My new soccer friends...oh yeah and the game as well

I went to Safeway yesterday morning and came across Franklin HS, which just so happens to have a turf football field with soccer goals on it right now. Today, I went to work out there and met these two guys who were working out on the other goal. Gabriel is a 31 year old librarian at the local library who is trying to get back into soccer. It used to be his number one sport when he was in high school but he got a basketball scholarship to college, I didn't ask where. People like Gabriel are the athletes that soccer missed out on by not becoming larger in America until now. He's about 6'3-6'4, pretty built, but still trim and quick at the same time. And he's a keeper. And he still loves soccer, just hasn't played in 8 years. Then there was Eban, who was 35 and grew up in Paraguay. Eban is in music and also is a medical translator. He's 35 and has football in his blood. He's one of those guys who just goes outside and jiggles for half an hour without dropping it because he wants to. Anyway, we exchanged numbers since they love to knock it around, shoot, whatever. They're playing in a local indoor league and were trying to get Gabriel back into keeper mode. God he was a big boy.

Oh, as for the game yesterday. I went down, but did not dress, which annoyed me. I guess it annoyed me that they asked me to come down, but didn't have me dress, or even talk to me about it, didn't pay for my meals, and just kind of...had me around. What a wonderful way to spend July 4. I didn't really know what to do with myself. It would have been super awkward had they won (they toed 1-1 by giving up a 90th minute goal) because it would have clinched 1st place for them. While they were all celebrating, I would have been standing there, awkwardly. I have nothing invested emotionally with this team yet, and even when I do, it won't nearly be to the level that they do. At least not this year. They're next practice isn't until Wednesday, so I guess I'll be on my own to work out until then. I've gotta join a gym and get my swell on.