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SWEEPER I TIME: FALL 2008 SETTING: RICKY WELCH, A 13-YEAR-OLD GIFTED SOCCER PLAYER FROM COLORADO SPRINGS THEY CALL “ SWEEPER “, LEADS THE BEST COLORADO YOUTH GOLD I TEAM INTO THE NATIONAL FINALS AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY. RICKY IS FROM A POOR SINGLE PARENT HOME - LIVING WITH HIS MOM IN A RENTED TRAILER. RICKY PLAYS SWEEPER - A POSITION IN FRONT OF THE GOALIE - AND VIRTUALLY NO GOALS HAVE BEEN SCORED AGAINST THIS COMPETITIVE, GIFTED, AND MOTIVATED YOUTH COLORADO TEAM THIS YEAR. COLLEGE AND PROFESSIONAL TEAMS ARE ALREADY FOCUSING ON RICKY, HOWEVER HIS MOTHER WANTS RICKY TO JUST CONCENTRATE ON SCHOOL - AND LET THE REST TAKE CARE OF ITSELF. FOLLOW ALONG AS COLORADO GOLD I PREPARES AND PLAYS THE FINAL GAME OF THE YEAR. WHAT HAPPENS IS AN EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE CONSEQUENCE IN OUR SOCIETY. THE AMAZING EVENTS THAT FOLLOW TRULY DIG DEEP INTO HUMAN EMOTION AND COMPASSION. “ SWEEPER “ ADDITIONALLY ENCOMPASSES SOCCER FUNDAMENTALS, COLORADO CULTURE, MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH, AND THE COMPETITIVE SPORTS ENVIRONMENT OF TODAYS’ YOUTH. SWEEPER

HEY MOM - WHEN IS SUPPER READY ?

MOM

ANYTIME - WE ONLY HAD ENOUGH FOR STEW TONIGHT.

SWEEPER

THAT IS PLENTY GOOD ENOUGH - I LOVE YOUR STEW - IT’S THE GREATEST.

MOM

THANKS SWEEPER. HOPEFULLY WE’LL HAVE MANY MORE STEW MEALS - I THINK LITTLE GROWING GUYS EAT ANYTHING TO BE HONEST.

SWEEPER

WELL I’M REALLY HUNGRY TONIGHT. OUR PRACTICE WAS JUST A KILLER. I DIDN’T REALIZE SOCCER COULD BE THIS DIFFICULT ESPECIALLY AT PRACTICE.

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MOM

AND JUST BEFORE A BIG GAME - MY GOD - WHAT IS THE COACH TRYING TO DO - WEAR GOLD I DOWN BEFORE THE BIG GAME WITH LA ?

SWEEPER

NONE OF OUR TEAM UNDERSTOOD ANY OF THIS - IT WAS BRUTAL COACH SCREAMED AT EVERYONE - INCLUDING ME - BIG TIME.

MOM

WOW - SOUNDS LIKE COACH IS FEELING THE PRESSURE. I STILL WOULD TAKE THIS OVER HAVING TO DRIVE TO DENVER EVERY DAY FOR PRACTICE. WE’D HAVE TO ENROLL YOU IN A SOCCER ACADEMY SCHOOL.

SWEEPER

WELL - I’D LOVE THAT - SOCCER 24/7.

MOM

NO - IT WOULD BE SCHOOL AND CHURCH 22/7 AND SOCCER 2/7.

SWEEPER

I GUESS - BUT IT WOULD BE SO COOL TO GO TO A SOCCER ACADEMY.

MOM

WELL WE CAN’T COMPLAIN - SINCE COLORADO SPRINGS HAS MORE PLAYERS ON GOLD I - WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THE PRACTICES DOWN HERE RATHER THAN DENVER.

SWEEPER

BUT NEXT YEAR MAY BE DIFFERENT - I WILL HAVE TO PLAY CLUB IN DENVER.

MOM

MAYBE - MAYBE NOT - WE MAY LUCK OUT AGAIN. OR WE MAY FORM OUR OWN COLORADO SPRINGS GOLD I TEAM - THAT WOULD BE BETTER.

SWEEPER

BUT I’LL REALLY MISS A LOT OF THE GUYS ON MY TEAM - MANY ARE SO COOL.

MOM

YES - AND THE PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY PRETTY GOOD ALSO EXCEPT FOR A COUPLE OF THE DADS WHO REALLY - WELL YOU KNOW - TRY TO FLIRT - BUT THEY WERE BAD.

WHICH DADS WERE THEY ?

SWEEPER MOM

NEVER MIND. IT WAS REALLY NOTHING.

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SWEEPER

WELL YOU HAVE NO ROOM TO TALK - AREN’T YOU AND DAD STILL MARRIED MOM ?

MOM

YES - IN A WAY - WE NEVER WERE FORMALLY DIVORCED - AND WELL I NEVER REALLY SAW HIM AFTER YOU WERE BORN.

SO IS DAD STILL ALIVE ?

SWEEPER

MOM

WE DON’T REALLY KNOW. I GUESS AFTER SEVEN YEARS AND NO ONE HAS SEEN YOU - I GUESS YOU ARE CONSIDERED DEAD.

SWEEPER

SO WHY DON’T YOU REMARRY MOM ?

MOM

OH - I’VE HAD MANY CHANCES - BEEN PROPOSED TO MORE THAN ONCE - BUT I ALWAYS WISH AND HOPE THAT YOUR DAD WILL RETURN. YOU NEVER KNOW. MAYBE IT’S JUST FALSE HOPE. THE POLICE SAY IN ALL LIKELIHOOD HE IS DEAD.

SWEEPER

HOW WOULD WE ACTUALLY FIND OUT ?

MOM

WE’VE TRIED FBI, - THE CIA - SINCE HE WAS MILITARY - POLICE, PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS - EVERYTHING. BUT HE JUST DOESN’T SHOW UP. SO HE’S EITHER DEAD, OR ALIVE AND VERY TRICKY - OR KIDNAPPED TO ANOTHER COUNTRY. WHO KNOWS.

SWEEPER

WERE YOU AND DAD GETTING ALONG BEFORE HE LEFT ?

MOM

YES FOR THE MOST PART - OH WE HAD OUR OCCASIONAL FIGHTS - BUT YOU KNOW - SOMETIMES SOMEONE IS UNHAPPY IN A MARRIAGE AND THEY DON’T EXPRESS IT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN ?

SWEEPER MOM

DO YOU EVER GET UPSET AT YOUR GIRLFRIEND ?

DAILY - SHE PLAYS GAMES.

SWEEPER MOM

SEE WHAT I MEAN - BIG TIME GAMES IN KIDS AND EVEN BIGGER GAMES IN ADULTS. THAT’S HOW IT IS UNFORTUNATELY.

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SWEEPER

SO MOM - TELL ME ABOUT DAD -

MOM

OH HE WAS WONDERFUL - ATHLETIC, NICE, HARD WORKING, AND FUNNY WITH A SERIOUS SIDE.

SWEEPER

WERE THERE ANY NEGATIVES ?

MOM

NOT REALLY - THE ONLY THING WAS HIS WORKING FOR THE GOVERNMENT - PROBABLY THE CIA - HE WAS VERY SECRETIVE ABOUT HIS WORK.

SWEEPER

SO YOU THINK HE WAS MAYBE KIDNAPPED BY A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR SOME UNDERCOVER OPERATION LIKE WITH TERRORISTS ?

MOM

YES - BUT BY NOW HE’S PROBABLY DEAD. AGAIN AFTER SEVEN YEARS MISSING THE PERSON IS CONSIDERED DEAD.

SWEEPER

BUT YOU STILL HAVE HIS CLOTHES AND.....

EVERYTHING.

MOM SWEEPER

SO THAT IS WHY YOU NEVER GOT MARRIED AGAIN - RIGHT ?

MOM

EXACTLY - BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT LIFE WILL BRING YOU. I STILL HAVE HOPE HE MAY SHOW UP SOME DAY - I’M CERTAIN HE WAS KIDNAPPED BECAUSE OF HIS SPECIAL MILITARY OR CLASSIFIED KNOWLEDGE.

SWEEPER

SO YOU NEVER WORKED AND DAD WAS THE BREAD WINNER WHEN YOU GOT MARRIED ?

MOM

YES - LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT - I DROPPED COLLEGE. MY PARENTS TOLD ME NOT TO MARRY AND THEN I REALLY FELL IN LOVE - THE WAY IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE.

SWEEPER

AND YOU ALSO GOT PREGNANT WITH ME ?

RIGHT !

MOM

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SWEEPER

SO YOU HAVE NO SPECIAL DEGREES OR SKILLS - I BET GRANDMA SAID THIS WAS ALL A MISTAKE.

MOM

UNTIL WE HAD YOU. BUT ALL YOUR GRANDPARENTS ARE NOW DECEASED. BUT THEY KNEW I WAS RIGHT BECAUSE WHEN THEY SAW YOU THEY IMMEDIATELY FELL IN LOVE WITH YOU.

SWEEPER

I BARELY REMEMBER MY GRANDMAS AND GRANDPAS.

MOM

BUT YOU DO REMEMBER YOUR GRANDPARENTS WERE REAL NICE - RIGHT ?

SWEEPER

YES THEY WERE - SPOILED ME !

MOM

WELL THE SPOILING IS ENDING - HOP TO BED - THE BIG GAME IS IN TWO DAYS.

SWEEPER

GOOD NIGHT.

LOVE YA - GOOD NIGHT.

MOM

FALL 2008 TWO DAYS LATER USAFA SOCCER COMPLEX SWEEPER

OK COACH - WE HAVE TO KEEP THEM OUT OF OUR ZONE - OUR FORWARDS ARE LEAKING ON BOTH SIDES. WE MAY HAVE TO PLAY TOTALLY PROTECTIVE DEFENSE.

COACH

I’LL CONSIDER IT - WE HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO GO - ANOTHER GOAL CEMENTS THIS GAME - WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN ON THE ATTACK ALL SEASON TO GET US TO WHERE WE ARE NOW. PLAYING TO PREVENT LOSING MAY KEEP US FROM WINNING - ESPECIALLY IF WE END UP IN OT.

SWEEPER

UNDERSTOOD. BUT WE REALLY DO NEED TO GET BACK ON DEFENSE - I CANNOT STOP THEIR ENTIRE TEAM BEATING DOWN ON ME - IT’S BEEN REALLY ROUGH OUT THERE.

COACH

OK - AS CAPTAIN SWEEPER I TOTALLY TRUST YOU - BUT I WON’T QUIT ATTACKING BECAUSE THIS LA TEAM IS JUST SO GOOD THEY CAN SCORE AT ANY TIME. WE ARE AHEAD BECAUSE WE

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ARE AGGRESSIVE. WE NEVER GOT WHERE WE WERE BY BEING A PASSIVE TEAM.

SWEEPER

I DON’T MEAN TO BECOMPLAIN COACH - BUT THEIR ATTACK GUYS ARE THE BEST PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY FOR THEIR AGE.

COACH

I KNOW THAT...OK TEAM - KEEP ATTACKING - IF WE DON’T HAVE A BREAK - AND LA HAS THE BALL - WELL GET YOUR BUTTS BACK ASAP. HELP OUT. WE CANNOT ALLOW THEM TO SCORE.

SWEEPER

OK TEAM - THIS IS IT - PRACTICE STARTED THIS SUMMER - WE REALLY NEED TO KEEP THEM OFF BALANCE - ZERO GOALS. DON’T EVEN LET LA THINK ABOUT SCORING. FRUSTRATE THEM. OUR CONDITIONING WILL PAY OFF NOW FOR GOLD I COLORADO.

MOM

YES SWEEPER - KEEP THEM OUT OF THE GOAL - PROMISE ME.

SWEEPER

I WILL MOM. HANG ONTO YOUR SEAT !

COACH

OK - CORNER KICK - MOUNTAIN DEFENSE - SET IT - GO WITH THE BREAK IF WE CONTROL - NO OFFSIDES !

SWEEPER

HERE COMES THE BALL - I’M HEADING THIS ONE. NO - I MISSED IT.

COACH

TAKE THE PENALTY - STOP THE BALL !

SWEEPER

OK - WE RECEIVED A WARNING - I GUESS WE TRIPPED THIS LA GUY AND THEY GET A FREE DIRECT KICK IN FRONT OF THE GOAL. LINE UP GOLD I - STACKED TREE DEFENSE.

COACH

YES - GO WITH IT - WE’VE GOT THE BREAK - STUFF IT DOWN THEIR SHIRTS. WE’VE GOT IT.

SWEEPER

OH NO AN LA STEAL - HERE COMES LA’S THUNDERING HERD - FOR THE LAST TIME - IT’S EITHER NOW OR NEVER - TEAM GOLD I ALL GET BACK - I CANNOT STOP THIS LA ATTACK BY MYSELF. HERE COMES THE CROSS - I’VE GOT TO LAY OUT IN FRONT OF THIS GUY OR TACKLE HIM.

COACH

QUICK SWEEPER - NO PENALTIES - DISTRACT THE BALL - UPSET HIS DRIBBLE.

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SWEEPER

OH NO - THEIR FORWARD IS AROUND ME - MOVE OUT - I’VE GOT THREE SECONDS TO STOP THIS GOAL. BURN !

COACH

GREAT STOP SWEEPER - THE BALL IS GOING BACK UP FIELD - NOT ENOUGH TIME FOR THEM TO SET UP AGAIN.

SWEEPER

WAIT A MINUTE - HERE THEY COME AGAIN WITH ANOTHER STEAL. OH MY GOD. HE’S WIDE OPEN.

COACH

DIVE TO STOP THE KICK SWEEPER........ GREAT - GOOD STOP - WE SHOULD HAVE IT NOW.

SWEEPER

NO COACH THEY HAVE A CORNER KICK AND THEY SCORE OFF THIS FREQUENTLY.

COACH

SEVEN SECONDS LEFT. GET IT OUT OF THE BOX. ANYWHERE BUT NEAR THE GOAL GUYS.

SWEEPER

OK - STAGGERED CORNER KICK DEFENSE - NO HANDS - USE YOUR HEAD. DEFLECT ANY PASS.

COACH

HERE IT COMES - WATCH THE DEFLECTION AND POSSIBLE PASS.

SWEEPER

DIVE FOR THE BALL - STOP IT - KICK IT OUT OF BOUNDS. GOT IT.

COACH

GAME OVER - LET THE CELEBRATION BEGIN - OOPS - FIRST SPORTSMANSHIP - SHAKE LA’S HAND. PRAISE THE LORD. GREAT JOB CAPTAIN SWEEPER.

SWEEPER

THANKS COACH - BOY THESE GUYS WERE REALLY TOUGH THANK GOD THAT GOAL IN THE FIRST MINUTE HELD UP. WHAT A CELEBRATION.

COACH

GUESS WHAT SWEEPER ? YOU ARE THE MVP - CONGRATULATIONS - GOBS OF HARD WORK IN PRACTICE AND IN THE PLAYOFFS ESPECIALLY TODAY. IT DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS !

SWEEPER

NO - THIS IS GREAT - I’M STILL TRYING TO FIND MOM. HEY MOM DON’T HIDE - WHERE ARE YOU ?

COACH

HEY SWEEPER - EVERYTHING A OK ? YOU LOOK TROUBLED.

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SWEEPER

WELL MY MOM IS USUALLY THE VERY FIRST TO COME RUNNING ONTO THE FIELD- BUT SHE’S NOT HERE - AND I DON’T SEE HER I’VE SCANNED THE FIELD. NO MOM.

COACH

OH SHE’LL SHOW UP - I NEVER SAW HER LEAVE - BUT I GUESS I WASN’T WATCHING.

SWEEPER

BUT THIS IS REALLY RIDICULOUS. HECK SHE’S ALWAYS HERE SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED - I DON’T FEEL GOOD ABOUT THIS.

COACH

SWEEPER - WE’RE GETTING OUR TEAM AWARDS AND YOU’LL GET THE MVP TROPHY LAST. WAY TO GO - GET OVER HERE. THEN WE’LL FIND MOM.

SWEEPER

OK COACH - BUT SEE IF YOU CAN MAKE IT QUICK. I MEAN REALLY QUICK.

COACH

OK - SWEEPER HOIST THAT NATIONAL TEAM TROPHY - WHAT A BACKDROP SETTING AT DUSK IN THE MOUNTAINS AT THE AIR FORCE ACADEMY. DOESN’T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. AND HERE IS YOUR MVP TROPHY - MORE PICTURES - HOW OFTEN DOES THIS HAPPEN. GET LA IN HERE ALSO.

SWEEPER

THAT’S NOT COOL COACH - THEY ARE INTO THE SHOWERS WITH THEIR HEADS DOWN. BESIDES I NEED TO GO - MOM IS AROUND HERE SOMEWHERE. I GOTTA’ FIND HER.

DOESN’T SHE HAVE A CELL ?

COACH

SWEEPER

YES - AND SO DO I IN MY NIKE BAG. I’LL CALL HER.

COACH

WHAT KIND OF LOOK IS THAT ?

SWEEPER

I CALLED AND THE PHONE SAID NUMBER DISCONNECTED. OH MY GOD - I THINK SOMEONE HAS TAKEN MOM. I KNOW SO. HELP ME NO HELP MOM !

COACH

WAIT A SECOND - LET ME DIAL - YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SURE OF THE NUMBER SWEEPER ?

100 % - IT’S SPEED DIAL -

SWEEPER

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COACH

ARE YOU SURE SHE DIDN’T CHANGE NUMBERS ?

SWEEPER

NO - SHE COULD HAVE GOT A NEW PHONE - BUT HER NUMBER WOULD STILL BE THE SAME.

COACH

LET ME TALK TO A COUPLE PARENTS - I’LL BE RIGHT BACK.

SWEEPER

OK COACH - MOM JUST CALLED - SHE’S ON HER WAY - NO NEED TO WAIT. I’M MEETING HER UP BY THE CADET FIELD HOUSE - SHE HAD TO HELP A CADET FRIEND OUT.

YOU SURE -

COACH SWEEPER

YES - GO ON - WE’RE OK. IN FACT THAT IS HER CAR NEXT TO THE BUILDING.

COACH

OK - I’LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK - PRACTICE FOR A BIG TOURNEY IN EUROPE POSSIBLY BEGINNING MONDAY - I’LL CALL YOU TOMORROW. YOUR CELL IS STILL THE SAME I HOPE. GREAT CAPTAIN JOB SWEEPER. BYE.

SWEEPER

OH MY GOD MOM - WHERE ARE YOU ? I CAN ONLY FAKE THIS SO LONG. WHY DID YOU LEAVE AND ABANDON ME. IF SOMEONE TOOK YOU - WELL YOU SHOULD HAVE SCREAMED. I LAST SAW AND HEARD YOU AT THE FIVE MINUTE MARK. WHY DID YOU DO THIS. FIRST DAD - NOW YOU - NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE. WHERE AM I TO GO ?

RUNNING CADET

HEY SON - YOU LOOK LOST - DO YOU NEED HELP ?

SWEEPER

NO - MY MOM IS PICKING ME UP NEXT TO THE FIELD HOUSE ANY MINUTE.

RUNNING CADET

OK - SURE - I’M TRAINING FOR NCAA TRACK 800 METER FINALS BUT IF YOU NEED HELP - WELL THAT IS WHAT WE’RE TAUGHT TO DO - IT’S OUR CODE.

SWEEPER

NO - GO AHEAD - I’M FINE. MOM WILL BE HERE IN A MINUTE. I PROMISE.

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RUNNING CADET

OK - I’M LAPPING THE ENTIRE SOCCER COMPLEX - AND IF YOU ARE STILL HERE - WELL I’LL BE HELPING YOU OUT - GOT IT !

AFFIRMATIVE. BYE.

SWEEPER END - SWEEPER I

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