Inertia . . . Some Thoughts Before Beginning Again

    Not a day goes by but that I sit here at my desk and computer, that wonderful instrument for writing, researching and remembering.  Its reach is planetary, its speed cosmic, but it is not infallible, for it grasps jewels and junk with equal ease.  [The current political farce acted out by the so-called "birthers" is testimony to the power of the internet to disseminate junk in which the careless and mindless can luxuriate.]  But not on my Mac!

    Above the machine and its small easel is a framed quote from the mind of a favorite, Albert Camus, Nobel-winning author, philosopher, and journalist, whose life was ended absurdly in a car against a tree before he reached half a century of existence.  It says quite simply: "Inertia is man's greatest temptation", my reminder of the seductive pestilence of laziness.

    These past three months I have posted nothing, coincidentally after the death of a colleague and friend in refereeing, Chuck Fleischer, now interred in Arlington National Cemetery, the place for the nation's heroes.  He died from the rapid onset of cancer probably caused by his exposure to Agent Orange while flying helicopters in Vietnam.  For me, a survivor of three different kinds of cancer, his death stimulated a sequence of thoughts that have culminated in this piece here.

    After this weekend I will be commenting again, starting with the recent announcement that the F.A. is planning to vary the punishment for an expulsion for a reckless tackle.  [The suspension may be more than or less than the standard of three games, and might be influenced by any injury to the victim.]

    During this absence, I have been making notes and doing some reading on a couple of subjects about which I want to write, but now: Enough is Enough!  It's time to get started, to challenge my own inertia, and do as Buddha advises: "Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment." 

    And my present moment is good.  I will be assessing in the WPS, observing in MLS; I have been the lead instructor in regional tournaments, an assessor in others.  Now is the time to write that next book on soccer.  It has been fermenting for a while; it's time to start sipping the product.

Comments

[Robert]

You've been sorely missed. Welcome back!

Bob,

Good to have you back.

Thanks for the Camus quote, and I'll pay back with one from another Welshman.

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

I'm certain that you can complete the poem.

Welcome back. You were missed.

Jim: Thanks for the kind thoughts. My comments yesterday dealt with other lines from Dylan Thomas, later in the poem you chose:

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

The operative words being "too late".

Jim

Cheers, Bob.

[Florian]

Welcome back! I am sure I speak for many, but you and your insight have been missed!

Florian: Thanks for the generous comment! Cheers, Bob.

[Dustin]

Maybe you can shed some light on the MLS this season, I've been trying to figure it all out, but some of what's going on is crazy. Also I've heard nothing but bad things about the referees from the WPS, which worries me as I hope for the success of the league.

Dustin: Give me some examples and I'll comment. I'll be assessing the officials in a Women's League game this weekend.

[Gary Voshol]

[Let's try it with better grammar this time.]

Welcome back. Some had begun to despair for your well-being.

And I hope no FA referees are sending off players for a RECKLESS tackle, but rather for an EXCESSIVE one.

Gary: Let me pose this to you: a player challenges an opponent by sliding in to tackle, although not at full speed. He misses the ball but his follow-through catches his opponent studs first above his ankle. The challenge was not using excessive force, but was badly-timed. Should this not be an expulsion for serious foul play? It was reckless.

[JimG]

Bob,

Welcome back! I'm glad your busted wing is better.

Not completely, Jim, I haven't had the replacement yet! But it's coming...
Cheers,
Bob.

[Jim Lavigne]

Sadly, 'too late' is often interpreted as wisdom, and not often enough as an expensive education.

[Gary Voshol]

I would certainly send a player off for such a challenge. However I would avoid using the word reckless. The Laws say,

“Reckless” means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, his opponent
• A player who plays in a reckless manner must be cautioned.