MISL Season wrap up/Soccer update

I haven't written since last year...pretty sad. Usually (like most people) I get motivated in the beginning of a new year to write again or do something I haven't done in a while. Obviously that didn't happen. But anyways Vegas was crazy, so much going on it's a really awesome city but not for me honestly. I'll take Miami any day over it, but that's probably biased since I'm from there. I really enjoyed spending time with my family, and hanging out with them. Also gotta give a S/O to my girl Kristi she took me out in Vegas style and it was really cool, tons of fun, and no sleep hah. Overall I'd give Vegas like a 6-7 the buildings, shows, & food are a must while there but I guess for me I'll just take a beach over anything really, but you definitely have to go there once!

So onto the MISL & my rookie season. Last you guys read I was recovering from my injury I'd say I'm about 90% NOW just cause I never healed it properly, and there are still movements I can't do so that injury affected me a lot more than the 6-8 weeks than I thought. Anyways I was blessed to have two fantastic coaches and a whole bunch of great teammates my first year in the league, all the big expectations weren't made out to be with many setbacks during the season. But I feel good about next season, I've learned a lot about the indoor game the best way you can, by simply playing. We ended this season not making the playoffs, but we've definitely created a good bond and I'm excited for next year. The MISL refs though in all honesty really need to improve, so many bad calls I saw this year! I'm talking about calls that change the complexion of the game causing different results, they shouldn't have that much control in a soccer match. Oh well...right now Milwaukee Wave host Baltimore Blast for the 2nd game in the best of 3 series where the first match saw Milwaukee winning in convincing fashion 14-2 I believe. So for me I met a ton of great people in the league, and it's cool how everyone knows everyone in this league. Also playing in Wichita has been a huge blessing for me, I'm humbled and feel lucky to be apart of such a great organization, and to play in front of the BEST fans in the league!!! When you got fans waiting for you at the airport on a Sunday night that's love. You just won't find that anywhere else. I will be coming back to Wichita in October and I get jittery just thinking about it.

Also in my last post I wrote about going to the USL Combine, I gotta say I'm not a fan of it. It seems like a money scheme thing more than anything. And I don't say that cause I had a bad combine, I say that cause everything is so jam packed. Most players were exhausted by the last game or even second game. I definitely was considering my schedule that weekend, this is how it went for me.

Thursday - Game vs Milwaukee in Wichita 730pm ended around 10:30-11ish
Friday - Drive from Wichita to Kansas City at 2am 3 hours get to KC @ 5am catch a 6:30am flight.
Friday - Connect in Atlanta around 8:50am catch a 9:40am flight to Sarasota.
Friday - Arrive to Sarasota around 11am catch a shuttle to IMG Academies. Have lunch.
Friday - 3:30pm training session followed by a yoyo test got home about 6:30pm finally.
Saturday - 90 minute game at 11am
Saturday - 90 minute game at 3pm
Sunday - 90 minute game at 9am combine done at noon.


It's so ridiculous & hectic and most importantly unfair to the players! But oh well lesson learned, if you have another option besides the USL Combine, take it! So yeah the USL combine was not good to me, also considering I was kinda beat up from playing Milwaukee.

After that I wrapped up my season in Wichita which ended about 2 weeks ago today? I wasn't sure what I was going to do after the season so I called up one of my buddies who's playing for the Atlanta Silverbacks and asked him to get me in contact with the coach, I did & was asked to come try out and show what I got. I been here now for 11 days & for the first 9 days I was doing really well, I know I impressed and was getting along great with the guys. The training regime here has been really tough on me, given the fact I haven't rested for more than like two days in the past 6 months (aside from Xmas) has my body worn out. So doing these two a days was killing me, I kept up & produced a good work rate. Then I was told Saturday (yesterday) would be my like my main trial as we played host to Mercer University, unfortunately I played God awful, and had the worst performance since arriving to Atlanta, along with pulling my hamstring in the 55th minute and asking for sub out. Post game I asked the coach to have a word with him. We ended up deciding we'd speak over the phone cause he had to go.

So I called him and the conversation long story short was "How can I justify to the GM, President, & Ownder giving you a contract when you failed the exam, the main part today" there was a lot more open and honest conversation between the coach and I but it ended up with him saying the words a soccer player never wants to here. "Well we have your number, and we'll call you if anything." I knew what that meant, and I knew what time it was. So as I spoke with my parents, brothers, and friends I was trying to figure out when I was gonna go back to Miami when I got a call back from the coach. The call again to make long story short went like this "After reanalyzing your situation, I'm gonna give you another chance. We have a game Wednesday so rest today, tomorrow, and Monday get your mind right or whatever you have to do. Tuesday I'll see you at training, and Wednesday you'll have another chance." I was ecstatic, humbled, and thankful. Ecstatic to have another chance to earn a contract, humbled by the belief the coach had in me and his change of heart so quick, which I feel like quite honestly was God interjecting. Sort of like God saying, na na na na, these are the plans for my son, so He will succeed! So obviously thankful to God & the coach for a second chance, not everyday we get one but when you do....better be damn sure you make the most out of it. So that's where I am right now soccer wise, my next post probably tomorrow will talk more about my life, and how I 2012 has not been good to me, and my struggles in my personal life. Tune in for it read it!! God is goooooood

God Bless!!!