Saturday Soccer Salute
After raising a pint (or two) at 12 microbreweries, reconnecting with friends in Oregon and Washington, seeing two road Galaxy games and visiting two national parks in seven states over the last 12 days while clocking up 3,185 miles, I returned to Los Angeles late Friday night.
But a co-worker and fellow soccer fan will not be there when I get back to the office next week. Vu Nguyen, who sits at the desk adjacent to mine and was just 34-years-old, died Friday night in hospital:
"Nguyen kicked two goals while playing a soccer game with friends Sunday in a Santa Monica park and collapsed as he ran with his arms outstretched like an airplane down the field."
Wherever you are now, Vu, I'm sure you are still scoring and soaring.
So, while the Sol won Friday, Manchester United clinched the EPL title today and the two best teams in MLS play at Home Depot Center tonight, I'm keeping things in perspective.
Tonight is my wife's birthday, so I'm going to play hooky from soccer today and spend time with her instead.
I'll blog at noon Sunday from the Galaxy game against Columbus at the HDC.
Until then, slow down, take care and spend time with someone you love.
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About 100 Percent Soccer
Sportswriter Nick Green has written the 100 Percent Soccer column since 2005 for the Daily News, Daily Breeze and other Los Angeles area newspapers. The blog of the same name began in 2007. A native of England, he began writing about soccer in the mid-1980s and in 2000 permanently exchanged a seat in the stands for one in the press box. He lives six miles from Carson's Home Depot Center, home of the Los Angeles Galaxy, Chivas USA and the training headquarters for U.S. Soccer and is married to a long-suffering soccer widow. Join Nick on FaceBook and follow him on Twitter.
I read about Vu on LA Observed. Tragic. My thoughts to his family, friends, and coworkers.