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.