So there I am, watching a Division III match at one of the local indoor soccer facilities. Nothing special, mostly a bunch of guys having fun. It looked like the best player on the team might have been able to make a bad college team on a good day. When all of a sudden, out of the blue, without fanfare, a lone player appears on the blue team. He looks strangely familiar. Yes, I have seen him before. He used to play in the MSL (Major Soccer League, formerly the MISL, or Major Indoor Soccer League), not to be confused with Major League Soccer. He was one of the best players in the league when he played.
So what in the name of petrified kitties was this professional standout doing running with the scrubs? I had no idea, but I intended to find out.
The kickoff was played to our ex-pro, we'll call him "Canstupius." Canstrupius collected the ball, dribbled past the midfielders, nutmegged both defenders and then chipped the ball over the goalkeeper, and under the crossbar. Total elapsed time: 13 seconds. Score: Weak Opponent 0, Ex-pro 1. Mind you, at this point the ball has been touched by exactly two players... the guy who kicked-off the ball to Canstrupius, and Canstrupius himself. Wow. I guess ol' Canstrupe still has the magic touch. So I continued watching, partially because of curiosity, partially because my leash was caught on a post, and my owner wasn't paying attention when he walked off to the snack bar.
Weak Opponent's forward put the ball back in play on the restart, a weak back pass that was picked off by none-other-than Canstrupius the Mantupius. "Can the Man" flicked the ball over the outstretched foot of the big goofy defender who was wearing a pink headband and white basketball shoes, and proceeded to hit the ball past the goalkeeper, through the goal, under the baby stroller and into the side of a Doritos® Brand corn chips bag on the counter at the snack bar. I think they were the new Pizza flavored ones.
I was starting to feel restrained by my leash. I had enjoyed enough of this game, and was already dreaming of some microwaved Kibbles & Bits®, waiting for me back in the front yard in Pacific Beach.
It got worse. Weak Opponent took the kickoff again. Super Struper chased the ball down and trapped the defender in the corner, stripped the ball from him, juggled the ball towards the goal, and put the ball in the net, off the back of the fleeing goalkeeper. I felt a hairball coming on as I watched our former pro perform the "Can the Man Victory Can Can."
"Ciao for now, ciao for now, ciao for now" kept running through my head. Why does Canstrupius feel the need to play in this league? What kind of screwed-up, low-life, dust-sucking, mini-brained, egomaniacal bozo needs this kind of an ego boost?
By this time I had started chewing through the leash. I must admit, I used to like watching Canstrupius in the MISL, but now I've lost all respect for him. I can't understand what possible sense of accomplishment he would get from completely "tooling" (cool slang for "demonstrating superior skills") a team of recreational players. He not only is much too good for the league, but he is extremely selfish in his play as well. AND, he lacks class. I'm sure his teammates don't enjoy playing with him. I know that they aren't learning anything from him. How did he get on this team to begin with?
Another thing to think about: Is it good business for the indoor soccer facility to allow Canstrupius to compete in a league that is so far beneath his ability? I don't think so. Maybe Canstrupster needs to play in the Division I league instead. I'm sure it would be a far more challenging endeavor for him to play among the best the facility has to offer. He could also try to show a little self control. I have seen plenty of great players play on teams that are of much lesser skill level. Instead of being the dominant, selfish, player-from-Hell type, it is possible for the great ones to play a passive role on the team. Perhaps playing one, two, or three touch soccer, or playing a defensive position would be more constructive. The best players in the world can be helpful to any team with the right attitude. A professional can instruct his/her teammates to play better soccer. It is possible for the player to assume the role of the playmaker and conduct the surrounding players like a symphony. It is good for a standout player to become a positive role model.
The question now: Is it smart for a pro-quality player to play with vastly inferior players? No. It will bring down the level of the player, it will develop bad habits, and it will test that players patience and tolerance like no other single entity.
Maybe it's okay if the player is helpful and gets enjoyment from being helpful. Maybe then it's okay. What's your opinion?
Ciao for Now.