I would have to say that I have had this blog on my mind a lot today. I told Brittney that this was a way I could get my thoughts out without writing in a journal. I'm not good a journals, plus I feel like I'm not just talking to myself which makes it easier.
I am currently playing soccer 4 times a week and am really enjoying it. I would say that I'm about 90% healed from my groin tear that happened in March. It has been frustrating not being able to do certain things on the field that I used to but I'm also adapting to a different kind of play in my style. I have always been a power player, utilizing my strength, size, and quickness with soccer. Well that has had to change a little. I can only kick about 70% with my right leg. That is my power leg, the leg that got my college education paid for. I used to down right scare the hell out of people playing indoor soccer just by cocking my foot back. I used to utilize that fear when I would play. A typical attack that I would do in indoor soccer would be, get the ball and attack directly at the defender. Make him respect the speed at which I was coming. Try to get him on his heels, or at least force his momentum in that direction. When I would get around 10 feet or so from the defender, I would feel him out as a defender. A stepover or faint to the right or left, to see how hard he would bite for it. From their I can usually tell if I can get him off balance and blow the opposite direction past him, or whether I need to use strength or subtle movements to get around him. A good player will not go with any of my fakes but shadow my body. When this happens I can usually can use my ability to kick fairly accurately with either foot. If the opposing defender has noticed I can then it helps me cause he normally won't try to force me to one particular side. But now I am having to favor my left leg because of my groin. I can still take people on and go the right side, but it hurts like hell to shoot with my right leg. I get the throbbing and sharp pain shooting through my right leg, and the kick was still pretty pathetic. Thats shooting. I can pass, trap, and cut still with my groin still partially injured, but shooting it entirely different. Oh well, I'm hoping that by the spring, I will be back to 100%. I'm getting excited about playing football again for the Utah Wolverines.
My little brother Alex had to cover for me last year, as I tore my groin in the 1st quarter of our 1st preseason game. He did absolutely awesome that season. He was 8 out of 8 in his field goals, and had a long of 47. I know he is proud of that accomplishment and I am equally as proud of him. I had a lot of fun being on the sideline with him, or even being his holder for a few games. I could see how much he enjoyed it. I really wish he would take the initiative to play on his own for another team next year. That would be so fun to play on a team against him. He likes to say that he doesn't have the power that I do, but he is accurate. I'm not quite sure if he's saying that I am not accurate but all power, or simply being proud to be an accurate kicker. Either way I think he is one hell of a cool cat when it comes to field goal kicking. He definitely could have played college ball if he'd pursued it. But to each his own. I will give you my take on my college career in another blog. That is one thing that I am looking forward to. I have a lot to say about that and I'm sure there are a few who are curious. It didn't play out like everyone thinks. There were quite a few factors that contributed to my performance at the University of Utah. But until next time.
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