Thanks Dan Proctor for an outstanding
organization of the 2001 California State Cup. The love for
the sport of Futsal was widely demonstrated by small
but significant acts of humbleness and sportsmanship.
I saw Dan's group keeping the place neat and clean,
even with Dan himself mopping the court (I had never
seen that being done in any other tournament in the US
before) which is a very important detail, so the athletes
can get a better grip as they move, pass and score.
Also, I saw FIFA's referee Carlo Servino keeping
control of a wild crowd, who was booing, rooting against
(and not in favor of) and even calling names at
players and coaches, childish behaviors not accepted in
any first world countries, let alone in our United
States before our children and our spouses. To
illustrate its affect, the main reason that my wife no
longer accepts my invitation to come see my team play is
the level (lowest of its kind) that the games have
reached, not ON the playing court, since teams like World
United, MACSA and Moors have shown new talent with a
healthy playing mentality; but OFF the court, with
players of certain teams like Di Bufala, rooting against,
playing drums, and chanting war songs, with curse words
in their lyrics (where have you ever heard of such a
thing? - a team rooting wildly for the failure of
another - that's total unsportsmanlike and unheard of)
bringing the off-the-court level down the drain and into
the sewage system. The best word to describe is:
Slime. I am certain, however, that with a better care
for our Futsal, families like my own, could return to
watch the game - soon to be turned professional - and
be guaranteed that they will not feel like being in
a sewage. Thanks again Dan and Carlo, for showing
your love for the sport and for giving families like
my own a hope for the near future.