So, despite my best efforts to move on from ‘this controversy’, it’s apparent to me that the Glendale Falcons feel as if this site, and this town, has not shown them the respect they deserve for their convincing win over the Kickapoo Chief’s in Tuesday nights sectional. Why do I think that is the case? Here are some sample comments left recently:
The winner of all the sectionals matchups go on to the quaterfinals to play each other. Glendale has done that so they go on so lets give some respect and hope for the best for springfield soccer.
I have never been so disrespected in my life than i have been the past 2 times we played kickapoo by fans AND players.
I agree with Ryan and earlier comments left about the disrespect shown to Glendale High school.
And these are just the ones left on a story about a Middle School game! So folks, there you go. Feel free to offer your thoughts on this important story. As for me, I’ve got different plans. I’m going to Chicago and I’m going to have a good time up there visiting friends. If the second Springfield team, and third regional team, to reach the Quarterfinals in their respective class does well and qualifies for the Final Four, I commit to travel to St Louis and cover their game. Like I would for ANY team from this region that achieves that goal. I have already apologized to the West Plains Zizzers for my lack of consideration for scheduling a trip to visit old friends when they WILL be representing at the State Final Four this weekend. Go Zizzers!
I’m going to leave the reporting on the Falcons Quarterfinal efforts to the News-Leader, their own excellent website and any other media outlet they can get to cover them. As Gamewatcher noted
If you think Kickapoo was a better team, you need to ask yourself what you really know about soccer.
Remember this quality coverage from the News-Leader? That was a fine PK wasn’t it 
I have never heard more whining from a team who WON THE GAME in my life. Glendale gets to move on, AGAIN, and that is just not enough is it? I guess their huge egos just aren’t getting stroked enough. You sound like spoiled brats crying for attention. And for the person who can’t figure out why it was an upset, maybe because Kickapoo’s record for the season was a heck of a lot better than Glendale’s? Maybe because Kickapoo was ranked and Glendale wasn’t? (I have a feeling that a lot of this immature whining has a lot to do with that fact!) Maybe because Kickapoo beat them twice earlier in the year? Has Glendale never had an off day? Have they never been outplayed by a team they were expected to beat? Just one game is NOT a good measure of who is better overall. ANY team can have a rough game, unfortunately, Kickapoo picked a terrible time to have theirs. Suck it up Glendale and quit crying about wanting respect. Prove your point on the field as you move on into the playoffs. At this point, does it even matter who’s better? Glendale played the better game and earned the right to move on. Victory just isn’t enough? I thought a lot of the players from the opposing teams were friends. Glendale has won over and over and over year after year and the Kickapoo guys poured their hearts and souls into this season just as I know Glendale did. They were crushed, just as Glendale would have been had they lost. Have a little understanding for people with whom many of you have played soccer for years. I feel sorry for the good guys on your team, and I know who they are, because you whiners are shaming them all. As for Bob Collier’s comment, his is one of the only respectful comments on the site. I could see absolutely nothing offensive and I was shocked at the response. He is a proud father who just witnessed four years of hard work and a chance to get into the quarterfinals go down the drain over one lousy game. Of course he feels Kickapoo is better. Just as every Glendale parent and player thinks their team is better. And his point about showing respect to the person who is giving you the opportunity to express your views on his web site is right on. I couldn’t believe anyone could be so hateful and rude just because Mr. Olson predicted one team winning over the other. The nasty comments left were uncalled for and immature. The most embarrassing ones are from GROWN MEN! Have some class and let us nurse our wounds without you rubbing salt in them. After the World Series Tony LaRussa was quoted as saying that it is not always the better team who wins the game, it’s the team who played better baseball in that game. I think we can all agree that applies to soccer and any other sport as well. Speaking of the World Series, the class and respect that those two teams and those two managers showed for each other (in a series that meant a lot more than a high school soccer game) was extremely admirable. Too bad not everyone can learn from their example. I truly believe if Kickapoo had won that game that not one of those players or parents would be online leaving nasty messages and gloating. Thanks for showing us all what a truly bad taste such behavior leaves in one’s mouth. It’s a good way to learn how NOT to behave. Now that I’ve had my lengthy say, I’ll sit back and brace for the barrage of outrage and a new round of nasty messages. I’m sure I won’t be disappointed. At least this was cathartic for me.
Bravo proud parent. Well said.
I love all the pseudonym postings. Are you so ashamed of what you’re saying that you can’t bring yourself to give us your name? If you have something to say, stand up and let your voice be heard.
As for Ole, I also would have guessed the game to go a different way. I don’t fault him for making the prediction. There is such an X factor that is apart of the Glendale/Kickapoo that it makes it very hard to predict. The “Falcon Nation”, as my father calls us, has a lot to thank Steve for. He comes to games and gives his honest opinion of the state of the teams in the area. As someone who is now removed from Springfield soccer, I appreciate having a place to catch up on the goings on for a game and an area I still care very much about.
I’m out of state at college right now and was unable to come back into Springfield for the big game so I don’t know exactly what has been going on.
As a player though, I know how those go. Emotions are high and waters run deep. There’s been a lot of animosity between the two teams and it will continue to be so as long as there are good players going to both schools. That may not be the best reason to try and justify any kind of name calling or arguments on this website, but it is how the game goes.
There are instances where the competitiveness of soccer gets out of control. The famous head butt heard around the world, soccer riots, and killings of ref’s are examples of the soccer community going overboard. I wouldn’t put the rivalry that these teams share on the same level as those events, but I think there is no reason for either of them.
Soccer is a hard fought game with guys who have a lot of passion for what they do. It doesn’t matter if they are friends off the pitch; at the time, the games a battle and things get out of hand, and some of that aggression carries over. I do not agree with our anonymous poster who states that, “I truly believe if Kickapoo had won that game that not one of those players or parents would be online leaving nasty messages and gloating.” There would have been gloating. I’ve been there when Kickapoo wins and those guys do boast and brag. They are not so much better than the Glendale breed of players that they would not succumb to that level. To say so is a “Proud Parent” blinded by their inability to see that the kids who go to Kickapoo are the same caliber of kids going to Glendale.
Sometimes the love of the game goes too far. The postings were unnecessary. The fact that Ole had to close a post off so people wouldn’t vandalize it should be something that both sides, the ones making the comments and the ones replying to them, should be ashamed of. I am replying in the hopes that everyone will stop this.
Love the game and love one another. In the end, it’s all about having fun with soccer. Thanks for the crowd control Ole.
Dang, son. That was fairly well written.
I guess I’ll put the second semester tuition check in the mail.