June 13, 2006

I speak for all soccer players when I say this past weekend was unbelievably gratifying. Stepping from the Bronxville Metro-North platform onto the Grand Central-bound train last Friday I began what is usually a pretty monotonous work day in downtown Manhattan. However, Friday was different. It was the start of the world's largest sporting event--a month long exhibition of the most beautiful sport this land has to offer: the World Cup.

If, in true American fashion, you do not share my excitement, I feel sorry for you. Watching the unbelievable footwork of Ronaldinho, Adriano, Drogba, Christiano Ronaldo and the hundreds of others lined up on the fields in Germany is one of the most inspirational sights as an athlete. It is why as a youngster in New York I chose soccer over the many other sports which I played day in and day out. The athleticism we are beginning to watch in the World Cup is what each of the world's several million `footballers' strives to mimic.

That having been said, the Hoya Soccer players are indeed sharing in my excitement and translating the international game's beauty onto their summer training grounds all over the country. Two of my teammates, Ben Jefferson-Dow and co-captain Tim Convey are in Germany watching the World Cup live. Tim is, of course, the younger brother of the United States starting midfielder Bobby Convey. We can all imagine the thrills these two are getting--I can't imagine a better way to inspire these two athletes coming into this coming fall season.

Back in Chicago, the Grasso brothers (Peter and Daniel) are working hard. Both, having recently returned from injury, are completing their timed runs successfully. In South Carolina, Alex Pangraze is enjoying the southern heat until it is time to step out onto the track. He reports, however, that his runs are going quite well in spite of the sweltering South Carolina weather. Incoming freshman Scott Larrabee is eager to begin work in August with Coach Wiese and company, as he reports that he has been training extra hard in sunny California to ensure a smooth transition from club to college ball.

That's all for now. Be sure to watch a few World Cup games, preferably on Univision (American Commentators are quite embarrassing), and try and picture Andrew Keszler diving across his line like the Czech Republic's Peter Cech. As he stands he distributes to Mike Glaccum, a flanker whose speed resembles that of Portugal's Christiano Ronaldo. Glaccum strikes a ball across the opposing side's back line to Daniel Grasso, who slots it home in true `van Nistelrooy' fashion. Try and dream with me at least for a moment...

Until Next Week,

Hoya Saxa

Ricky Schramm (C'07)