Argentinian Derby Turns Ugly

Yesterday the New York Times ran a story about the 2nd leg of South America's premier club competition, the Copa Libertadores between Buenos Aires' archrivals, River Plate and Boca Juniors, the first time the two teams have met in a cup final.  The first match ended in a 2-2 draw.  Noted radio announcer Leonardo Uranga called the game "the biggest game in Argentina history."

The game had been scheduled for tonight, Saturday, November 24, but was called off when the bus carrying Boca to the River Plate stadium  was attacked by River Plate fans who threw stones, sticks and bottles at the bus, shattering windows and causing the driver to faint.  Police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd and fumes drifted inside the bus where some players had been cut by flying glass and debris.  Rory Smith, who wrote the original Times article about the game, reported on the chaos and resulting postponement.

Although Boca said it could not play the game, Conmebol, the governing body of South American soccer, insisted that it go on.  Finally, at 7:45, the game was postponed to Sunday evening.

The whole affair was an embarrassment for Argentina, where a summit meeting of the G20 will take place in Buenos Aires this coming week.

Improving Kensington Kids' Lives Through Soccer

Inspiring story by Kristen A. Graham in today's Inquirer about the Kensington Soccer Club and the impressive Philadelphia teacher, Jim Hardy, who started the organization and is its heart and soul.  It now serves nearly 1,500 youths from 3 to 19 with 40 volunteers and 25 coaches.  The $120,000 budget is funded through grants and donations.

"I don't think you can say how many kids Jim helps, how many families," Graham quotes City Parks & Recreation Department employee Anthony Washington, who has known Hardy since 2010, as saying. "The parents call him and say, 'Help me, you're the one he listens to.'" 

Nice to see some good news coming out of Kensington for a change.  Here's wishing Coach Hardy continuing success with KSC.

As an aside, I recall refereeing some games of the Kensington Ramblers at Scanlon Playground, K & Tioga, back in the mid-70s.