Soccer is the world’s game.  Taking up the game allowed me to learn about the world.  Playing the game allowed me to interact with people from different places and communicate with people from different backgrounds.  Coaching the game allowed me to travel and experience the world.

When I first started playing soccer in Los Angeles, I had teammates from all over…England, Germany, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, Ireland, Canada, and more.  My coaches were from places such as England, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Croatia, and Italy. We got along.  We worked well together.  We had great times enjoying the game.

 

One of the first lessons I learned in this environment is that everyone can play.  You can be any size, any shape, any gender,  any social status, any religion, any orientation, and -yes- any color.  It doesn’t matter.  If you can work hard, move the ball, compete and be a good teammate, then you can excel.

Growing up American and living in the U.S.A., I was taught that our society worked that way as well. If you worked hard, followed the rules, and were a good neighbor, then you would be given that same chance to excel.

The murder of George Floyd last week in Minnesota and other recent events have shown once again that this is not the case for everyone.  This is a painful and heartbreaking reality.  The protests on the TV and here on the streets of Salt Lake City say the same thing, “this is not fair and equal.” This is not what I learned in the game of soccer.  And it is not what I learned growing up in the U.S.A.

I have the following quote on my desk:

“It’s the action, not the fruit of the action, that’s important. You have to do the right thing. It may not be in your power, may not be in your time, that there’ll be any fruit. But that doesn’t mean you stop doing the right thing. You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

I try to live by that.

Today is one of the most important times to step up and do the right thing.  I’m going to listen, talk and act. I’ve got a lot of friends that can help.  They feel the same way because soccer taught us that.