final thoughts on the dr

this is one that i have been meaning to write about since the first day, and i am glad that i waited. where i am getting to is the driving habits of this country. i want everyone to read what i am about to write then close their eyes and really imagine the words i just typed. think about how much we complain about the drivers in the states, i know i do about the traffic patterns in fort myers due to the many different driving cultures that converge in this area every winter; midwestern, new england, city, country, all forged into one creative chaos. lets take it a bit further, try to think of what it would

training day 4-revenge of the pitch

after monday nights training, i found new confidence in the facilities here in the dr. that however was to be short lived. for starters, those who know me realize it takes a lot to get me upset to the point where i am mad. usually i take things for what they are and i do realize that i am in a country where wealth is not common and the facilities suffer because of it. but i made a lot of changes to come down here to play, ditched my family on thanksgiving, missed out of opportunities to see my best friends, all of which i have not seen since august. the last thing i want to feel is that i have been cheated on a chance to perform well.

a far cry from the states

after three days of sight seeing, walking up and down as many streets that i can, and this view from my hotel window... i have officially began my playing experience. to say an "experience," is to undermine the true meaning of the word. in the states, i have been spoiled with grass fields and a playing career that minimizes dirt and gravel pitches. at wilmington, and even high school to dig deeper into the memory banks, the fields were plush midwestern grounds

the dominican republic

one of the guys on the team i coach at fgcu, francisco, plays for the dominican under 20 national team and we were talking about his role on the team and this and that. anyway, he asked me about playing soccer and i told him that naturally i would much rather play than coach (as much as i enjoy coaching, its just not the same) and that if given the chance, i would jump on the opportunity in no time. he began to tell me about a coach he knew...i have heard that before and most of the time it turns into nothing more than the conversation that transpired...fast forward a couple of weeks, his coach