Taking Your Daughter to Work Night

Last night the San Jose Earthquakes played the Chicago Fire in Santa Clara (fill in your own 'natural disaster vs. natural disaster' line here).  It was a great crowd (seemed like full capacity in the 'charming' Buck Shaw Stadium... I'm still looking for the right euphemysm that doesn't come right out and say old, small, and fan-unfriendly).  If you had Earthquake in your Natural Disaster Fantasy League then you are a lot happier today than if you had Fire - Quakes 5 and Fire 1...

I thought that the last game in New York (or more accurately Harrison, New Jersey in the 'modern' Red Bull Arena ... I'm still looking for the right euphemysm that doesn't come right out and say - hey that stadium is in an old abandoned field in New Jersey) ... showed an Earthquake team that was vastly improved and solid.  The result in New York was a tie but the Quakes were on the upswing.  Now - catching Chicago on the road in a mid-week game - optimists will be happy.

More importantly last night - I took my beautiful daughter-in-law and my even-more-beautiful grand-daughter to the game.  They sat with me in our field seats because my beautiful wife decided that a mid-week game crosses the line of her soccer passion.  There is something about taking children to the game ...

When the boys were young (my boys - Chris, Stephen, and Matthew) -- I used to take them everywhere on the weekends.  I can accurately claim that I have changed diapers in every stadium and sports arena in the Bay Area.  Back in the day (when I dragged them to Candlestick) Chris had his favorite Giant - Candy Maldonado - and Stephen had his - Will the Thrill Clark - and Matty being the youngest probably had his favorite but I am sure his brothers told him he was wrong.  (Side note - Matty now bench-presses more weight than his two older brothers combined and they spend a lot less time telling him he is wronng).

Back to the story -- last night A Pequena Chefona - Emersyn was sitting with Lindsey and me.  Well --- Mr. Emersyn's Dad ... scored a goal and then came over to give his little Angel a kiss.  As luck would have it - Emersyn signed off for the night about 10 minutes before the goal.  There are two lessons in this ---- first - kind of cool if your dad is a professional soccer player and scores a goal and comes over and kisses you on television --- second - it would be cooler if her dad had scored a lot earlier ... like when she was awake.



So - take your daughter to work day ended up pretty fun for the Younger Wondo Family last night.

Quakes Tie - plus - Fresno and Cleveland Square Off

The San Jose Earthquakes are reaching a point in their season where wins are the only thing that they can be happy with ... but ... if you do not get a win then getting a tie by scoring a goal in the final five minutes on the road is the next best thing.  It was really interesting to watch the game yesterday (San Jose vs. New York Red Bulls) --- when a Penalty Kick was awarded to the Red Bulls the Bay Area Announcers were convinced it was a completely horrible missed call --- watching the highlights later that night (from the New York Feed) the New York Announcers were convinced it was a completely black-and-white correct call.  That just goes to show you that officiating live play is tough (I will say that the way the ball bounced I would bet it hit Cahill's head rather than Lenny's arm).  I think my son agrees with me but unlike Chris - I did not get a yellow card arguing my point of view --- I just screamed at the Big Screen loud enough to wake up my Basset Hound, Mildred Penelope.

This week I have taken my talents to Northeast Ohio (I don't know if that line has been used before but I am thinking of trademarking it).  I am sitting in Cleveland, Ohio this evening (I wrote that just to make you envious).  My professional life is a tapestry of glamorous metropolitan culture ... I do not want this to come across as bragging but not only was I able to fly all day Sunday to go to Cleveland but last week I was in Fresno.  I cannot help but do a comparison of Fresno and Cleveland (and I do not mean to upset anyone --- I am just trying to find humor after sacrificing my Sunday to THE MAN).

Fresno has roughly twice the population of Cleveland so if you like more people - Fresno wins that category if you like less people - Cleveland wins.

Cleveland sits on the southern shores of Lake Erie (a bit north of Akron and a bit east of Toledo).  Fresno hasn't seen actual water since the current drought started a couple of years ago.  If you like water - Cleveland wins.

The Cleveland Indians are two games above .500 (after today's game) while the Fresno Grizzlies are 3 games under .500.  Some might give that edge to the Indians (especially since they are Major League and the Grizzlies area AAA) but I call that a draw because the Grizzlies are my Giants farm team.

Cleveland has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while Fresno has 287 jukeboxes within the city limits that can play Rock and Roll.  The edge here goes to Cleveland.

Cleveland has LeBron - (again) - Fresno never had LeBron but they did have Jerry Tarkanian coach the Fresno State Bulldogs.  The edge goes to Cleveland.

After this analysis -- I should be very happy to be in Cleveland.

Deep Analysis of the Recent FIFA World Soccer Rankings

The FIFA World Rankings came out today (Soccer’s Governing Body doing their impersonation of the College Football Top 25) – and the USA dropped two places to number 15 in the world.  At the same time the Netherlands and Costa Rica jumped up double digits in the new rankings.  Scotland at number 27 and Egypt at number 36 were the only teams in the top 50 to not change rankings at all in this first post-world cup ranking. 

There are countries that have tried to combine together to get stronger – and the results indicate that does not work well. 

In the new category of “Combined Countries”  - Bosnia and Herzegovina are ranked highest at number 19.  Trinidad and Tobago are ranked 84^th.  You have to go all the way down to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (number 135) to find the next highest ranked combined country.  I think the lesson is clear – even if you combine countries and your name sounds like a Reggae Band --- FIFA Rankings are still harsh on you.  By the way --- in a manner somewhat like T-ball --- there is no clear-cut last place … number 208 is inexplicably shared by Bhutan and San Marino.  Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayas and San Marino is a little piece of land that somehow is surrounded by Italy but is not Italy.  But before we feel bad for San Marino … they have the highest per-capita standard of living in Europe with the lowest unemployment rate.  Maybe soccer is not that important after all.

Final observation of the FIFA World Rankings … putting “Republic” in your name is not a big accelerator.  The Czech Republic is ranked 35 and Korea Republic is ranked 56.  If you thought that leading with “Republic” would help – just ask the Republic of Ireland who holds down number 70. 

The big controversy in these rankings is that people have no idea how Andorra could move up two slots to number 198 while Papua New Guinea moved down three slots to 199.  Most people point to that and blame it on the East Coast Bias. 

So that is it on the current FIFA rankings --- but people it is summer time --- go out and enjoy some summer without soccer if you can.  There are County Fairs in July in most locations and I understand that on Saturday night the 8pm show at the Sonoma County Fair is going to be St. Vincent and the Grenadines – covering Bob Marley and the Wailers.  Should be awesome.

Top Five Signs that Soccer is Becoming Popular in the United States

Top Five Signs that Soccer is Getting Popular in the United States:

5.  My blog got 1000 views per day when I was in Brazil … I have – like – 3 friends – (Ok- probably 2 and 1 acquaintance)  -- that many people are interested in my blog because my son plays soccer and I am in Brazil for the World Cup??? – crazy.

4.  Jimmy Fallon gets 1,000,000 views on Youtube for his bits on the World Cup and the U.S. World Cup Team.  This is equal to the National Geographic Youtube video on Platypus Evolution:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVneqhu9oZk

Tell me people … did any of us really ever imagine U.S. Soccer as popular as platypus evolution????

3.  The wives of the U.S. Players are so hot that it honestly hurts to look at them – just wait for their vacation pictures to start showing up on www.wwtdd.com  is all I’m saying.

2.  USA fans purchased more world cup tickets for games in Brazil than any other country- (not funny but true).

1.  I don’t really have 2 friends … I like talk to a guy at the gym once in a while and a girl who works at Safeway and call them friends … and still my blog got more than 1000 views per day – so there you go.  And the USMNT won an ESPY last night and one of my favorite players – Kyle Beckerman was there – so that is my number one sign that soccer is popular in the United States.  Now … if the Williams sisters rang my doorbell and wanted to meet me because my son was a soccer player --- that would mean we really made it. 

Post World Cup Blues

The 2014 World Cup is over (you probably did not hear that first from me) – and now the next big International event will be Euro 2016 (European Championship) in France in June of 2016.  Qualifying for that starts in two months.

Many of us ‘soccer people’ have a bit of a letdown this week as we did have nearly a month of great soccer competition.  For those of us who were lucky enough to spend a couple of weeks in Brazil to enjoy the tournament first-hand … we all have to acclimate back to our real lives.  I may be luckier than most in that my real life includes daily workouts at the Renaissance Club Sport in Walnut Creek, California.  If you cannot be in Brazil – then Club Sport is not a bad alternative.  I am pretty sure they have a ‘minimum attractiveness test’ that they apply to people who want to join – because the place is full of beautiful people.  Fortunately for me – I joined about 10 years ago … prior to the institution of the ‘minimum attractiveness test’ and I have been grandfathered in. 

Another non-World Cup thought is that there are a few things I have heard in my life that just never really make sense …  for example some are:  “Oh she is a Basset Hound – what trouble could she possibly get into?” … and there is:  “Your children already paid for that.”  … and the most recent one is something that I am saying today:  “My son is going to Los Angeles this week because of his third ESPY nomination.”  -- I can tell you that if ESPN had never been invented – I would have invented it.  The fact that Chris has been nominated for ESPY awards is something that I cannot really get my head around.  In my world I can only equate it to the day where the Wall Street Journal has a front page article above the fold describing my business executive brilliance.  But unlike good basset hounds, children paying, and me being a model business executive --- the ESPY award is not a fantasy. 

If you think I have trouble getting my head around it … consider my family.  Of course Chris’ brothers will say:  “Oh – are they giving an ESPY to the guy who blew the far post volley at the end of the Belgium game?”  (all those people who tweeted death threats - you cannot compete with his brothers in terms of criticism) … and then there is my wife --- she has watched ESPN roughly 2 times in the past 3 years … both times she watched the ESPYs when Chris was nominated so that she could (1) see if they did shots of Chris and Lindsey in the crowd during the show and (2) see what was in the SWAG Bag that Chris and Lindsey took home.  Four years ago my wife would have thought ESPN broadcast Masterpiece Theatre – but now she is a regular viewer (you know … 3 times in four years counting tomorrow).  I don't know what she thinks they broadcast the rest of the time - probably game shows. 

I am so proud of Chris and so glad that he and Lindsey get to go - two other people who are ecstatic are the two grandmas who will be in a "Spoil A Pequena Chefona Contest" for the next two days. I predict a draw. 

 

Sunday at Pebble Beach (Oh - and apparently Germany Won)

The day at Pebble Beach was fantastic…  and quite surprisingly –I didn’t suck at golf.  In fact – I was on the green putting for birdie four times (ok – so my putts did suck).  Chris was solid, Matt hits the ball so hard that it makes you think that they will just explode on impact --- it is like he really hates the balls --- and Lukas was good, bordering on great.  And --- this is with Lukas hitting LEFT HANDED! --- I cannot even imagine how good Lukas would be if he hit from the right side.  (Note – if you are Lukas’ partner – who I was – don’t borrow his wedge – it faces the wrong direction). 

     Stephen Wondo missed the event due to Earthquakes Academy Try-outs … and when he hears that I was not embarrassingly bad – he’ll toggle between the emotions of denial and reluctant acknowledgment.  Lukas, who pinch hit for Stephen, ended up with an expensive free round of golf since he grabbed breakfast, dinner, club-cleaner-tip, and some adult beverages on the course --- thanks Lukas.

     I did learn a couple of lessons golfing today …

-          Apparently walking right in front of someone else’s ball on the green (between the ball and the hole) gets frowned upon (not just at hole 3 … but also at holes 8, 13, and 16).

-          You can be as awesome as possible on the practice greens … that does not translate to these sadistically tiny and contoured greens at Pebble Beach.

 

-           If you happen to hit a lucky tee shot that outdistances the other three members of your foursome – your best and perhaps only action is to just shut the f#%@ up (learned that lesson the hard way with Matt)

 

-           Apparently putting is an important skill

 

-          If you have 5 hours on a Sunday afternoon – you could do a lot worse than hanging with the Wondo Boys and Lukas on what just may be the most beautiful place on earth … because everyone was serious and while 3 of the group broke 90 in strokes … we all were over 100 in laughs.

 

Weekend Soccer - and Men Being Idiots

It has been a tough week to be a Brazil Soccer Fan … and there are very few Brazilians who are not soccer fans.  But – they are resilient and their love for the game will help them move forward.  Having a week go by where you are outscored 10 to 1 is difficult for anyone.

Last night we were at the ‘intimate’ confines of Buck Shaw Stadium in Santa Clara for the Earthquakes game.  And with ‘intimate’ I use a euphemism that basically means “how quickly can we get to a real stadium???”.   I know I should be a huge supporter – and I am on every front ... except for that stadium.  I will say – the field is nice and the game production is nice – and everyone is friendly … so you could have worse.  I am counting the days to the new stadium.

Stadium aside --- the San Jose Earthquakes feel so much like ‘home’ and ‘family’.  I would have wanted nothing more for my son in his professional career than to play for this team and their fans.  I may have wanted more points-per-game … but I am pretty convinced that those will come and the second half of the season will be different.  I see these guys play for each other and that is the most important element to the game.

Even though … last night the crowd was warm and supportive of my oldest son and for that I am eternally grateful.  In fact – it really was a fantastic night for a dad. 

Tomorrow I hope for the same warm and supportive environment for my round at Pebble Beach … I am sure that won’t happen though.  My final thought for tonight is that --- really … are women that much smarter than men???  Last night we are driving down to the Quakes-United game and my wife asks out of the blue --- “how much were your new golf shoes today?” – now I used my own credit card that she has no access to and I hid the shoes in the trunk of my car so there was no way that she could possibly know … but all I could come up with was:  “do you mean list price or what I paid?”  (I paid list price by the way).  I am hoping that one day in our lives we husbands may someday realize that we are really in charge – but so far … those facts are not in evidence.