This spring, I co-captained an intramural soccer team with a nursing school/soccer buddy. It was an interesting experience, since only three of us were there to play because soccer is vital to our mental health. Everyone else was either good-naturedly dragged or literally begged to play. We played every game, despite frequent forfeits by one or both teams due to lack of numbers. This week, we had a game Tuesday night and another one on Wednesday.
In Tuesday's game (which we won by forfeit), the other team had recruited some DI (read: better, faster, stronger) players so we could scrimmage. I was positioning myself to control a ball headed toward me from the sky, when all of a sudden there was an explosion of light and I was on the ground, my skin stinging in strange places. Apparently one of the other players had full-on body checked me or something. Anyway, my teammates who saw the collision were laughing, describing it as an "epic" fall. Got up, carried on, got body-checked real hard again later by another guy, spent the rest of the game trying to protect my head with my arms when the beefy guys came close.
Had a headache that night, put the pieces together and figured out I most likely had a mild concussion. Told my dad, he agreed, but said I could play Wednesday anyway. I've never had a concussion before, but I've played soccer for 16 years.
Wednesday night rolls around and it's pouring rain. We got the game started, but no more than five-minutes into it I was taken down by a two-footed tackle by some overly-zealous midfielder. Hit my head on the ground.
Haha.
We went out to one of our favorite pubs after the game. Some of my nursing friends were concerned about my head and agreed with my decision to stick with water instead of beer, you know, just in case. The others tried to peer-pressure me into drinking anyway, because "it can't be that bad." They thought it was funny to spontaneously perform neuro checks and vision tests. Right. Hilarious. I did appreciate one of the guys asking me to text him when I woke up the following morning so he'd know I was ok.
Apparently at school on Wednesday morning, my co-captain had mentioned to my favorite peds faculty that I'd been concussed, to which the reply was "She should take it easy this week." Of course, my co-captain knows me better than that, so she snorted delicately and pointed out is was me that they were talking about. A fair assessment, really, since I hit my head again in the game that night.
Play every game like it's your last game.
Anyway. The headache is manageable, but now I have to study for finals.
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label soccer. Show all posts
29 April 2011
22 July 2010
trottity trottity trot
Confession.
I don't like to run.
I hate it when my legs feel like lead. I hate the feeling of half a breath of air when my bronchioles constrict... even though I think wheezing sounds interesting. You already knew I'm weird, though. Exercise-induced asthma makes running suck. I know loads of professional athletes have it, and control it, and play through it, but it sucks.
Some days I go running and I congratulate myself on my prowess, vowing to do it the next day, and the next, but when morning comes my body is sore and my legs feel like lead and I promise myself "just one day of rest" and then time goes on and I've been lazy for a week.
...but my back feels better after I run.
Maybe it's just motivation I need, and hopefully my back will give me just that, but I want to be able to run again.
More than that, I want to play soccer again. Soccer is my perspective. All the little things that bother me go away when I play, and the world is black and white again. The French philospher Albert Camus once said, "All that I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football."
I don't like to run.
I hate it when my legs feel like lead. I hate the feeling of half a breath of air when my bronchioles constrict... even though I think wheezing sounds interesting. You already knew I'm weird, though. Exercise-induced asthma makes running suck. I know loads of professional athletes have it, and control it, and play through it, but it sucks.
Some days I go running and I congratulate myself on my prowess, vowing to do it the next day, and the next, but when morning comes my body is sore and my legs feel like lead and I promise myself "just one day of rest" and then time goes on and I've been lazy for a week.
...but my back feels better after I run.
Maybe it's just motivation I need, and hopefully my back will give me just that, but I want to be able to run again.
More than that, I want to play soccer again. Soccer is my perspective. All the little things that bother me go away when I play, and the world is black and white again. The French philospher Albert Camus once said, "All that I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football."
10 July 2010
eve of the championship
Pre-final article round-up time. Click the links. They are funny. And short.
Pulpo Paul was correct in predicting the Germans would beat Uruguay to take third place (3-2 final), but it was an entertaining match and the Uruguayans led for a fair portion. How Paul the Octopus ruined Germany's Cup dream.
In regard to the absurd number of handballs that have changed results this cup, what would happen if FIFA applied Sharia law. In my opinion, France would not have been in the Cup at all but for Henry's double handball to send them through over Ireland, but I don't think Suarez's handball against Ghana would be talked about still had Gyan put away his penalty instead of bouncing it off the bar. To be fair to Suarez, any other professional in his place would have done exactly as he did.
Rafael van der Vaart of the Netherlands reflects on his teammate Wesley Sneijder's success this Cup. "I suspect he (Sneijder) has a gold vuvuzela in his pants."
Finally, an article that pretty much describes why I'm supporting Spain over Holland for the final, even though I love them both. La Furia Roja, Pulpo Paul thinks you have what it takes and so do I.
Pulpo Paul was correct in predicting the Germans would beat Uruguay to take third place (3-2 final), but it was an entertaining match and the Uruguayans led for a fair portion. How Paul the Octopus ruined Germany's Cup dream.
In regard to the absurd number of handballs that have changed results this cup, what would happen if FIFA applied Sharia law. In my opinion, France would not have been in the Cup at all but for Henry's double handball to send them through over Ireland, but I don't think Suarez's handball against Ghana would be talked about still had Gyan put away his penalty instead of bouncing it off the bar. To be fair to Suarez, any other professional in his place would have done exactly as he did.
Rafael van der Vaart of the Netherlands reflects on his teammate Wesley Sneijder's success this Cup. "I suspect he (Sneijder) has a gold vuvuzela in his pants."
Finally, an article that pretty much describes why I'm supporting Spain over Holland for the final, even though I love them both. La Furia Roja, Pulpo Paul thinks you have what it takes and so do I.
09 July 2010
the revels now are ending
Sunday is the World Cup Final. It is the day Spain and the Netherlands fight for the right to be crowned the newest world champions. In 18 cups, there have been only 7 winners (I'm lumping Germany and West Germany together), and while the Netherlands were runners-up in '74 and '78, they have never won. Spain has never advanced past the quarter-finals, so it's a big moment for both Clockwork Oranje and La Furia Roja.
I am emotionally attached to both teams, especially since spending time in both countries, but I tip my heart to Spain. In all honesty, though, this is a dream final for me. I can't be unhappy. Pulpo Paul is predicting a win for Spain, but his rival, a "psychic parakeet" in Singapore, says it will be Holland. Does the wrong one get eaten? Stay tuned...
It has been a month full of early mornings and lots of beer. I found a soccer pub to haunt in Corvallis, at least two in Portland, and if I couldn't make it to either, I streamed the games in class. Don't judge me... some things are more important than (the mechanisms of) breathing.
I totally want a vuvuzela for my birthday.
Sunday is also the six-month marker of my adventures in nursing school. 13 months to go.
Med/surg clinicals ended (boo) but I'm happy to note that my med/surg 2 rotation in the fall will be on the same unit. I'm in the middle of pysch clinicals and hate them. I have evening shift clinicals and it is terribly boring and crazy people scare me anyway.
I am emotionally attached to both teams, especially since spending time in both countries, but I tip my heart to Spain. In all honesty, though, this is a dream final for me. I can't be unhappy. Pulpo Paul is predicting a win for Spain, but his rival, a "psychic parakeet" in Singapore, says it will be Holland. Does the wrong one get eaten? Stay tuned...
It has been a month full of early mornings and lots of beer. I found a soccer pub to haunt in Corvallis, at least two in Portland, and if I couldn't make it to either, I streamed the games in class. Don't judge me... some things are more important than (the mechanisms of) breathing.
I totally want a vuvuzela for my birthday.
Sunday is also the six-month marker of my adventures in nursing school. 13 months to go.
Med/surg clinicals ended (boo) but I'm happy to note that my med/surg 2 rotation in the fall will be on the same unit. I'm in the middle of pysch clinicals and hate them. I have evening shift clinicals and it is terribly boring and crazy people scare me anyway.
16 June 2010
alegria e paixao
The World Cup. The event so full of beauty, joy and passion that it fills my tiny, bitter cold little heart to bursting.
Sometimes I get up at 4.30am to watch the game before I leave for clinical at 6, because it wakes me up more than half a pot of coffee. Sometimes I stream the games on my laptop during pathophysiology, because soccer is more important than breathing (mechanisms). Shhh.
Semi-finals and the final are during my mid-term break, thank you Jesus!
...my teams are:
Spain -because La Furia Roja is my heart
Côte d'Ivoire -the African Cinderella story
Brazil -because no other team makes soccer look like so much fun
USA -because I am American, after all. And Clint Dempsey is my man. <3
Holland -because 'oranje est de kleur van gekte'*
Naturally, I also support Yoann Gourcuff (and not the French, mind you, haven't forgiven Henry and his handballs), and the Argentines. I'm an equal-opportunity football slut in the name of the beautiful game
*'Orange is the color of insanity.' -van Gogh
Sometimes I get up at 4.30am to watch the game before I leave for clinical at 6, because it wakes me up more than half a pot of coffee. Sometimes I stream the games on my laptop during pathophysiology, because soccer is more important than breathing (mechanisms). Shhh.
Semi-finals and the final are during my mid-term break, thank you Jesus!
...my teams are:
Spain -because La Furia Roja is my heart
Côte d'Ivoire -the African Cinderella story
Brazil -because no other team makes soccer look like so much fun
USA -because I am American, after all. And Clint Dempsey is my man. <3
Holland -because 'oranje est de kleur van gekte'*
Naturally, I also support Yoann Gourcuff (and not the French, mind you, haven't forgiven Henry and his handballs), and the Argentines. I'm an equal-opportunity football slut in the name of the beautiful game
*'Orange is the color of insanity.' -van Gogh
02 April 2010
how to survive nursing school.
Ahhh... Easter break. Five-day weekend, just long enough to start catching up on sleep before plunging back into the mad carousel ride that is finals. One more soccer game and then that's over... must coerce classmates to stop being pansies and play some pick-up footy with me. Or I'll go join a rugby club and learn to be hardcore.
Suffice it to say, soccer and indie rock & roll keep my sanity from deserting me entirely. This is my playlist for the week.
Suffice it to say, soccer and indie rock & roll keep my sanity from deserting me entirely. This is my playlist for the week.
24 March 2010
napping is my new hobby
I'm playing intramurals soccer. On turf. It's quite delightful, except for the serious carpet burns I get when I slide tackle people. Of course, that's why you're not supposed to slide, but sometime you just have to. Every game is total football for me. Oh soccer. You are balm to my school-weary soul.
In other news:
Grandpa: "I don't like that Reba lady."
Me: "Why? What'd she do to you?"
Grandpa: "She beat me when I told her I didn't like her music."
Hahaha.
In other news:
Grandpa: "I don't like that Reba lady."
Me: "Why? What'd she do to you?"
Grandpa: "She beat me when I told her I didn't like her music."
Hahaha.
04 December 2009
it's the most wonderful time of the year
Nothing brings the world together like the World Cup. The UN has got nothing on the beautiful game.
OMG so shiny!
The World Cup draw was held today in Capetown, South Africa. Results:
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E: Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
I'm so excited. We're not in the Group of Death (G)! Four years ago our group was certainly death to us, despite drawing when we played the eventual champions. Italy has an annoying habit of starting slowly in competitions and gathering speed until they're pretty much invincible by the last stages. Dirty, sexy bastards.
I think Group A will be the most interesting to watch. While South Africa (who qualified by hosting) is possibly the weakest team in the tournament, historically the host team has never failed to advance to the second round. France is very controversial now, partly due to Henry's qualifying handball, and partly to their abysmal performance this past year. If they want it enough, they could easily go through. Mexico... I just hope they don't advance. The archnemesis of American soccer. Slovenia I don't know much about. In summary: never underestimate the host team, no matter how much you write them off outside of the Cup. Mexico, France and Slovenia depend on who wants it the most and who can use handballs and dirty hack behavior (*cough*Thierry Henry*cough*Rafa Marquez*cough*)to advance.
I just want to see the US pull a 1950 World Cup manuever on England. :) Love the English people, not so much a fan of the English national team. I prefer the sport as played in warm countries, like Brasil and Spain.
ETA: Soccernet's draw analysis.
OMG so shiny!
The World Cup draw was held today in Capetown, South Africa. Results:
Group A: South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay, France
Group B: Argentina, Nigeria, South Korea, Greece
Group C: England, USA, Algeria, Slovenia
Group D: Germany, Australia, Serbia, Ghana
Group E: Holland, Denmark, Japan, Cameroon
Group F: Italy, Paraguay, New Zealand, Slovakia
Group G: Brazil, Korea DPR, Ivory Coast, Portugal
Group H: Spain, Switzerland, Honduras, Chile
I'm so excited. We're not in the Group of Death (G)! Four years ago our group was certainly death to us, despite drawing when we played the eventual champions. Italy has an annoying habit of starting slowly in competitions and gathering speed until they're pretty much invincible by the last stages. Dirty, sexy bastards.
I think Group A will be the most interesting to watch. While South Africa (who qualified by hosting) is possibly the weakest team in the tournament, historically the host team has never failed to advance to the second round. France is very controversial now, partly due to Henry's qualifying handball, and partly to their abysmal performance this past year. If they want it enough, they could easily go through. Mexico... I just hope they don't advance. The archnemesis of American soccer. Slovenia I don't know much about. In summary: never underestimate the host team, no matter how much you write them off outside of the Cup. Mexico, France and Slovenia depend on who wants it the most and who can use handballs and dirty hack behavior (*cough*Thierry Henry*cough*Rafa Marquez*cough*)to advance.
I just want to see the US pull a 1950 World Cup manuever on England. :) Love the English people, not so much a fan of the English national team. I prefer the sport as played in warm countries, like Brasil and Spain.
ETA: Soccernet's draw analysis.
22 November 2009
re: mls cup 2009
:)
MLS, Garber and Anschutz, all your monies cannot buy you a trophy. Woohoo Real Salt Lake!
MLS, Garber and Anschutz, all your monies cannot buy you a trophy. Woohoo Real Salt Lake!
18 November 2009
haters to the left
Last day of World Cup Qualifying. The last six slots went to, in no particular order: Slovenia, Greece, Portugal, Uruguay, Algeria and France.
I love Yoann Gourcuff so much. He's one of the world's most beautiful men. However, even he can't make up for Les Bleus earning a spot by cheating Ireland. Ireland and France were one goal all on aggregate, then Gallas scores the winning goal in overtime. Assisted by an offside player with two blatant handballs? Really?
I hate tainted wins.
I hate Thierry Henry even more. Soulless hack. I have not forgiven him for his behavior versus Spain in the 2006 World Cup.
Ireland deserved to go to South Africa.
I love Yoann Gourcuff so much. He's one of the world's most beautiful men. However, even he can't make up for Les Bleus earning a spot by cheating Ireland. Ireland and France were one goal all on aggregate, then Gallas scores the winning goal in overtime. Assisted by an offside player with two blatant handballs? Really?
I hate tainted wins.
I hate Thierry Henry even more. Soulless hack. I have not forgiven him for his behavior versus Spain in the 2006 World Cup.
Ireland deserved to go to South Africa.
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