other year, they would have been (in my humble opinion) hands down the state champs.
I saw good calls against each team that the offending fans were appalled at, and I saw bad calls made to the glee of the other team’s fans. I saw good sportsmanship and bad on both sides. I smelled the alcohol as I walked past the student body of the upperstate kids, and I also saw the police escort some lowerstate kids out for similar infractions.
With all that said, I still say, it was my privilege to see, quite possible two of the best teams I have and possible will ever see in high school ball. My congratulations to both teams.
As Achmed would say, I bow in your presence.
HTP
maryland is the national champ in college? really?
wow i think LA Galaxy has been 3 times national champ, san jose twice, and chivas usa is the best team in mls right now. not to mention santa barbara is prob going for another one this year.
californianos are pretty hardcore on futbol man, i have been there to witness.
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SQUANC... why all the hostility toward Irmo? They weren't even part of this conversation. Just trying to figure out why you're attacking them.
i just dont like Irmo, Im a Northwestern alum need i say more... all year so many people on here thought Irmo were so great and didnt give any credit to NHS for anything they did (i know many other people did dont get me wrong)Ricky get national player of the week and all some guy can say is that NHS would get waxed by teams from Chicago?
Congrats to Ricky for this award. Definately deserves it for his 2 goals. But the bicycle kick was not all that "great". From what I saw at the game and video it was nothing but a "side volley" shot (not a spectaculer bicycle that people are claiming). Just happened to be in the right spot after a deflection off the post.
Wow, you are still fixated on my comments? Either I struck a nerve, or maybe I had some truth to my comments. Either way I really don't care too much what you think. I have seen soccer all over the united states, and no matter what you think of my opinion, that is exactly what it is, an opinion. I could be right, but even if I was, you probably wouldn't believe me. So what does it really matter? Quit being so defensive, understand that many of the very good teams can have great games, and not so great games. I would predict that if Irmo and NW played 10 times, would would probably have a different outcome 3 out of the 10....just as if the best teams in SC...and they are solid teams, don't get me wrong, played the top teams in some of the most populated states. And for asking who plays soccer in Illinois, that is a pretty ignorant statement. I am not going to back it up, but if you want to see the dominant teams, all you have to do is look it up on your own time, but it was a pretty ignorant statement. It would fall into line of saying the people that play soccer in California suck. It is ok to be a supporter of your school that you graduated from, but you need to get a little older to gain some perspective. And don't get into a chest beating contest with me either....like I have said before it is an opinion. Agree to disagree, that is the big boy way of dealing with things.
Soccerboy, my opinion is that your opinion concerning teams in Illinois and teams in South Carolina is irrelevant. You are comparing apples to oranges.
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Wow, you are still fixated on my comments? Either I struck a nerve, or maybe I had some truth to my comments. Either way I really don't care too much what you think. I have seen soccer all over the united states, and no matter what you think of my opinion, that is exactly what it is, an opinion. I could be right, but even if I was, you probably wouldn't believe me. So what does it really matter? Quit being so defensive, understand that many of the very good teams can have great games, and not so great games. I would predict that if Irmo and NW played 10 times, would would probably have a different outcome 3 out of the 10....just as if the best teams in SC...and they are solid teams, don't get me wrong, played the top teams in some of the most populated states. And for asking who plays soccer in Illinois, that is a pretty ignorant statement. I am not going to back it up, but if you want to see the dominant teams, all you have to do is look it up on your own time, but it was a pretty ignorant statement. It would fall into line of saying the people that play soccer in California suck. It is ok to be a supporter of your school that you graduated from, but you need to get a little older to gain some perspective. And don't get into a chest beating contest with me either....like I have said before it is an opinion. Agree to disagree, that is the big boy way of dealing with things.
your obvioulsy "fixated" on my commments too b/c you keep replying to them.. and well maybe you arent big enough of a boy to realize that all my comments are, are disagreeing with yours.. never asked who plays soccer in Illinois so i dont know where you got that from but i do agree good teams have great games.. you can look down upon me all you saying stuff like you need to get older whatever thats a pretty ignorant statement yourself since you dont even know anyhting about me