On Top of the World
--
Written - July 2015
The Summer Doldrums have not yet sunk in,
yet I just heard my first Back To School radio
spot. I mean, it was just July 4th.
And the @USWNT won the Women’s World Cup!
Congratulations on a job well done. I think
about all those aspiring soccer moms who
drive their children to and from soccer
practices mostly, with a few games thrown in
between.
My family and friends who went through the
youth soccer phase with their children hoped
maybe they would stay healthy, have fun and
learn a bit about teamwork.
For most of them, it was their first encounter
with a sport that just missed the Baby
Boomers, who now stand on the sidelines
cheering on their granddaughter, not knowing
WTF off sides is or what a Yellow Card
means, although they guess it’s not good.
Who knew then, among the soccer moms who
sat in the bleachers in Southern New Jersey
and Northern California watching their girls
progress through the years, so that she could
make a pass to a teammate cutting to the
goal, that they would end up on top of the
World.
The Millennial generation stands to witness
the first ever women’s sports team to
experience the thrill of a Canyon of Heroes –
now Canyon of Heroines parade in New York City.
Complete with the confetti falling all around them on a
slow moving flatbed truck, the victorious team
members wearing their Nike sweat suits
waved back to the thousands of little soccer
girls dressed in their brightly colored uniforms
with their shin guards snug in place beneath
their knee socks.
Stationed right next to her mom she stands on
her tippy toes to reach out and wave over the
fence, just to get an up close glimpse and get
a chance to take a picture of her version of
Mickey Mantle, Tom Seaver or Joe Namath.
As the soccer heroines ambled up Broadway
and past each little girl and her mom, the
young girl turned and said, “Mommy, I’m going
to be in this parade when I get older. I just
know it!” “Honey, maybe one day you will.
And if so, I’ll stand right here in this same spot
and throw you a kiss.” “And I’ll throw you a
kiss back Mom — I promise!“
It takes hard work to win the World Cup, but
just like Abby and Carli, you can be a winner
too. Set a reasonable goal. Work hard. And
if all the pieces fall in line, maybe you in your
own way, will end up on Top of the World as
well.
