That was Fast, Part II

The first part of ‘That Was Fast’ was about how quickly I went back out to Seattle to play for the Pumas. This edition focuses on how quickly they’ve made my time out here playing soccer miserable and have all but ensured that I won’t be back for them next year. A large combination of exclusions, half-truths, and circumlocutions have made it so only specific circumstances next year would bring me back to Bremerton, most I haven’t even decided upon. I just know that it would take some extremes. Anyway, this is the list of how they’ve treated me poorly in the three weeks since I arrived. Most aren’t a huge deal individually, but when you add them all up…

I was asked to come out here with the understanding that there would be two keepers: the starter and me. When I got out here, my first two practices there were 5, and ever since then there have been 4. It’s their decision to have this many keepers out there. I don’t care. But don’t lead me to believe that there will be 2 and my training will be much more individualized than it would be.

Pissed off scale (1-10): 6

I had multiple conversations with the head coach about wages before I came out here. I told me – and he concurred – that I didn’t need a whole contract, but at least a partial one of what every other player had. I knew I was coming out mid way through the season and wasn’t going to get much playing time, but still, I was moving across the country to play for them because they asked me to, so some compensation would be nice. When I was offered my contract, the amount I was offered was 0$/month. Really? I had to go to Bremerton one day and have a meeting with the owner and chief exec and convince them to pay me something. Again, if you want to offer me nothing, fine. But don’t lead me to believe that I’d be offered something and then give me nothing.

Pissed off scale: 8

The email list. Despite signing 4 weeks ago and asking to be put on it as well, I’m still not on the team email list. I have to continuously call people on the team to find out about meetings/practices and don’t get any messages from the head coach, assistant, keeper coach, secretary, owner, chief exec, or anyone else that might have something important to say to the team.

Pissed off scale: 3

General exclusions. Whenever it gets brought up about people coming from Seattle or havng to travel distance to practice, I’m not included. It’s a 90 minute drive each way if I drive, including gas money and the toll for the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. If I take the ferry it takes even longer since I can’t make the ferry leave whenever I want to go. I’ve got to get there on time, wait for it to leave, wait for practice once I’m there, wait for the ferry after practice, and then get home (including practice, generally a 6 hour commitment). Also, this costs 7 dollars for the ferry and a total of 5 for the light rail train. For someone who doesn’t really have an income, these costs add up. I’ve also been excluded when “team fine” talks and am excluded from receiving the same sponsor perks as the rest of the team.

Pissed off scale: 2

Apparel. I don’t have the same uniforms as the other the other keepers. My uniform really makes me look like an absolute muppet. I actually only have one jersey, whereas the others have two (different colors): one to warm up in and one to play in. In addition, I don’t have any of the practice gear, warm-ups, rain coat, or team bag. I look like a fool most times when the team is together. What’s more, these things have never even been discussed with me.

Pissed off scale: 5

The final straw. So I haven’t been playing. Fine, I haven’t been rostered (they can only roster 2 keepers per game) but I’m getting paid. The team (they? We?) won their 2^nd round national playoff game the other day, so they go to Texas to play the quarters/semis. I knew that I probably wasn’t going to go, however, just when the assistant coach has everyone gathered around to tell everyone logistics, the head coach and keeper coach interrupts him “Andrew, hold on a sec. Brett? Can we have a word over here please…” Wow. Really? Cool, thanks for the world-class humiliation. Everyone in the complex knew what they were going to say to me, you could have been deaf and knew what they were saying to me. They couldn’t have told me before or after the team meeting about logistics? They had to call me out in front of the entire team and get all of the attention on me so everyone was focused on me getting told like a child that I wasn’t going to go on the trip. Sweet guys.

Pissed off scale: 10

So, it would probably take something along the lines of this bring me back (however form the treatment I’ve received, it doesn’t seem like they want me back, oddly enough.): a much higher pay, paid for gear (including gloves and cleats), paid for transportation, and normal treatment for a player on the team. I’d rather not get paid and enjoy myself than get paid and have a shitty time doing it.

Other than that, everyone’s been great. The house hunt is…continuing for some friends from college. We’re looking for a place up near Green Lake, kind of the Central Park of Seattle. Job search continues as well. So really, nothing is new, just a long rant for today.