Week 26: Auf Weidersein and Velkommen

June 29, 2020June 29, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Scores

Rosenborg BK 2 – Bodo/Glimt 3 (M)

This. Was. Epic. This match had everything. Captain Tor Reginussen digging the team an early hole with a silly foul in the box. A studs up challenge eliciting a straight red card for Birger Meling leaving us all to believe that RBK was doomed.

UNTIL….a pair of meticulously placed crosses unsettled Bodo/Glimt, witnessed a screaming volley from Anders Trondsen, and gave Rosenborg an unlikely lead with only 8 minutes to play, at home. Leaving us all to believe that RBK was a lock.

UNTIL….a pair of clinical passes slipped between an outnumbered and overwhelmed RBK back line. Meaning that Bodo/Glimt took the win, and Rosenborg coach Eirik Horneland headed for an exit of his own (see news).

SC Freiburg 4 – Schalke 0 (M)

In their last match of the year, Freiburg turned in a fabulous performance that emphasized how close they are to the next tier of Bundesliga sides. While Schalke has more resources, more recent history and a higher profile coach (hi former US International David Wagner!), they hadn’t won in 15 games, and Freiburg made it 16.

It’s hard to pick out my favorite part: two strong goals from Gian-Luca Waldschmit, two stellar assists from Christian Gunter to go along with his usual solid play at fullback, Vincenzo Grifo with another pin point pass to set up a goal. All in all the number of times you hear the wordless chorus to “I Will Survive” ensures it will be in your head until next season kicks off.

Frankfurt 0 – SC Freiburg 2

Saving the best for last, the ladies Bundesliga finished a day after the menfolk. And again, Freiburg has plenty of reason for hope. Sure Klara Buhl will take her talismanic ways to Bayern Munich, but Hasret Kayikci’s second goal in as many games means that the Lady Griffins end the year having won four of their last six. (I can’t find any highlights, so lets just enjoy the I will survive chorus a couple more times!)

Brann 1 – Rosenborg BK 2 (M)

Rosenborg got their first win of the season, but still made it interesting. Conceding painfully early to Brann gave them plenty to worry about, and Samuel Adegbenro’s early injury left them without their most dynamic play maker. But perhaps they just needed the pressure on.

As with the come back against Bodo/Glimt, Rosenborg again scored late and often. First a sweet end of the half strike from Even Haland tied the game. Then, a bonkers 90th minute deflected chip from Carlo Holse stole the points from Brann.

News & Notes

Horneland gets the hook

Eirik Horneland had built a bit of a reputation for stylish and attractive football over three seasons with FK Haugesaund. But that didn’t quite translate to Trondheim.

Horneland heads for the exit.
From Ole Martin World (Dagbladet)

Last January he was appointed to take over the title holders after the man who saw them to three titles and several double wins (taking both the title and the single elimination cup) Kare Ingibritsen. Ingibritsen’s excellent record in Norway won him more chances in Europe. (sidebar: Ingibritsen should be careful what he wishes for. After dominating Norway, his Dutch side barely ducked relegation, he was lured to mercurial Cyprus giant Apoel, and got dumped after just 45 days…their 11th manager in 7 years. Wanna come home Kare?)

The hopes that Horneland could duplicate the meteoric rise have turned much more into a asteroid-falling-from-the-sky kind of effect. After squeaking into the top 3 last year, this season began with strong but unsuccessful efforts leaving the giants of the league rooted to the bottom, 13th in a league of 16. The win over Brann boosted them to tenth, and there’s much more to play.

Deutschland, Deutschland, over already…

Grateful as we are for the Bundesliga leading the way for teams and leagues to return to action, we knew it meant they would be the first ones finished with their season. Still, Freiburg gave us some great football to enjoy while they were back.

They Ladies may have finished just below mid-table and far off the pace of VfL Wolfsburg, but they clearly played their best games of the season after the restart, and are just a short summer training session away from building on the momentum again.

Streich on side
(Robin Rudel for Pressefoto)

Meanwhile the men’s side seems to be on the verge of something special. This is not a team that can/will be satisfied with surviving the league any more. With Christian Streich re-signed and a squad strong enough to draw attention of big European sides, there’s lots of reason for optimism in the summer ahead.

Man of the Matches

No doubt about it Christian Gunter was critical to the superlative showing by Freiburg over the weekend. He may not always get two assists, but he has been invaluable in solidifying the boys from the Black Forest during the return to play.

What’s Next

Wednesday, July 1

1:30 Rosenborg BK v. Valerenga (M)

Thursday, July 2

Friday, July 3

12:45 Rosenborg BK v LSV Kvinner

Saturday, July 4

Sunday, July 5

1:30 Stabaek v Rosenborg BK (M)

Monday, July 6

Tuesday, July 7

26. Silence the Roar

June 24, 2020June 24, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

In soccer, as in most things, the rush of a crowd’s support is a special type of thrill.

Professional athletes know this. There are plenty of trite claims about the roar of the crowd or effect of the fans like an extra player. But it’s true. An audience can inspire greatness. It does it for amateurs and in other arenas too. My biggest audiences–a couple dozen parents at ten year old soccer finals, a few hundred at a school play, thousands of neighbors strung along a 26 mile marathon course–certainly had an effect on me. I felt bolder, braver. Every kick or joke or stride brought a jolt of excitement and purpose.

Marathon Sunday (from City of Minneapolis)

But we must do without crowds in the age of pandemic. It is strange to see players playing their trade in front of a sea of empty seats. Many leagues have turned to ambient match sounds to replace the cavernous echoing thump of cleat against ball.

Still there’s something to appreciate in the absence of crowds and something to avoid in their presence. Despite the excitement that comes with being the center of attention, never confuse a crowd’s approval with your virtue.

Think of Vozdovac, where fans have been back at stadia for three weeks (despite serious health professional opposition–because Serbia).

Racist symbols at Rad (from Linglong Superliga Youtube)

In the three matches where fans were present, we have several highlights of fan sections adorned with far right racist symbols: Celtic crosses, Confederate stars and bars, Reichskriegsflagge. While I loved seeing those behind the confederate flag go silent after a goal, I know that Vozdovac’s Invalid section use similar imagery.

That makes cringe. It also reminds me that crowds create corrupted logic. The entire stadium is a crowd. The fans use the flags. The club tolerates them. The players build affinity for supporters and their symbols. It all creates a vicious circle.

The acceptance by all parties at a stadium makes it okay to wave symbols of hate, which makes more people fly it, which makes it easier to accept. The crowd has created a mass delusion that racist symbolism is fine, because its theirs and the crowd validates them.

Those same cycles occur in our own neighborhoods as well.

Hundreds of protesters have torn down monuments to vile, bigoted, people. Statues that honor those who pillaged, murdered, enslaved, and belittled people of color deserve to come down and I’m glad they did. However, the image of toppling statues to cheers can invite a generalized belief that such grand actions do good on their own. Across the St. Croix river, Wisconsinites angry at an unjust arrest tore down sympathetic statues. They didn’t have reasons why. The anger of the crowd vindicated these illogical actions which incite more anger, which leads to more illogical actions.

These muddled motivations are nothing next to those who defend the racist symbols. That includes our president who called statues of slave holders, military bases named after traitors, and symbols of racial animosity “our beautiful heritage.” (Just to make this clear: Serbian football fans aren’t advocating for a more agrarian society and decentralized government…they know it’s a racist symbol, that’s why they like it.)

If all you want is applause, what you do to get it says a lot about you. (From the Oklahoman)

Again, the crowd corrupts the logic. A group that wants so badly to be different than the protesters ends up defending an indefensible target. A man who thrives on the applause of others lauds the inane logic, breeding more distrust and enmity because the cycle of cruelty, to a cheering crowd, to cruelty continues without end.

A group of politically engaged citizens, protesters, or soccer fans is not, by itself, a dangerous group. But confusing the collection of people with the confirmation of righteousness is dangerous. Crowds aren’t bad. What we do to join, to animate, or to earn the praise of a crowd is.

As a counterpoint to Serbian Hooligans and racist dogwhistles, consider Vincenzo Grifo from Freiburg. He has long been a top tier player, thriving on big Bundesliga stages, and appearing for the elite Italian national team.

Now, even in empty stadia he continues to do his best. Among all the empty stands, he know who he is and loves what he does. He doesn’t need a crowd to spur him on, and one goal suggests why.

Consider the curling wonderstrike against Hertha Berlin. At a moment where many players might use the crowd to urge them on, the absence of support might mute your performance. Not so Grifo. He stands tall, delivers a great goal, and then runs to the nearest camera. He screams a greeting to his family and hometown. Even with an empty stadium, the inspiration and encouragement exists in his heart, his history, something far beyond a few thousand fans on a Friday night.

Grifo doesn’t need a crowd to do great things, and neither do you. By all means, enjoy a crowd, revel in the roar. Just don’t conflate a crowd with correctness.

Week 25: Welcome back Norway, Bye-bye Serbia

June 23, 2020June 23, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Scores

Rosenborg BK 0 v. Kristiansund 0 (M)

It was a great day at Lerkendal stadium. The sun was shining. The drone footage was captivating. The players were reunited.

Eric Pal Helland not scoring and Samuel Adebengro’s individual runs going to waste were after thoughts. The Eliteserien is back and we are grateful.

Here’s hoping the video from Norway works

SC Freiburg 2 v. Hertha Berlin 1 (M)

Coming off a draw that buoyed their chances for Europe, Freiburg got a vital victory to move in to keep the pressure on Hoffenheim.

After a raft of great opportunities went lacking in the first half, an absolute thunder crack from Vincenzo Grifo put the Griffins ahead (after video review had spared them giving up a thundering shot at the other end). After a foolish stumble gave the lead back, Nils Petersen again scored the kind of goal that older brothers use to domineer their little brothers all the time. Some goals are beautiful, some aren’t. They all count.

SC Freiburg 0 v. VfL Wolfsburg 2

Watching Wolfsburg play in the Women’s Bundesliga is a little like watching Duke basketball play in the Montana High School League. It’s the same game, and every opponent can have a good stretch, but the outcome is rarely if ever in doubt.

So Freiburg’s loss isn’t remarkable, but the fact that they held the champs to two goals, for the first time since a November draw against Bayern and only the fourth team all year to hold them under 3 (Bayern, FC Twente in the Womn’s Champions League and SC Sand on opening day). But despite a few solid goal scoring chances, it was Wolfsburg’s day dominating in the opposing box.

FK Vozdovac 1 v. FK Radnik Surdulica 1

Clearly feeling themselves in the midst of a fine run of form, the Red Dragons fired at Radnik Surdulica early and often. Seemingly every inch of space invited a shot, and while many had the look of Goalazos the ice breaker turned out to be a solid headed redirection with Lazar Zlicic elevating to nod in the aggressive attacking defender and captain, Nikola Mikic. The first goal seemed only to whet Zlicic’s appetite with his blasts coming faster and faster as the match wore on.

When Vozdovac failed to push in a free kick that seemed to run along the entire length of the goal line, Radnik capitalized. A straightforward cross could have been easily cleared, but Nemanja Pejcinovic’s foot angled toward goal and the gift was given and the points were shared.

Bayern Munich 3 v SC Freiburg 1 (M)

Munich had won another title so they didn’t have much reason to try in this match. But they are Bayern Munich, so, of course, they did. Robert Lewandowski did what he always does: score goals. A great run by Jonathan Schmid and a well placed tap-in from Lucas Holer gave us a little hope, but…it wasn’t to be.

That result, combined with Hoffenhiem’s win over Union Berlin ended any remaining daydreams of Europe for Christian Streich and company. But that’s all the more reason to start dreaming about next year!

Molde 1 v. Rosenborg BK 0 (M)

The reigning champions versus the eternal champions set up a rather tasty early fixture on the Eliteserien schedule. Molde wasn’t about to let the chance to bring fans into the stands go to waste, as for the first time outside Serbia we could hear timely, topical cheering (mercifully without the neo-nazi undertones).

The two sides showed their class in a pacy, back and forth match. Each side had clear cut opportunities, each had some urgent defensive lapses. In the end, the result hinged on two players. First, there was the rampaging class of Molde’s Ohi Omoijufano who seemed as confounding for Rosenborg as Minnesota’s maintenance of Lutefisk is for regular Norwegians. Second the lucky bounces of the ball from off Ola Brynhildsen, off keeper Andre Hansen back off Brynhildsen and finally off the post to deny Molde a second.

SC Freiburg 1 v. SGS Essen 2

The women from Freiburg had hopes of returning to winning ways, but it wasn’t to be against the side from Essen. The ominous omen for the rest of the match had to be Hasret Kayikci’s golden chance in the opening moments. Alone against the keeper Kayikci whiffed on her shot and may have earned some blooper music too.

Essen seemed to control the match the rest of the way, not withstanding a Janina Minge goal that bounced perfectly between the opposing keeper’s legs to remove some of the sting for Freiburg’s faithful.

Another attempted video upload, this time from the German Federation proper

News & Notes

FK Vozdovac wraps up

Ending much later than anyone anticipated, the Serbian league ended as it so often does: with Red Star Belgrade triumphant, Partizan Belgrade right behind them, and FK Vozdovac back in the distance.

While it may not have ended in hard ware, the comeback from an abysmal February to a respectable mid-table finish seems promising for the Red Dragons, and we hope that there’s more good news ahead.

Warriors Lose Starlet to Odisha FC

The awesome writers at the Away End, particularly the great and good Nehal are always our go to spot for info on the Indian game. This week the news was less than good. 17 year-old Thoiba Singh Moirangthem has left the Northwest. Though he wasn’t a permanent starter in Punjab, Moirangthem has the kind of potential you have to dream on. Or, if you’re a lower division club, sell on to try to keep yourself afloat during a pandemic.

Rosenborg add the Golden Boot Winner

Torgeir Borven lit up the Eliteserien for Odd last year, striking 21 times to top all players. That performance earned him a step up in profile and a move to the higher profile RBK to boot. He’ll start in August

Velkommen, Torgeir! #Børven2022 pic.twitter.com/zdHltlEuPD
— Rosenborg Ballklub (@RBKfotball) June 17, 2020

Man of the Matches

While I’m tempted to name a Red Dragon as a parting gift, or a Rosenborger as a welcome back present, we can’t keep ignoring Vincenzo Grifo. With the Griffins, Grifo has done it all to boost them back into Europe. Powerful spot kicks, masterful distributing, without him there was every reason to fear a slide toward relegation. Instead, we got the thrilling final month. (He even took a break in being awesome to say hi to his hometown) Grazi Vincenzo.

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 24

Thursday, June 25

1:30 Rosenborg BK v. Bodo/Glimt (M)

Friday, June 26

Saturday, June 27

8:30 SC Freiburg v Schalke 04 (M)

Sunday, June 28

7:00 Frankfurt v. SC Freiburg

1:30 Brann v Rosenborg BK (M)

Monday, June 29

Tuesday, June 30

25. Amazing Grace

June 18, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

My friend Aly once broke it down for me like this: “you’re a cis-hetero, upper middle class, educated white guy. If life were a video game, you’d be playing it on easy mode.”

That can be a little hard to hear but it’s true for me, and it may turn out to be true for you too. To be fair, at your age it’s not clear if your genders are more fluid, or your orientations are different, or where your education and careers will take you. But make no mistake, the comfort and prominence of being white has made and will make your life easier

And yet, if you’re anything like me, you will run into people who invite you to “take it easy” or cut others who look like us “some slack”.

Right now there’s a lot to do. As the protests fade into the background it’s easier and easier to let go of lofty goals and abandon your expectations. Easier still to ridicule and disparage people who take a break.

Even with all the pressure, stress, and big fights to fight, you shouldn’t take it easy. Even when someone who looks like you, sounds like you and pleads that they meant well, or were raised at a different time, and so would appreciate a little slack, be wary before you agree.

Life is easy enough already and white guys have more than our share of slack as it is.

Don’t take it easy, don’t cut people a ton of slack, but do extend yourself and others a little grace.

To some, these may sound like distinctions without a difference. Ease, slack, grace. All speak to comfort and a break from struggle. So why applaud one and avoid the others?

Taking it easy excuses yourself from the work that must be done. Cutting slack lowers expectations for some while others keep striving. Extending grace asks us to appreciate the humanity in others while holding firm expectations for what will be done and how it will be done.

As a teacher, I often need to do this for students. If a kid doesn’t do an assignment, we could take it easy and cancel the assignment, we could cut some slack and grade it with the notion that this is the best they could do, or we could extend grace, offer support and sympathy, then set a plan for completing the full assignment.

There is another alternative of course: be a jerk and tell them they’re wrong. It’s a popular choice for some. It comes along with an inflated sense of righteousness and a diminished view of other people. It can feel good to tell people who fall short just how far they are from adequate. But that’s as far away from grace as you can get.

Or consider sports, players are coming back to training, but few if any are as crisp and sharp as they might have been otherwise. Now is not the time to berate or demean them as failures, nor is it the time to pat them on the head and provide a participation trophy.

Instead we can extend some grace. So if/when they miss an open netter (Rosenborg) , flub a great opportunity to cross (Freiburg), or get caught ball watching as an opponent slices up the defense (Vozdovac), we neither rage nor shrug. We remember these are people. They have families at risk for a rampant disease and their job puts them at extra risk. The world is often on fire and friends, loved ones, or neighbors, might be in harm’s way. By extending a little grace we keep things in perspective, appreciate where they are now and stay focused on where we hope to go.

I live my life on easy mode. I have the luxury and privilege of doing so. For a long time I’ve bemoaned every failure and loathed each short coming. While others encourage me to take it easy or cut myself some slack, I would respectfully say no. I have a lot to do. I can and should do it as well as possible. But I can extend grace and recognize that I am here now, I have done my best, and I can do better.

I’m not saying I’ve done it right, or that I’ve done it at all. But with a little grace I know I’ve done my best today, and I’ll strive to do better tomorrow.

Week 24: So Much News

June 15, 2020June 16, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Scores

Rad Beograd 0 – FK Vozdovac 2

It might be the scheduling, it might be the refreshing pandemic break, whatever it is, it’s working for the Red Dragons

After 6 games without a point, Vozdovac has won 3 in a row. They vaulted two spots up the standings, with the best performance of any Belgrade team since the restart. (Their 3 opponents stood, 16th, 12th, and 15th in the 16 team Super Liga, but they still are in the Super Liga)

The derby with Rad was marked with typical Serbian League struggle. The home team looked imperious, only for some sterling defensive work to save the day. Some bitter exchanges climax in a red card (this time for Rad’s Veljko Trifunovic who made a stupid stomp even more ridiculous with the biggest “come at me bro” body language outside your local frat house). Vozdovac made their advantage count with two goals in the next half hour as Stefan Hajdin slapped in a low bouncer and Dragan Stoisavljevic finished a beautiful team goal made sweeter by coming right in front of a Confederate flag. (Screw you systemic racism, and screw you Rad Beograd.)

Next Saturday, Vozdovac wraps up their season at home. Next season is secure, and Europe is too far off. But another win would be a great vote of confidence going into the summer.

(M) Wolfsburg 2 – Freiburg 2

When you give up 4 goals in 30 minutes, you need a lot of things to salvage a point. Two overturned goals and a pair of sterling finishes gave SC Freiburg exactly that in their do-or-die tilt for Europe on Saturday.

The Wolves could have sealed a victory early on, but Daniel Ginczec’s rotten luck saw two of Wolfsburg four twine ticklers get pulled back, while gargantuan Dutchman Wout Weghorst capitalized first on a volley and then on a penalty that played a part in cancelling out one of the goals.

The reprieve was reason enough for Freiburg to come back with a sterling second half. Lucas Holer’s diving header from Vincent Grifo’s cross pulled one back before the break, and Roland Sallai’s looping chip of a header won the point.

The draw kept Freiburg’s hopes of a spot in next year’s Europa League alive for now. Given the strength of the German league right now, the team need only reach 7th to go gallivanting about on a Eurail pass. Right now Hoffenheim has that spot, 1 point clear with three to play. Both sides have one likely L in the offing (against Bayern Munich and Dortmund). Hoffenheim plays the teams that are lower on the table (Union Berlin & Augsburg) while Freiburg have the teams in worse form (including Schalke with 1 point in their last 5). There’s a kind of trophy to be had in this weird season after all.

SC Freiburg 6 – FC Koln 1

Another week, another six goal shellacking by the women of SC Freiburg who, in 8 days, went from -14 goals to -3.

Our favorite wündermadchen, Klara Bühl scored again, but the battle to replace her saw Naomi Megroz score twice (I’d love to give more details, but I can’t seem to track down highlights).

To temper our joy, the Griffins have League leading Wolfsburg next. A team that let in 6 goals over the first six months of the campaign and skunked Freiburg 8-0 IN Freiburg last fall. If they rack up 6 on Wolfsburg, I will do the Gangnam Style dance for 90 minutes.

News & Notes

Best. Move. Ever.

Yoric Ravet is officially the first player to jump from one of our family teams (Freiburg) to another (Grenoble). Though he hasn’t seen the pitch for Freiburg this year, and only factored on the team sheet three times as a substitute, he has a strong history lighting up both Swiss and second division French football. The move will see him return to his first club, Grenoble, and hopefully give the French side a much needed offensive boost. (His twitter feed is a bit out of date, but the plethora of Grenoble cheering tweets will warm your heart)

Loons drawn into local crew

Last week I mentioned that Minnesota United would join a mini-tournament in Orlando. They now know their fate: facing fellow mountain/Midwest sides Salt Lake City, Colorado, and Kansas City. Given the friendly rivalry with KC and the barely restrained animosity with Colorado, this could get interesting.

Staggies Shuffle the Deck

Ferguson (L) and Kettlewell (R) planning
their next stratagem. (The Scotsman)

After two years, a cup title, promotion, and survival in the top league, Ross County have made some changes. Steven Ferguson leaves the technical area to be the club’s chief executive, covering signings as well as academy plans. Stuart Kettlewell takes some control of the first team while veteran midfielder Don Cowie retirés to join the coaching staff and captain Marcus Fraser moves on to new pastures after turning down a County contract.

Legon Cities Eyes the Axe

With a six week restart still required and a lot of the season left to play, Legon Cities and a number of other sides in Ghana seem to prefer cancelling the remaining season and starting afresh in the fall. Whether or not the local federation would approve with the tv money at risk and a battered reputation to clean up, remains to be seen.

Man of the Matches

Give some credit where it is well due, even without scoring a goal, Vazdovac defender Nikola Mikic made all the right moves under the floodlights in Belgrade. He broke up early goal scoring opportunities, added pressure to unnerve big runs and kept his team calm while Rad broke down in dissent with the officials and frustration with each other. Hat tip to you Nikola.

Nikola Mikic rocking scarves and beards with pride

What’s Next

Tuesday, June 16

11:00 Rosenborg BK v. Kristiansund (M)

1:30 SC Freiburg v Hertha Berlin (M)

Wednesday, June 17

7:00 SC Freiburg v. VfL Wolfsburg

Thursday, June 18

Friday, June 19

Saturday, June 20

8:30 Bayern Munich v SC Freiburg (M)

11:00 FK Vozdovac v. FK Radnik Surdulica

1:30 Molde v. Rosenborg BK (M)

Sunday, June 21

7:00 AM SC Freiburg v. FC Koln

Monday, June 22

Tuesday, June 23

24. Stick to Society

June 11, 2020June 12, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been focused almost entirely on talking to you about the serious work to be done confronting systemic racism, and working to dismantle it. And yet, I also work in references to and lessons from sports.

That might seem incongruous. Serious issues deserve serious consideration, and sports is anything but serious. These are children’s games being played for the amusement of the masses. Some wonder if the distraction of sports would allow us to pursue the change we have to make.

They have a point that Nancy Armour sums up well. Too often we flip past the dire news of death, destruction, and dehumanization in favor of a quick recap of the days scores and highlights. We shouldn’t be consumed with sports.

Always smile when I think of George and Timothy Weah.

But we also need to remember that without solace, entertainment, or amusement we wouldn’t have the capacity to keep working as we do. Taking a break from the protest, even for five minutes to talk about who scored a screamer or how to contain a problem like Bayern Munich, isn’t selfish, it’s a momentary act of self-care, one that can lighten a heavy heart and give us a new way to see things. Some people find that in art, some in music, and you can see it in sports too.

Of course, there are those who bemoan using sports for anything more than the distraction it provides. There are people who want to safe-harbor of sports to shield them from the stormy world beyond. You’ll recognize them groaning every time an athlete says more than “you know, you gotta play as a team” or “we just gave it our all.” If they have the temerity to speak up, or speak out, there’s major frustration all encapsulated by the phrase “stick to sports”.

Ben Shapiro is mad that he can't watch sports anymore because there's too much "politics" in it: "My place of comfort has been removed from me" pic.twitter.com/Y73ZfTRHvf
— Jason S. Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) June 8, 2020

But sports have always been political because life is always political.

Sports were political in 1936 when Adolf Hitler tried to assert the dominance of the white race only for Jesse Owens to crush the Aryan champions and the world records.

Sports were political in 1947 when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and Pee Wee Reese stood beside him in front of every hostile stadium. (As well as in 1901 when Charlie Grant tried to play, only to be abandoned by manager John McGraw when things got tough.)

Tiny little green armbands incurred the Ayatollah’s anger

Sports were political in 1968 when when Tommie Smith and John Carlos held up black power fists to show their pride after winning medals, and in 1972 when terrorists attacked Israeli athletes at the games in Munich. It was political when countries boycotted competitions out of political animosity, and when players who came out as gay were blackballed from competition. When Charles Barkley said, “I am not a role model”, and Michael Jordan said, “Republicans buy sneakers too,” and we all rallied around the New York Yankees after 9/11, and when players on Iran’s national team were briefly banned for supporting democracy, and when North Korea’s team reported torture after losing in the world cup.

Sports are political because life is political. Asking athletes to not share opinions and simply amuse you is like asking people to shut off one part of their humanity. Asking anyone, especially people of color, to stop being human is absolutely the problem.

You thought I would 🤐! Yeah ooook. 🙏🏾💪🏾✊🏾👑 #blacklifematters🖤 @uninterrupted pic.twitter.com/aUxlvDJDp8
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 5, 2020

So, don’t stick to sports. If you stick to sports, you succumb to the distractions and abandon the work we have to do. If you stick to sports, or demand that athletes do the same, you are complicit in dehumanizing others.

Stick to society. Share sports in a society, where we unite and cheer and are inspired to get back to work. Use sports as a tool to understand society, dig deeper, and explore our common humanity. In particular, remember that those who play, and amaze, and engage our sports-loving minds, aren’t just there to amuse us. They don’t serve us. They’re part of our society. Listen to the opinions they share, and go from there.

Week 23: How ‘Bout that Then?

June 9, 2020June 10, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Scores

(M) SC Freiburg 1 – Borussia Munchengladbach 0

For the first time in months, I actually had the capacity to sit and watch a match from start to finish. Thank you, Bundesliga for scheduling Friday naptime games .

The Griffins didn’t disappoint, once again bringing their best against a top tier team. Gladbach’s attack put the defense on the wrong foot and again Alexander Schwolow was called upon to cover more space than your average cell phone network. The attack had several fine chances, but couldn’t seem to make the final connection between Vincent Grifo and Gian-Luca Waldschmit.

So it fell to Nils Petersen to again play super sub and again he obliged with another blistering header past the goalkeeper to provide the only goal that Freiburg needed (particularly as some silly behavior from Alassane Plea earned him two red cards and limited Gladbach’s resources.

It was an excellent win made even sweeter by being able to watch it myself.

FK Vozdovac 1 – Napredak 0

Two in a row! FK Vozdovac has vaulted up the Boot Room Table to 8th place and it was never particularly close.

With a surplus of opportunities against an uncertain Napredak, the Red Dragons (who are again wearing blue…which I still don’t understand) seemed to only need enough time to make it count. And count it did in the 74th minute when a seeming corner kick clearance lulled Napredak into a sense of comfort, only for a second ball to return to Jovan Nisic whose long cross was volleyed home by former Partisan striker Aleksa Jankovic.

Jankovic’s shot was the kind of rattling blast that came from nowhere and left the opponents flat footed. A little like an unexpected goal from the back line on your foosball table. As an added perk, fans were let in to the stadium to provide a special touch of dynamic ambiance to the affair.

SC Freiburg 6 – USV Jena 0

Okay, to be fair, USV Jena is at the bottom of the Women’s Bundesliga. They’ve only managed two draws all year. They’ve let in 6 goals in three of their last four matches.

To be unfair: WHOOOOO HOOOOOO! 6 Goals! A brace from young Janina Minge!! We’ve got backups to Klara Buhl!!!

Freiburg’s onslaught has certainly boosted their profile, taking a jumbled mid table and making all the more dramatic with 4th through 7th separated by only 5 points. This might be the start of a big spurt, but with one week to go tot he big battle with top of the table Wolfsburg (who likely won’t end up with the same bickering backline as USV Jena), there’s no time to let up.

News & Notes

Rosenborg Win’s Alex’s Affections

One benefit of being a little bit behind in publishing this is that Alex got a chance to see my phone chime with news of another friendly goal for Rosenborg BK. A few taps later he was watching delightedly as the camera panned around Lerkendal Stadion, and he said (honest to god) “I wish you could take me there”.

So congrats Rosenborg, the kid’s on board.

Loons prepare to fly south

While I usually have about as much sympathy for the billion/million-aire club owners as a treetop has for a hungry brontosaurus, I have to admit this is a tricky time to run a team, let alone a league.

You can only make money if you have games, you can only have games if you have players, but putting players together in a space risks illness and worse. But, if you don’t have games, the players don’t get paid. And, with all of this, you have fans who both want you to come back for their entertainment and need you to stay away to avoid taking away resources.

Unclear where this giant rodent will play

So Major League Soccer here in the states lit on a plan to take all 26 teams down to Orlando Florida for a mini-tournament, that both gives them the chance to make some money while only inconveniencing the Walt Disney Corporation (which…hey..that’s okay too). Exact terms of the contest are due to come out in the coming days, but it’s nice to know plans are in place. (It will be awkward that the NBA will also be at Disney World…but maybe we can get a great set of inter-league pranks going.)

Woman of the Matches

Torn again between all the strong Freiburgian showings I have to tip the cap to Alexander Schwolow again. At a time when his defense has been shaky, he’s showed up ready to defend the goal to the last drop of his strength.

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 10

Thursday, June 11

Friday, June 12

1:00 PM Rad Beograd v. FK Vozdovac

Saturday, June 13

8:30 AM Wolfsburg v. Freiburg (M)

Sunday, June 14

7:00 AM SC Freiburg v. FC Koln

Monday, June 15

Tuesday, June 16

1:30 SC Freiburg v. Hertha Berlin (M)

23. Ask to Help

June 4, 2020June 5, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Dear Boys,

After the last three months, I know you can see the ways that life will be hard for you. Rarely have we had as long or as unsettling a series of experiences as we have had in 2020. While you are insulated from most of it now by your age, your sex, your family’s financial status, and your innocent age, I know that you’ve gathered some of the pressure that’s on your parents, grandparents, and neighbors every day.

At times like these the pressure often pushes us to do one of a few things: look outward to find someone to blame, or look inward for support. Please, please, please boys look inside yourselves and ask “how can I help?” as often as possible.

In the last week, our neighborhood has been on fire, our block has teemed with men and women carrying guns, our streets have been covered with heavy duty army grade equipment. I know you loved the sight of so many different trucks, Alex, but I also know that you saw your mama and I looking stricken, confused, and worried. Owen, I’m sure you could feel the anxiety in our arms and urgency in our whispers.

But more than think about what has happened or assigning blame for why, what matters now is helping with doing something next. This is where sports provide us with a reflection on life.

When things go wrong, some players ask who’s to blame. They turn around and point fingers and demand that others change to serve them. Think about the best goalie in American soccer history: Hope Solo.

Solo was excellent for the Women’s National Team, and she knew it. If the team won, it was because she was great. If the team lost, she often put the onus on dirty playing opponents or incompetent teammates and coaches. In particular, she lambasted her predecessor (and Minnesotan Soccer saint) Briana Scurry after a 4-0 loss.

Some people will tell you that such focus and ego is essential to being an all-time great. That may be true. Certainly Solo is an all-time legend. But sports, especially soccer, like life, isn’t about your own individual greatness, it’s about the community around you.

The most dominant player today…and Lionel Messi.

Consider the two players named the best in the world last fall: Lionel Messi and Megan Rapinoe. Each is excellent sure, and certainly, each has an ego. Messi’s competitiveness is legendary, but his memory for failure is short. He has the most goals in the history of Spanish football, he also has the most assists, providing opportunities for others and making his team (like himself) successful.

Likewise, Rapinoe is a dominant, tenacious competitor. Likewise she can be an imperious goal scorer and a tremendous distributor. But unlike the antagonistic Solo, or the quiet Messi, Rapinoe still speaks up, but does so to promote and support, rather than to diminish or blame.

She knelt to oppose police violence when no other women or white athletes were taking such a position. She questioned the expectation that her team celebrate with a divisive and crude leader. She repeatedly risks her own income to emphasize equal pay for all the women on the team. Rapinoe doesn’t just focus on her own greatness, she works for a greater society for all.

We could take this time to think about ourselves. But our discomfort doesn’t come from the peaceful protesters who camped out on our yards on Monday, or the frustrated few who broke things across the river last week.

It’s not something that the mayor, the police chief, the governor or even the president could control, and we shouldn’t waste time parceling out responsibility to them.

Even the officer, whose callous indifference to cries for help cost George Floyd his life, doesn’t shoulder the blame for our unease. We weren’t physically harmed by him and our unease is nothing compared to the Floyd family’s loss. He is simply the embodiment of a larger, heavier, inescapable system that fostered a belief that what he chose to do was right. It’s the system that makes us uneasy, and all the people, organizations, and inner voices we want to fight against that cause us this conflict.

Rather than assigning blame and absolving ourselves, like Hope Solo or our All-of-the-Credit-None-of-the-responsibility president, we can take this moment to ask how can we help. We can give, we can volunteer, we can agitate and advocate. We can assist others like Messi, we can fight for change like Rapinoe. And if you’re not sure what to do, start by asking “how can I help”, then do the needful.

Boys Talk: May

June 1, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

In which you boys share thoughts about the first leagues back, and mom jumps in too.

Week 22: Back but Brutal

June 1, 2020June 1, 2020 by scruffyrube ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Scores

(M) Eintracht Frankfurt 3- SC Freiburg 3

More games against the bottom sides in the Bundesliga = more trouble for Freiburg.

Everything seemed handled. Vincent Grifo’s lucky first goal benefited from a deflection. Nils Petersen knocked in a ripping header after some chippy Frankfurt play and a Lucas Holer breakaway seemed to put it beyond all doubt. (Sure there was a botched clearance that gifted an ugly goal to Frankfurt, but c’mon those happen.)

Then, in about 5 minutes, it all went wrong. Daichi Kamada capitalized on Robin Koch’s ill advised dribble back towards goal. Then American Timmy Chandler capitalized on a solid cross to level the score again.

(M) SC Freiburg 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 1

Again Freiburg managed to play well against a strong team, but came away from the game with nothing.

Lucas Holer had a golden chance on another break away, only to break hearts instead when he missed wide. It proved costly as Leverkusen took over the opportunities and capitalized when Lukas Kubler and Nicholas Hofler turned off their defensive brains and Dominique Heintz couldn’t save the day.

It was ugly, and uglier still when some late chances were similarly lacking, but sometimes that happens.

SC Freiburg 3 – Turbine Potsdam 2

This was a thriller, which makes sense since even though both Freiburg and Potsdam are far off the pace for the Champions League, they’ve had their last two matches decided in the final 5 minutes of time. So, of course it happened again Sunday.

After an opening goal was disallowed, the lady Griffins let in a pair from Potsdam within a half an hour. Then they came roaring back with three in the second half, including Klara “Killing Em Softly” Buhl’s tenth goal and Naomi Megroz’s opportunistic winner just before the final whistle.

This is what we’ve been missing.

Macva Sabac 0 – FK Vozdovac 1

The Red Dragons won a game! The Red Dragons won a game! Great day in the morning the Red Dragons won a game!!

Granted, they were playing the bottom team on the table in Serbia, but even after Milos Stojcev was shown a red card for a high elbow and the team was reduced to ten men, there was hope. In the 85th minute Ivan Milosavljevic made the magic happen with a blistering half-volley and finally Vozdovac found a ray of hope in 2020.

News & Notes

Rosenborg Back Klub

After months of training, extensive not training, and then retraining, Rosenborg is gearing up for the return of the Eliteserien in 2 weeks. Their first tune up against Bodø/Glimt was a valuable run out, letting teams shake off the rust. New man Kristoffer Zachariassen, who joined from Sarpsborg, netted the only goal early on.

I like Jadon Sancho now…

That’s it, that’s the news.

YUP
I know he’s approximately 9000% more expensive than we can afford, but c’mon MNUFC, make it happen.

Ross County Cut Costs

The Staggies are facing a hard situation.

There are no more matches, which means no more gate receipts, which means little to no more income.

There are players on the payroll they need to keep happy, lest they lose some of the skill they need to survive next season against the Scottish top flight.

But players cost money. Money that county doesn’t have. So…the teams said goodbye to 14 players.

10 Reservists heading out the door meant pretty much an entire back up squad was sliced out of the budget. The bigger names are the four senior players: Richard Foster, Sean Kelly, Lewis Spence, and Declan McManus. It’s hardest to say goodbye to Foster who has played for the team twice, returning from England to help see the team to the top level of Scottish football again.

Lest we think that Ross County are cheap (and confirmation of an old…if true…Scottish stereotype) they could have done what other struggling clubs did and take government money to pay workers in need of a new contract. Instead they said they’d be honest and work it out on their own.

Honesty is a small solace for Foster and others, but such is the lousy nature of the world we live in these days.

Woman of the Matches

Klara Buhl remains the decisive force in Freiburg, lifting the team to excellence when she’s on form. Her late equalizer was crucial to a needed win, and reminded us that, as the person responsible for 1/3 of her team’s goals, she will be much missed when she moves to Bayern Munich this summer.