Is Eric Hassli Vancouver's Next Sports Hero?

Serving the Beautiful Game

CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION

Is Eric Hassli Vancouver’s Next Sports Hero?

April 2011 • FreeKickMag.com Fun brings everyone together.

Having fun, making new friends and learning new skills in a positive environment. Three reasons why your local Tim Hortons is so proud to support the over 9,000 boys and girls who play Timbits Soccer in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley areas.

The first goal is having fun®

MAYOR’S CUP KICK OFF

4 SoccerScopes 5 Publisher's Note 6 Major League Kickoff 8 Eric Hassli Interview 10 Locals Going to Germany 12 Women's National Team 13 Earthquake in Japan 14 Football Foodie 14 Comics

Champions from the Surrey Mayor’s Cup hung out and made friends with our 15 Fans! Free Kick Wall members. The annual mega tournament drew over 400 teams.

WHAT KICKS YOU OFF?

I have been a season ticket It’s my passion. It’s another sport to beat holder for many years; it’s - Kantcho Doskov Toronto. such a beautiful game. -Chris Beneteau - Christy Clarke , BC Premier STACKED (VERTICAL) - min. size HORIZONTAL - min. size

WHITECAPS FC Presented By CAMPS PLAY LIKE A PRO WHITECAPS FC WHITECAPS FC Improve your play and have fun with Whitecaps FC Camps and Clinics. Learn from WhitecapsWHITECAPS coaches and former WorldFC Cup captainPresented By CAMPS CAMPS Sam Lenarduzzi. Presented By Go to whitecapsfc.com/camps to register for a summer Presented By CAMPS camp in your community.

For Info on FreeKick Academy/Camps visit: FreeKickMag.com 3 STARTING LINEUP FREE KICK TEAM & CONTRIBUTORS Myles Constable, Design / Photography Myles is a former soccer player, coach and UBC Human Kinetics grad that drifted into sports media (24 Hours, The Point) and now enjoys the creative rewards of SoccerScopes graphic design, photography and much more. www.TheVantage.ca Aries: Releasing air from the practice balls Trevor Kew, Writer prior to a heading session may diminish the Trevor is a Canadian teacher and writer based in future onset of Alzheimer’s. Yokohama, Japan who spends most of his time playing, coaching or watching football. Trevor supports Watford Taurus: Cheering for Toronto will lead to and Manchester United. He also claims to have fouled strikers on three continents. Red Card! feelings of isolation and despair. Paranoid thoughts of folks pointing and laughing at Mike Toth, Writer you may progress to an existential crisis. Mike Toth is an award winning journalist, historian and author of the book Birth to Millennium: Mississauga’s Sports Heritage. He was inducted into Gemini: Nutmegging livestock and large Mississauga’s Sports Hall of Fame in 1993. dogs will improve your dribbling skills and confidence. Jason Beck, Writer Curator of the BC Sports Hall of Fame. A lifelong fan Cancer: Traveling with your ball to foreign and player of the beautiful game, he spends Saturday mornings watching his beloved Chelsea, recovering lands will increase your chance of hooking from matches with his club team Chilliwack Rapids, up with hotties from any culture. and awaiting the next Whitecaps victory. Leo: Wearing various team jerseys may Paddy O'Mahoney, Assistant Editor Paddy is an aspiring journalist who spends a worrying lead to multiple personality disorders. amount of time reading about Liverpool FC on the internet. Virgo: Blowing bubbles on the bench will signal to the coach you are ready for action.

Libra: Dressing like security will increase your odds of getting into desired matches.

Scorpio: Encouraging and joining monks and Hari Krishnas to sing “ole, ole, ole” will add blessings and karmic favors for your favourite team.

Sagittarius: Drinking at the pub with both hands will aid alignment to increased coordination with both feet.

Capricorn: Riding a bike or running through the chaotic streets of third world nations will develop your spatial awareness, skills and agility.

Aquarius: Waiting at the bus stop wearing your favourite pro jersey may lead to free rides and romance from mutual fans. Redeem this coupon at any Semperviva location* Pisces: Wearing your sexy game poncho • Vancouver’s most experienced and inspiring teachers may increase oxytocin and testosterone • Over 150 all-level classes in all styles of yoga every week • Internationally recognized Yoga Teacher Training programs production.

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*Coupon valid for one FREE drop-in class for two people at any Semperviva Yoga studio location. Valid for non-members only. One coupon per person. ExpiresExpires JulyAugust 31st 31, 2011st, 2010.

4 Free Kick April 2011 Letter from the Publisher Publisher: Carrie Serwetnyk KICK OFF [email protected] Carrie Serwetnyk, Design/Web: Myles Constable First Woman Canadian [email protected] Soccer Hall of Fame

Mailing Address: Suite 128 1917 West 4th, Avenue Vancouver, BC, V6J 1M7 'Thrilling' and 'dramatic' are two apt descriptions for the action the Whitecaps provided Advertising and 604.551.7006 Vancouverites during their first month in MLS. After a flurry of goals, Editorial Inquiries: [email protected] yellow and red cards, and free flowing action, the city has been swept away by a new tide of soccer exhilaration. In this issue, Free Kick Printing: Teldon Print Media had the opportunity to speak with Eric Hassli after his fantastic two- Cover Photo: Bob Frid goal performance in the opening match. So much has happened since then, with the striker chalking up a pair of ejections, including a fine Twitter: @freekickmag for whipping off his jersey after scoring a penalty in a 1-1 nail biter against New England. Whether he is to become a hero or goat is yet to Facebook: /freekickmag be determined, but the enigmatic Frenchman is certainly showing signs he could be Vancouver’s next superstar athlete. On the ladies side, the top brass from the CSA were in town to cruise BC Free Kick is a free publication distributed Place and take in the infrastructure for Vancouver’s hosting of the Women’s monthly in The Province Newspaper, World Cup in 2015. Self-made rumours, if they’re to be believed, have at local soccer and cultural events. it that Vancouver is likely to host the final. The knowledge that Canada

www.FreeKickMag.com will welcome the world next time round must have been a boost for our national team members, who are now ranked sixth going into the opening World Cup match against Germany on June 26th in Berlin. Publisher’s Note: Looking past soccer, we have the opportunity to share a story from our feature writer Trevor Kew who was living in Japan during the earthquake/ Why “Serving the Beautiful Game?” tsunami devastation. For the first time during the three years that Trevor As a magazine we have the ability to give a much has been writing for Free Kick, he had very little to say about soccer. needed acknowledgement to individuals who He equates how the game, the fun and excitement can unify us just as contribute their energy to soccer. Our mission is to serve the players, fans, parents and coaches who our deepest fears unite people when they are collectively attempting to want information and support for their passion. survive. We can only imagine. As usual, we hope to make you smile, and open your mind to the Brazilian star Pele’s most renowned quote was when he called “football” the “beautiful game.” The quote impact sport has on lives, both locally and internationally, and to share speaks for itself to all those who have played soccer our version of the beautiful game. or admired it in the stands. It hits the mark between Best wishes, how it looks on the outside and how it feels on the inside playing it.

We feel the combination to “Serve the Beautiful Game” matches our ambitions as a magazine.

Free Kick Magazine is an environmentally friendly publication. Printed on recycled paper. For Info on FreeKick Academy/Camps visit: FreeKickMag.com 5 Major League Kick Off WHITECAPS

On a gorgeous spring day in BY JASON BECK Zeppelin-like balloons, drum lines, Vancouver, when the only thing that and a sea of white in the stands greeted rained down was ponchos, 22,592 400 supporters, including many of the the players as they walked on to the soccer faithful can proudly claim they diehard Southsiders, gathered pre-match pitch. Steve Nash, (who flew up from were there for the most successful at Oscar’s Pub and then marched en Phoenix on an off day between Suns franchise-opening match ever for a masse to the stadium, singing “Take Me games), new Premier Christy Clark, and Vancouver professional sports team. Home, Boundary Road” and chanting Garber each pounding a drum on-field along the way. Other chants could be lent some star power to MAJOR the festivities. LEAGUE SOCCER In terms of final result, pre-match heard off in the distance: Fireworks exploded at the conclusion of anticipation, fan engagement, crowd “O Canada.” size, atmosphere, weather, facility, post- We’re blue! We’re white! In the bleachers, the Southsiders match talking points—you name it—the We’re @#$%?!% dynamite! unfurled rolls of white plastic that opening games of the Lions, Canucks, Vancouver! stretched across long blocks of seats. NASL Whitecaps, and Grizzlies all put Others unfolded a massive blue, white, and together had nothing on this one. Once inside the gates, impromptu black “W” banner across an entire section From nearly every possible angle, reunions took place everywhere, in and passed it overhead. Within twenty the Whitecaps’ entrance into MLS— burger and porta-potty line-ups— minutes, the massive piece of fabric had and the return of top-level professional players, coaches, teammates, opponents, completed its first lap of the stadium. soccer in Vancouver after twenty-seven supporters, volunteers, referees. And with the deafening rolling thunder years—exceeded all expectations. MLS Everywhere you turned there was a of 46,000 feet stomping aluminum commissioner Don Garber said the team familiar face. The tight Lower Mainland bleachers echoing in his ISears, Eric Hassli HERE. “over-delivered.” The words “perfect start” soccer community was out in full force. took the first Whitecaps MLS touch to escaped the lips of many as they walked The mini Aboriginal drums handed Atiba Harris on the kick-off. Other ‘firsts’ out of Empire Field’s gates afterwards, the out to the first 5000 season ticket holders came fast and furious after that. The first * warm rays of a glorious sunset kissing proved the most sought-after souvenir. save, by keeper Jay Nolly inSeason the 2nd. The tickets start at just $319 smiling cheeks after a 4-2 Whitecaps Scarves also flew off the merchandise first slide tackle, by captain Jay Demerit victory over Toronto FC. Before that shelves. in the 3rd minute. The first shot and first though, from the fan’s perspective, the From any seat in the house, the view corner kick, by Davide Chiumiento in match had it all. that afternoon was world class. The the 8th minute. And of course, the one A couple hours before kick-off, atmosphere could have been mistaken everyone pined to see, the firstTo Whitecaps'buy tickets call 604.669.9283 Whitecaps jerseys, scarves, and hats for Fulham, Everton or Liverpool, but the goal in the 15th minute. A cracking left- began popping up on buses and Skytrains surrounding North Shore mountain vista, footed volley by Eric Hassli set up by around East Vancouver. A veritable with a lone seaplane circling overhead, was another dangerous run andTo cross view by the a full 2011 match schedule go whitecapsfc.com wave of white waited outside Empire, unmistakably Vancouver. Remarkably, slippery Chiumiento; the best player on line-ups snaking as far as the eye could on this day the only thing that outshone the pitch in the first half by a country see to get in. A few passed the time the whitecaps in the distance were the mile. The collective roar*Plus after applicable Hassli’s taxes and $10 processing fee per order tailgating in nearby parking lots. Over Whitecaps on the emerald carpet below. strike shook Empire to its foundations.

6 Free Kick April 2011

Hassli sprinted to the sideline kissing the The crowd booed, and down came atop a go-go-gadget extendable logo of his new team on his chest. another wave of ponchos. arm swayed back and forth, A spontaneous shower of white Before halftime, a throwback to the twenty-five feet overhead. Wes ponchos from the stands soon littered Caps’ first go-round at Empire in the 1970s Knight grabbed a scarf from a fan and the fringes of the field requiring a three- was resurrected. The east side bleachers held it to the sky. Knight walked off to minute delay to clear the playing surface. roared “White!” The west side answered, the dressing room tunnel still clutching Choruses of “Ole Ole” rang out, followed “Caps!” For some in attendance, it felt it proudly. Even the players recognized by transplanted Swangard traditions like a pleasant little time warp. what had just occurred and wanted “Oggy oggy oggy! Oi oi oi!” …“Thank In the second half, Harris and Hassli keepsakes. you very much Eric Hassli!” added goals three and four for the Caps, Leaving their seats, a small crowd of A Dwayne De Rosario equalizer while Maicon Santos nailed TFC’s second. fans clustered around an overwhelmed subdued things somewhat, but only just. Six goals on the day, and not a stinker to Bob Lenarduzzi. Lining up to shake the In the 26th minute, another goal and be found in the lot; you couldn’t ask for hand and pause for a quick photo with the scriptwriters couldn’t have gotten much more. the man most responsible for the team it more right. Vancouver-born Terry In the final minutes, with victory all surviving its lean years to get to this Dunfield finished off a perfectly weighted but assured, thousands sang out “Na Na momentous day. “I’m absolutely stunned,” Chiumiento through-ball with a clinical Na Na Hey Hey Goodbye” echoing the Lenarduzzi said, searching for words right-footed strike past besieged TFC Vancouver victory staple—regardless on the verge of tears, a mixture of relief keeper Stefan Frei. Dunfield sprinted to of sport—around the stadium. The and emotion at what he’d just witnessed. the sideline and leapt into the arms of scarves came out again, stretched at arms “Never in my wildest dreams did I expect friends and family in the first row. The length overhead, thousands swaying to experience this kind of reaction.” midfielder received a yellow card for back and forth. And with every soul in “Where will you be March 19?” was the his unrehearsed celebration, a decision the joint on their feet cheering, the final club’s thirty-day countdown marketing heavily booed by the crowd. whistle produced one last roar. Fittingly, slogan, and rest assured, years from Dunfield’s goal prompted the second there was one last rain of ponchos. No now many times the sell-out attendance poncho shower of the day, and perhaps reprimands this time. figure will claim to have “been there” for the most comical public announcement The Whitecaps lingered on the field this historic match; the importance and ever heard at a Vancouver sports event: soaking up the adulation. Linking arms, memories of which will grow larger with “Whitecaps fans ... please refrain from many ran to the Southsiders corner and time. In terms of debuts, this was one for throwing your ponchos onto the pitch.” saluted the crowd. A blue and white flag the ages.

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For Info on FreeKick Academy/Camps visit: FreeKickMag.com 7 After the firstRICO game of the season, Free KickROCKS met with Eric Hassli, the Vancouver! Whitecaps’ first designated player, who opened the scoring floodgates with two goals in the premier match at Empire Field. The Frenchman, originally from Sarraguemines, a small town on the German border, left his Swiss club FC Zurich to etch his name in the Whitecaps history. A feat he duly accomplished when he became the first ever Whitecap to score a goal in the MLS. Since that game he's garnered lots of attention for the yellow and red cards he's accumulated. He says he's playing for the fans. We thing he's becoming somewhat of a rock star. Here's what we learned about him.

INTERVIEW TRANSLATED BY JAMIE MAKUTRA

FREE KICK: What do you like to do EH: At the moment, I’m still at a hotel well I’m in the process of divorcing. outside of soccer? downtown, but yesterday I looked at an apartment in False Creek. FK: Well it’s a good question, because ERIC HASSLI: I really like going with my maybe there are a lot of women that friends to restaurants, shopping – I love FK: What are your tattoos and what do would like you and would want to know that. they mean to you? if you’re single or attached...

FK: What type or what genre of music do EH: I have the birthdate of my son. I have EH: No, I’m single. you prefer? the birthdate of my daughter. My first was my daughter (on his right wrist), my FK: You might make a few women happy; EH: Pop and rap. There are lots of French daughter’s name (he pointed to his left everyone’s going to be calling you! It’s artists like Cynique, ETM[more than arm), my son’s name on my back, and then good news, for some people. English], but I really like American rap every time I change clubs I get a tattoo. even if I don’t understand too much. So I have a consultation appointment for FK: Do they talk about the MLS in France next week here to get a new one. and what is the atmosphere like around FK: How do you find the restaurants here that? in Vancouver? FK: You’re kind of like a suitcase you put stickers on. EH: Yeah, people are asking themselves EH: Magnificent. They are really nice a lot of questions right know in France and the people are really, really nice. It’s EH: Exactly, exactly. It’s true. Every city because there are more and more players different from France – I find they are that I go to, I get a tattoo. coming to the MLS. All my friends back much more welcoming and smiling. home have asked me, “you could go FK: How old are your children? to Zurich, you could go to Italy, even FK:: And the weather? (It was pouring at to England, why do you want to go to the time) EH: My daughter is 10 years old, and my Vancouver?” and I said it’s just incredible. son is 10 months old. For me, it’s incredible; it’s an experience; EH: For me, it’s exactly the same. But the it’s a new life. And being in the American city is 100 times bigger. FK: Are they here? league, while being in one of the most beautiful cities in the world in Vancouver, FK: Where in Vancouver do you live? EH: No, they are in France. I’m divorced; there’s nothing better.

8 Free Kick April 2011

FK-April2011-16pages.indd 8 11-04-12 8:25 AM GAME PHOTOS: MYLES CONSTABLE Everybody defender the say, like the regular course/path. I arrived, ‘quartier’. you do didn’t how the, have I EH: academy when you were young? FK: from Eric. EH: FK: magnificent in football for me. hewas really incredible. He was the most play, him first saw and I when16 was I Lima… de Nazário Luís Madrid. Real one,thereal Ronaldo, notRonaldo from EH: FK: i yu vr ly n h national the in play ever you Did Do you have a nickname? Who was your idol?

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WHITECAPS World Cup Dream Team

Local U14 Girls Team plans travel playing trip to the Women’s World Cup in Germany

Sponsored by principals of the mining group Hunter Dickison Inc., (HDI)

Every now and then, if you’re lucky, on the American squad; so it was very a person is presented with a once in BY CARRIE SERWETNYK exciting to follow their progress and a lifetime opportunity. Of course, extravaganza. witness them win the championships. every moment in our lives is about However, more important than the Even more impressive, was being a taking advantage of the “power of smorgasbord of delights that awaits part of full stadiums, magnificent now,” but it’s not every day when them, the girls will have the unique ceremonies, banners throughout the city you get the opportunity to go to a opportunity to see their own kind given and hundreds of journalists around the World Cup. the attention, credit and accolades rarely world paying attention to women’s soccer. This summer, a group of thirteen and seen in female sports. There is nothing Twenty years later, with five World Cups fourteen-year-old girls from the Lower more empowering than to be playing a and four Olympics in the bag, the idea Mainland will be traveling to Germany sport you love and have it recognized on of women playing for world titles has to cheer on the best players on the a world stage. become more commonplace. Although planet. And as if that experience doesn’t As a former national team player, some may take it for granted now, the sound magical enough, they will also I had this first taste at the inaugural chance for women to play, compete, be competing for their own bragging Women’s World Cup in China in 1991. prove themselves, and be rewarded by rights against the top German football I attended as a journalist after the USA society for playing a “man’s game" was squads in various regions throughout defeated us (Canada) in Haiti for the indeed a historic achievement. the country. Add in some cultural only qualifying spot from CONCACAF. Today, it may be almost unnatural for and shopping highlights, and this Nine of my teammates, and my coach at a girl not to be signing up for soccer in excursion is the ultimate soccer dream the University of North Carolina played suburban North America, but despite

QUICK FACTS Travel Dates: July 5th – 18th Team Roster: 16 players 4 Back-Up Players *2 Spaces are Available*

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Practice Schedule 2x per week in April 2-3x per week in May & June Various Exhibition Games The German Women’s National Team hopes to repeat as Champions Baker Blast June 24th – 26th as hosts of this year’s World Cup.

10 Free Kick April 2011 “Our objective is to provide some of BC’s most talented female athletes the opportunity to gain international competition experience at the highest level in the U14 age category; all the while witnessing live, the quality of soccer and euphoria surrounding the world’s most prestigious female soccer competition.”

German teams might open a knowledge of the game, world of ideas and beliefs in but he believes the bonding their minds and hearts, that from such an experience they too can nourish their will go a long way. “It will own goals and carve their be a great opportunity for own path, whether that be on them to play and perform the field or off of it. against the best local teams How did this dream in an environment that they unfold? Thanks to head BENNETT are unfamiliar with. The all that has been achieved, to see female coach Robin Bennett, a native Germans are fully enthusiastic sports stars get top billing throughout German with a serious passion for for the World Cup, and it will be the worlds sports media is still rare. football and youth development in emotionally fantastic for the girls to Germany plans to set a new benchmark Vancouver, the pieces came together. experience this atmosphere, live the this summer with the best attended and He created the vision to give high level challenge of competition and hopeful media covered female sports event ever. soccer players in the region the chance to encourage them to stay with the sport You think Canada is crazy for Hockey? train, play top teams and work together for many years to come.” See Germans and the rest of Europe as a group to experience the wonder of and South America for that matter near sport within an international framework. Head Coach: Robin Bennett, a soccer event anywhere and you have With the financial support of Principals Provincial B level coach with +14 yourself a festival. of the mining group Hunter Dickison years experience coaching youth Dare to dream - to find yourself in the Inc. (HDI) he made certain the trip select boys and girls teams in the U11 midst of this? Watching Marta, Christine would be affordable and therefore the to U18 age categories in Vancouver. Sinclair, Birgit Prinz, Kelly Smith selection of players could be based on and dozens of other top-level women talent rather than the financial resources Assistant Coach: Emma Nixon, athletes is a remarkable inspiration for a of their parents. UBC-Okanagan - Varsity Player and young player. Watching from the stands Talking to coach Robin, it is evident team co-captain. Emma grew up in intertwined with playing elite local that he not only has tremendous Tsawwassen and played at the Metro level for Vancouver/Richmond. This Details for their trip can be found at month she is graduating from UBC http://sites.google.com/site/wctravelteam with a major in psychology.

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For Info on FreeKick Academy/Camps visit: FreeKickMag.com 11 12 WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM carries women’s year? place h Cnda wmn o uh an such to women Canadian the impressive run by any standard. 2011Cyprus Women’s theCup inMarch; at an first and China,Tournament in Four-Nation Women’sYongchuan Cup Internacional in Brazil, second Torneio 2010 at the the qualifier, at 2011 first Cup World CONCACAF 2010 the at first Canada also won the Gold Cup. Finishingway theAlong loss. oneanddraws two Canada’sinternational recordwins,14 is global top-10. the roundingoutEngland andNorway Korea, North France, ahead with Canada, areof Sweden and Japan Brazil, rankings were last posted in November. the sincethree-plusmonths the in loss solitary a anddraws two wins,eight of heels the on points 54 gainingnation, Canadian The any of jumpbiggest the postedwomen first 2003. were in rankings introduced the since team thehighest position ever by the national FIFAWomen’sthe on WorldRankings, Canada Confident Just Much of the rocketMuchthattheboostedfuelof September, last of end the Since Germany, States, United the Only place sixth to up moved has Canada Free Kick April 2011

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At 2:40 p.m. on March 11, I was sitting BY TREVOR KEW Others have stubbornly stayed put. Some at my desk at Yokohama International people refuse to believe any positive School reading a book. I probably should an expert in nuclear fission, disaster news, while others refuse to believe have been marking essays, planning management, or earthquake-resistant anything negative. Some people write lessons or answering emails, but it was architecture. I write articles and novels diaries. Some people call their moms

Friday – one week before spring break – about football. And there is nothing every five minutes. Some people try to JOURNAL TRAVEL and I had no more classes that day. particularly unique or interesting about bury themselves in their work. My brain was already on vacation, or the way I experienced the Tohoku It’s not a nice thing to be in a situation at least already down on the five-a-side earthquake. Millions of other people full of fear and uncertainty. I was in football pitch where we teachers play experienced the quake in much the a school near London during the 7/7 every Friday after school. I yawned. I same way: clinging to the ground under bombings of 2005, and I remember stretched. I glanced over at the row of their desks, hoping the earth would stop students and teachers scrambling trees outside the window of my third- moving. for information on their phones and story classroom. I turned back to my computers that day. I remember one book. little guy whose dad worked near one Suddenly, the building started to of the bombed underground stations sway. No big deal, I thought. In Japan, being reduced to tears when he couldn’t the ground tends to move around every contact his father on his cell phone. The now and then, but soon the building whole class hugged him when he got was expanding and contracting like an through. accordion. “Students and teachers, get 7/7 was obviously a very different under your desks,” said our principal situation from Japan’s earthquake, but I over the intercom, “Remain calm.” Alone remember similar feelings: a frightening in the room, I got under my flimsy metal loss of control, and that sudden urge (and desk and waited. The wall next to me frustrating inability) to do something to seemed to stretch and bend so much that get it back. But what can a football writer I wondered, ridiculously, if the building possibly contribute? was reaching over and touching those Well, not much, but there’s one thing trees across the street. I’ve realized that I’d like to share anyway. In the days and weeks since those When I was at the World Cup in South frightening moments, the world What those living in other countries Africa last summer, I was of course has been inundated with videos, tend to forget is that the vast majority swept away by the international spirit of photographs, blog posts, Twitter feeds, of people here in Japan experienced the fun and unity that the tournament, and emails, Facebook statuses, news reports, worst events of the disaster on television football itself, embodies. You’d have to apocalyptic predictions, statistics, or the Internet. We too watched the be a fairly cynical soul not to be inspired inappropriate jokes, calls for aid, analysis scenes of death and destruction, as the after attending a World Cup. Football – from experts and “experts,” nutcase rants tsunami smashed the small towns of like beer, film, art, literature, and many about how the earthquake was payback the northeastern coast of Honshu. It others – is one of the wonderful parts for World War II, and colourful but was closer to home for us, of course, but of life that unify us through fleeting useless diagrams/models of nuclear just like you, the worst of the disaster moments of joy, fun and excitement. At reactors (such as Glenn Beck’s baffling happened “somewhere else.” For most the other end of the spectrum, disasters apparatus of pots-and-pans and M&Ms). people living here, both Japanese and – both natural and manmade – unify How can we even begin to make non-Japanese, the main side effects of us through the way they strike at our sense of it all? Even attempting to do this disaster have not been physical, deepest fears. so is a daunting prospect. When I sat material or even financial; they have And so while the intense Internet down to write this article, I initially been psychological. Underneath all and mainstream media maelstrom spewed out two thousands words of the speculation, facts and opinions surrounding Japan’s disaster has been scattered nonsense, spinning from my on Facebook, news reports and coffee overwhelming and frustrating at times, I own earthquake experiences, to plate shop conversations, there is one try to remind myself that it is motivated tectonics, to media bias, to nuclear single common recurring theme: the by the fact that people all over the world radiation statistics, to comparisons frustration of wanting, almost needing, do really care about what has happened between Fukushima, Chernobyl and to do something to control the situation. here. They empathize with the Japanese, Three Mile Island. Some people have fled Japan, or at and for the most part, desperately wish I deleted it and tried again. I am not least moved as far south as possible. they could do more to help.

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Free Kick caught up with Carlo Corazzin a former Canadian team soccer player who represented our country 59 times over a ten year period from 94 -04. Corazzin is a former Whitecaps and 86ers striker with an Italian descent and appetite for fantastic food. TRY OUTS Asked where he spends most GIRLS U12-U18 VANCOUVER CENTRAL, EASTSIDE & DOWNTOWN CLUBS of his time, and his answer was Douglas Park, Grandview, Killarney and Vancouver GirlsSoccer Clubs are hosting easy, “a relaxing day for me is open, joint soccer try-outs for girls for the upcoming 2011/2012 season. Tryouts heading downtown with my wife will run from April 13-May 4 and are open to all girls ages 11-17. Check the website (Theresa) and two boys (CJ and for dates and times. All try-outs will be held at Strathcona Oval (Campbell Ave. & Nicolas) and taking the water Prior. St.), Vancouver. Info: Steve 604-314-5109 ; [email protected] ; www.vgsa.ca taxi across to Granville island and ending our day with a great meal – the Sand Bar! They have a great variety of our favourite wines, so it’s such a treat to spend a family 15% day there together. Now that the Whitecaps are playing in the MLS, he expects to OFF enjoy more time in the vicinity (Coupon must be present - Expires April 30, 2011) dining and taking in the action. On his email, his favourite quote is “hard work only beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard” – a great reminder for all the athletes out there who aspire to represent Canada on the international stage. The North Shore’s Soccer and Rugby

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654 NELSON STREET | DOOLINS.CA | TWITTER@DOOLINS TAKE ON THE WORLD. juLy 11-16, 2011 THE DISNEy DIFFERENCE • All games played at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex It’s the tournament of the year and you won’t • Professional tournament organization and service want to miss it! The Disney Cup International • More than 200 teams expected in 2011 • Competition categories for ages 9-18 (boys and girls) Youth Soccer Tournament has attracted teams • Minimum 4-game guarantee with no more than one (1) from more than 20 countries over the past game per day, allowing plenty of time to visit the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Theme Parks with family and friends several years, and we need your team to help • Specially-priced packages for athletes, coaches and represent Canada and “Take on the World”. spectators include hotel accommodations, theme park tickets, and admission to all tournament games

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2011 Disney Cup Ad-Free Kick (c).indd 1 9/27/10 1:08 PM