Spring Break
Out of the Pouch
Dan Stroud
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Sports
As most UMKC soccer fans were painfully aware during the fall season, the keeper of the pouch is not the most informed man about the world's most popular international sport.
Spending days and nights devouring the Baseball Encyclopedia and pouring over the pages of Pro Football Digest during his adolescent years left little time for other endeavors.
Of course, there has always been a general knowledge of the great players. As an avid purveyor of all things ESPN, one can't help but pick up a little information.
Pele was among the greatest players of his time and came to America as the first highly promoted player in the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) comes easily to mind.
Diego Maradona and his flashy play in world cup action was also well publicized. In the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) the Kansas City Attack and the St. Louis Steamers were great rivals as the sport began to thrive in North America.
That players such as Preki, Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas have starred with the Kansas City Wizards seems common knowledge to most sports fans in this sports town.
Attending two Wizards games in what were dismal crowds of 20,000 plus fans in a 75,000 plus seat Arrowhead Stadium admittedly didn't inspire much interest either.
But watching the Kangaroos play from a much closer vantage point, coupled with a bit of school spirit, offered a bit more intrigue. To witness the rough and rugged play of athletes who unlike football and hockey players have no pads to protect them from bodily injury does have a tendency to get one's attention.
So at the behest of UMKC Sports Information Graduate Assistant John Roushkolb, it was time to give professional soccer another look. Oh what a look it was.
For those who aren't aware, the Wizards no longer reside at the Truman Sports Complex. The squad now makes its home in Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Though the venue is temporary until the team's new soccer specific stadium is built in the area around the now defunct Bannister Mall, it seems far more conducive to an exciting and fan friendly experience than its predecessor.
Spending days and nights devouring the Baseball Encyclopedia and pouring over the pages of Pro Football Digest during his adolescent years left little time for other endeavors.
Of course, there has always been a general knowledge of the great players. As an avid purveyor of all things ESPN, one can't help but pick up a little information.
Pele was among the greatest players of his time and came to America as the first highly promoted player in the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL) comes easily to mind.
Diego Maradona and his flashy play in world cup action was also well publicized. In the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) the Kansas City Attack and the St. Louis Steamers were great rivals as the sport began to thrive in North America.
That players such as Preki, Tony Meola and Alexi Lalas have starred with the Kansas City Wizards seems common knowledge to most sports fans in this sports town.
Attending two Wizards games in what were dismal crowds of 20,000 plus fans in a 75,000 plus seat Arrowhead Stadium admittedly didn't inspire much interest either.
But watching the Kangaroos play from a much closer vantage point, coupled with a bit of school spirit, offered a bit more intrigue. To witness the rough and rugged play of athletes who unlike football and hockey players have no pads to protect them from bodily injury does have a tendency to get one's attention.
So at the behest of UMKC Sports Information Graduate Assistant John Roushkolb, it was time to give professional soccer another look. Oh what a look it was.
For those who aren't aware, the Wizards no longer reside at the Truman Sports Complex. The squad now makes its home in Community America Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan.
Though the venue is temporary until the team's new soccer specific stadium is built in the area around the now defunct Bannister Mall, it seems far more conducive to an exciting and fan friendly experience than its predecessor.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
SombraAla
posted 4/15/08 @ 3:52 PM CST
Typo(?): Not an 'on goal' but an 'own goal'
Post a Comment