This was a week-end notable for activities off the field as much as those on
it. And certainly it was a week-end to remember.
The run up saw a great assist from Doug and Diane Strahan playing a skilful
double-act to score rooms for us all at the Holiday Inn at a knock-down rate.
Visiting college debating teams provided stimulating intellectual conversation
for those who needed it, but for many the experience of the I-95 had exhausted
any ability to speak in words of more than one syllable.
With a kick-off scheduled at 8am on Saturday the challenge was clear. How to
get the boys and their siblings to sleep so that everyone could get up at 6am,
have breakfast and make the 25-minute drive to the soccer venue. However two
factors were to dominate the morning – directions (or lack of them) and fog,
thick fog. So thick that Tony Awad could not even see the end of his camera
lens.
The first 15 minutes of the first game was completely uneventful – that is
because this reporter got lost in the very thick fog, along with almost everyone
else (including the Knights who thought I knew where I was going). For Coach Ken
the first 45 minutes was completely uneventful as he toured pretty much the
whole of Richmond trying to find the field. However, whilst showing possible
signs of concussion from banging his head on the steering wheel, and muttering
about trading his digital radio for a GPS navigation system, he took control
with ease and the rest as they say is history.
Our Starbucks Locator, Jennifer AbiNajm, did not allow the pesky fog to get
the better of her and found the local source of caffeine easily, and we felt
better knowing that our umbilical cord to Starbucks was still intact. Jennifer
went on to perform a great assist co-opting a new member of the squad, Vinnie,
persuading him to hand over his restaurant for lunch – and good it was too –
many thanks to Vinnie.
Back at the field the action on the sidelines was hotting up now that Tony
Awad, ably assisted by Mark Leimkuhler, had found the end of his lens. (Tony
wanted me to point out that his camera is bigger than Mark’s and that’s why
he’s the boss and Mark is his assistant). Anyway we can expect lots of
pictures of fog, thick dense fog.
And a new precedent was set after the opposing team also ran through the
parents’ tunnel at the end of the game – now only do we embarrass our own
boys but we’ll do the same to the other side – brilliant!
Early afternoon and the parents’ energy is running out, so a general
time-out is called for a siesta back at the hotel. And when the going gets
tough, the tough go…. shopping, bowling, swimming and in Laura’s case,
relaxing in the Marriott hotel lounge. (And for those who missed out on this
action the reason Laura and others ended up at the Marriott is because they were
still building the pool at the Hilton, or so they said).
A brief attempt at organizing a team dinner at the hotel proved too ambitious
and it looked like play for the day would close quietly. However the Irish
contingent (who are they I wonder) launched one final attempt throwing a party
on the 5th floor lobby but only Tony showed up – so he gets the
honorary Party-lovin’ Parent award.
Sunday was a lot more civilized – a 10.40am kick-off and no fog. Eric
Knight was feeling confident he could find his way and led the charge down the
I-195, but lost his nerve, and amazingly trusted this reporter to lead the way
(again). Coach Michael, despite being embarrassed by his choice of coffee (you
know what I mean Michael) was in fine form, and pleased that Ken had found his
way even without GPS.
And without the fog we were able to enjoy the full spectacle of George Doumar’s
exercise regime whilst shouting "SCORE" at regular intervals.
In future all parents will be expected to follow this example and tone up their
muscles for the end-of season arm wrestling contest.
At the end of the game this reporter asked Coach Ken for his view on the
performance of the opposing team. "We just played a bunch of robots"
he said. "The Coach was using a remote control device to make all the
plays. I tried to scramble his signal with my cellphone but it didn’t
work". Amazing – straight out of the X-Files.
Oh, and then there was the soccer. The boys as always played their hearts out
against stiff competition in a series of games dominated by penalties, hitting
the post and Michael Sneisak’s sneakers……
Normal reporting will resume next week. ;-)
