Player Prose – by Amos Magee

From 1996

I apologize for my lengthy absence. Life with the Thunder has been an exciting, tumultuous, energy-sapping trip theses past couple of weeks. My budding literary career had been pushed aside as I battled through the departure of another of my best friends to the promised land of the MLS. This will be the first time in eight years that I will finish a summer season without Manuel and Tony. However, after a couple of weeks reflection, it seems that the schism has benefitted all parties. Manuel and Tony continue to thrive in our countries highest league (as we knew they would) and with our backs against the wall, the Thunder has come together. Receiving great contributions from our younger players, we are playing some of our best soccer of the year. It’s a scenario I would not have imagined at the beginning of the season.

Life continues to change and new challenges arise. Rather poetic, don’t you think?

Olympic fervor runs rampant on our shores these days. One can’t turn on the t.v. or open the newspaper without being assaulted by olympic updates or medal counts. (not that we’ll see a lick of olympic soccer) Unbridled nationalism wafts through the air. Even though Breath Right is one of our sponsors, Mr. Lagos has forbidden us to wear the ubiquitous nasal strips for fear that our unobstructed sinuses will absorb too much air and prompt us to kick our foreign teammates.

I have a couple more observations to share with you. First, in direct contrast to the olympic coverage, what bliss Euro ‘96 was for the ardent soccer fan! High level soccer dotted the t.v. schedule and for a wondrous couple of weeks, the U.S. was awash in a sea of soccer accessability. Secondly, I must state for the record that the German footballing fortune astounds me. How did they win the European Championship? They always seem to limp through the early rounds, face adversity-galore, and eventually win. The semi-final game against England?!?! In overtime, Darren Anderton hits the post from six yards away, and Paul Gascoigne lets a cross elude his foot on the two yard line. (incidentally, I couldn’t help thinking that had the Alan Shearer cross been a jelly donut or a pint of lager, Gazza would have pounced on it in the blink of an eye and England would be European champions) After Euro ‘96 and the memories of 1982, 86 and 90, I must conclude that the Germans bask in more than balmy luck and actually have managed to figure out exactly how to win on the world stage. Conversely, one must examine the talented French and gape in wonder at their inability to win big games. The 1984 European Championship aside, the typically talented French team seems to fold in the climactic matches. Bad luck? Perhaps, but more than likely, they lack the precise element that Germany totes in abundance. In one of my many conversations with former French 1st division star (and more impressively, former Thunder midfielder) Pierre Morice, we talked about this mysterious and elusive talent. He described it using the word, efficacite’. The ability to make a half chance a full chance. The will to rise above oneself in big games. He used the German National team and the Italian professional teams as examples of this efficiency. In his lengthy international career, Pierre was most impressed with the skill and technique of the Russians and a little disappointed by the Italians. However, his teams always managed to beat the Russians and lose to the Italians. I’m tempted to delve into a lengthy explanation of how this phenomenon fits perfectly with the political and social idealogies of the respective countries. But alas, I concentrated in English medieval history and my knowledge of Italy and Russia extends only to Machiavelli and Tolstoy. I’m certain that this connection exists, however, I lack the imagination and desire to research it properly. I certainly welcome any pertinent observations that might enlighten and inform. I’ll be back soon.

-Amos