Missing the youth tournaments

I just read several blogs and emails regard the Rage tournament which seems to be taking over the once great pleasantly Friendship Cup (can you say politics?) Of course I just got back from Yosemite and really didn't want much to do with anything, let alone soccer. I was pissed enough that I had to go give a make up exam to one potential referee who failed the first time. Fortunately it wasn't a wasted trip and he passed with flying colors. If he had not rushed through the test in 20 minutes I think he would have scored much better but 84 is a good score.

Basically since I am putting the youth tournaments aside completely for the hunt of my assessments, I realized how much I loved doing the youth tournaments and how sorry I am for missing so much.

The amateur Soccer leagues have taking too much of my time and due to flu's and injuries I am fighting to get two more assessments to get my next grade or am going to have to write off the year until next year. The main question of the day is: Do I need the grade 5? Among my peers I'm one of the better referees. I did an NPSL center for the first time (Well I did NPSL for the first time). It was an eye opener. Good thing I didn't ask for an assessment or I would have walked away wondering if I failed or passed. But it told me that if I barely held my own there, would I survive the MLS? As much as I strive for that level of refereeing, I have had a lot of obstacles that have slowed my advancement such as balancing the family with refereeing. A lot of referees tell me I need to get out on the pitch more. Then I look at their relationship status. I have one friend who's wife could care less...nah... Indifferent is the better word. Not the best situation. That's the kind of marriage where one can up and leave. Others have not had a steady girlfriend. The FIFA referees, very few can maintain a relationship. I know two referees who's marriage broke up due to refereeing. The path to FIFA, or let along national seemed very clear when I was 14 years old. It was much clearer when I was single and had a girlfriend, a fiances, a bride. Then kids got involved. Changes everything. The path isn't so clear anymore. Do I want to go National, sacrifice a week at National Camp every year, spend the weekends of Spring, Summer, and early Fall refereeing out of state? If I were single, it would be clear, but I'm married with children.There is some self doubt whether I can do this. I have not been up on the physical fitness. I could just stop now, use the assessment I have now to maintain the grade I have now and coast through the rest of the year. Advantages of getting a grade 5:

Advantages of getting a grade 5:

1. One more step to National Referee after serving 2 years as a 5.
2. I would be the sole highest ranking referee in my city. Right now I share the spotlight of rank with two others.
3. It would give me top consideration for Far West Regionals being that rank is a process of elimination.
4. Can be picked to do more USL games until I qualify for MLS.

Looks like only 2 out of 4 are true motivators. The rest is just fame with no fortune.

Last day as a free man

Because tomorrow I have to go back to work. Today I am just going around doing the honey do's. Need to finish up the paperwork of the classes I finished recently. Nothing too exciting to report. Planning on stepping on the pitch next week after being on the injured list for almost a month. What level of play depends on the coordinators I am talking to. Would prefer an amateur match, but at the same time if I do a local match, I don't have to drive far. Money is not a factor in this decision, but my journey to my next grade is a huge factor.

Gabriel is sick. I think the altitude affected him last week as he was the only one who was not having a good time. Of course coming home his ears started to drain again. I'm hoping after a few days he'll be back to normal. I know my in-laws were concerned where in most cases we have lived through it.

I read a blog yesterday where a referee was put in a position to handle taunting. Now if you have followed the events after the headbutt of Zidane, you would know Materazzi did admit to insulting Zidane, but didn't mention what Zidane accused him of mentioning. It doesn't matter what the insult, but Materazzi should have been dealt with if any of the referees heard him. Obviously they didn't (in a packed stadium you barely hear anything from the players unless they are in your face). Since Materazzi did publicly admit to insulting Zidane, I felt the suspension was appropriate.

***************Warning Foul Language******************************************


So back to the referee in question. He heard a player say, "Get up you pussy!" He let play continue (I hope it was because the player's team who received the insult had advantage) and at the stoppage where the goalkeeper picked up the ball and the referee stopped the game, went to administer the caution. I'm okay with that, even if the letter of the law states you send off a player for foul, abusive, and insulting language or gestures. He then said, when asked for what the caution was for he responded, "It's insults like that that ended Zidane's game pre-maturely." At first I had to confess, it was a great response to shut the players up. Problem is when I think of it and read some comments, I changed the way I thought because he let his own personal feelings get in the way of what is perceived as fair officiating. Almost as he was giving Zidane a little justice indirectly (I don't know if he's French or just likes the French team). Now as I was working my way to State I had a similar incident. I sent the player off to stop the taunting and stop anything from escalating. Well things escalated, but not with the teams. It was with their attention I drew to myself. Being that it was the fastest red card I have ever pulled (only 5 minutes in the game) I knew the next 85 minutes was going to be murder. But at least they didn't take it out on each other, so looking back I got what I wanted with the red.

I'm home

We stayed in a very nice house (They have it listed as a condo, but it's still a house). The place was big and spacious. Down the street where we stayed was a beach to Pine Mountain Lake. It was a nice little beach where you can lay out, swim, and boat.


There was also a nice pool area which oversaw a golf course and the moutains. We pretty much spent the first day keeping cool.

On day two (wednsday) we ventured over to Yosemite. I haven't been there since I was a kid. Even today I still have a facination with half dome.


Towards the end of the day, we spent on another beach front. There was a stream, where you can see the strong current. Unfortunately the kids didn't and dispite my warnings, they went in and were swept. Fortunately there were people at the other end and my brother in law Ron who jumped in to catch the kids.


After that day my wife and I had all the Yosemite we wanted and spent the rest of the day lounging in the home while my in-laws took the kids back to Yosemite. Marlena was a trooper as she climbed to the top of the water fall. Truthfully, I don't want to know the method they used for it may give me an instant heart attack.

We're off!

We're heading to Yosemite. I brought warm and cool clothes although I suspect I won't be needed the warm gear. I may be off the radar depending on what kind of internet connection I can get. If I don't write, see you friday and with pictures.

Welcome to Hell!

We're supposed to be packing and getting ready for our trip this week. Instead we're sitting with the air conditior going nova and the fans going and playing Soduku. My wife has gotten into this game so I decided to dabble it weeks after I bought her a book. Of course me being the techno geek, I found stuff online. Works for me. Paula prefers the books because she can make little notes, which I can't on the web games. I'll develope a system before long, but right now, I'm going to let Paula savor the victory knowing she it much better at this then I am.
Poker has taken a slight dive as I hit my ceiling and now and falling down. I'm not in direstriaghts yet, but I can't seem to break my plateau for the 3rd time. I would like to exceed 30 buck before the senate makes the bill into a law regarding to online gambling.

Have a great day and stay cool. You know it's hot when you go to Jamba Juice and before you walk out of the place your drink seems melted.



PS. Who besides me thinks Peter Brady (played by Christopher Knight in brady bunch) is a total loser?

Gonna be a hot one today.

I'm teaching a field session today. I hear it's gonna be a scorcher today. Last weekend when I taught a session, I missed a spot with the sunscreen and I am paying for it today. Paula and kids are going to a birthday party so I won't be missed much. We leave for Yosemite Monday. Nobody has started packing yet. Paula took Gabe to the doctors for a check up. He's still under weight, but we not that concerned. He's been eating better and we are going to see a nutritionist who can recommend higher calorie foods without plugging him up. When we get back from vacation, the battle of the O2 will begin.

I survived my scorching session and my students survived me. Well most of them. I passed all but one during the test. To his defense, it's a fast pace course where it's not really designed for the youngens. He will have a second shot next week when I get back. Paula told me to come by the pool, but I wanted to hang out by the air conditioned house. Just don't know what to do with myself.

The many headbutts of Zinedine Zidane

One nice thing about being so into the game of soccer as a referee is when big incidents like the World Cup happen, I tend to get a lot of questions, comments, and basically the main topic is the Zidane headbutt. Well I would like to expand the POV if you will.

Here's how the Germans saw the headbutt:



Here's how the French Saw it:




Here's how the Italians saw it:



Here's how the Americans saw it:



And here is how the press reported it:




I rememeber a quote from Fernando Alverez, a high ranking assessor say, "No two people see the same game the same way." I don't think this is what he had in mind though.

This is way cool. Comic books get their own stamps. Check it out.

Series of events that have got my attention.

The top thing on my list is this mother who locked his kid in the basement because he didn't want to go to school or a picnic. Now if that wasn't enough to piss people off, there were two pit bulls outside of the basement. The mother told him 5 times, put a shovel against the door to keep the dogs out. There was no food or bathroom. If you still are not pissed, the boy was developmentally slow. Being I have a son with this issue, I could not help to want to save the tax payers some money. You can read about it Here.

The second item of concern is the Zidane/Materazzi incident. What prompted the head butt? Basically Materazzi said something in the nature of Zidane's mother and sister. Materazzi denies saying that, but does admit he insulted him. The suspension details are here:

http://sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=ap-fifa-zidane&prov=ap&type=lgns

This week I seem to be very tired with all the grade 8 and grade 9 classes I am teaching. San Ramon extended the field session far too much. Saturday it's over and I will be on my vacation. Going to Yosemite. I haven't been there since I was a little older then Marlena was. Going to practice my photography skills.

I think I'm going to move.

Okay I have been debating it, but now, I think I'm going to do it. I'm going to move blogs. I tried Yahoo 360 and it just doesn't seem to be working for me. Half my friends that signed up are not even writing in 360, but they are writing here. It's getting to a point where I just felt lonely. Sorry Tom, you have been cool in more aspects and I will still read and comment because I love both soccer and good food. So I will keep my 360, but I will not journal in it much. It was a tough decision but I think it's the best move for me.

For those new to this blog I tend to talk a lot of soccer talk. I will remind you that this blog is rated R and I don't hold back what I may say except to put my refereeing career in complete jeopardy. I also talk about things going on in my family. Those that know me know last year's events have changed our family and this is a way for me to keep up progress.