(Sigh) … fans …
All this slack-jawed sports columnist wanted to do was point out that, yeah, soccer is big and the local high schools that haven’t seen those dividends paid just yet soon will.
The youth of Wilson Memorial captured my eye and I decided to head out there and chat it up with coach Scott Crist and a few of the young girls on a freshman- and sophomore-laden team. Sorry, but it’s a fact that the Hornets have raised eyebrows in the Shenandoah District thanks to keeping pace with the always tough Holmes
Tehrani-led Gladiators in a 2-2 tie. Holding their own against a just-as-good Buffalo Gap squad and losing 1-0 only added to the excitement in Fishersville.
Why Giantdom starts acting all dumb again is beyond me, as a few Waynesboro girls soccer fans ("adults," by the way) decided it was time to behave like the middle child in a family of five and send some e-mails my way.
I’ll answer a few of the harmless questions for all of you to read:
1) No, I did not attend Wilson Memorial High School. I grew up in Chicago’s Little Italy; Wilson Memorial High School is located in Fishersville.
2) Crist is not a buddy of mine; no coaches are. Actually, last Thursday was the first time I’ve met the man and realized that one of your own, Chris Kanney, is his assistant coach. (Kanney, by the way, is one of the classiest athletes I’ve ever covered.)
3) No, my child does not play for Wilson. I don’t have kids. Heck, the wife and I have a hard enough time paying our Internet bill and I’m pretty sure having one or two pant-leg tuggers running around our kitchen would not ease our financial burden.
So there, glad we cleared that up.
Waynesboro girls coach Robin Hersey, after the article was printed, politely pointed out that his team is young and talented too. (Yes, I’ve noticed. Read my blog.)
“I know some girls that want to talk to you about that article,” he said in a finger-wagging tone. Great, I replied. So we’re going to set up a date where I can chat it up with the Little Giants. You know, the kids that actually play the sport right now, and yes I’m going to say it, are acting more like adults than some of the people who sit in the stands.
None of the JV players said a word to me when I stopped by the Waynesboro pitch Tuesday. I take that back; one of the girls waved and said, “Look, it’s Joe Sacco.” Someone whispered in her ear and she shot back, “I mean, hello Jim Sacco.”
Yeah, she didn’t seem too slighted.
But folks, the sad part here is a few of the e-mails were just downright mean. Not at me, I’m used to that. It comes with the territory. But directed at the Wilson Memorial girls soccer team, a group of really nice, talented and very young ladies that have done nothing other than produce and improve.
Since some of those who actually put their names on the e-mails have the same surnames as some of the varsity players, I’m not going to print them and cause any embarrassment among the innocents. But I will quote from a few.
“You wrote about a team [that Waynesboro] handled very easily in two games this season.”
Really? Easily? Why don’t you ask your daughter, you know, the girl that ran up and down the pitch for 90 minutes, how easy it was to beat them. Everything looks easy when you’re sitting in the terraced stands stuffing buck-fifty red hots into your mouth.
“Those Wilson Memorial girls are not that good.”
Really? Go ask Riverheads. I’ll wait for your reply.
Then, someone took a potshot at the Green Hornet fans.
“It’s obvious [Jim Sacco] has never sat in the stands and watched (or listened to their fans) a Wilson game.”
Um, sorry. I have. And what do their fans do that takes away from the talent and hard work of the girls on the pitch?
Sigh ... glass houses ... thrown stones.
Posted by Jim Sacco at 08:20 AM. Filed under: Girls Soccer •
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