SHOOTIN' THE BREEZE - Men's team performance sparks soccer interest

By Paul 'Duke' Dubois

I always wondered why it took so long for the United States to have a formidable men's national soccer team.

For decades, soccer was nothing more than a secondary sport in the United States, trailing baseball, football, basketball, hockey and track and field in interest. But about 20 years ago, at least in this neck of the woods, kids started playing soccer, not just a few kids, but thousands of them.

They started out right after they learned how to walk and soon competitive programs sprung up in virtually every city and town. Now, state indoor and outdoor programs take place year-round and as a participation sport, soccer could very well be the most popular youth sport around.

It stands to reason that as the stars of those youth leagues became high school and then college players, that there would be an extremely solid foundation for the sport in this country. National teams have shown from time to time, as our women's World Cup team did a few years back, that they can compete on the world level.

But I guess it's tough to break tradition, and the men's team always seemed to come up short - until this year when they defeated Spain, the top-rated team in the world, 2-0. By winning, the maligned United States advanced to its first men's FIFA final since starting play in 1916.

Then, the U.S.A. team took Brazil down to the last minutes before losing in the Confederations Cup Tournament, 3-2, during the weekend.

Maybe the team's success will spark even more interest. It all starts with kids and kids programs, and we've got an abundance of those.

Here 'N There

* Even though I was out on the fields for many of them, I'm still scratching my skull wondering how in the world all of the local school and recreational leagues managed to successfully complete their seasons this year.

Rain has fallen literally every single day, forcing postponements, but somehow, every league got to complete its season and playoffs.

Kudos to city and town workers who have been taxed to the limit trying to keep fields in playable condition, and to all the volunteers, coaches, managers, players and parents who tolerated altering their own schedules to get the job done.

* Although family matters kept me home this year, I'm hearing that those who took part in this year's Valley Breeze baseball trip had a great time. Publisher Tom Ward and News Editor Nancy O'Halloran led this year's delegation to the nation's capital, where the Boston Red Sox were playing against the Washington Nationals.

They got to see the Sox win one, and lose one, and had a day in between to visit all of the D.C. attractions.

They got to watch future sure-fire Hall of Famer John Smoltz pitch his first game in a Boston uniform and were part of history as the park set attendance records for three consecutive nights for the first time in its history.

After taking a poll of those making the trip, we've been told that it looks as though Baltimore and Camden Yards, with its fabulous nearby Inner Harbor, will be next season's baseball trip destination, so start planning.

* Also worth mentioning and sending kudos to is everyone associated with the 11th annual CVS Caremark Charity Golf Classic, started by Rhode Island professionals Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade. They had to do some fancy stepping of their own and juggle the schedule because several of the golfers scheduled to participate were still playing in the U.S. Open, which was delayed by weather.

Somehow, they filled the bill, and despite lousy weather, golfers braved the conditions and got the tournament completed.

The team of David Toms and Nick Price shot an 11-under-par 60, giving them a three-stroke margin and the title of 2009 CVS Caremark Charity Classic champions.

In my opinion, the tournament's best story was Boo Weekley, who informed tournament officials after play was completed that in the spirit of the charity event, he was donating half his earnings, $42,500, to the cause.

His explanation was simply that he thought in these economic times, there are people who needed the money more than he does.

* While I doubt that it happens, I'm rooting for Tim Wakefield to be named to the Major League all-star team for the first time in his career. He's already got double-digits in wins this season and can qualify on that basis. How many more chances, at age 42, will he have? Maybe he can be the fans selection if he's one of the five players fans can vote for after the all-star team has been named.