15. Searching for the RIGHT scandal - August, 2011
When the good people at the New York International Film Festival gave me their "Best Director" Award last month, I was at first very happy.
Winning awards, though, is both a blessing and a curse.
In today's world of "niche" marketing, where you target your audience by age, gender, education level, sexual preference, income level, religious belief, diet, and number of pimples on their body, I have had to humbly accept the fact that winning awards limits me to that tiny little "niche" audience who want to see "good" films.
This is devastating news to me.
I am being pigeon-holed as a "good" filmmaker. It's like a straight jacket that I can't break out of.
Or is it?
A friend on a social network recently messaged me with a comment that I am the "New Nick Nolte."
My response: "Do you mean that I will someday have a crazy-hair drunken mug shot splashed all over the tabloids? Yes! Can't wait!"
Then my friend said, "It's gonna happen sooner than you think."
I sure as hell hope so.
As today's society sprints toward proving Andy Warhol right, that in the future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes, it is important to think ahead, and decide what SORT fo fame you want for your 15 minutes.
I understand why those reading this would assume, "Well, Peter wants to be famous for making good films."
Absolutely not! What kind of fame would that be?
I am pursuing this dream with one simple truth in mind;
IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO BEGIN PLANNING YOUR SCANDAL!
Hollywood scandals are an art form all their own. Hugh Grant, in the 90's, became famous for picking up a cheap Hollywood Boulevard hooker, and getting down to business in the car. This could not have been a less inspired, more boring choice on Mr. Grant's part.
Mel Gibson recently gave into the ho-hum trap of getting drunk and spewing racial nonsense to a bunch of Cops. Puh-lease! Mel, you aren't even TRYING!
Britney Spears' scandal - grabbing electric clippers from a hair stylist, and abruptly shaving half her hair off - is more along the lines that inspire me. Maybe I have been around too many punk rock girls in my day, but I thought Britney looked ten times better half-bald than she usually does.
Nick Nolte did okay. He wasn't Christian Bale screaming at crew members or anything, but that mug shot is truly memorable. It is a start.
Give me time. I can't be expected to pull off a brilliant scandal overnight.
It will happen, though. I promise.
-Peter Wick
August 31, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
"Why is Love Always a Near-miss?" - Part 2 - Nov. 2006
Why Is Love Always A Near-Miss?
-Part two
Art reflected on his own personal favorite moment with Tess. A month ago, after Carrie's going away party, they walked back from Wallingord with Sarah. Sarah walked ahead, and Art and Tess slipped behind, alone. She held his hand. You've left a permanent mark on me, he told her. and you've left a permanent mark on me, she said back.
Art kept walking up the block toward 47th. The Continental and Costas - where I -
Tommy's - Where Trent and I -
From 47th to 50th he was barely paying attention, lost in thought. Then he noticed the doorway to the stairs, the Halloween party from two weeks ago, the party where Sarah had said the thing that angered him. Art was talking about what a crazy year it had been; getting kicked out of the Garage House, making the movie, everyone leaving the pizza place. Then Art mentioned The Actress. Hey, you got laid, Sarah said in a cheery voice.
Art didn't find it funny.
Sunday night when Tess came to visit him at the other job, he sat down and vented about Sarah's comment.
So that's what it's reduced to? That month of turmoil, and the month afterwards when I was trying to figure out what happenend? Is it all just reduced to getting laid?
For a Women's Studies graduate, Sarah sure has a frat-boy mentality, Art said.
And what did happen, anyway, Art wondered. It wasn't just sleeping-with-the-actress. It wasn't some sordid cheap thing. It was a relationship, or an attempt at one, anyway. Maybe it was a failed attempt, but a serious one.
And maybe he can never have a relationship as long as Tess has so much of his heart.
Crossing 50th he reminded himself, I'm too old for her, or too...boring. Or too SOMETHING.
He remembered the time he sent Tess an email. He knew she didn't check email often, so he called her to tell her. I sent you an email, he said. It's a question.
What's the question, she asked.
You have to read it, he said.
What's the question.
I can't tell you over the phone, he said.
Maybe when I'm 30, if I'm not married, she said jokingly.
No, he said laughing. That's not the question.
Why is love always a near-miss, Art wondered, crossing 52nd. In soccer, if you have ten near-misses, you eventually put one shot on target. Have I had ten near-misses yet? Who can even keep track of something like that?
The Galway Arms, where Liza used to play. That's who he had based that part of the Actresses charatcer on.
How bizarrely connected everything is. Liza was an Extra in the other film. She was a singer-songwriter - she lived with Art for a while. He moved out of that apartment, moved into the Garage House, eventually moved back to an apartment across the courtyard from the first one, made this new movie, with The Actress, who is a singer-songwriter, and who lived with Art for a time.
But the emotional content of the character was Tess, not Liza. And The Actress. The Actress made it her own, so let's not lose our grip, Art reminded himself. The movie is The Actresses, not someone else's.
Crossing 55th - Pizza Pi - used to be the delivery kitchen Art worked at. Walking past he noticed the ovens - the two we left them, Art thought, we had four in there, took two, left two.
University Theater, where they shot the end of the movie.
Past 56th.
Home.
It's Freddie's 21st tonight. Another one of my friends is turning 21, Art thought. Is it too much to ask that all of my friends at least be over 21?
There are still one or two who aren't.
The Actress called Freddie The Sloppy guy.
It's good to have friends.
Tess will be there.
-Peter Wick - November 14, 2006
-Part two
Art reflected on his own personal favorite moment with Tess. A month ago, after Carrie's going away party, they walked back from Wallingord with Sarah. Sarah walked ahead, and Art and Tess slipped behind, alone. She held his hand. You've left a permanent mark on me, he told her. and you've left a permanent mark on me, she said back.
Art kept walking up the block toward 47th. The Continental and Costas - where I -
Tommy's - Where Trent and I -
From 47th to 50th he was barely paying attention, lost in thought. Then he noticed the doorway to the stairs, the Halloween party from two weeks ago, the party where Sarah had said the thing that angered him. Art was talking about what a crazy year it had been; getting kicked out of the Garage House, making the movie, everyone leaving the pizza place. Then Art mentioned The Actress. Hey, you got laid, Sarah said in a cheery voice.
Art didn't find it funny.
Sunday night when Tess came to visit him at the other job, he sat down and vented about Sarah's comment.
So that's what it's reduced to? That month of turmoil, and the month afterwards when I was trying to figure out what happenend? Is it all just reduced to getting laid?
For a Women's Studies graduate, Sarah sure has a frat-boy mentality, Art said.
And what did happen, anyway, Art wondered. It wasn't just sleeping-with-the-actress. It wasn't some sordid cheap thing. It was a relationship, or an attempt at one, anyway. Maybe it was a failed attempt, but a serious one.
And maybe he can never have a relationship as long as Tess has so much of his heart.
Crossing 50th he reminded himself, I'm too old for her, or too...boring. Or too SOMETHING.
He remembered the time he sent Tess an email. He knew she didn't check email often, so he called her to tell her. I sent you an email, he said. It's a question.
What's the question, she asked.
You have to read it, he said.
What's the question.
I can't tell you over the phone, he said.
Maybe when I'm 30, if I'm not married, she said jokingly.
No, he said laughing. That's not the question.
Why is love always a near-miss, Art wondered, crossing 52nd. In soccer, if you have ten near-misses, you eventually put one shot on target. Have I had ten near-misses yet? Who can even keep track of something like that?
The Galway Arms, where Liza used to play. That's who he had based that part of the Actresses charatcer on.
How bizarrely connected everything is. Liza was an Extra in the other film. She was a singer-songwriter - she lived with Art for a while. He moved out of that apartment, moved into the Garage House, eventually moved back to an apartment across the courtyard from the first one, made this new movie, with The Actress, who is a singer-songwriter, and who lived with Art for a time.
But the emotional content of the character was Tess, not Liza. And The Actress. The Actress made it her own, so let's not lose our grip, Art reminded himself. The movie is The Actresses, not someone else's.
Crossing 55th - Pizza Pi - used to be the delivery kitchen Art worked at. Walking past he noticed the ovens - the two we left them, Art thought, we had four in there, took two, left two.
University Theater, where they shot the end of the movie.
Past 56th.
Home.
It's Freddie's 21st tonight. Another one of my friends is turning 21, Art thought. Is it too much to ask that all of my friends at least be over 21?
There are still one or two who aren't.
The Actress called Freddie The Sloppy guy.
It's good to have friends.
Tess will be there.
-Peter Wick - November 14, 2006
Why is Love Always a Near-miss? - Part 1 - Nov. 2006
Why is Love always a near-miss?
A short story, and sequel to "Movie Pizza Love"
Art began his walk by looking for the space that used to be The Last Exit.
That's where it all started. Art's older brother Doug had taken him there, how old was he 15? 13? Could it possibly have been 25, 26, 27 years ago? This is the place, he realized, it's not a cafe at all anymore, it's actually a part of the University, The Learning Center, the sign said, this is the place, though, I am certain of it, he thought.
Had Art really been that teenager, enamored by his older brother and his intellectual friends and the chessboard tables and the whole idea of the University District? That was a lifetime ago, he thought. The University District and Art had changed so much, sometimes together, sometimes apart.
And here they stood. Art was preparing to say good bye to the U. District in five months.
A block over - it's "Cafe Allegro at College Inn" now - used to be open 24 hours. Art had recently found an old journal entry he'd written there one night at the age of 20 or 21, staying up all night writing and drinking coffee and smoking - that was when he was a smoker - not because it was cool to stay up all night writing and drinking coffee and smoking, but because Art was homeless. Yes, Art had once been homeless, and the U. District was his home.
Downstairs is the College Inn Pub. Art was there two nights ago. Tess called him just as he was leaving, he stayed and waited to meet her. His best memory of the College Inn Pub was from a year and a half ago, was it really a year and a half ago, all his 20-something friends coming by to celebrate his 40th birthday? His most deeply held moment of the evening was when Tess showed up an approached his chair from behind, wrapping her arms around him. Later that evening she told him, "Art, all these people love you."
The best memories always involve Tess.
Art crossed Campus Parkway, leaving the College Inn behind, thinking about the three years - had it really been three years - since he and a 20-year-old Tess first danced together on the coffee table at that Garage House Halloween party. Tess is 23 now. He worked with her earlier today. They're both leaving the pizza place later this week.
The memories of this neighborhood go back so many years, but life only goes on now, Art thought.
Cafe Solstice, where Leslie used to work. Across the street, the Big time Brewery and Pub, Megan and Paul met me there, he remembered. Further up the block, Ave Copy Center, where he gets so much copy work done, whenever he walks in the guy says, "Hey, how are the screenplays doing?"
Across 42nd, Cafe On The Ave. Cafe On The Ave! That's Espresso Roma, what's this Cafe On The Ave business?
That's where he always had film people meet him. That's where he and The Actress met every Saturday earlier in the year, to talk about the film they would make in May and June.
Could you tell then what would happen, he wondered. Could you go back to those Saturday meetings in March and April and see any signs or warnings of what would happen?
Art stepped into Bulldog News to grab a Weekly and a Stranger, kept walking up the block. Radio Shack, where Mick used to work Ruby, where Shawna is a bartender, Art and Tess and a few others closed the place one night last week. Flowers, Kai's, how many countless hours have I spent at Kai's, he wondered, as he crossed 43rd?
Four Corners Art and Frame. Art had bought cards there, cards he'd written in and given to Tess whenever she left town. It was a little ritual.
The Japanese store - what's it's name, anyway? University Bookstore, the heart and soul of the whole neighborhood. Across the street, Big 5 Sporting Goods, cheap shoes, the shoes he was wearing, the shoes that were falling apart on his feet. How many cheap pairs of shoes had he bought there?
Art waited to cross 45th. coming up was the block they'd shot some of the film on. the guys on the street had begun calling him "The Actor." Now, months later, he was back to being just the Pizza Guy.
The Mix - they trade ice cream for pizza. Tower Records - going out of business. The space used to be Wizards Of The Coast. Art had worked in the restaurant there.
Across the street was the pizza place. So many people had left, so many were new. the new ones didn't have any idea he'd even shot a film there. In less than a week Art and Tess would be gone also.
Earlier today, working with her, he reminded himself to live up to what he had written about her.
Yes, they finally talked about that. I guess it's time to admit that I wrote about you a little, he said. She was not upset. For a year, he worried that she would be upset.
Part 2 also available to read -
A short story, and sequel to "Movie Pizza Love"
Art began his walk by looking for the space that used to be The Last Exit.
That's where it all started. Art's older brother Doug had taken him there, how old was he 15? 13? Could it possibly have been 25, 26, 27 years ago? This is the place, he realized, it's not a cafe at all anymore, it's actually a part of the University, The Learning Center, the sign said, this is the place, though, I am certain of it, he thought.
Had Art really been that teenager, enamored by his older brother and his intellectual friends and the chessboard tables and the whole idea of the University District? That was a lifetime ago, he thought. The University District and Art had changed so much, sometimes together, sometimes apart.
And here they stood. Art was preparing to say good bye to the U. District in five months.
A block over - it's "Cafe Allegro at College Inn" now - used to be open 24 hours. Art had recently found an old journal entry he'd written there one night at the age of 20 or 21, staying up all night writing and drinking coffee and smoking - that was when he was a smoker - not because it was cool to stay up all night writing and drinking coffee and smoking, but because Art was homeless. Yes, Art had once been homeless, and the U. District was his home.
Downstairs is the College Inn Pub. Art was there two nights ago. Tess called him just as he was leaving, he stayed and waited to meet her. His best memory of the College Inn Pub was from a year and a half ago, was it really a year and a half ago, all his 20-something friends coming by to celebrate his 40th birthday? His most deeply held moment of the evening was when Tess showed up an approached his chair from behind, wrapping her arms around him. Later that evening she told him, "Art, all these people love you."
The best memories always involve Tess.
Art crossed Campus Parkway, leaving the College Inn behind, thinking about the three years - had it really been three years - since he and a 20-year-old Tess first danced together on the coffee table at that Garage House Halloween party. Tess is 23 now. He worked with her earlier today. They're both leaving the pizza place later this week.
The memories of this neighborhood go back so many years, but life only goes on now, Art thought.
Cafe Solstice, where Leslie used to work. Across the street, the Big time Brewery and Pub, Megan and Paul met me there, he remembered. Further up the block, Ave Copy Center, where he gets so much copy work done, whenever he walks in the guy says, "Hey, how are the screenplays doing?"
Across 42nd, Cafe On The Ave. Cafe On The Ave! That's Espresso Roma, what's this Cafe On The Ave business?
That's where he always had film people meet him. That's where he and The Actress met every Saturday earlier in the year, to talk about the film they would make in May and June.
Could you tell then what would happen, he wondered. Could you go back to those Saturday meetings in March and April and see any signs or warnings of what would happen?
Art stepped into Bulldog News to grab a Weekly and a Stranger, kept walking up the block. Radio Shack, where Mick used to work Ruby, where Shawna is a bartender, Art and Tess and a few others closed the place one night last week. Flowers, Kai's, how many countless hours have I spent at Kai's, he wondered, as he crossed 43rd?
Four Corners Art and Frame. Art had bought cards there, cards he'd written in and given to Tess whenever she left town. It was a little ritual.
The Japanese store - what's it's name, anyway? University Bookstore, the heart and soul of the whole neighborhood. Across the street, Big 5 Sporting Goods, cheap shoes, the shoes he was wearing, the shoes that were falling apart on his feet. How many cheap pairs of shoes had he bought there?
Art waited to cross 45th. coming up was the block they'd shot some of the film on. the guys on the street had begun calling him "The Actor." Now, months later, he was back to being just the Pizza Guy.
The Mix - they trade ice cream for pizza. Tower Records - going out of business. The space used to be Wizards Of The Coast. Art had worked in the restaurant there.
Across the street was the pizza place. So many people had left, so many were new. the new ones didn't have any idea he'd even shot a film there. In less than a week Art and Tess would be gone also.
Earlier today, working with her, he reminded himself to live up to what he had written about her.
Yes, they finally talked about that. I guess it's time to admit that I wrote about you a little, he said. She was not upset. For a year, he worried that she would be upset.
Part 2 also available to read -
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Movie Pizza Love Quiz - reprint from October, 2007
Note: When I wrote this blog, in October of 2007, "Movie Pizza Love" was mired in post production technical problems.
A year later the film won The Indiefest's Feature Film Award-of-Merit, The Original Song Award for Jen Casebeer's "Trashy Novel," and was a top seller when released on DVD through Indieflix.
I decided that I'd had enough of the trying-to-stay-sane-through-trials-and-tribulations blogs entries. I assume most everyone reading this knows the reasons for the delays, the reasons that this film has stayed out of the spotlight so far. So I decided to find out just how well you all know the history of the production.
There will be a very intensive scoring process afterwards, and those who do not pass will be required to stay after class.
1. The title "Movie Pizza Love" is in referrence to:
A-the fact that the film contains a movie-within-a-movie, pizza, and LOVE.
B-One filmmakers obsessive love for a slice of pepperoni.
C-my own inability to appreciate normal film titles.
2. This film was made possible with help from:
A-Northwest Film Forum.
B-Super smart aliens.
C-Tommy the invisible monkey.
3. Five years from now, the most famous person from this film will be:
A-Singer-songwriter Jen Casebeer.
B-Former "Miss Italy" Roberta Orlandi.
C-Tommy the invisible monkey.
4. Jen Casebeer's character "Lisa":
A-Plays her own original music live in the film.
B-Goes on a vigilante killing spree.
C-Rids the city of Seattle of its post-apocalyptic zombies.
5. I moved to L.A because:
A-There just aren't enough botched face-lifts walking around Seattle.
B-If I weren't living a mile and a half from Brett Sechrist's computer, this film would never be finished.
C-Seattle just has fender-benders; L.A. has really cool 20-car pile-ups going 80 miles an hour.
6. The main reason the film has not premiered yet is:
A-We forgot to turn on the camera.
B-Technical post-production sound problems.
C-It hasn't premiered yet? Damn it! I knew I forgot to put something on my to-do list.
7. The next film I want to make is:
A-"A Slice of Pie," a personal story about relationships.
B-"Movie Pizza Death," A revenge thriller in which Jen Casebeer returns as "Lisa" but has traded in her guitar for an Uzi.
C-Harry Potter - The E! True Hollywood Story, exposing Harry Potter's personal demons, how a Quidditch injury sank him into a deep depression, and what he really thinks of wizardry after a few cocktails.
8. Extra credit question - My previous film, "Long Strange Trip" can be purchased:
A-At netflix.
B-At Indieflix.com.
C-for 25 cents from that guy on the street corner selling pirated goods from a fold-up table.
There are things going on, everyone, keep your faith a little longer. We're just about at the last step of sound-clean-up, and very close to having the finished film.
This film has survived an attempted beat-down, but proves itself worthy of survival. I promise next blog will have some good news in it. I don't have anything to base that on...I promise though.
-Peter Wick
October 3rd, 2007
A year later the film won The Indiefest's Feature Film Award-of-Merit, The Original Song Award for Jen Casebeer's "Trashy Novel," and was a top seller when released on DVD through Indieflix.
I decided that I'd had enough of the trying-to-stay-sane-through-trials-and-tribulations blogs entries. I assume most everyone reading this knows the reasons for the delays, the reasons that this film has stayed out of the spotlight so far. So I decided to find out just how well you all know the history of the production.
There will be a very intensive scoring process afterwards, and those who do not pass will be required to stay after class.
1. The title "Movie Pizza Love" is in referrence to:
A-the fact that the film contains a movie-within-a-movie, pizza, and LOVE.
B-One filmmakers obsessive love for a slice of pepperoni.
C-my own inability to appreciate normal film titles.
2. This film was made possible with help from:
A-Northwest Film Forum.
B-Super smart aliens.
C-Tommy the invisible monkey.
3. Five years from now, the most famous person from this film will be:
A-Singer-songwriter Jen Casebeer.
B-Former "Miss Italy" Roberta Orlandi.
C-Tommy the invisible monkey.
4. Jen Casebeer's character "Lisa":
A-Plays her own original music live in the film.
B-Goes on a vigilante killing spree.
C-Rids the city of Seattle of its post-apocalyptic zombies.
5. I moved to L.A because:
A-There just aren't enough botched face-lifts walking around Seattle.
B-If I weren't living a mile and a half from Brett Sechrist's computer, this film would never be finished.
C-Seattle just has fender-benders; L.A. has really cool 20-car pile-ups going 80 miles an hour.
6. The main reason the film has not premiered yet is:
A-We forgot to turn on the camera.
B-Technical post-production sound problems.
C-It hasn't premiered yet? Damn it! I knew I forgot to put something on my to-do list.
7. The next film I want to make is:
A-"A Slice of Pie," a personal story about relationships.
B-"Movie Pizza Death," A revenge thriller in which Jen Casebeer returns as "Lisa" but has traded in her guitar for an Uzi.
C-Harry Potter - The E! True Hollywood Story, exposing Harry Potter's personal demons, how a Quidditch injury sank him into a deep depression, and what he really thinks of wizardry after a few cocktails.
8. Extra credit question - My previous film, "Long Strange Trip" can be purchased:
A-At netflix.
B-At Indieflix.com.
C-for 25 cents from that guy on the street corner selling pirated goods from a fold-up table.
There are things going on, everyone, keep your faith a little longer. We're just about at the last step of sound-clean-up, and very close to having the finished film.
This film has survived an attempted beat-down, but proves itself worthy of survival. I promise next blog will have some good news in it. I don't have anything to base that on...I promise though.
-Peter Wick
October 3rd, 2007
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Seattle Sounders - reprint from November, 2009
Around Noon on a Saturday in February, 1996, I made a run out of midfield, bearing down on our opponent's defenders, received a perfect pass from a teammate, wrong-footed the defender who was marking me, and found myself with space to my right.
My right foot is my weaker foot, but it has come through for me in a few key moments.
I fired a shot toward goal that, at first, looked like it would miss wide-right. The ball curled just enough to sneak inside the post, into the net, leaving Goal Keeper Marcus Hahneman lunging helplessly.
That was at Memorial Stadium in Seattle Center, where the Sounders were holding their first tryouts for the 1996 season, as defending champions of the "A-League."
Seven or eight years later, I noticed one day that Hahneman had moved from the Seattle Sounders to become Goal Keeper for Reading in the English Premier League. I realized it was him while watching a wave of Manchester United attackers descend on his defense. Ryan Giggs slotted a pass between two defenders. Christiano Ronaldo - one of the greatest players in the world - ran onto the ball and fired a blistering shot at Marcus Hahneman. Hahneman reacted perfectly, though, pushing the ball wide of goal.
I chuckled at the TV screen, and muttered sarcastically under my breath, "What's the matter Ronaldo? I scored against this guy. Why are you having so much trouble?"
Let's backtrack for a minute, though. I think I may be setting up a false impression here. I have never been a professional soccer player.
I am a writer, not a professional athlete. I am an amateur athlete, though, and I thought I might be able to combine the two things and write something about what it is like to spend time on the practice field with the nation's number one team.
Major League Soccer - MLS - had not launched its inaugural season yet. It would do so a month or so later. So, as defending A-League champions, the Seattle Sounders could legitimately lay claim to the title, "Best team in the nation."
I walked off the field after that practice, discussing my idea with Sounders Coach Tim Megson. It may seem odd from the perspective of 2009, but in 1996 the Sounders thought they would be in MLS within a year or two. The Coach and I agreed that writing something about an A-League team, with the launch of MLS just around the corner, might suffer from a "who cares" response. I was invited to stay in touch and revive my idea in a year or two. Thirteen years later, in 2009, the Sounders finally played their first MLS season.
Two decades earlier, in the 1970's, the Seattle Sounders were playing in the North American Soccer League - NASL.
I was a kid, and my older brother - my oldest brother, David; I have two, and the other one, Dan, will turn up in this story later on - took me to a handful of games at the Kingdome, that concrete cave-with-seats-inside, with what looked like green patio carpet on the floor. It was there, watching the Seattle Sounders play professional soccer, watching with amazement as teammates anticipated each other's runs, rotated around the field like living moving geometry (there is a reason the Italians call the game "calcio" - from the same root word we get "calculus" or "calculation"), that my deep life-long love of the game of soccer was born.
To those American sports fans who just don't get soccer, try being a kid in the 1970's, watching the professional game play out in front of you. then on the ride home you hear Rod Stewart on the car radio singing, "You're in my heart, you're in my soul..." while a friend in the car says, "I heard this song is about soccer." Rod Stewart flirted with professional soccer himself at one point, and did indeed dedicate that song to "The Beautiful Game." Experience all of that at the right age, and your life as a soccer fan is set.
The "new" Seattle Sounders saw their first season end recently, losing in the playoffs to Houston. It is a testament to how well the organization is run, though, that the team made the playoffs in their first year.
Wait a minute, what am I saying? the Sounders "first year"? Haven't they been around for 35 years!? Yes. They have, in one form or another.
This is a new team, but in many ways, it is a very very old and established team.
There is continuity with these new Seattle Sounders. There is a reason fans poured onto the website last year to demand that the new team be named "Sounders." Trust me. There is continuity.
The NASL folded in 1984. At the end, there were only four teams left to share that desparate last gasp. The Sounders were one of them, stubborn holdouts, determined to somehow leave a mark.
They held out long enough for my High School Coach to bring three Sounders to a handful of our practices.
I never knew the full story regarding how my High School Coach knew three Sounders. I heard he had been on their bench, or reserve squad, or something, in the early 1970's. For the record, any coaches reading this would be wise to bring a few professionals to any High School practice. You are guaranteed to gain the respect of your players.
One of the three was Tony Chursky, the Sounders Goal Keeper. One was Jimmy McAllister. the third name escapes me.
Tony Chursky seemed almost superhuman. As he went through a series of Goal Keeping drills, he jumped and rolled and bounced back up as if his body was made of rubber. He looked like Gumby to me.
I began to understand, watching him, that there is distinct difference between a "pretty good" athlete, who runs around and has a lot of fun, and a professional with a finely tuned, perfectly conditioned body.
Tony Chursky was also there that Saturday in 1996, the day I scored on Marcus Hahneman. He didn't remember me, but I sure as heck remembered him. He was older, of course, and had morphed into the crusty old Assistant Coach, barking out orders, demanding better from everyone.
Continuity...
I also read, sometime in the past few years, that the sons of Tony Chursky and Jimmy McAllister were teammartes playing for the Seattle University soccer team.
Continuity...
My brother Dan was actually recruited by the original Sounders to play for a development, or reserve squad, after High School. There wasn't going to be much of any money involved, and it was going to ruin his college eligibility. And he really wanted to go to college, mostly just to get out of town and away from our Dad - but getting away from our Dad is another story for another time. Dan said no to the Sounders, and went away to college. The NASL no longer existed when he graduated.
When the Kingdome - that concrete cave - was demolished, and the Seahawks new stadium was built, the first sports event in the new stadium was not a Seahawks game. During mid-summer, before the Seahawks moved in, The Seattle Sounders opened the new stadium. The Sounders - playing in a league that has become known as "USL-Division 1" - beat Vancouver 4-1 that day. I was there with my son.
Continuity...
The 2007 Sounders were USL-Division 1 Champions.
Those of us who follow soccer, and knew who Freddie Ljungberg was, were not just excited to learn that the new MLS Sounders had signed him. We were in disbelief.
Sure, in theory the Sounders always belonged in MLS. The Sounders tradition of winning, the conceit that our team should be the best in the nation, suggested that we have the right to play in, and dominate, the nation's top soccer league.
But to actually sign Freddie Ljungberg...
I was stunned. I held the newspaper in front of me, motionless. Maybe they can really pull this off, I thought. These guys are serious.
Real Salt Lake stole our story-line. They beat David Beckham and The L.A. Galaxy in the final this year. Salt Lake is the best team in the nation....for now.
The Sounders WILL win championships. And I will always say, "Yeah, I scored a goal as a Sounder once." If I'm smart, I'll shut up at that point and leave people wondering about the details.
The 2009 Sounders had a great season for a new team...I guess I can call them a new team. I prefer to focus on the fact that they really began 35 years ago.
Sounders forever!
My right foot is my weaker foot, but it has come through for me in a few key moments.
I fired a shot toward goal that, at first, looked like it would miss wide-right. The ball curled just enough to sneak inside the post, into the net, leaving Goal Keeper Marcus Hahneman lunging helplessly.
That was at Memorial Stadium in Seattle Center, where the Sounders were holding their first tryouts for the 1996 season, as defending champions of the "A-League."
Seven or eight years later, I noticed one day that Hahneman had moved from the Seattle Sounders to become Goal Keeper for Reading in the English Premier League. I realized it was him while watching a wave of Manchester United attackers descend on his defense. Ryan Giggs slotted a pass between two defenders. Christiano Ronaldo - one of the greatest players in the world - ran onto the ball and fired a blistering shot at Marcus Hahneman. Hahneman reacted perfectly, though, pushing the ball wide of goal.
I chuckled at the TV screen, and muttered sarcastically under my breath, "What's the matter Ronaldo? I scored against this guy. Why are you having so much trouble?"
Let's backtrack for a minute, though. I think I may be setting up a false impression here. I have never been a professional soccer player.
I am a writer, not a professional athlete. I am an amateur athlete, though, and I thought I might be able to combine the two things and write something about what it is like to spend time on the practice field with the nation's number one team.
Major League Soccer - MLS - had not launched its inaugural season yet. It would do so a month or so later. So, as defending A-League champions, the Seattle Sounders could legitimately lay claim to the title, "Best team in the nation."
I walked off the field after that practice, discussing my idea with Sounders Coach Tim Megson. It may seem odd from the perspective of 2009, but in 1996 the Sounders thought they would be in MLS within a year or two. The Coach and I agreed that writing something about an A-League team, with the launch of MLS just around the corner, might suffer from a "who cares" response. I was invited to stay in touch and revive my idea in a year or two. Thirteen years later, in 2009, the Sounders finally played their first MLS season.
Two decades earlier, in the 1970's, the Seattle Sounders were playing in the North American Soccer League - NASL.
I was a kid, and my older brother - my oldest brother, David; I have two, and the other one, Dan, will turn up in this story later on - took me to a handful of games at the Kingdome, that concrete cave-with-seats-inside, with what looked like green patio carpet on the floor. It was there, watching the Seattle Sounders play professional soccer, watching with amazement as teammates anticipated each other's runs, rotated around the field like living moving geometry (there is a reason the Italians call the game "calcio" - from the same root word we get "calculus" or "calculation"), that my deep life-long love of the game of soccer was born.
To those American sports fans who just don't get soccer, try being a kid in the 1970's, watching the professional game play out in front of you. then on the ride home you hear Rod Stewart on the car radio singing, "You're in my heart, you're in my soul..." while a friend in the car says, "I heard this song is about soccer." Rod Stewart flirted with professional soccer himself at one point, and did indeed dedicate that song to "The Beautiful Game." Experience all of that at the right age, and your life as a soccer fan is set.
The "new" Seattle Sounders saw their first season end recently, losing in the playoffs to Houston. It is a testament to how well the organization is run, though, that the team made the playoffs in their first year.
Wait a minute, what am I saying? the Sounders "first year"? Haven't they been around for 35 years!? Yes. They have, in one form or another.
This is a new team, but in many ways, it is a very very old and established team.
There is continuity with these new Seattle Sounders. There is a reason fans poured onto the website last year to demand that the new team be named "Sounders." Trust me. There is continuity.
The NASL folded in 1984. At the end, there were only four teams left to share that desparate last gasp. The Sounders were one of them, stubborn holdouts, determined to somehow leave a mark.
They held out long enough for my High School Coach to bring three Sounders to a handful of our practices.
I never knew the full story regarding how my High School Coach knew three Sounders. I heard he had been on their bench, or reserve squad, or something, in the early 1970's. For the record, any coaches reading this would be wise to bring a few professionals to any High School practice. You are guaranteed to gain the respect of your players.
One of the three was Tony Chursky, the Sounders Goal Keeper. One was Jimmy McAllister. the third name escapes me.
Tony Chursky seemed almost superhuman. As he went through a series of Goal Keeping drills, he jumped and rolled and bounced back up as if his body was made of rubber. He looked like Gumby to me.
I began to understand, watching him, that there is distinct difference between a "pretty good" athlete, who runs around and has a lot of fun, and a professional with a finely tuned, perfectly conditioned body.
Tony Chursky was also there that Saturday in 1996, the day I scored on Marcus Hahneman. He didn't remember me, but I sure as heck remembered him. He was older, of course, and had morphed into the crusty old Assistant Coach, barking out orders, demanding better from everyone.
Continuity...
I also read, sometime in the past few years, that the sons of Tony Chursky and Jimmy McAllister were teammartes playing for the Seattle University soccer team.
Continuity...
My brother Dan was actually recruited by the original Sounders to play for a development, or reserve squad, after High School. There wasn't going to be much of any money involved, and it was going to ruin his college eligibility. And he really wanted to go to college, mostly just to get out of town and away from our Dad - but getting away from our Dad is another story for another time. Dan said no to the Sounders, and went away to college. The NASL no longer existed when he graduated.
When the Kingdome - that concrete cave - was demolished, and the Seahawks new stadium was built, the first sports event in the new stadium was not a Seahawks game. During mid-summer, before the Seahawks moved in, The Seattle Sounders opened the new stadium. The Sounders - playing in a league that has become known as "USL-Division 1" - beat Vancouver 4-1 that day. I was there with my son.
Continuity...
The 2007 Sounders were USL-Division 1 Champions.
Those of us who follow soccer, and knew who Freddie Ljungberg was, were not just excited to learn that the new MLS Sounders had signed him. We were in disbelief.
Sure, in theory the Sounders always belonged in MLS. The Sounders tradition of winning, the conceit that our team should be the best in the nation, suggested that we have the right to play in, and dominate, the nation's top soccer league.
But to actually sign Freddie Ljungberg...
I was stunned. I held the newspaper in front of me, motionless. Maybe they can really pull this off, I thought. These guys are serious.
Real Salt Lake stole our story-line. They beat David Beckham and The L.A. Galaxy in the final this year. Salt Lake is the best team in the nation....for now.
The Sounders WILL win championships. And I will always say, "Yeah, I scored a goal as a Sounder once." If I'm smart, I'll shut up at that point and leave people wondering about the details.
The 2009 Sounders had a great season for a new team...I guess I can call them a new team. I prefer to focus on the fact that they really began 35 years ago.
Sounders forever!
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