When Love and Loyalty Intersect

When Love and Loyalty Intersect

At the risk of getting too dramatic, the announcement yesterday about Chris’ new contract with the Earthquakes is a fantastic testament to love, loyalty, and doing business the way it should be done (in my opinion).  The arc(s) of Chris’ career are, in many ways, amazingly symmetrically balanced and, in all ways, improbably contrived story book plots.

On Love – Chris was an Earthquakes fan long before he became an Earthquakes player.  Playing for the Earthquakes affords him the opportunity of playing in front of friends and family – and in addition he has shown that his definition of “friends and family” extend to everyone who steps into the beautiful Avaya Stadium (especially those who sing for the entire game).  Being with the Earthquakes allows his little Emersyn to waddle-run out at the end of the game and jump into his arms while his wonderful wife and youngest daughter watch (Lindsey doesn’t waddle-run she sprints and Brynlee doesn’t waddle, run, sprint, walk, crawl, or do much at games other than bundle up).  But the first thought I had when I knew the new contract was a done-deal was that in a couple of years Emersyn and Brynlee will both be sprinting out on the field trying to beat each other to their dad’s arms.  That is cool for a Grand-dude and cool for all family and friends.

On Loyalty – One of the things about Chris that I am most proud is that he has approached professional soccer with the mindset that he will do as well as he possibly can, put the team first, passionately support the team and the community … and the loyalty will be reciprocal.  I realize that is more of an ideal than a realistic strategy in today’s world – but with the Quakes Ownership and the Quakes Management … it has been the best strategy.  The Quakes Management and Ownership has been as fair to Chris as any player could wish for or expect. And, as dad, I have to mention how proud I was yesterday when the Quakes did the announcement about the new contract and Chris found out that he had made the USMNT roster for the Copa next month … after all that he simply got in his car and drove up to San Francisco to make two appearances for Street Soccer USA in San Francisco.  (more about Street Soccer USA in a bit).

On Business – I would like to believe that you get paid/rewarded for the value you create for an organization.  You don’t live more than a half-century without realizing that this belief is not consistently fulfilled in the real world.  But I still cling to the belief that good business is win-win and appreciation of the value that each side is able to offer (and has offered).  In my view Chris’ business dealings in his professional soccer life have always reinforced my idealistic belief.  Maybe an agent could have crafted “better deals” … but I don’t think so.

On Career Arcs – the unlikely chance that Chris ever got to break into the MLS was given to him by John Doyle (then Assistant Coach for San Jose) and Dominic Kinnear (then Head Coach for San Jose).  Somehow, improbably, they offered Chris a professional contract as a rookie.  Then – more than 10 years later – after relocation for Dominic, Chris, Quakes to Houston – and after the return of Dominic, Chris, Quakes, John Doyle to San Jose – Chris is fulfilling a professional dream and his father is living a soccer-loving-father’s fantasy. 

(WARNING – A LITTLE BIT OF ADVERTISING HERE)

Finally – on Street Soccer USA.  (www.streetsoccerusa.org).  About 8 years ago Mrs. Wondo read an article in the San Francisco Chronicle (sorry Elliott but it was not in the Merc) about this organization that was using soccer as an outreach to homeless.  This group had a remarkable success rate and an amazing force of two brothers driving the organization.  I reached out to the reporter who wrote the story who put me in touch with Rob Cann (brother of Lawrence Cann – the other amazing brother).  We connected Chris and SSUSA and the partnership has been great.  There were years where Chris and Lindsey donated $100 for each goal he scored and Soccer Silicon Valley matched the contributions (along with other fans).  And each year Chris will find his way up to San Francisco a few evenings and meet with the soon-to-be-not-homeless-people in the SSUSA program and play with them at their Street Soccer Training. SSUSA believes “sports can be a primary tool in building safe, healthy communities, where everyone has a place to call home”.  I think we can all agree that there is not one cure-all for homeless and anything that works is a thing that should be treasured and nurtured.  SSUSA works.

I can tell you from personal experience that three years ago at the SSUSA Cup in San Francisco Mrs. Wondo put together a corporate team from her company and yours truly put together a corporate team from his company.  We both played in the SSUSA Corporate Cup and had tremendous fun.  But we also enjoyed watching the SSUSA players who were just inspirational – the entire organization is honestly – the most inspirational team that I have ever seen. 

Please consider visiting www.streetsoccerusa.org and put together your own team to compete at their Cup in Union Square on July 16^th and July 17^th.  If you can come by on Sunday July 17^th – the Earthquakes are teaming with Chris to put together a celebrity Street Soccer Game at 2pm in Union Square.  Even if you go to watch – I promise you will leave with a smile on your face and happy you went.  But go to play and watch – and maybe your team will win the championship of their bracket (like my team did by beating Mrs. Wondo’s team in the final). 

Soccer Dad Weekend - and What do they feed them in St. Louis?

MLS Thoughts – St. Louis Products

This past weekend was a great dad soccer weekend, not the first one I have ever had and I hope it will not be the last one. 

The San Jose Earthquakes played Sporting Kansas City at San Jose’s wonderful fairly new stadium on a pretty nice Sunday afternoon.  While the Golden State Warriors were playing Houston in the NBA playoffs, this father sat in the stands and watched the soccer game – only his Warriors hat showing that he was missing the basketball game.  From time to time … a couple of granddaughters perched on his lap (which doesn’t make you feel young but sure makes life fun). 

A couple of things happened that afternoon that made me reflect on how the real parts of life exist everywhere because that is why they call it life.  It could be professional sports or recreational softball and the things that connect are really rooted similarly. 

At some point in the second half of the soccer game my phone started buzzing.  Many of my friends who were watching the game on ESPN (and no doubt mostly watching the Warriors and/or Giants … or possibly The History Channel but at least during commercials switching to the soccer game) texted me telling me that the ESPN announcers were telling the story about when Chris made it to MLS and I told him that I thought he could ‘be like Taylor Twellman’.  The ESPN translation on air was close but a little off and probably because they got the story from my son who has perfected the skill of barely listening to me over the years. 

Not that anyone really cares, but I have the keyboard so I’ll go ahead and elaborate.

Taylor Twellman was the most potent goal scorer in Major League Soccer history.  In professional sports where players change teams as often as homeowners change their smoke alarm batteries, Taylor Twellman never changed teams.  The New England Revolution appreciated this St. Louis product so much that he played his entire career with one team.  In the process he scored 101 goals with a goal production rate of 0.60 goals per 90 minutes.  To put that in perspective, nobody with more than 75 goals has produced goals at that rate. 

I used to watch Taylor drift off his defender when the ball was across the field, circle around and then make a purposeful run (without the ball and without the defender) into the penalty box in order to receive a pass that he could shoot on goal.  I saw him do this better than anyone else who was playing.  I also saw him create with the ball at his feet and run by defenders with the ball.  So when Chris was signed by the San Jose Earthquakes … when he was unknown and possibly just a body to fill a uniform at training … I told him that I thought if he worked hard he could be like Taylor Twellman.  I suspect that in February 2005 I was probably the only one with this theory.

The thing about being a father is that you say a lot of things that you don’t really believe but that you think you should say because everyone tells you that you need to be positive.  Well, I was probably just being positive but WOW.  I would have never imagined that Chris would have 10% of the goals that Taylor scored … much less more goals than Taylor scored. 

It might have been an amazing coincidence that in the very first regular season game that the San Jose Earthquakes played after Chris made the roster – they played New England at Spartan Stadium in San Jose. (Chris didn't score but Taylor did). 

The other part of Sunday was catching up with another amazing St. Louis soccer superstar.  Brad Davis has been Chris’ close friend ever since Chris entered the league.  They have continued their very close friendship – with wives and children – through a franchise relocation and a couple of trades.  One of the best personal memories of the World Cup in Brazil for me was that Brad and Chris were both on the team and we were able to spend a lot of time with the Davis family. 

Last night we were able to catch up with Brad and there may be no more underrated player in MLS history.  Chris is 4^th in MLS in goals and I could not be prouder.  But Brad is 3^rd in MLS all time for number of Assists.  Brad has 122 assists – he is only 14 behind Landon Donovan for the most number of assists in a career.  Brad is very likely to be the all-time MLS Assist Leader by the end of next year.  On top of all that amazing passing – Brad has 56 goals.  That offensive production puts him among the all-time elites in Major League Soccer. 

Brad and Chris (and Heather and Lindsey) have been friends for many years.  They owned homes across the street from each other in Houston and Heather used to chase down and retrieve Gattuso whenever he escaped (which was often).  Seeing Chris and Brad together last night made me feel good – that friendships transcend things like trying to trip each other when you are both at work. 

Pretty cool soccer dad weekend.  Back in the day my soccer dad weekends involved driving 5 hour round trips to tournaments in Fresno.  I appreciate my new soccer dad weekends.    

Just Being a Dad - Heading into another MLS Season --- nothing to see here, you can move along

FULL DISCLOSURE:  this is very much a personal blog that reflects on many years enjoying my son play professional soccer.  This will almost certainly offer no wonderful insights into anything … and will likely be simply a cathartic essay that any dad would do when his son grows up, has child(ren), and tries to settle into his profession. So – no reason to read this or flame me … this is pretty much just a personal thing that (by intent) ends up on the Internet. 

The MLS 2016 season begins this weekend and, amazingly – improbably – surprisingly – Chris Wondolowski is prepared to enter his 12^th season as an MLS player.  He is very fortunate to have played for only 3 head coaches (and by my estimation the 3 best head coaches).  He is even more fortunate to have started with Dominic Kinnear and now be back again with Dominic Kinnear (more on that later).  He is tremendously fortunate to be with his home-town franchise that has built an amazing stadium and management/ownership team that has put together what I believe is a fantastic team heading into 2016. 

So – how does a dad who devoted significant portions of his life playing, coaching, and watching soccer process the fact that his son is entering his 12^th year as an MLS player?  Truth is – I can’t process it.  This is so far beyond my wildest imagination that I simply cannot get my head around it. 

Some nostalgia:  in Chris’ first year, in training camp before he ever was offered a contract, he and I would talk every day on the phone and every day I would tell him:  “work your ass off and keep your mouth shut”.  And then he got signed – he was told in an airport gate coming back home that he was going to be signed to a Developmental Contract and he called me and it still will be one of the top 20 days of my life.  That first year he worked his way up to the 18 man roster and made a road trip to Columbus – I went to watch him (think Southwest Airlines to Columbus ... that's not the most direct flight you'll ever take) – and he didn’t get into the game BUT the Quakes won.  I think either Ronald Cerritos or Alejandro Moreno got the goal (they may both claim it now)  – it made it a good trip.

I had to look at the sjearthquakes.com website to actually count how many years Chris has played (isn’t that a great thing for a dad?) – and I saw that he has 23 assists in his career … and 25 yellow cards.  We all know that over 90% of those yellow cards are because he can’t keep his mouth shut on the field with the referee.  You can all blame me for that – that is what we call “modeled behavior” (unfortunately - sorry). 

To watch my son grow as a player and a man under the management of Dominic Kinnear, Frank Yallop, and Mark Watson – is probably the most rewarding thing I could ever imagine.  I believe every dad has his limitations – but when Chris is able to fill in my fatherly-limitations with mentors like Dominic Kinnear, Frank Yallop, and Mark Watson???? How great is that? Throw in all the fantastic assistant coaches (Spencer, Tim, Steve, Ian, etc) – and the USA coaches (Bob and Jurgen with their amazing assistants) … and I sit in awe and appreciation at the full life of learning that my son has enjoyed in his last 11+ years.

So we head into the 2016 season.  Chris gets to play with some of the best players he has ever played with – at every position.  But I get to watch and enjoy.  We all know that the sands are always slipping through the hourglass … but as the lower part of the hourglass is collecting the majority of the sand – it tends to make us appreciate the current season more.

Go Quakes – we are blessed with a solid 2016 team and the best stadium in the league.  I am blessed to go to the games with my beautiful wife – fantastic daughter in law, crazy/gorgeous granddaughter, her soon-to-be sister, and my other sons and daughters (and their less-crazy granddaughters)   … HOW FREAKING GREAT IS THAT???? What a dream come true.  

Final thought – by the way --- the extended Wondo Family totals about 10 season tickets for the Quakes.  I want to extend that to 20 next year.  Mrs. Wondo and I will be in the front row at BC9 section at Avaya Stadium for as long as the Quakes are playing. 

Wondo Boys Fantasy Football ... and random sports stuff

Wondo Family and Friends NFL Fantasy Football Update

     We are two weeks into the 2015 Wondo Family and Friends Fantasy Football League and there is already a lot of action.  First of all – we added two new Wondo Friends as expansion teams (welcome Mike and Droid) – second of all (just to catch everyone up) The Fighting Basset Hounds are the reigning league champions.

     So far … very early into this season … it has been another opportunity for a father to be proud.  Both Chris (Wear that Green Lacy Thing) and Steve (L.A. Brown-Rice) have won their first two games.  And Matt (Discount Double Check) was edged out in his second game but is still 1-1.  The Fighting Basset Hounds have shown tremendous resiliency in dealing with setback after setback (Dez Bryant injury, Deflategate… Jeremy Hill forgetting how to hold a football) and while their record does not reflect their character --- their character is in first place.

    

Quakes Playoffs

     It is great to be pressing for a playoff spot in the closing weeks of the season.  I have long said that the way MLS is --- if you can put 3 wins together then you change everything as far as your place in the standings.  This would be the point in the season when putting 3 wins together would be a pretty good move.

     Avaya Stadium is so great – it would be absolutely wonderful to have a playoff game at Avaya in its inaugural year.  I also think it might be so loud that the passengers on the jets landing at SJC would be complaining when they get off the plane.

Random (mostly sports) Thoughts

MLS MVP:  Kei Kamara … no doubt in my mind – great kid, great attitude, and amazing ability. 

MLS Rookie of the Year … most think it has to be Cyle Larin – and it is hard to argue against that --- unless you have seen Fatai Alashe game after game – and in person.  If I could pick any rookie to be on my team (and I love goals) – it would be Fatai.

FAVORITE DAD MOMENTS IN SEPTEMBER (so far) …

-          Going to Raider Home opener with by three boys and hooking up with the Moody major-tailgate.  Game was tough – but anytime a guy can be with his three boys???? And talking about the same topic in the same way??? – pretty cool.  And the Raiders have a 1 game winning streak which I like to call - RETURN TO EXCELLENCE. 

-          Seeing my son on the coaching staff bench during a Division I College Game.  That made me smile – what a great accomplishment.

-          Seeing all of my sons start out their fantasy NFL Football year well.  God knows I didn’t have that experience to savor last year … it gives me hope for the next generation.

Soccer Dad's Thoughts - as the Summer Begins

     I have spent the majority of my life as a soccer dad.  I try not to think of my age too much – but the simple math is that for more than half of my life I have been a soccer dad.  We “Soccer Dads” don’t get to be called a political voting group like “Soccer Moms” … but if you hang with it long enough – you may get to go through what I have gone through lately.

     With three boys and coaching each since they were 6 years old (fortunately for them abdicating that role once they reached 14 years old) – I drove my share of minivans and SUV’s to tournaments hundreds of miles away --- and then cleaned out the cars late on Sunday evenings when we finally got home. 

     Now compare that to now when I get to travel with the US Team families in Brazil, I get to sit at Avaya Stadium – 40 minutes from my house – and watch my oldest play.  I get to watch my son, Stephen coach the Earthquakes Academy teams, and so much more.  My soccer dad life today is something I could have never imagined and something that I will be forever eternally grateful.

     But I don’t mind thinking back to Sunday evenings when I was cleaning out the car and fishing French Fries out from underneath the seats so that I could drive my commute down to work on Monday morning in a car that was not a rolling junk yard after a weekend tournament that included 400 miles and an overnight in a charming motel in Fresno.  

    Today – I was thinking about my life as a soccer dad.  A role that has lasted longer than most roles I have ever played in my life.  And last night I watched my oldest son score his 10^th goal for the United States Team in International Competition.  Most people would say it was not the most brilliant of goals – but most people would not be talking about their son scoring his 10^th goal for the United States Team in International Competition.

     Chris’ first goal in soccer probably happened about 3 minutes into an Under-8 game when I had him playing Under-8 at barely 6 years old.  But for reasons that only I will ever understand – this 10^th goal for the United States Team in International Competition is my favorite. 

     But the point to this blog (if it had a point at all) … is that last night as I went to sleep I started thinking about those Sunday nights of pulling all of the stuff out of the car after a weekend tournament – and realizing now what I should have realized then --- the wise soccer dads embrace those times because they will be some of the best memories they will ever have.  More than the goals and more than the wins … the crazy routine family moment matter – to everyone involved.

     And … because my son Matt always tells me that (a) he does not read what I write and (b) he is never mentioned.  He was our star goalkeeper for the Mustang White Buffaloes when we won State Cup 14 years ago.  Shutout 2-0.  Chris and I were the coaches and we rode Matt to the championship --- well, like a Buffalo. 

Warriors or Quakes - and Why Being a Father Makes That an Easy Choice

The Wondo household (at least the male contingent) has always been (a) interested in all sports all the time and (b) ardent supporters of the local teams.  With that thought … I offer the current dilemma of the Warriors playing tomorrow night in a game where we hope they win their first NBA Championship in 40 years – versus the Earthquakes Open Cup Game.  For me, there is no dilemma.  I saw the Warriors beat the Bullets in a clean sweep when I was in grade school.  In fact, I saw their coach get in a fight on the court during one of the games … so I’ve seen it all.  But I have not seen the Earthquakes play Sacramento in the Open Cup in my entire life – so I will be in my usual seat watching my favorite team. 

     Of course, finding someone around the Wondo household who will go with me to the Earthquakes game has become about as difficult as winning a header against Clarence Goodson.  It looks like I am flying solo but hopefully will hook up with The Best Thing to Ever Happen to Chris and The Little Diva and we can sit together.

     It makes me think about being a dad (it is Father’s Day coming up for anyone who hasn’t rushed out and purchased a bbq utensil for their dad yet).  Nobody ever really told you the truth about being a dad … for some reason there is this perpetual cycle of dads who spread this one-sided story that being a dad is just absolutely rainbows and butterflies.  I think it would be unfair for me to say that I have not seen my share of rainbows and butterflies – from each of my three sons and two step-daughters.  But I have given up a piece of my sports heritage in the process.

     One time, a few years ago I was at a Quakes game where Chris ended up scoring a hat-trick against Chivas USA.  It was great – except … the Giants were playing a playoff game that same night and I spent the night shifting between the Quakes game and the Giants playoff game.  Only to jump up and down when I checked and the Giants won and those sitting next to me said:  “Dude – that was on the scoreboard five minutes ago”.  I just said:  “Oh, thanks, I guess I was too wrapped up in this soccer game.”

     Last year, Chris looked at me in pre-game warmups to give him a sign on how the Giants were doing --- unfortunately I gave him a thumbs down (because we just popped up with two outs and runners in scoring position in the 8^th inning).  He took that to mean that we lost – the G-men ended up winning.  I failed as the messenger. 

     Fortunately – with the Giants and A’s successes … and now the Dubs successes … there have been many times that I have been at a Quakes game and been somewhat distracted by post-season games for our other teams. 

     My point to all of this babble?  … no point really – except that I would love to watch the Dubs tomorrow night … but nowhere near as much as I will love watching the Quakes tomorrow night.  It’s great when it looks like fatherly-sacrifice … but it is nothing even remotely like sacrifice.  And last Father’s Day??? Oh … I was sacrificing in Natal, Brazil with my two oldest sons ready to watch the USA play Ghana the next night … so that perpetual cycle of dads who spread this story about being a dad is absolutely rainbows and butterflies – I’m now one of them. (And – I need to mention my youngest son Matt because he always tells me that (a) he never reads what I write and (b) I never mention him).  And being his dad has also been rainbows and butterflies.  

100 Goals ... Wow

     Chris Wondolowski scored his 100^th goal in Major League Soccer yesterday and it made his father tremendously proud.  The thing about a Penalty Kick, when your son is taking the Penalty Kick, is that there is a short process … but a long enough process to make a dad completely nervous and crazy.  When Jordan Stewart earned the penalty, I promised myself that I would not jump out of my seat and thrust both arms into the air if Chris scored (basically I promised myself that I would not make a fool of myself).  That promise went into the category labeled unfulfilled unfortunately (sorry people who have to sit next to me).    

     I wish we won the game, but it ended up being about the most enjoyable evening after a home game tie that I have ever had.  Mrs. Wondo got a cake and Chris brought A Pequena Chefona and the Best Thing to Ever Happen to Him (his wife Lindsey) – along with his mother in law and David Bingham for a low-key celebration.  Even though it was low-key it was pretty fun for this blog writer. 

     In sports, numbers of specific outcomes become milestones for careers.  In baseball, 500 home runs or 3000 hits become significant milestones.  In football, 100 touchdowns or 10,000 yards gained become milestones.  In Major League Soccer, at least for goal production, 100 goals is a significant milestone.  As a father who also happens to be a lifelong soccer fan, to see my son’s name in the record books next to Edson Buddle, Taylor Twellman, and Dwayne DeRosario is honestly something that is hard for me to comprehend.  To see him do this for the team that I used to drive him and his brothers to watch when they were young – is beyond comprehension for me. 

     So yesterday I watched my oldest son reach a professional sports milestone that ended up being much more emotional for me than I would have ever imagined.  Maybe spending a few years traveling the country to watch him sit on the bench, warm up, and usually not go into the game ended up making his eventual success a sweeter accomplishment than it otherwise should have been to me.  After all, I was the guy who told Chris when he made the Earthquakes roster his rookie season that he could be Taylor Twellman (it is amazing how skewed a man’s opinion can get when the subject is the capability of his offspring).  To see him reach this milestone with Dominic Kinnear as his coach was really special ... to have Mark Watson in attendance on the opposite bench is bittersweet - but great.  I imagine Frank Yallop might have been watching ... and I hope those three coaches took as much pride as I did in the moment ... they did the navigation, I only did the spectating.  

     The 100 goal milestone for me, and I suspect for Chris, really is a measurement of his longevity in the league.  That is relevant because the most important thing to any professional athlete is to be respected by his teammates and trusted by his coaches.  When you get to hang around a league for enough years to score 100 goals, I believe that is an indicator of a player’s success in achieving that most important thing.  The fact that 96 of those goals have been scored for the Earthquakes is hopefully an indicator that he has earned the respect of his teammates, the trust of his coaches, the endorsement of the team’s management, and the support of the fan base who sacrifice their time and money to support the team.  No man could ask for more than that – as a player or as a father.

     I don’t know what is next, but I will be there watching the future unfold.  There is the next goal that ties him with the best pure forward ever to play in MLS (Taylor Twellman).  Or, coincidentally his 100^th goal with the Earthquakes that would tie him with his former teammate, mentor, and friend Dwayne DeRosario.  

    I will finish with some inside family information.  Lindsey keeps Chris down to earth and I think Chris is a pretty humble guy to begin with … together they are a delightfully humble couple.  But I believe that skips a generation.  A Pequena Chefona has seemed to grow quite comfortable with the spotlight (my wife and I simply call her Diva now).  If you ever see The Diva on television or at the stadium with Chris holding her … just know that 50% of that is because she is madly in love with her daddy and 50% of that is because she is madly in love with the spotlight. I am hoping that The Diva's enjoyment of the spotlight will be good positive motivation for continued success.