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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