My sprained ankle from 8 weeks ago is still not fully recovered as I have been playing on it every Monday and Thursday. As I limped off the field of my indoor soccer game last night and into my car, I nearly began to cry. Not from pain, or anger–but from the sheer love I have for the game! We had just completed 50 minutes of all out intense soccer. It was the type of game that you love to play in! Everyone running through balls, tackling hard, and overcome with desire. If you have ever played in a game like this, then you know what I was feeling. Here I am 30 yrs old, with a swollen ankle, playing through pain for really what boils down to an organized pick up game! Why would I do this?

Because it is games and moments like these that make me utterly miss my youthful “competitive” playing days. When I was in high school I took for granted those games…knowing that college lay ahead. When I was in college….I took those games for granted hoping that someday I may have a professional career. As my collegiate days faded and the reality that I would not be playing in the MLS took hold, my heart couldn’t let go. My mind won’t let go. Soccer has given me some of the greatest moments of my life. In fact if I were to make a quick list of some of the best days of my life, I can assure you that a soccer game would show up in that list several times. No feeling in life, compares to the feeling of competition. Nothing can bring emotions out of me like soccer can. Nothing stirs up such love, frustration, and intensity like soccer does to me.

I live the sport of soccer, I love it for everything it has given me and will give me in the future. It has taken me to countries around the world, and given me friends for life (yes, Dunseth that includes you). Soccer is just a game to many but to me it made me who I am. It instilled in me passion, love, desire, camaraderie, friendship, dedication…the list continues.

So as I limp to work each morning I can feel that pain in my foot. You would think I would despise that twinge in each step….but it reminds of my past and why soccer will always be who I am.

Joe