Not literally the offspring of O Rei, but I am one of the first generation of American born kids who embraced the game because of him. My father didn’t want me playing American football (had a pinched nerve from playing in high school), so he had me play #soccer. 2)
Because I was the fast Black kid in suburban Cincinnati, the coaches played me at wing. I could cross the ball like a dream, even if there was no one there to receive that pass. I was a little singular minded and didn’t really have a goal scorer’s instinct as a kid. 3)
What I did have was no fear and a taste for a bit of violence. So of course I found myself happiest in defense. When they realized I also had incredible reflexes just messing around in practice one day, they put me in at goalkeeper. 4)
My freshman year in high school was the last time I played organized soccer. Even though I loved it, I wasn’t committed to the point where I was willing to give up part of my summer vacation to go to practice.
Of course the varsity team went on to win state my sophomore year. Heh, oops. 5)
I was hooked. Living in Ohio there weren’t many opportunities to watch professional outdoor soccer until the 1994 World Cup. That tournament kicked my fandom into overdrive for the game and for US Soccer. One of my biggest regrets was that I didn’t make it to Detroit to see the USMNT game. 6)
MLS started in 1996 and I followed the team closest to me, Columbus. I drove from Akron for a couple of games. I was finally able to see live pro soccer. After I moved to California in 1997, I found out that Oakland was hosting the US Men for a couple of games for the 1998 Gold Cup. 7)
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Of course the varsity team went on to win state my sophomore year. Heh, oops. 5)