"She probably believed all her life she could do this. ... People all over the world laughed at that lady when she walked out there, but when she opened her mouth, nobody laughed anymore," he says. "Kind of the same with me." -Alan Moore on Scottish pop singer Susan Boyle

I just read a fantastic story on CNN that I would like to share.  The title of the article is "On the college gridiron, grandad lives a dream, offers a lesson."  61 year old Alan Moore is the football kicker at Faulkner University in Alabama.  Moore was a small town kid who began kicking at 12 years old. In high school his talent drew the attention of some of the biggest football universities.  He ended up going to a small college because his family could not afford the tuition. His team won the state championship his freshman year but Moore dropped out because the U.S. went to war in Vietnam.  He was assigned to the infantry unit and was shipped off for a year.  When he returned he began a career in construction and started a family.  He has three kids and five grand kids.  In 2009 the housing market crashed and 59 year old Alan Moore was laid off. In this tough time Moore moved back to Mississippi and decided he would play college football again.  It had been about forty years since he had kicked... Moore bought some old school football square-toed shoes and wrote the word "BELIEVE" across the front went to the field and got to work.

  Many people thought Moore was joking and laughed at him but "Moore welcomed the naysayers." There will always be people who will think you are crazy and try and put you down.  I almost feel like they see a light and want to put it out. Moore is quoted in the article saying "assholes are great motivators"

  Moore made the Faulkner University football team. He arrived at Faulkner with his workout gear and BELIEVE shoe. He was there to kick. On September 10th he became the oldest man to ever score a collegiate point. Moore says "I want to show  people that they can follow up on what their dream is or finish what they start." His teammates see the word BELIEVE written across his shoe and they understand the true value and meaning of the word.  Moore says that Believe is "probably the most powerful word in our vocabulary.

"CNN writer Eliott C. McLaughlin writes "Who couldn't admire a man who kicked in college, left to join the military, fought in Vietnam, worked in construction for almost 40 years, started a family, then went back to college to kick again when a tough economy snatched his job?" Alan Moore is proof that no matter how old you are or where life takes you if you have a dream and passion for something anything is possible.

Check out the article.
 http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/20/us/football-oldest-college-kicker/index.html?hpt=us_c1

 

Sorry it has been awhile since I have written but I will be writing soon about my future steps and everything that I have been up to in the U.S. We have a lot to catch up on!

"When all is said and done, it's not the shots that won the championship that you remember, but the friendships you made along the way." Unknown

My last game is Finland was great!The whole environment was awesome and there were over 600 people in the stands.  I like the feeling of playing in front of a lot of people. ONS is a good side but we were ready to compete and we set the level of intensity from the start. The game was pretty evenly matched but we created more opportunities throughout the game.  ONS had a few fast, skillful and crafty players but our entire team had a solid defensive performance and shut them down.  In the last five minutes of the game I took a free kick on their end. I took it, my teammates made some good runs, the keeper missed the ball and it ended up in the back of the net. It was not the prettiest goal but a wise person once told me "it doesn't have to be pretty, a goal is a goal."  We did not let up and won the game! It was a great team performance. Everyone all over the field played their role and executed well! Our goal at the beginning of the season was to be top 2 in the league, because of our win verse ONS we achieved our goal and ended up finishing second.  I was very proud of everyone. It was a well deserved!

After the game we went to this local school and had a sauna party.  Finland is famous for their saunas.  There was food at the school, we all took a sauna and swam.  On Sunday we had a going away dinner.  It was really nice and I enjoyed spending time with all my teammates.  Most of the team came to the apartment after dinner.  Goodbyes are never fun but I was so happy I got to meet and play with this group of girls.  This was a really special group.  I know that as time goes on I will not remember the stats or a score to a game, what I will remember is all the great people I met and all the great times I had with all of them. Thank you to my team and everyone I met in Finland who helped me create some amazing memories.

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the road less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." Robert Frost

One practice, one game and five days left in Finland.. I am so excited to see my family again; I can not believe it is so soon.  Time goes by so fast.  I feel like it was just yesterday I was saying goodbye to my family at the Orlando Airport. The whole experience over here has been great.  I have enjoyed every second and really learned a lot both on and off the field. While I have been in Finland off the field I have seen reindeer, moose, gypsies, learned how to speak a lot of swedish, become a coffee drinker, ate salmiakki, become an expert bike rider, juggled in the marketplace, went to swedish school, meet so many great people and so much more.

 On the field I noticed that many players are very technical.  One thing that I think is wild is playing with players that can not speak a word of english.  I was thinking about one of the goals this girl Jenna scored two games ago and I remembered I had slid to get the ball on goal; the ball went off the post and Jenna finished it off.  After the goal she tackled me.  Jenna can not speak any English and we have not had one conversation but when we celebrated the goal we shared so much passion for the game. That passion was better than any conversation we could have had. We have not spoken a word to each other but are in love with the same game. It is bizarre but soccer really is a universal language; it is so much more than a game.

 

I'm looking forward to our last game this Saturday.  We are playing ONS; they are a really good side and if we win we have a chance of finishing second in the league.  There "is no tomorrow" after this game; literally. We have nothing to lose and are fit for the last fight together as a team. After the game on saturday we are having a sauna party with the team.  On Sunday we are having a team farewell dinner.  I am going to miss the girls.  Goodbyes are never fun but I know it will be a great weekend.

"Where the trails of passion and purpose meet, begins the path to victory"

After a rough game verse FC Sport we responded in a positive way and came out victorious against JyPk this past Saturday.  This was a very important game; we have not beat this team yet.  The first half was the best we had played all year. Every player was mentally and physically ready.  We were defending and attacking as one unit and connecting all over the field.  In the 20th minute our forward Tia, Linda and I combined, I made a run into the box and Linda chipped a perfect ball to me, I saw that the keeper was out and I chipped her.  I was so excited and my teammates rushed to celebrate with me! I feel as if I have lived this moment before. My adrenaline was pumping as I saw the ball hit the back of the net; it felt as if this were the first time I ever scored. We kept our focus and about five minutes after, Linda scored a great goal from outside the 18. Shortly after that I made a run into the box and got played a ball right across the six; I slide and the ball hit the post but Jenna was right there to finish it off.  I was on the ground and she tackled me in celebration. Jypk fought back and got a goal in the last minute of the half making it 3-1. 

In the second half we knew that JyPk was going to come out hard and hungry.  We held on and had a solid defensive performance.  Jamie made some good saves and our back four had a great game. About half way through the half  Tia (our forward) got played a ball through and scored.  The game ended at 4-1.  At the end of the game both teams  meet in the center circle, sometimes awards and prizes are given.  I got player of the game.  I was honored and excited but my team as a whole deserved that award this game.  Everyone had a great game and stepped up all over the field.

 This win was big and we are now tied for first.  There are only two games left, if we win the last two games we will stay in first no matter what. Our next game is not until a week from saturday.  We made a goal before this part of the season and we are very close to reaching it. We are going to continue to work hard in practice and prepare for the up and coming challenges. This team is really a great group.  I am proud to be apart of it!

"Its not about how hard you hit... Its all about how hard you get hit and keep moving forward." Rocky

In the movie Rocky I, Rocky is known as a small time boxer that is looked at as nothing but a bum. He works hard and ends up defeating heavyweight champion Apollo Creed. Rocky wins the heavyweight championship and has made a name for himself but in the beginning of the movie Rocky III, Rocky is overpowered by a stronger opponent (Lang).  He gets hit hard and knocked out in the second round...

In Saturday's game I got hit! In the last minute of the game, me and a girl from FC sport went up for a 50-50 ball and our heads collided.  I felt some pain but I got up.  I just wanted to finish the rest of the game out.  Lotta (our center back) told me I was bleeding and told me to stay down.  I heard her speak Finnish to the ref and I had to come off the field.  It was bleeding pretty bad but luckily I did not need stitches.

At the end of Rocky III, Rocky trains harder and meets Lang back in the ring.  He outboxes him and knocks him out in the third round.  Rocky got "hit" and kept "moving forward." I think that is an important statement; not just in sports but in life in general. 

We did not have our best game of the season and FC sport played very well on saturday.  It was not our day; Sport won deservingly. This is game is just a bump in the road and we are still in good standings. An old coach of mine told me you have 24 hours to think about a loss or celebrate a win.  After that it is time to move forward and focus on the next task.  There are three games left.  We have a strong team.  After a good week of practice we will be ready mentally and physically to take on JyPk on Sunday. We got "hit" but now its time to get ready to get back in the "ring."

"Winners don't wait for chances, they take them" Unknown

Our last game verse Kuusysi was dramatic! We started out the game strong and Linda scored a 30 yard bomb in the first 10 minutes of the game.  Kuusysi had very few opportunities and we created many chances throughout the half.  Everything was connecting.
 
In the second half Kuusysi fought back and scored a goal making it 1-1.  We continued to press and created many opportunities.  They had a few strong players but our defenders did extremely well shutting them down.  Getting one point for a tie would have been a good result for the game, but we do not play for a tie! In the 90th minute our outside back Heddi won the ball and hit a bending ball to the far post that resulted in an unbelievable goal.  She celebrated with both fists in the air and the whole team dog piled her.  It must have looked like we had won a world championship; it felt like it. The final whistle was blown and GBK was victorious.

I was proud of everyone on the team.  Everyone played a part in the victory. Now with our goals still in mind we have been preparing for our game on Saturday. This game is huge; if we win we will hold our first place position and will be at least four points ahead of everyone.  We are playing FC Sport at home!  Sport is a good side and they are going to be a good challenge. My team and I am fit for the fight!

In an off the field note life in Finland is going really well.  I have become a coffee drinker.  The Finns love coffee and on average they drink 5-6 cups a day. I did some research on how coffee effects an athletes body and I found that caffeine can enhance performance in endurance sports. It is known to increase respiratory functions and improve nervous system feedback.  I have become a regular at this local cafe in town; the workers now know my order.  It is called Media Cafe and the other Americans and I will meet there often for coffee and lunch.  It is a nice place and the people are so friendly.  I bring my computer and I write about my experiences, read, catch up on e-mails, and practice my swedish (rosetta stone). It is a nice place and a perfect spot!

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." Aristotle

Last Saturday we had an away game verse Viikingit.  We woke up early and took the train to Helsinki.  It is about a five hour train ride but I like taking the train; it is comfortable and its nice to see different parts of the country.  Everyone was excited for the game and eager to get the three points.  We arrived to Helsinki and were ready for the fight physically and mentally.
 
The game started and we ended up giving up an early goal but that didn't stop us.  The whole team continued to press and Tia finished one off.  It was a good goal and a great ball making it 1-1.  We worked together as one unit and kept Viikingit on their half.  Shortly before the half Tia received another great ball, she was composed and found the back of the net making it 2-1.

 In the second half things seemed to just click, we limited Viikingit's chances and created numerous opportunities with our combination play.  The passing and movement off the ball was extremely good at times.  The score remained 2-1 and we came home with the three points that we wanted!

We are only two games into the series but as of right now we are in a strong position with 7 points and are now in first place.  We have another away game near Helsinki this Saturday and we are going for nothing less than a win. Everyone on the team has a really good attitude and we are focused on our goal.

I have to say I have been really enjoying the soccer in Finland.  I really look forward to every time I get to step out on the field and every game.  I almost feel as if I am a little kid again because I get so excited over the smallest things.  Below is a video of some of my favorite speeches in movies.  It is different people doing the unthinkable.  I can be kind of corny sometimes but I love stuff like this.  There should be more of it.