Soccer column: Pure innocence

Richard Dunn

I must admit, in my many years of sportswriting, I’ve never had a

young female soccer player come up to me after a game and strike a

model’s pose -- for no other reason other than just to say hello.

I’ve never had a collection of athletes, like the Kaiser fifth- and

sixth-grade girls soccer team, perform an actual cheer for me

interviewing a coach. I kept hearing “Daily Pilot” in their routine, but

couldn’t make out the rest of it.

I’ve never covered youth soccer before. Never even stepped foot on the

massive Farm Field before. But, I must say, covering the Pilot Cup for

our newspaper is the best-kept secret in our newsroom. Or was the

best-kept secret.

I’ve never had so much good fun. Never met so many fine folks before

in the community at once.

OK, so it’s the “Pilot Cup” and I work here, but, honestly, I’ve had

nothing to do with the tournament since it began in 2000. Kirk McIntosh,

a local attorney, organizes the event and we promote it, but this was the

second year we covered the Cup to such an extent.

On Wednesday, the first day of pool play, I showed up to my first

game, notebook in hand, and quickly realized no one had jersey numbers.

How can a reporter or photographer properly identify players without

numbers? Let’s just say it makes things a little more interesting and

members of the local sportswriters union will probably be knocking on a

manager’s door pretty soon.

Sure, you’re going to have flaws in running a tournament, especially

with countless teams and hundreds of kids playing in the five-day

extravaganza. One day, I almost volunteered to referee a game when no

refs showed up -- I was concerned about making deadline, but I didn’t

want to get kicked out by an angry parent.

Without jersey numbers, each game was a test of sideline social

skills, introducing myself to parents (as well as coaches, of course) to

get names.

“Do you know who scored that goal?” was always a good icebreaker in

meeting someone, usually a parent, who knows better than anyone how to

spell their kid’s name. They always seemed anxious to assist the guy

taking notes.

Last week changed me. I’ve never seen so many soccer games in a

four-day span and couldn’t believe I wasn’t scheduled to work Sunday and

cover the finals.

“Is this a demotion for you?” someone asked me on the sidelines.

“No,” I replied, “this is one of the best things I’ve ever covered ...

in any sport, at any time.”

What a breath of fresh air to see pure innocence on the field from the

kids. Sure, everyone wants to win, but you can tell by the look in their

eyes that these kids are simply glad to be a part of the event. They

laugh and jump and play before, during and after the game.

The Pilot Cup, in my humble opinion, is ready for the next level. This

thing is taking off. It could be around for years. For as long as we’re

here.

Because of the Pilot Cup, I’m suddenly interested in eventually

signing up my boy (he’s only 16 months old) to play soccer. Can’t wait

until next year.