Author: scruffyrube

31. Leave more than you take

31. Leave more than you take

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It struck me that I ought to explain a little bit about why we cheer for the teams we do. Well, in part, it’s because I thought we ought to, and I’m the one of us most capable of complex thought and logic. But also, each team has a special something that captures part of what I love about life, and part of what makes you who you are.

So periodically (like during international breaks, long summer holidays, or say, global pandemics that completely alter everything we understand about our lives and ourselves), I want to introduce you to the teams we are tied to.

Our seventh team to meet: Club Sport de Emelec, who kicks off a new season this weekend, and reminds us how to be a guest.

Dear Boys,

Wherefore Emelec?

At the mouth of the Rio Guayas, near the southern coast of Ecuador, is the port town of Guyaquil. There a mixture of bustling city streets, picturesque hillsides, and busy beaches, builds up one of the two best known cities in the country. Santiago del Guyaquil hosts the most people in the region, thriving businesses, arts, and culture. As a port city, it has long been the launching point for adventures into the rest of South America, and hosted an eclectic array of foreigners, officials, and buccaneers.

Who is Emelec?

In the heart of Guyaquil is Estadio de George Capwell, a beautiful modern stadium with an unusual name. CS Emelec started life as one small, often forgotten part of the Sports Club founded by members of the Empresa Electrica del Ecuador (take the first syllables and you have Em-el-ec). George Capwell, a New Yorker by birth and engineer by training was an avid sportsman. To build the community within the company he founded, and played for teams alongside local employees. Playing point guard for the basketball team and catcher for the baseball team left little time or capacity for soccer. But the local employees insisted. Capwell endorsed it. And CS Emelec has blossomed ever since.

The 1925 team, and first champions (from emelec-al-maximo.blogspot.com)

The team remains stylized like the electric company it started as: with nicknames like El Bombillo (the lightbulb) and Los Electricos. The team’s storied history includes the second most titles in all Ecuador, a superb women’s team, agonizing proximity to continental glory, and a fierce rivalry with the most decorated team (cross town Rivals, SC Barcelona). Even while the company that birthed them has vanished, Emelec stands strong with 24 titles (and a star on the crest for every one of them).

How are we Emelec?

It may seem strange to adopt Emelec given that I have never been to Ecuador. Most other teams I have lived near or felt an affinity for immediately, but with Emelec, it’s different.

In Minnesota it can seem like we are little more than a sea of whiteness. Your heritage (Norwegian, Scottish, Serbian, German) certainly supports that. But the truth is that our neighborhoods are far more diverse than that. In fact, the Twin Cities boasts one of the largest Ecuadorian communities outside of New York City. Little Quito in north Minneapolis is vibrant, beautiful, and welcoming. I’ve taught many kids with Ecuadorian heritage and been told again and again to visit (starting with Guyaquil).

While we haven’t been to Ecuador (yet), there’s a valuable lesson in the story of CS Emelec, and George Capwell, one that rings true for travelers everywhere.

While most Americans go places to take things back, Emelec is the exception to the trend. The company behind the club was far more interested in its bottom line than the community. Several local scholars have pointed out the selfish, greedy, and condescending nature of a company that “could not lose”.

And, then there’s Capwell. Chances are, he was fine with the greedy business practices. More than likely he turned a tidy personal profit. Still, he also built something that was for local people. What he left behind has now far outlasted him and his company.

Capwell’s contribution means much more than what he made
(Findagrave.com, Alberto Farol Andrade)

When we travel, I want us to think about leaving behind something more than what we take. Leave behind a legacy, a gift, a gratitude. Leave more than you take, and you’ll be a gracious guest wherever you go.

Week 30: Grin and Marit

Week 30: Grin and Marit

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Scores

Colorado Rapids 2 – 2 Minnesota United

This game gave us two things. One was the memory that Romain Metanire + Ethan Finlay equals right wing gold. (Gold we’ll hopefully see glitter again if we get to go watch them sometime this year.) Seriously that second goal was a thing of beauty and a joy to behold.

Two was a chance to watch a game that mattered mathematically and teach grandma MacK some of that calculus

Explaining the games to grandma

Of course, with progression assured, there was a little more sloppiness than usual, but that’s all a side note before tomorrow’s game against Columbus

Arna Bjornar 1 – 2 Rosenborg BK (W)

The ladies in black and white continue to show superlative form with another road winner. Marit Clausen scored again because of course she did, but the hero of the hour (or hour and a half rather) was substitute Lisa Marie Utland. Her 90th minute laser beam header made it three wins from three, and you’re forgiven, if, like me, you’re ready to shave the Troll Children’s record into your hair. (I mean, obviously I won’t because haircuts are risky in the age of COVID, but that’s about my only reason.)

FK Haugesund 1 – 0 Rosenborg BK (M)

For the first time since the opening weekend, the Troll Children dropped all the points. (Sidebar: should they be Troll Boys while the Kvinner are the Troll Girls? is that too gender binary??)

The air was sucked out of the away side early on when a late and sloppy slide from Anders Trondsend conceded a penalty that Niklas Sandberg converted within ten minutes. From then it was rather dispiriting The Trollgutter looked shaky and shambolic in defense, and seemed desperate in the attack. The loss dropped them out of the top 4, but as their only other defeats came to top two sides Bodo/Glimt and Molde, there’s plenty of reason to hope.

News & Notes

More Kickoffs Coming

This week sees a return for the Serbian League (yes, they were in action just a month ago, and yes Vozdovac kicks off against the same team they wrapped up against), the Scottish League (with Ross County back under singular manager Stuart Kettlewell), and the Ecuadorian Men’s League (starting afresh with the fall campaign). While other leagues are unsure about their restart date, the Montana Grizzlies can boast about being the most feared team in all the Big Sky ahead of their September 18th return.

New Opportunity For Oaxaca

Alebrijes de Oaxaca might have been on the cusp of the big time in Mexico. Then COVID-19 shut down the season and eliminated promotion for six years. So, instead of saddling up against the big boys, Alebrijes will play in the new “Liga de Expansion” with 17 teams seeking to stabilize the lower leagues. They have a few weeks left to kick off, but let’s get excited now, shall we?

Loons Swoon into Knockouts

The late winner that kicked off their campaign in Orlando seems a distant memory, after Minnesota wobbled through a couple draws. Still 16 of 24 teams advance, which is pretty darn convenient. Still they are undefeated and rank third in the updated league table. Sadly, finishing second in the group behind second place Kansas City earns them a match up against top of the table Columbus Crew…YAY MLS

Player of the Week

Let’s not mess with a good thing, shall we? Marit Clausen. We remain your biggest family of fans on our street in St. Paul. (It’s Minnesota, we assume there are more fans/family of yours nearby)

Clausen (Left) with winning Utland (right)

What’s Next

Tuesday, July 28th

7:00 Columbus Crew v. Minnesota United

Wednesday, July 29

Thursday, July 30

1:30 Rosenborg v. Viking (M)

Friday, July 31

Saturday, August 1

12:30 FK Vozdovac v FK Radnik Surdulica

**7:00 San Jose Earthquake v. Minnesota United

Sunday, August 2

8:00 Rosenborg BK v. Klepp (W)

1:30 Stabaek v Rosenborg BK (M)

2:00 Emelec v. Orense (M)

Monday, August 3

1:45 Ross County v. Motherwell

Tuesday, August 4

30. Out of Many, One

30. Out of Many, One

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Dear Boys,

We’re in a strange state.

It feels like I say that every week, but every week of this project finds our country in an increasingly strange state of affairs.

In the midst of a global pandemic, the United States has relapsed into a worse rate of infection than we had before. Other countries are getting better, we’re getting worse. And there’s a very real possibility that our one saving grace: a low rate of people dying from the disease, may not last much longer.

Why is this? There are plenty of possible answers but the one that makes the most sense to me is this: a team of competing individuals can lose, competitive individuals together on a team cannot.

It comes back to the national motto: “E Pluribus Unum”, Latin for “Out of Many, One”. Out of many states, from many different interests, from many unique positions: one national society.

It’s a nice motto. It captures who we are and who we aspire to be. It is good both for a diverse nation and a typical sports team.

It’s just doesn’t reflect us that well.

Out of our many positions, we have many societies. From our many interests, we have a competition to see which one stands supreme.

Prima donna superstar Babe Ruth.

It stands out in sports as well. While we might think that out of many players comes a team, or from many teams a champion, the way sports is sold makes it more likely that from many players comes several players you love or love to hate. It’s not so much about this team or that, it’s about Brady, or LeBron, or Giannis, or Bellicheck. Even sports without transcendent superstars are talked about in terms of where the next star is. Baseball is still looking for the next Willie Mays, hockey the next Gretzky.

Totally humble Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner (Sports Illustrated)

Some people will tell you that’s because the players are prima donnas, playing for themselves and for contracts rather than a “love of the game”. But it’s on us too. Owners (like Comiskey, Steibrenner, or Cuban) have long looked out for their own bottom lines not the interchangeable players or communities. Fans also talk about their wins, their trophies, their bragging rights, dismissing players’ humanity.

Distance Shmistance (National Post)

So, it can’t be too surprising that we, as a nation of individuals, look for ways to compete and win and beat others both in sports and in life. In the context of American sports and individualism, it makes sense that many people would rather go to a party for themselves than wear a mask to protect a bunch of others they’ll never know. If we care so much about being “winning”, we will accept that many of our neighbors have to lose. So long as we get what we want (a vote, a haircut, a return to the way things were), it’s okay for others to lose (a job, a loved one, a home).

Part of the reason I love soccer is that it defies these transcendent players and narratives. Lionel Messi can’t be goalie and creator. A team that waits for its star to save the day, isn’t likely to be champions (just ask Zlatan-era Los Angeles teams).

Waiting for Messi (La Marca)

So while there’s a steady thrum of questions like: “where’s the American Messi,” or “when will the US Men’s game find their own Megan Rapinoe”? I think that is part of the problem.

It’s not about that competitive individual, it’s about several individuals, coming together to compete for a common purpose. Where’s the American Liverpool? When will the US Men’s game find a partnership like Julie Blakstad and Marit Clausen? How can I help myself, and my neighbors, and total strangers I don’t expect to see today?

We are competitive. That’s a strength, not a flaw. But as long as we are competing with each other rather than for each other, it’s just going to get stranger and stranger, until, from many, we are many more.

Week 29: Terrific Day in Trondheim

Week 29: Terrific Day in Trondheim

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Scores

Start 0 – 0 Rosenborg BK (M)

That was a thing that happened. Moving on.

Real Salt Lake 0 – 0 Minnesota United

Your curly haired “cousin”
(Minnesota United)

Both Salt Lake and Minnesota won their first games of the “MLS is Back” tournament (which I still prefer to call “July Jamboree”), so they naturally played a boring as hell cagey match with both teams taking a point and staying in position to advance. However, Minnesota got to see Thomas Chacon, who looks to be only a couple months older than you boys, so that was nice

Rosenborg BK 3 – 1 Kolbotn (W)

For the first time this year, RBK had both the ladies and the gentlemen playing at home on the same day. Unfortunately, also for the first time this year, the ladies of Rosenborg gave up a lead. Though Cesile Andreassen put them up in the first half amid a rampaging attack, Kolbotn struck quickly after half time to level the score.

Then Marit Clausen did a number of Marit Clausen-y things (you know dominating the air, causing havoc in front of goal) and Rosenborg ran out winners. None too shabby for an undefeated start to the season, and it should be said that their post match song is flame.

Rosenborg BK 2 – 1 Sandefjord (M)

The gentlemen of Rosenborg found a way to win and sweep the double header day thanks to Kristoffer Zachariassen whose presence on corner kicks was a major difference maker. Scoring one in the first half on a blooping cranial chip, and a second to seal the win

One concern for the now fourth place Rosenborg side is that during this six game unbeaten run their attacking crew has changed more often than filters in a home made Coronavirus mask.

Midfielder Zachariassen now has four goals, all from set pieces, while no other player has more than 1 (including big name signings Dino Islamovic and Torgeir Borven, as well as stalwart Pal Andre Helland, and starlet Emil Konradsen Ceide). Combine Sunday’s scrambles for goal with the paltry opportunities on offer in their midweek game at Start, and RBK has reason to start strategizing differently

News & Notes

Kvinning

Yes, Rosenborg is on top of the ToppSerien in Norway. Yes, this is the first time any of our teams has led any league during this (admittedly relatively recent project). Yes, this means they are awesome and we’re having a lot of fun. In particular, Marit Clausen and Julie Blakstad who are now tied for the ToppSerien golden boot watch! Can’t lie, this is fun.

Young Warriors walk away, Loons check in

This is not the offseason Punjab FC would have hoped for. First came the transfer ban, and this week two young stars left the club. According to the awesome Nehal from the Away End, first Thoiba Singh Moirangthem, headed to Odisha FC, and now Makan Chothe has left for top tier side FC Goa

Bebelo may be flying north soon
(Photo from ESPN)

Meanwhile, Minnesota United have their eyes set not on a departure but a massive acquisition: Emanuel “Bebelo” Reynoso a young star for Boca Juniors in Argentina. While Boca is stacked and playing time is thin, Reynoso still seems like a serious talent who could light a fire under the Loons offense while the defensive spine continues to blockade the goal.

Player of the Week

Marvelous Marit
(RBK.no)

Right now Marit Clausen’s game is so hot it makes a July day in Minnesota feel like a January day in Minnesota. Clausen is so on fire that she doesn’t drink water to cool down, she drinks flame retardant chemicals (Note: THAT WAS A JOKE, DON’T DRINK FLAME RETARDANT CHEMICALS EITHER IF YOU PLAY WELL, PLAY POORLY, OR NEVER PLAY AT ALL). Clausen has kicked so much butt, that Chuck Norris is asking her for pointers. Point is Marit Clausen rocks.

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 22

9:30 Colorado Rapids v Minnesota United

Thursday, July 23

Friday, July 24

Saturday, July 25

8:00 Arna Bjornar v. Rosenborg BK (W)

Sunday, July 26

1:30 FK Haugesund v Rosenborg BK (M)

Monday, July 27

Tuesday, July 28

29. Context is King

29. Context is King

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Clearly Rosenborg Ballklub’s women’s team is the greatest team in the history of soccer. They’ve never lost a match.

Also, history is brewing near Dingwall. Ross County’s next transfer will break the club’s record for summer transfer sessions. The club is poised to join the top ten spenders in Scottish soccer.

Oh, and it’s terrible to ask about black people being shot by the police because more white people are victims of police shootings. How dare you make this about race.

Those are three very stupid hot takes. But they’re all stupid for the same reason.

Context is king.

Dear Boys,



You may hear people saying that you can’t argue with facts. Which is true. The encyclopedia has never changed itself while I yell at it.

But while you can’t argue with facts you can and should argue with people who use facts out of context. Facts out of context aren’t sacrosanct, their tools of persuasion: tools that can be wielded subtly or with all the careful grace of a hippo in a tutu.

You don’t have to let them use those tools any more than you have to let your dentist use a compound mitre saw to floss your teeth.

Each of those hot takes is based on facts, each of which I italicized. Those facts superficially support my claim, but include context and both the fact and my argument fall apart.

The classic look
(Vavel.com)

Yes, the Rosenborg Kvinner are undefeated under that name. But the sample size is ludicrously small. They’ve only played two games as Rosenborg, and under the club’s old mantle (Trondheims Ørn) they certainly lost their share. They’ve had a great two games with a new names, that doesn’t make them the greatest team ever.

Yes, the next signing by Ross County will break records and put them into the top ten spenders in Scotland. But you have to know both the team’s history and the state of Scottish soccer to see how irrelevant that is.

Really, isn’t everything a record
(From The Scotsman)

Since joining the top league Ross County have never paid for a transfer, so even one cent would break a record. Moreover, with only twenty teams in the top league, being in the top ten could mean you spend like crazed Glaswegians (Rangers/Celtic) or that you are right on average for the top league.

So a transfer fee would be historic, it also wouldn’t make a lot of difference. It would be as historic as the punctuation I put at the end of this specific sentence¡

Which brings us to the last out of context fact which both distorts sample size and skews away from cultural/historical context.

https://twitter.com/MaddiKiwana/status/1283225629270269953

Yes, over 2,000 white people have been killed by police and yes that is two times more than other racial groups. Also, there are four times more white people in the US than black ones. So, black (and Hispanic) people are killed more than twice as often as white folks. Totals are facts, so are percentages and rates, using one while ignoring the context of others is stupid and biased.

That bias, that damned systemic racism, is the other part. Throughout the country’s history, we’ve undervalued people of color to over-inflate the importance of white people. Sometimes it’s as crass as proclaiming “reverse racism” over any racial discussion. Sometimes it’s as subtle as celebrating the white teacher before acknowledging the brown-skinned students. This time it’s pretty blatant, stupid, and divorced from the history of oppression that underpins the United States.

I mean…in a room with Andrew Jackson and Woodrow Wilson…maybe?

However you look at it, facts are indisputable. But the conclusions we draw from them are, always and forever, debatable. Much as we cheer Julie Blakstad and company, much as we hope for Steven Ferguson’s side, we have to know that our arguments are less about the facts and more about our feelings. Just as we know the dismissal of uncomfortable claims of racism is less about the facts, and more about our feeling uncomfortable with the truth.

Silly sports opinions can carry this natural bias as part of their very nature. We’re fans, not fact machines. But the same issues that cloud judgments about teams or players apply to other arguments. So keep asking questions, wonder why people say what they do, and remember: context is king.

Week 28: Practically Perfect in Every Way

Week 28: Practically Perfect in Every Way

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Scores

Lyn Football 1 – 4 Rosenborg BK (W)

A late first half goal put RBK up, and a flurry to start the second half put it away. Marit Clausen and, our fave, Julie Blakstad each had a brace to give RBKKvinner a first win in their new colors.

The win saw RBK jump to a tie atop the ToppSerien. Granted both of the top two teams have big wins against last-placed Lyn, but wins are wins and with four points being the maximum this year, this may be a great year for parity.

Rosenborg BK 3 – 0 Stromsgodset (M)

Another strong showing from Rosenborg’s men’s side, should allay some fear of regression. That it came together only after a second half substitution may leave some lingering tactical questions.

Pål André Helland played the hero with a goal and two assists in just 31 minutes of game time. Coach Trond Henriksen opted to drop Helland for more recent signees Carlo Holse, Dino Islamovic and Torgeir Børven, but in retrospect, maybe play the hot hand…er, foot.

Sporting KC 1 – 2 Minnesota United

Your mom and I got to watch the second half of this game after you boys went to bed.

We missed the bad news: a spotty defense without Ike Opara and Ozzie Alonso, and a shaky offense after both Luis Amarilla and Mason Toye caught an injury each. But we did see a stellar comeback led by Aaron Shoenfeld who drew a red card from KC keeper Tim Melia, then provided the distracting target for an equalizing own goal.

Finally a late winner worked from a cross by Roman Metanire to a redirection by Raheem Edwards and a ripping finish by Kevin Molino elicited a lot of reactions. I shouted “yes!” Your mom muttered “wow!” Broadcaster Taylor Twellman gave us 12 variations on “it wasn’t pretty, but it is a win”. And Minnesota sang Wonderwall for the first time in months.

News & Notes

Welcome Back, Man

There are increasing signs of a slightly more normal fall. COVID cases are falling in most countries and most major leagues are gearing up for a return to action in August. Social media is full of training camps from Dingwall and Grenoble to Belgrade and Guayaquil.

College Plan

One place where transmission of COVID-19 is still deeply problematic is right here in the US. While the professional leagues have kicked off with modified structures, college conferences are still mulling their options. Several big football conferences have narrowed their scope to games against regional rivals only. No word yet on if Grizzly Soccer will follow suit, but they do seem keen on making sure you mask up if you come to cheer.

Punjab Ban

There’s no plan yet for India to return to the pitch either, which offers some particularly bad news for Punjab FC. Without any matches for amusement, fans could be watching rosters for some daydream thrills. But that watch got a lot more pointless this month.

Hristan Denkovski, who ended up being much
more expensive than initially thought (Sportskeeda)

Over a year ago, former Punjab FC owner Ranjit Bajaj signed Macedonian Hristijan Denkovski. Denkovski didn’t show so Bajaj ended the contract without paying him. Then Bajaj sold the club, COVID hit, and Denkovski still hadn’t been paid (even though Bajaj and the new owners knew they had to). Now, almost a year later, international judges levied the consequence for not paying someone who never played for you: NO MORE SIGNING ANYONE FOR A YEAR!! I’ll bet there’s another appeal coming, but surely it would’ve been easier to pay the man $18,000 and move on. Instead the club faces the soccer equivalent of having your library card set on fire because you didn’t pay six month of late fees on Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus.

Woman of the Matches

Sure Pål André Helland played a part in every goal against Stromsgødet, and Kevin Molino netted a late winner, but I’m of going to miss the chance to plant myself firmly in the driver seat of the Julie Blaksted Hype Train. Three goals in two games have put the Kvinner in the thick of the early title race

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 15

Thursday, July 16

1:30 Start v. Rosenborg BK (M)

Friday, July 17

9:30 Real Salt Lake v Minnesota United

Saturday, July 18

Sunday, July 19

9:00 Rosenborg BK v. Kolbotn (W)

11:00 Rosenborg BK v. Sandefjord (M)

Monday, July 20

Tuesday, July 21

28. Future Facing

28. Future Facing

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Change is hard.

We’re in a time and a place where just about everyone would give their right arm if we could just “get back to normal.” If we could reset to before the unrest, before the virus, before the last election.

But that’s not what we need. We don’t need to go back. We need to go forward.

Dear Boys,

You can’t prepare for the future by trying to recreate the past

You can see that in the one club that’s still active: Rosenborg Ballklub. No team has won more titles in the men’s or women’s game in Norway. No team has a higher profile, garners more attention, or attracts more talent.

Neither team has been in great form lately. The men scuffled last year and have begun this season decidedly off color. Their last title came just two years ago, but they feel far from championship caliber.

The women, who began play as Trondheim-Orn in 1972, may have dominated the Norwegian soccer scene in the 90’s but it has been a decade since they cracked the top 5. While Lillestrom has grabbed the league by the scruff of the neck, Rosenborg nee Trondheim, might well wish for a chance to go back to their glory days.

But what’s so gratifying is to see the teams push ahead rather than search around behind themselves.

Blakstad celebrates the first of many
(Football.no)

The two players who did the most to shine last week were Emil Konradsen Ceide and Julie Blakstad. Each is only 18 years old. To put that in perspective, if they’d been foreign exchange students: I’d have taught them. Even more in perspective: both they are closer to your age than they are to mine.

That’s as it should be. The focus shouldn’t be on what has been, but on what could be. Ceide and Blakstad are the future of Rosenborg, just as you boys are the future of our family.

Konradsen Ceide (fvn.no)

It can be hard to let go of your own importance, and for every Ceide and Blakstad that rises to the fore, it seems like a veteran player is fading away. To be sure, you can certainly learn a lot from studying the past and respecting those who have gone before you. But that’s not what this is about.

Focusing on the future doesn’t diminish the past. Returning to “normalcy” is only positive if what was “normal” was good for you. Hard as it is to know that my time is passing with every stroke of the keys and tick of the clock, I take comfort in knowing that what comes next will boost you boys into the future.

Week 27: No-Way Norway

Week 27: No-Way Norway

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Scores

Rosenborg BK 1 – 1 Valerenga (M)

Back home with a socially distant crowd and a new chapter to write, Rosenborg looked much more dangerous against Valerenga than they had so far this season. This was due in no small part to Emil Konradsen Ceide’s absolutely stunning grace and intelligence on the ball.

Emil Konradsen Ceide put on his dancing shoes…

That highlight reel is a thing of beauty. His perfect judgement of positioning and angles to draw in defenders and set up the howling Marius Lundemo strike is just a joy to behold.

Oh, yeah, Valerenga scored too to equalize against a still shaky defense, but I’m too busy drooling over Ceide’s skills and smarts to care.

Rosenborg BK v LSK Kvinner (W)

The Toppserien came back this weekend, with Rosenborg’s newly partnered women’s side kicking off against the reigning champions from Lillestrom LSV. Both teams have won the women’s division seven times, but the Trondheim ladies haven’t come close in 15 years.

LSK looked like a championship side on the rainy pitch. Battering at the Rosenborg goal could well have yielded a few more goals than it did, but credit to young Julie Blakstad for a knuckling ball that bashed through the opponent’s hands and into the back of the net for a great equalizer.

Stabaek 0 – 3 Rosenborg BK (M)

The class of the Troll Children started to shine through a little more on Sunday. (Seriously, that’s their nickname. I don’t know how I haven’t used it in every Rosenborg post ever, but here we are.)

They appeared in total control of the game against Stabaek, perhaps none more so than Left Back, Anders Trondsen who inserted himself into two build ups to frazzle the defense and set up the team’s second and third goals. As RBK brings in a few more high profile names and starts to stretch their legs out for more fast paced style, the team has a great chance to build throughout July.

News & Notes

Summer Transfers start to sizzle

After several months of inaction, teams have begun to move players around, particularly now that the first major European league (Germany’s Bundesliga) has closed up shop for the summer.

Freiburg said goodbye to Yoric Ravet, Jerome Gondorf, and Pascal Stenzel, none of whom seemed to factor much in the action this past season. But word that Schalke is sweet on goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow and set to steal him away, might well give Griffins something to worry about.

Meanwhile, the end of the Bundesliga brought great news for Rosenborg, as beloved youth product and international standard midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred leaves Hertha Berlin to rejoin his home town club. (That caption above reads “Per is back where he calls home”) It’s particularly valuable as Marius Lundemo prepares to head off for sunny Cyprus and the team needs a new central pivot for their attack.

Loons take flight…?

Here in the US, Major League Soccer is due to restart tomorrow…except…

So, America isn’t really a functional society right now. We’re a too divided and mad at each other to do the basic things and make the basic sacrifices that Norway and Germany did already. Instead of testing like crazy in Germany, only the lines to get tested are crazy. Instead of social distanced everything like in Norway, we have people partying up on top of each other.

And so, one team has already been removed from the tournament due to positive test results, and a warm up match against an opponent was cancelled. So…maybe we have a game on Sunday, or maybe we see it all come crashing to a halt…again.

Man of the Matches

He didn’t score. He didn’t factor in to the cruising win at Staebek, but my goodness, I think I’m in love with Emil Konradsen Ceide.

Emil Konradsen Ceide

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 8

Thursday, July 9

Friday, July 10

Saturday, July 11

7:00 AM Lyn Football v. Rosenborg BK (W)

1:30 PM Rosenborg BK v Stromsgodset (M)

Sunday, July 12

7:00 PM Sporting KC v. Minnesota United

Monday, July 13

Tuesday, July 7

27. Looking for Leaders

27. Looking for Leaders

by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

You’re too young for it now, but you will in time become obsessed with Star Wars. So it has been for me, your mother, your uncles, just about everybody at one time or another. While I don’t love it like I used to, I will always remember one key line.

(Magic Quote, from Star Wars IV: A New Hope by George Lucas)

That scene pokes fun at those who doubt and deride others without taking up the mantle of leadership themselves. But it applies to lots of us, every day, in different ways. In these uncertain times, we look to leaders for guidance. But how do we know leaders from fools?

Leadership without accountability is just authority.

I think you can see this illustrated in two of our favorite clubs.

First, there’s SC Freiburg: the Baden-Wuttermburg based workhorses of Germany. With little capital and only a light dusting of history, they have become genuine contenders to represent the best that German football has to offer. And at the center of that is the coach, Christian Streich.

Streich in stride (Daily Mail)

Streich doesn’t cut a striking figure or command attention. He leads through honesty, and introspection. He thinks big thoughts and asks big questions, not just about X’s and O’s but of how he and soccer contribute to modern challenges, and what they can do to address them.

Streich could, like other coaches, fixate on the next game and shut out everything else. But he doesn’t. He invites dialogue, not obedience. He questions his place, and the place of soccer as part of our world: not life/death, not all/nothing, just part of the whole. Being accountable as a coach, and a person breeds the trust that builds a team and begets leadership. He models accountability beyond the sideline, and in life itself.

Then, there’s Eirik Horneland. He who was given the keys to the kingdom at Rosenborg Ballklub and promptly dropped them down the garbage disposal.

Horneland heads home (Dagblad.com)

I mock, but truthfully, Horneland is the other side of accountability. Things have not gone as Rosenborg wants or expects. Horneland could have done many things. He could have deflected. He could have huffed, puffed, and thrown players, management, or officials under the proverbial bus. He could have, but he didn’t.

“er det naturlig at jeg som øverste sportslig ansvarlig i RBK må ta ansvaret for manglende sportslig fremgang,”

It is natural that I , as the top sports director at RBK, must take responsibility for the lack of team progress

Eirick Horneland

That is everything. Horneland was held responsible, and he held himself responsible. He was held accountable, and he accepted it.

If the world was perfect, you boys would always be Streichs. You’d work hard, do well, and, by all accounts, deserve to be rewarded. But that is not the world. Sometimes, you will work hard, struggle, and, by all accounts, deserve to lose what you work for. You will have times when you are Hornelands. You may be full of hope, ideals, and exciting opportunities. But it may all wind up in that garbage disposal.

(Clay Bennett, Chattanooga Times Free Press)

I say this because, right now, America has a leader without accountability. A leader who sees everything he does as right, and every critique of him as cruel. A leader who insists on dividing our community as we cry out for unity. In short, we have a fool. A man who likes the authority of his office, and eschews the accountability.

So, absent that figure in our public consciousness, I bring up these two coaches, both of whom lead, both are held accountable, and both respect that they don’t just have a position of authority, they have a position of leadership.