One of the good guys...

   

    The big guy on the right of the group of soccer players in this photograph is Glenn Myernick, assistant coach of the U.S. National team in World Cup 2006.  The players are from Langa High School in Pretoria, South Africa, and they are getting ready for a clinic given by Myernick as a U. S. State Department Sports Envoy in a three-city visit to South Africa during September 13 through 20, just a few weeks ago.

     When I opened my e-mail this morning, the first message I saw was one telling me that Myernick, known to most of his friends and colleagues as "Mooch" died today after suffering a heart attack four days ago.  He was fifty-one years old.

 

    I am not going to attempt to write an obituary of Mooch; there'll be plenty of those around in the next few days.  But because we knew each other through our participation in the North American Soccer League, and because for a while we both lived in Dallas, where he pIayed for the Tornado from 1977-1979, I am going to give you my impression of him.

     He came to Texas after graduating from Hartwick College in the 1970s, and by 1977 he was a starting defender for Dallas.  At that time he was already on the national team that qualified for the 1976 Olympics.  We encountered each other a lot because Al Miller, the Tornado coach, arranged many games for the players he was developing for the Tornado, and so both Ed and I, by then referees in the the NASL, called some of those matches.

     Mooch was a fearless defender in a back four that included George Ley, Neil Cohen, Steve Pecher, the latter two also national team members.  But I remember that despite his competitiveness, he was not crazy or uncontrolled, and he responded when the referee appealed to him or set limits for him.  As a result, I never saw him attempt to hurt anyone.

    He moved to Portland and then to Tampa Bay in the last years of the league, and I encountered him in league matches, where things were a little more serious than those practice matches in Dallas.  But he remained the same: hard as nails, but within the limits you set; expressed his opinions, but never in a public or demeaning way.

    After the demise of the NASL, he took to coaching, which he saw as a "poor excuse for not being able to play soccer anymore", laughing as he said it.  He coached Colorado in MLS, national teams at various levels: under-17s, under-20s, olympic team, and then became an assistant to Bruce Arena.  And finally, he was a sports envoy for the nation, spreading the 2006 World Cup's theme of "a time to make friends" with an emphasis on building international understanding and respect.  Mooch was one of the good guys in this sport.

    In an e-mail I received from him last year, he summed up two opinions I share.  "I believe that there is too much antagonism between refs, players and coaches," he wrote.  We should ".. bridge the gap between ref. (and) player and convey the attitude that we were all in this together and that cooperation would make for a better game."  And finally: "The NASL had many good and experienced officials. I miss those days and think of them often with great fondness."

    So do I, Mooch.  So do I.

Comments

[roger mccain]

Having known Mooch from his time with the Rapids and his contribution to local soccer in our city, I can tell you that he endeared himself to all with his generosity and warm personality. I am stunned by his passing. Thanks, Bob, for the very nice rememberance.

[Ed Bellion]

A sad day indeed. Glenn Myernick was a great US born player at a time when there were few in that category. Although NASL required a minimum number of US/Canadian citizens in the game at all times, Mooch was no make weight. He would have earned his place regardless of any minima. I can re-iterate Bob's description of his style as hard but fair, and in direct contrast to what Steve Davis was recently writing about, was never one to object, or complain about referees' decisions. He simply got on with the game by taking his position for the next phase of play. I have one memorable incident that I recall. He was playing for Tampa Bay visiting at the Earthquakes. For some reason his team was losing badly with the score at 5-0 midway in the second half. I say "for some reason" because Tampa was a good team with good players and coached by Rodney Marsh. Steve Zungul, one of the leagues leading goalscorers, was fouled by the Tampa keeper just as he got his foot to the ball. It was a clear PK, but Zungul had enough on the shot so that it was rolling toward the open goal and would have crossed the line. Knowing that a certain goal is better than a PK anytime, and taking the opportunity to ignore the often used mantra of referee instructors "never give advantage in the penalty area", I waved play-on, but then saw Myernick sprinting hard after the ball, which he just managed to reach and hook away to safety. In those days, advantage could not be rescinded after a few seconds like it is now, so I could not go back and award the PK. Although this caused some complaints from the Earthquakes players, particularly Zungul, I still admired the hustle and honesty of Mooch in this situation, saving his team a goal when already in a lost cause as far as the result of the game was concerned. In any event the final score was 9-0, and would have been 10-0 without him!
You will be missed, Mooch.

[Anonymous Person 456701234]

Mooch was a great guy. The times I had the pleasure of officiating any team he was associated with were good ones. He knew the game and was a good man.