My soccer career would not have been possible without the love and support from my mom and dad. They are responsible for nearly two decades of driving me to and from practices and games, flying me across country for camps, recruiting visits, and tournaments and years of cheering from the sidelines. Through the roller coaster of my soccer career, and let me tell you, it’s had it’s fair share of ups and downs, they’ve been there every step of the way, and I am eternally grateful for them.
This past weekend, we played Brandeis in our final home game of the season. The school honored us (seniors) with a pregame ceremony, but I couldn’t help but think that my parents should have been the ones honored. Behind the eight of us, stood parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters who all made sacrifices to help us reach our goals of playing college soccer for NYU. Sure, we battled injuries, balanced classwork with a demanding travel schedule, but our parents and families were the ones who reassured us at the end of every phone call, every text, every email. They believed in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves and pushed us when we didn’t think we could go any further.
So in honor of the end of my soccer career, I would like to thank my parents because without them, I would be nowhere close to where I am today.
As I sit here on my last bus ride to Gaelic, I find it surprising that I’m not overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. It is, after all, my last collegiate soccer game, the last game of my career.
Man, that’s depressing to write.
Today begin like any other day – I got up, got ready, met up with Phebe and headed to Coles. Four years of waking my tired body, and forcing myself to get out of bed. Four years of carefully evaluating pregame and practice meals. Four years of walking to and from second home, Coles. Four years of taping my body up, of icing, of stretching, and foam rolling. Four years of hopping in vans and buses just to get to our “home” fields. And after four years, it’s all coming to an abrupt halt.
It still hasn’t hit me yet. I’ve been reflecting on it all week but I’m still at a loss for words. How can I describe my four-year career in a single word? Ineffable – I don’t expect you to understand because it’s simply been indescribable in so many positive and negative ways.
Come December I won’t have mandatory workouts, or meetings or lifts or events to attend. I won’t have to pass fitness tests or complete three-minute planks. I won’t have a stringent schedule to follow all summer and winter and I most definitely won’t have the last three weeks of summer planned out down to the last minute.
So, what comes next? Retirement? If we win or tie today, we might get an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament next week. If we lose, there is the chance of ECAC’s, which would be great and terrible at the same time. Making the NCAA tournament has been a goal of mine for the past four years. This has been a long time coming and I can only hope that we continue to perform to the best of our abilities.
I’ve collected a series of shots over the past four years. Looking back its crazy to see how much has changed.
Frustration might not be the right word to describe what I was feeling going into this preseason. Frustrated doesn’t even begin to explain it. Upset, disheartened, and defeated don’t even get close to describing how I was feeling.
After a deadlifting accident last Fall, my lower back was in a state of chaos – leaving L4/L5 and L5/S1 partially sacralized and the prospect of returning 100% was questionable. Numerous doctors appointments, x-rays, cortisone injections, and physical therapy appointments failed to get me where I wanted heading into my senior season. Nevertheless, I was determined to get back on the field.
August 13th rolled around and I still had back spasms during workouts and a numb sensation down my leg whenever I ran for more than a few minutes. In a word, debilitating. I might as well have had the word UNCLEARED tattooed across my forehead because that was the simple truth. Another cortisone injection, a cocktail of medications, ice baths and a daily back massages helped me get on the field again. It was slow and excruciating learning how to dive again so that I didn’t further damage my spine. I believed that because I had done this twice before, why not a third time?
Nearly a month from that first day back on the field, just jogging for ten minutes, I am now back at it and fully cleared. There is still a painful jolt to my back every time my body slams into the ground, I have come to the realization that it is worth it. Every dive, every kick, every sprint. It is after all, my senior season.
It comes as no surprise to me that my time at Fitness Quest 10 flew by quicker than you can bust out 10 burpees, but hey, time flies when you’re getting fit right? The competitive yet family like culture, sheer positive energy radiating from the facility and the beaming trainers, employees and clients are just a few of the many reasons why my internship this summer rocked so much.
I’ve learned so much during the course of my internship, like how to deal with high profile clients, and how to explain my fitness journey to people, but perhaps the most helpful thing I’ve come to learn is the importance of the people whom you surround yourself with.
It’s not everyday when you’re get up at 5:30, work out at 6, work for 8 hours, and you still want to hang out with the people you’ve just spent 12 hours with. There is something to be said about the people I had the incredible opportunity to work with at Fitness Quest 10 these past few months. I looked forward to going to work each and every morning, not because I loved what I did (which I really did!), but because of the people who greeted me with a huge smile at 6AM in the morning and gave me gigantic hugs each night as I left completely drenched with sweat. These trainers, clients, and staff transformed my life in so many ways; I couldn’t even begin to list how much I will miss them. Though the employees at the gym were absolutely incredible, this post is dedicated to my FITSPIRATION, all the interns who I had the distinct opportunity to get know on a more personal basis.
Amanda – My fellow marketing intern! Your go-with-the-flow personality and contagious smile made coming to work that much easier. I was ecstatic upon finding out that you would be my fellow marketing intern and am so glad I got to know you better. You taught me so much using the cameras and I really enjoyed being partners in crime with you and grabbing Starbucks (and Chez) with you. Best of luck at Oregon, I know we’ll keep in touch.
Emma – Do your feet hurt from kicking so much ass? Girl, you’re running the world and you don’t even know it yet. I loved coming into the gym and yelling your name because I knew I would get an equally loud response, followed by an epic hug. Keep your head up and working hard because it will pay off.
Elliott – Pretty Boy, I miss your awesome hugs already. Let me tell you how inspiring you are to us all. Your love for your family, desire to be the best and big smile on your face is truly encouraging, especially during a grueling workout. Though we didn’t get to hang out as much as I wanted, I know we will hang in the near future. Much love my fellow San Diegan.
Sibel – DUDE! You’ve made an impact on my life, left footprints on my heart, and have forever changed my outlook on everything, especially food. Your passion for nutrition and fitness is inspiring and even though I vehemently make fun of your Paleo lifestyle (PALEO OR DIE), please note that it is because I love you and am jealous I don’t have the will power to do that.
Sam – I wish I could convey how incredibly cerebral and passionate you are, but I know my words do you no justice. Just trust me guys, he’s really intelligent! I loved our DMS sessions and learning about anatomy and just hanging with you and Britt. I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody as laidback and as we say here in California, “Chill”. You are making a huge splash in the fitness industry and I can’t wait to see what happens next.
Ryan – Let’s make it known that I lost every single bet I ever made against Ryan. Whether it was a throwing contest or a basketball contest or just Friday Game Day with the kids in the gym, you treated me like a younger sister, and I can’t even begin to explain how much that meant to me. Thanks for putting me in my place when I needed it and pushing me to my limits in the weight room. I look forward to you kicking butt on the football field, but watch out because I’m going to be winning this next bet (I just haven’t decided what it is yet). Check out this video of Ryan doing a Men’s Health Challenge. P.S. It’s about to go down.
Zach (with Traps) – Oh boy! Where do I start with you? At first I thought you were some crazy intense trainer who wouldn’t talk to a lowly marketing intern like myself, but you opened up and I’m so glad to call you my friend. Even though you have your tough exterior, you are so incredibly kind and are an awesome fried chicken cook (nom nom nom). Thanks for “keeping it real” with me and reminding me to stay hungry and humble in all aspects of my life.
Justin – Mr. Just Go Fitness. You really are just GO GO GO and I LOVE it. I thought you would get sick of me by summer’s end but you never said “NO” and I think that’s pretty rad. Your encapsulating hugs, the no-look fist bumps, and Jeff King/Old Spice Man impersonations always put a huge smile on my face. I know you’re going to rock as a Personal Trainer and I can’t wait to be making the big bucks to hire you. Check out Justin’s Webpage here to see what he’s been up to!
Jesse – I don’t even know where to start with you Jes. I feel like you’re a little kid in an adult’s body and you keep me young at heart. You are so incredibly genuine and I don’t think I have met anybody else (or a hockey fan) who would OR could tolerate me bashing your beloved Penguins on an almost daily basis. Though you may root for Pittsburgh, say some words funny (Carnegie ahemm!), and messed up a very famous Steeler’s coach’s name, I love you to death and am so glad I got to meet you this summer. Keep your head up, keep making videos with Amanda, and stay forever young. You can check out Jesse’s awesome blog here!
Jenni – JENNAYYYYY! My snuggle buddy. My new older sister. My new best friend. You keep me humble and have rekindled my confidence in our generation. Your passion for life, your incredible faith, and incredible work ethic is OUT OF THIS WORLD. You have taught me so much, given me a ton of advice on EVERYTHING, and shown me how to lead a life worth living. I can’t believe we only got to spend 6 weeks together, but it’s been something I wouldn’t trade for the world. You’ve been through so much but your strength is unreal and just being around you makes me want to be a better person. I love you so much.
The interns on the 4th of July
I love you guys to the moon and back and hope you realize that this summer was something incredibly special. I expect you all to stay in touch and come visit in New York because I already miss you tons.
Here’s some videos of the interns dancing, because hey who doesn’t love dancing interns?
Keep an eye out for these guys. Next thing you know, they will be on the cover of Men’s Health or on a huge billboard in Times Square. Their future is bright, their smiles brighter, and their hearts full of gold.
A lot has happened in the world of college athletics this past week. NCAA President, Mark Emmert, has been under fire from press regarding his dodgy past, former FGCU Men’s basketball coach Andy Endfield accepted a multi-million dollar, six year contract at USC, Kevin Ware received national attention for his brutal injury, but perhaps most newsworthy is the video that surfaced from Rutgers University showing former head basketball coach Mike Rice physically and verbally abusing his athletes.
As a current NCAA student-athlete and aspiring collegiate coach, I could not believe my eyes when I watched the tape showing Rice throwing basketballs at player’s heads and using derogatory and homophobic language to “encourage” his players to work harder. While coaching styles vary greatly – all the way from the passive recreational coaches of our youth to the most intense, undermining, chair throwing ones– there is no one style that has proven successful. I’ve had my fair share of screaming coaches, who thought they could encourage a group of 16 year old girls by yelling at the top of their lungs, but perhaps my most influential coaches were the ones who actually treated me with respect, mentored me, and made the game fun, yet still competitive.
This incident brings forth a number of questions with regard to coaching hires across the board in college athletics. While most coaches undergo basic training to ensure they understand the rules and regulations of their respective coaching division, there is a lack of coaching education in the United States, which unfortunately leads to cases like this. I do not recall in any of my classes or experiences, being taught the importance of belittling other people to push them the extra distance, nor do I recall ever being told that it was okay to abuse somebody physically. It just goes to show that reform within the NCAA is of the utmost importance at this point.
On Friday it came out that Rutgers fired the athletic director Tim Pernetti, which may confuse some people. Although there are advocates for keeping the AD around, the athletic department knew about the abuse scandal because people had reported the behavior, similar to the Penn State Football (Sandusky Case). Ian Diatlo, a former student manager noted to the press that the Rutgers athletic administration “was really turning a blind eye to it.” It’s one thing to try to protect an athletic department, and another to protect an individual. The results will always be the same if you try to cover something up – the truth always has a way of coming out.
The bottom line stands that no athlete should have to endure a coach that abuses him or her. Sports, for many, despite being über competitive at the Division I level, are a sanctuary, usually a place where athletes can escape the craziness outside the gym. Mike Rice ruined that for those young men. There are no excuses for Mike Rice’s behavior and the athletic department’s lack of action and in my opinion, they owe the school, the families of current and former players who trusted them, and the young men he coached a massive apology. While there is nothing Rice can say nor do to take back the horrible things he did, the only thing we can do is learn and protect future athletes from this horrific and shocking behavior.
In light of the recent, devastating injury that Louisville star, Kevin Ware, sustained in the elite eight game against Duke last week, I feel it is necessary to explore the repercussions of his injury and the role of the NCAA in his recovery and for injured athletes across the country. To fully comprehend the impact of this injury on his future, it’s critical to have an understanding of the way scholarships work within the NCAA. At the Division I level, athletes who earn scholarships are usually on a year-to-year basis, however the NCAA has allowed some multi-year scholarships to blue chip recruits. That being said, a scholarship can be increased, decreased, renewed, or even taken away contingent upon a student-athlete’s success both on the court and in the classroom, as evaluated by the coaching staff each year. In that regard, a season-ending injury sustained by a student-athlete in a revenue earning sport, such as basketball, at the Division I level, can potentially end scholarship, and even academic hopes for these college students.
For years, controversy has swirled around the NCAA and its revenue making March Madness tournament, which this year has already generated over $1 billion dollars. Current and former student-athletes, NCAA Critics, and parents alike have questioned why the student-athletes who are generating this revenue, are not being monetarily compensated for their efforts? The debate regarding paying student-athletes is a double-edged sword, however. While student-athletes may receive a “free” education per se and other perks, they do not receive workers compensation for injuries sustained while playing and if injured, sometimes have to bear the costs of their injuries, especially down the road. It is well-known, that receiving any other benefits outside of the scholarship is a direct NCAA violation and will result in major penalties. And while some may argue that paying student-athletes would wreck the sanctity that is amateur athletics, rather than paying them, it has been suggested the NCAA should offer them the same negotiation and labor rights provided to nearly every other employed American. NCAA President Mark Emmert notes on his welcome page in regards to pay for play,“As long as I’m president of the NCAA, we will not pay student-athletes to play sports. Compensation for students is just something I’m adamantly opposed to. We’re providing athletes with world-class educations and world-class opportunities. If they are one of the few that are going to move on to become a pro athlete, there’s no better place in the world to refine their skills as a student-athlete.” Though he makes a valid point, he does not address the mounting topic surrounding injuries and star athletes in this business. It’s amazing to think that nothing is owed nor guaranteed (because the NCAA Catastrophic Insurance does not necessarily cover every injury) for injured student-athletes, who are bringing potential millions to these universities.
According to its website, the NCAA was “Founded more than one hundred years ago as a way to protect student-athletes, the NCAA continues to implement that principle with increased emphasis on both athletics and academic excellence.” The question at hand now is how does the NCAA intend to protect its student athletes in their endeavors both athletically and academically, if they sustain a career ending injury? How do they expect students to pay for colleges that are upwards of $50,000 a year without a scholarship and no prospect of making any money? The solution is a grave one, but only time will tell if student-athletes are willing to take a stand against the NCAA to protect their rights.
On March 8th we celebrate International Women’s Day to commemorate the strides women have made in all aspects of society. This day has been observed since the beginning of the nineteenth century – a point in time where women were granted a number of rights and privileges amidst the rise of fundamental principles we value today. However, a number of women in the sports field, both fans and professionals alike, are still being sidelined. Their “knowledge” of the game comes into play when people criticize female analysts and fans discussing a men’s game. The same rules don’t seem to apply to men in any way, shape or form. It’s time to change that.
I’ve spent my whole life surrounded by sports. Watching football on Sunday was considered a religious holiday and my early February birthday was, and will always be synonymous with the Super Bowl. I grew up playing on all-guys teams, because the number of girls interested in playing sports in my community was dismal. My mom introduced me to more sports than I can remember and coached my youth “recreational” days. My dad guided me through the college recruiting process, always making a point to sneak into the athletic facilities while on campus tours. So when the opportunity presented itself to major in Sports Management and move to New York, home to over ten professional sports franchises, there was no question to what my answer would be.
Living in New York City has been a dream come true. Coming from San Diego, where fair-weather fans are as common as the beautiful weather itself, it was a relief to be part of a city where fans bleed for their team. That dream turned into a devastating nightmare when, over the course of the past two years, I began to notice an unsettling trend. Though the uneven ratio of girls to guys at local sports bars has yet to bother me, the attitudes of some of my fellow sports fans have begun to surface. The more people I’ve met, the more I’ve realized how quickly my comments about sporting events are dismissed and marginalized. By the time this past October rolled around, I could barely get a word in about Mathias Kiwanuka’s sack in the 49ers game, let alone comment on Victor Cruz’s yardage stats. I was stunned, confused, and quite honestly a bit angry. Why didn’t my opinion matter to my male friends? Was it because I wasn’t from New York and rooting for the G-Men? Or was it purely because I was a girl, which barred me from making a comment?
The question stems from a simple, “is it because I’m a girl?” and develops into a more complex question – “is it because of our cultural upbringing?” Sports are valued as a sign of masculinity, which makes it taboo for women to watch ESPN with the boys. Our society has created such a competitive culture, that girls have to compete for their right to express an opinion concerning the questionable call in the MNF game. It appears to me that there’s something seriously wrong within the sport culture and the mindset of American sports fans. The verdict is out: when one group of fans isn’t taken seriously, the ref needs to throw his flag and blow the whistle.
Last week, Danica Patrick made history at Daytona. No, she did not finish first, nor did she break any time barriers. She simply made headlines by being the first female to win a pole position in the Sprint Cup Series, finishing eighth overall – the best finish by a woman. Though she didn’t get the result she was looking for, she made the news for being a female in a male dominated sport. She has proven that she can race, yet the male commentators failed to mention the strides she had made in the past five years – they only pointed out her differences, the fact that she was a woman and didn’t have what it takes to be the best. What they failed to recognize was that she wouldn’t be on the tracks, unless she could compete. What failed to happen was recognizing a woman for her accomplishments as professional, not as a member of the opposite sex. This system of thinking as portrayed in various media forms has extended to all aspects of life for females in the sporting world – the glass ceiling for female professionals has yet to be broken and the same goes for female sport fans. There is still an unseen, yet unbreakable barrier that keeps us from rising to the upper rungs of the sports world, regardless of our education and achievements. We’ve come a long way since allowing women into the sports world, why don’t we still have respect?
But there’s more…
Earlier this year, the New York Rangers posted a female fan submission to their website titled the “Girls Guide to Watching the Rangers”; to say that I was infuriated would be a severe understatement. This sexist article sparked a fire within me and led me to question my fellow sports fans across the country and around the globe. Just because I was born a girl, did that make me inferior to the Blueshirt next to me? Was I not allowed to scream at Lundqvist for letting in a soft goal because the gift shop carries pink sparkly t-shirts in my size? Though this article was quickly taken down, it was a wake up call to the sports community. The controversy it caused, brought to light to the number of female fans who take hockey, and any sports for that matter, seriously. But it also brought forward another important point – men aren’t the only ones to blame. Girls who take no interest in the game, yet ask if Gaborik scored a touchdown during the second half are at fault here as well. There is a large difference between learning about the game and being a bimbo wearing a Callahan jersey at a sports bar near MSG.
I can only wish that the next generation of sports fans, will grow up and see women at a bar discussing the game and not question it. I can only wish that those to come will be as nonchalant about a woman analyzing a football game as our society is about a woman analyzing the latest spring fashions. We obviously still have some ways to go.
Similar to some of my male counterparts, I am not a casual fan, either. I’ve spent a pretty penny on my fair share of athletics gear and events – I emptied my bank account for tickets to playoff games and paid more than necessary on sports memorabilia at various stadiums around the world. I’ve woken up at absurd times to watch World Cup matches and blown off parties to catch highlights on Sports Center. I am simply captivated by the stories of the underdog athletes; by every flip on the uneven bars, every kill on the court and of course every slide tackle on the soccer field. Athletics are beautiful in a million different ways – the tears shed are compiled of a little more than hard work and dedication, and the smiles are purer than the gold medals hanging loosely around each neck. So when you say I don’t know what I’m talking about, or ignore my comment, I take offense. You’re killing my livelihood. You’re killing my dream as a sports fan. There is a large number of female fans that bleed their team colors, that don’t want pink and sparkly rhinestones on their jerseys and most importantly know more about what is going on during the game than many men.
I’ve gotten used to it now. I entered into this field knowing that it wasn’t going to be easy. The stares are icy cold, the comments are as callous and uncultured as the calluses on my feet, and the confidence in us (or lack thereof) seems to exude from the pores of my fellow fans. “You’re just a girl, what do you know?” The words rattle my bones, and light a fuse within. But it’s time to change our sporting culture. It’s time to stand up and be the twelfth man. It’s time to root for the girls. Next time you’re with one of us, watching a game, please, before your blurt out “what do you know?” or quiz us on the roster, take the time to listen to us. Give us a chance. We aren’t just female fans, we’re just like you. Give us a chance to prove ourselves. Let us sit with you on Sundays and cheer on our team. We’re all rooting for the same side, why should we stand divided?
It’s a beautiful Sunday morning, a rather warm 50 something degrees compared to the frigid temperatures we’ve embraced the past two weeks – and quite honestly the perfect time for a run. I’m not a “runner” by any means – after my knee surgeries running became more of a punishment than a pleasurable thing to do, but I’m a “runner” by pure definition of the word. Since being in Madrid, however, I’ve rekindled my love with the blisters under my toenails, the cold air piercing my lungs, and the striking of my feet on the pavement ehhh I mean cobblestones. When you’re not in the mood to run it’s absolutely awful, but when the itch to lace up your shoes hits you, it’s one of the best feelings in the world, and that’s what’s happened since being here. I’m a competitor and running has provided me the opportunity to take out my most competitive feelings out on myself. It’s not that I love winning, I just hate to lose, so what better way to fuel my fire than with some self competition, right?
All smiles during my runs
I feel this post veering in the wrong direction, but running has become my sanctuary since coming here and feel it was of the utmost importance to share it with all of you. With the lack of female soccer teams here (if anybody knows of one, lemme know!), I really needed something here to keep my fitness up for the 2013 season and running has done just that. There are numerous routes, the parks are plentiful and best of all, it’s a perfect outlet for my stress. Running has once again become my friend. All it took was one beautiful long run from our cute apartment down Gran Vía, around the city center and back again to make me fall in love.
Running through any city provides an entirely new perspective on the surroundings, the people, and the way of life. I love walking around with los chupitos, don’t get me wrong, but running Madrid has just made me love it here even more. I might never want to leave!
Maybe it’s just me, but the blaring of my “Danza Kuduro” into headphones as I sprint up the hill (hill might be an understatement) leading to our apartment just soothes my soul and allows me to take in everything around me (I mostly just take in the burning in my hamstrings, but you get the point). The sights, the sounds, and the oh so delicious smells invade my senses as I run up Calle Mayor, through la plaza más antigua de Madrid (the oldest plaza in Madrid), and around the corner into el barrio La Latina. The extravagant street performers, the adorably dressed señoras, and tourists in Puerta del Sol stare me and my sweat stained NYU soccer tee down, as if I’m a more unusual sight than the headless business man.
Madrid I’m already in love with you enough as it is, but thank you for making me lace up my shoes again, letting me fall back in love with running, and allowing me to explore your beautiful city.
¡sta luego!
Quote of the day: “Traveler, there are no roads. Roads are made by walking” ~ Spanish Proverb
If you were to log into my Facebook the past couple of weeks, you’d be inundated with statuses about some of my friends making the NCAA tournament, photos of various college teams, and check-ins to airports across the airport. Last night I received multiple Snapchats from my parents and sister about the Final Four tournament in San Diego, where Penn State beat FSU and UNC defeated Stanford. To say that I was a little bit depressed last night would be an understatement. It was tough for me to see these teams still playing, seeing their dream still alive. What made it worse, however, was hearing that Emory made it into the DIII National Championships (which will be played tonight at 6:30). They will be facing Messiah whom they beat earlier this season. Emory comes into the National Championship game with a 15-1-7 record – their only loss coming from us, while Messiah comes in with 22-1-1 record – their only loss to Emory. Though it is difficult (to say the least) to watch these teams battle each other for the national championship, I can (and do) take pride in the fact that we beat Emory this year, so I hope they win.
Moving on… Next season has already been deemed the redemption season. There is nothing more in the world that I want than to go onto the NCAA tournament and just go out and win it.
Our coach recently sent us an email following the end of the season. She often sends us quotes or stories, but this one invoked feelings when evaluating our season. It just spoke to me
Simon Hartley who wrote “Be World Class” was published in the NSCAA Publication “The Soccer Journal”.
When I see tough players, fists aren’t banging. In fact, the toughest players I’ve seen tend not to be physically or verbally intimidating. Maybe they don’t need to be. Instead, the players who show true mental toughness tend to display three distinct qualities.
1. RESILIENCE:
Commonly seen as “bounce-back-ability” and the capacity to thrive in adverse situations.
2. TENACITY:
The ability to keep going and push to the limit.
3. COMPOSURE:
The ability to make good decisions and execute skills to a very high standard, while “under pressure.”
For those fellow soccer players and athletes out there, I hope this excerpt proves as inspiring and eye opening to you as it did for me. My goals for next year include being a mentally tough player as defined above.For the non-athletes, I hope this sheds some light into the mental aspect of athletics which is a large part of my soccer career – especially as a goalkeeper.
When you can’t fall asleep what do you do? I write. Inspiration strikes me at the most interesting and often most inconvenient times, so I apologize in advance if I ever wake you up at 3 AM with a text about a brilliant idea.
66 long days. 66 long and boring days without power plays, slamming up against the boards, and penalties. Everyday when I get dressed, I stare down my throwback Rangers jersey. Everyday I let out a huge sigh knowing that I won’t be wearing it to any games at the Garden this year. And everyday the blue and red of the jersey seem to fall in a dark abyss, getting pushed further and further into the depths of my closet. It’s depressing to wake up to, and it’s even worse being in classes where the lockout is constantly talked about by professors and classmates alike. I miss hockey season and quite honestly am done with all this lockout nonsense.
I just don’t understand why they cannot figure a deal out already – December 1st is in 11 days but I think we all know that they won’t come to an agreement. Both the owners and athletes are being greedy considering how much they already make – but I cannot help but begin to fathom what the hockey players are feeling right now. Playing professional hockey is not only their job, but their passion and as an athlete I cannot even begin to imagine how it feels to get that taken away because the owners want a bigger piece of the pie.
I don’t know who should be more upset, the fans or the players?
On the bright side, NYU Hockey has filled an empty void in my passion for the sport. At their season opener, a few of us on the team waltzed over to Chelsea Piers to cheer them on against Western Connecticut University. NYU blew out WCU 16-0 so it got a little bit boring towards the end, but it’s always fun to cheer on your friends! They’re currently on a mini winning streak which is exciting considering they don’t have a home arena as well (because of Sandy).
