Quote:

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

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”