Carla Overbeck: Carrying the Luggage

A new book that studies sport's greatest teams found that what they all had in common was an extraordinary captain.  The Captain Class: The Hidden Force That Creates the World's Greatest Teams, by Wall Street Journal editor Sam Walker, writes about Carla Overbeck, captain of the 1999 U.S. Women's team that won the World Cup, and how she used to carry her teammates' luggage to their rooms.  The book is reviewed by Dan Lyons on Linked-In.

Happy Mother's Day to All Soccer Moms

As I recall the term "Soccer Mom," was coined by a political reporter during the Clinton years and referred to (mostly white) suburban middle class women carting their kids around to soccer games (and basketball, Little League and a myriad of other youth activities).  To me it refers to the group of mothers of the girls I have coached over the years.

I have fond memories of most of the soccer moms whose daughters I was privileged to coach.  A few my wife and I still see socially.  I keep in touch with many more on Facebook.

Right now my favorite soccer mom is my step-daughter, Sarah.  And the soccer mom I will never forget is Kirsten and Scott's mother, Louise, who left us too soon more than 10 years ago.  She was Scott's first coach (when he was 6) and was at countless games played by Kirsten and Scott at school and on club teams.

Happy Mother's Day to soccer moms everywhere.