Carli's Hometown Retirement Party

 

Delran, New Jersey, threw a huge party to celebrate the imminent retirement from professional soccer of its most famous citizen: Carli Lloyd, who played for the '81-82 Medford Strikers I helped coach.

At least 10 women who played on that team showed up for the event at Delran Community Park.  Most I keep in touch with on Facebook, but it was great to see them in person and also to see Bobbi Dadura, wife of the late Joe Dadura, who founded the team and with whom I had the pleasure of coaching for four years.  Also nice to see Carli's parents, Steve and Pam.

Some of us had a chance to chat with Carli before the program began, and to pose for a picture.  Unfortunately a few of our teammates had not yet arrived when the photo was taken.

Speakers for the event included the governor's wife and Carli's college coach, Glenn Crooks.  But the star was Carli, who gave an impressive speech about her career.  Mayor Gary Catrambone announced that a soccer field to be built at this park would be named Carli Lloyd Field.  A very fitting tribute to the GOAT of women's soccer.

Carli's Farewell Tour in Philadelphia

 Pretty cool to watch my former player, Carli Lloyd, on TV playing her next to last regular season league game in Philadelphia -actually Chester southwest of the city - at Subaru Park, home of the MLS Philadelphia Union.  Game ended in a 0-0 draw.  Many girls from our '81-'82 Medford Strikers team were there and planned a tailgate.  I would loved to have gone, but did not want to commit just a week after Debbie's surgery.  So I had to settle for watching on television.  I am hoping to have some photos from players who were there.

Carli's hometown of Delran Township is throwing a party for her next week and I plan to be at that.

Sad Day For Women's Soccer

 The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL), the most successful of three women's pro leagues founded in the last two decades, canceled its five games scheduled this weekend amid a torrent of allegations against coaches for abusing players and the league for not supporting the players.

The New York Times had a detailed account by Kevin Draper yesterday.  "But as has become evident this week, bullying and abusive behavior have been a part of the league from its earliest days. And, according to players, team executives and league officials have not done nearly enough to prevent it," Draper writes.  He notes that in the past the months, 40 percent of the league's coaches were fired or resigned for inappropriate behavior.  Then yesterday, Commissioner Lisa Baird resigned.  CNN provided a report.

The worst of the coaching departures appears to have been Paul Riley, who was fired by the Portland Thorns in 2015 for unspecified violations of team policy but then went to another team.  In 2018 and 2019 he coached the Carolina Courage to league championships but there were allegations that he had coerced a player into having sex with him, forced two players to kiss then sent them unsolicited sexual pictures and yelled at and belittled players.  He has denied the charges.

Yelling at players is one thing.  Think NFL coaches don't yell at players?  But there is no excuse whatsoever for sexual abuse or for creating a hostile environment of a sexual nature.  Prosecutors in the various jurisdictions need to carefully examine the allegations against Riley and the others for possible criminal conduct. 

Former National Team player Meghan Klingenberg tweeted: "It is enraging that the NWSL knew about this abuse and allowed the abuser to be rehired."  Well put.

A good guy and a good ref

 Just learned from a Facebook friend that Dick Budd died last week.  

Dick was one of the better local referees in South Jersey back when my kids were playing.  I knew Dick was an optician by trade but did not know he was an Army veteran who served in Korea (as I did) and a Rotarian as my father was.

As a coach or parent you were always happy to see Dick Budd referee your game.  Not only was he a nice guy, he knew the Laws Of The Game, was fair and hustled.  It didn't hurt that he had a sense of humor.  In one game we ran a trick play on a free kick where one of our girls stepped over the ball without touching it, causing the other team to encroach - which should have given us another free kick which we would have used for a quick restart.   Dick missed the stepover and did not call the encroachment, causing howls from the parents.  Instead of getting upset, he just shrugged and said, "What can I say?  I blew it."  Heckling became laughter and earned respect.

Dick's obituary is here:  

Fun While It Lasted

 I just stumbled upon a website that is a comprehensive list of defunct teams, leagues and venues.  The site was created by Andrew Crossley, GM of the WPS' Boston Breakers in 2011. In soccer it lists, among others, the Philadelphia Atoms, Spartans and Ukrainians; and the American Soccer League and North American Soccer League.  It's called Fun While It Lasted.  Alot of memories on these lists.

The First Fan

 Who knew that our new president was a huge soccer fan.  Apparently so, according to Sports Illustrated, which writes: "Joe Biden has helped inaugurate an MLS club, been to three World Cups, had a say on equal pay and, as the new POTUS, will play a part in 2026 World Cup preparations. Here are the tales from his time around the highest levels of soccer."

The story is written by Brian Straus and entitled, "Biden and the Beautiful Game."