The greatest

I saw this sign when I was visiting the University of Pennsylvania Palestra (a/k/a "College Basketball's Most Historic Gym") for work a few weeks ago.

"To win the game is great . . .

To play the game is greater . . .

But to love the game is the greatest of all."

Certainly applies to soccer as well as basketball.

Soccer Tragedies

There have been times when the joy of soccer has led to tragedy as fans used the game as an excuse to riot, or perhaps a section of grandstands collapsed. The Internet Services website has a recent post on the 20 biggest soccer tragedies and the Internet response to them. Interesting historical read on the dark side of the sport.

Albright Unionizes

Philadelphia native Chris Albright, a veteran of the U.S. National Team and a graduate of my of my old high school, Penn Charter, has joined the Philadelphia Union, as reported in today's Daily News and Inquirer.

I played against Chris's uncle Bill, when I was in college and he played for Temple; and against his father, John, in the South Jersey (old) men's league.

When my daughter, Kirsten, went to Penn Charter, she played on the boys teams and was leading scorer in 6th and 7th grades. In 8th grade the gender difference was beginning to concern me as the boys were getting bigger and Kirsten is small to begin with. When she came home after the first workout of the new school year, I asked her how the first day of soccer practice was.

Well, she told me, there was this boy in her class who played football last year but this year he came out for soccer and he's really good and, "I'm not the best player on the team any more."

Yep. It was Chris Albright.

Can't wait to see him play at PPL Park this season.