Two Cents Worth
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Soccer anyone?
It’s hard not to get caught up in the excitement and passion of soccer. Never been that big on soccer since Morgan played when he was four-years-old. I never learned one thing about the game from that experience since it was simply the fastest kids on one team running one way with everyone following them, then the fastest on the other team running the other way with everyone following them back.
Morgan was very small; he couldn’t keep up with anyone so he just ran up and down the field or pitch behind everyone else, stopping occasionally to roll around in the grass. He didn’t learn anything about soccer either but we both know you can’t use your hands and you try to get the ball into the other teams net. He did play goalie once in a while and that went better since he didn’t have to keep up and he had pretty good eye/hand co-ordination.
We went from soccer to baseball and later hockey and he enjoyed that much better. And so did I.
I have watched a couple matches on TV during the FIFA World Cup and it can get pretty exciting. I cheer on the country that intrigues me. There are not many sports where you get to watch teams play from Ghana, Belgium, Iran or Argentina? It is good to see the world come together for this short time, at least.
I admit I only watch when there isn’t anything else on I would rather watch. If it was a choice between soccer and golf I will choose soccer every time but I prefer baseball or NASCAR racing.
Went to Delaware Speedway last Friday night to watch a friend’s son and husband race. Talk about getting the adrenaline running. The super stock race featured a highly competitive field from Delaware joined by competitors from Flamboro. After time trials they ran two races of 25 laps with the leaders of the first starting at the back for the second. It was heart-pounding race with a 17-year-old farmer from Kerwood, Branden Verhoeven, winning both races showing the ol’ boys how it’s done.
The truck series was a hotly contested event and also had time trials before the big race. Our own Rick Verberne of Otterville, came in second in a grueling battle that kept the crowd on their feet. He was edged out by Joe Windis of Cathcart. Tillsonburg’s Andrew Pocs gave a good showing.
For me, the feature race of the night was 50 laps of bone stock chaos. These cars are not souped up like the trucks or super stocks so speeds are not as fast but each driver has the same intensity to win. Fifty cars left the start line and it is aptly named chaos. There was a lot of banging and crashing. If a car cannot continue because of damage or spin out the driver abandons the car on the track as obstacles and the race continues.
Rick usually drives the car but since he was racing his truck his dad, Frank, the pit boss, volunteered (or maybe was coerced) to drive for him. He had a loud and lively cheering section. At 63 it was his first time ever racing and he did an admirable job. Had a bit of a spin out but kept going and finished the race with more behind him than ahead of him. In my book that’s a win.