Legends of Soccer at the Union

 

        Great night at the Philadelphia Union Foundation's "Legends of Soccer" benefit at the elegant Wanamaker's Crystal Tea Room in Center City.  I was fortunate to be invited by my friend, Jim Stavros, whose partner is on the Foundation's Board and whose firm sponsored a table.

        Got to see my former player, Carli (Lloyd) Hollins, who was honored along with Mayor Jim Kenney and Bimbo Bakeries USA president Fred Penny.  That along with good food and a lot of good soccer talk made it a fun evening.

        The Union's website has a story and a photo of the party.  It was obviously a big success, raising more than $250,000.

A Different Kind of Hat Trick

 New Zealand's Meikayla Moore had a worse day than you did Sunday.  In a She Believes Cup match in Frisco, Texas, Moore, a veteran with 50 caps, scored the first three goals of the match - for the United States.  The U.S. went on to score two more goals to wrap up the 5-0 win.

Watch the hat trick here.

U.S. Women Finally Achieve Equality

 After some six years of litigation, the current and former United States Women's National Team players agreed to a settlement with U.S. Soccer that will pay about $24 million to compensate for underpayment compared to the men's team.  The agreement is subject to ratification of an agreement between the women's player's union and U.S. Soccer.  

Andrew Das reports on the settlement in the New York Times.

The Passing of a "Great Soccer Dad": R.I.P. George Sierra

 

I was terribly saddened this morning to learn of the passing of George Sierra, father of Medford Strikers Xtreme (MSX) player Linda Sierra Wall and her brother Andrew, and wife of Bettie.  

Linda was an outstanding player on the MSX and Cherokee High School and then for Rowan University and was also one of the nicest girls a coach could have on a team, not to mention one of the hardest working.   I do not know their son but am guessing he is just the same.

George and Bettie were the ultimate team parents, supportive of the coaches and the entire team.  George was often the club linesman on our side of the field.

During and after the MSX years Debbie and I stayed in touch with George and Bettie and would occasionally meet for dinner.  The photo below was taken at our house January 1, 2012.  For several years I would see George on a regular basis at the Virtua Health Center in Moorestown, but had not seen him since that closed just before the pandemic.

Former MSX player Brenna (Rubino) Henry nailed it when she commented on Facebook that George was "a great soccer dad."  That he was and so much more.  

My heart goes out to Bettie, Linda, Andrew and the entire family.  A great guy who will be missed.

        Photo below taken at our house, 1/1/12.

Free Kick: a New Newsletter

 Just discovered a new soccer newsletter and it made a good first impression on me with an article about the English FA Cup.  The newsletter is called Free Kick from We Are Soccer.  The informative FA piece was written by Paul Hearn.  I recommend it. 

With a new year upon us perhaps I can be more active with this blog than in the past.  In 2021 I missed out on, among other things,  the Union making it to the MLS conference finals, Carli Lloyd's final game for the National Team and my granddaughter Allison's high school debut as a JV goalie at West Chester Henderson.  It was not a lack of interest - just a lack of time.

Happy New Year to everyone.

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."

Diego Maradona Dead at 60

 Argentine great Diego Maradona, who scored one of the most infamous goals in World Cup history, died of a heart attack at age 60 today in Tiegre, Argentina.  Jere  Longman has an extensive obituary in the New York Times.

Maradona ruled the 1986 World Cup in Mexico City, won by Argentina.  In the quarterfinal against England he broke a scoreless tie in the 51st minute by intercepting a pass in the air to British keep Peter Shilton and heading it - or so it seemed - into the net.  Turns out he fisted it into the net and somehow the referee did not see it.  

According to Longman, "Maradona later gave conflicting accounts of what had happened. At first he said he had never touched the ball with his fist; then he said he had done so accidentally; then he attributed the goal to divine intervention, to 'the hand of God.' " Four minutes later he dribbled some 70 yards and scored what proved to be the game winner.

In 2000 FIFA voted Maradona and Pele the two greatest players.  Unlike Pele, Maradona had a long history of drug addiction.  In 1991 he was given a 15-month suspension for a positive cocaine test.  His behavior became erratic, it was said.  In 1994 he was kicked out of the World Cup in the United States after testing positive for various stimulants. 

Health issues included alcohol abuse, treatment for a weakened heart and psychiatric treatment.  He was the father of eight children, including three while he was in Cuba treating for drug addiction.

Argentina has declared three days of mourning.

Union Busting

 The Supporters Shield will have to do for the Philadelphia Union tis year as they were ousted in the opening game of the play-offs last night by the New England Revolution, 2-0.  The Inquirer's Jonathan Tannenwald does his usual excellent job in describing the game.  

How The Union Got Where They Are

The Philadelphia Union, winners of the Supporters Shield, begin their play-off run Tuesday at 8 p.m. at home against the New England Revolution.  The Inquirer's Jonathan Tannenwald, has a story in today's editions about how the team's academy helped them to the top.  Well-done piece worth a read.

Is This Soccer? Massachusetts High Rules

 Just as it has touched everything else in our lives, the coronavirus has altered high school soccer, at least in Massachusetts.  Andrew Keh in today's New York Times describes the rule changes there that have affected the way the game is played. No headers, no throw-ins (replaced by free kicks), no defensive walls.  Games are no quarters rather than halves.  Goalies cannot punt past midfield.  Physical contact with an opponent is permitted.

A violation of one of these rules is a "covid foul" and give the other team an indirect free kick.  

Phil  Silva, coach of Bishop Sheehan, says the rules have slowed down the game because of the number of stoppages for the covid fouls.

It's sad to see the game so drastically altered and especially slowed down, but as Keh reports, most believe playing by these rules is better than not playing at all.

Jackie Charlton dies. Played In '66 World Cup Final

Jack Charlton, who played 21 years for Leeds United, earned 35 caps for England and later managed several clubs and the Irish National Team, died last week at age 85. The New York Times ran a lengthy obit.  Charlton and his younger brother, Bob, a Manchester United star, were both on the field when England defeated Germany, 4-2, in overtime to win the 1966 World Cup.  

The match was controversial because Geoff Hurst's go-ahead goal 11 minutes into the first overtime, struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced out, but the Swiss referee ruled it a goal after consulting with the Russian assistant referee.  The controversy raged for years in Germany.  

Years later my brother, Gary, took soccer players from the school where he taught to a camp in England and met Bob Charlton.  So naturally he asked Charlton if it was really goal.  "Of course it was, mate," said Charlton who had been in the midfield, who knows how far from the goal at the time. 

Jack Charlton was the 12th member of the 1966 World Cup champions to die.

Grössenwahn: The New European Order

Rory Smith writes in today's New York Times about European clubs living in the past with delusions of grandeur about the future. Although the column focuses on F.C. Kaiserslautern, Hamburger S.V. and VfB Stuttgart, it looks at the trend throughout Europe.  "Over the last two decades, a current has swept through European soccer, drastically shifting the game’s landscape," Smith writes.

Soccer Returns in Germany - Sort Of

Rory Smith in yesterday's New York Times wrote about the return of the Bundesliga to empty stadiums.  He focused on Dortmund where Borussia shut out FC Schalke, 4-0.  The story mentions the feeling of many fans that this isn't really soccer, but rather business.  But as Smith notes, when the first goal was scored, "In that moment, you could see beyond the silence and the grayness and the sorrow, beneath the business and the sport, that soccer is just a game. But it is a good game."

U.S. Women Suffer "Crushing Blow" in Court

A federal judge in  California dismissed the U.S. Women's National Team's claims against U.S. Soccer of being paid less than the men's team.  It was described by Andrew Das in the New York Times as a crushing blow.  The court left standing claims of unequal treatment in areas such as travel, hotel accommodations and team staffing.  Trial is scheduled for June 16.

The judge granted U.S. Soccer's motion for summary judgment, meaning that based on undisputed facts of record the women could not win and defendant U.S. Soccer was entitled to a dismissal as a matter of law.

As Kelsey Trainor (who like Coach P is a lawyer) states in her article on The Equalizer, Judge Gary Klausner wrote in a 32-page opinion "that the U.S. women rejected an offer to operate under a CBA with a pay structure similar to the men’s national team and therefore, they cannot now claim unequal pay. The judge also found that, based on evidence and expert testimony submitted by the parties, the U.S. women actually earned more than the men over the same time span. He noted that while the U.S. women earned on average $221,000 per game during the class period (2015 – 2019) the U.S. men earned $213,000 per game. This, of course, does not take into account the fact that had the men’s team been successful like the women (who won two World Cups during that time), the men would have earned a far higher rate of pay. "

The women have said they would appeal, but as Trainor points out, because the appeal would be interlocutory, that is a appeal of less than a final judgment on all issues, and those are very difficult to file.  Unless the appellate court grants permission, the women would have to go through a trial on the remaining issue and then appeal the dismissal of the equal pay claim.

It is still possible the sides will reach a settlement before the trial date.

Quarter century MLS broadcasters

Thanks to Inquirer soccer writer Jonathan Tannenwald for tweeting out the MLS article about the league's longtime broadcasters, including the Union's J.P. Dellacamera.  May they be back on the air very soon.