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Fall Weather Making It Great For Watching Prep Football and Soccer
by Randy Gardner
It’s playoff time for area high schools. Every year I talk about getting out and supporting your local area team and this year is no different. It was hard to get in the Fall sports mode when the weather was in the upper 80s, but now that the temps have dipped into the Fall-like 40s and 50s, it feels like high school soccer and football weather.
This week will be the second round of district football action (see Jim Wieners story) and by the time you read this many prep soccer teams will be at the end of districts.
To sit in the stands under a blanket and be cold is so awesome. I love going to the concession stand and getting a huge cup of hot chocolate to enjoy the high school game, that is so pure. There are no big money contracts and advertisers that have to be taken addressed. The kids are playing because they love the game.
I love to hear the parents yelling support to the players ,which are usually their own sons as they enjoy watching their children grow into young men. Its funny to hear players talk about making it to the state finals— they used to say make it to the dome, but that is not the case anymore. The state finals will be in Springfield, MO. That is weird because most often there are several St. Louis teams in that games.
Disappointed Men’s U.S. Soccer Fans
Onto soccer, I am the biggest US soccer fan on the planet but I am embarrassed now due to the fact that they did not qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018. The team got beat in their last qualifying game and will miss the tournament.
This is a major set back for soccer in the United States. The sport was gaining such momentum and this would have helped so much. The TV rights were already sold for millions of dollars and they will no longer include the big viewing audience of the US.
The women’s team on the other hand is rolling right along and they are beating teams left and right. They will be a contender for sure to bring home the Cup. As far as the men’s team, I think you need to start fresh and bring in all new players and build from scratch. They have until 2022 to put a team on the field than can compete. I am looking forward to the rebuilding process, there are a lot of great players out there in the MLS and college right now that would be perfect fits for this team.
Cards Players Watching Games Just Like Us
Last year, it was a great year to be a Cubs fan but not so much this year as they went down in flames especially in that last playoff game. Did this franchise have its year of glory last year or will they be contenders for years to come? I think they have built a good product and will be a contender for a while. I am hoping that the Cardinals have not had their time in the sun and are on the downslide. I don’t think they are but two years not in the playoffs hurt. It was so disappointing to not be in front of the tube watching these last few weeks of the Cardinals season. Now the Cardinal players are doing the same as we are, sitting and watching the Dodgers and Astros in the World Series There is always next year. Pitchers and catchers report in just a few months.
