In
twenty four years of being a Police Officer, I got accustomed to seeing
the unexpected. When critical moments suddenly unfolded before my eyes,
it was as if unseen hands would grab time itself and slow it down. As
the person looked one last time and then turned to jump, a person raises
a weapon, or a person does something else so unimaginable, you cannot
help but becoming incredibly focused. The 16 MM film projector in my
mind, (I'm dating myself) would slow down and I could see each frame of
the action, as it slid in front of the flickering lamp. It is a freaky
phenomenon, but in a strange way you get used to it.
In
police work there are certain rules you learn through training,
experience and self preservation. They include the unexpected will
happen and you can never stop processing information or performing your
duties. You can also NEVER get caught up in the emotions of what your
are experiencing. You must continue to set priorities and take action. A
cop staring at a sudden hostage situation with his or her mouth open is
frankly not a very good idea, and dangerous to everyone involved. There
is always time to be, "amazed" later, at the end of watch.
Wednesday
morning at about eleven AM, I broke every single one of the above
rules. I let my guard down. I experienced the phenomenon of time
slowing down and I just sat there. I was immersed in the emotion of the
moment and my mouth was likely wide open. I was amazed at what I was
seeing. I was not, "on the job" as law enforcement officers call it
Nike Football: The Chance Global Finals 2012 |
on
the East Coast. I was actually sitting in our Community Hub with our
team of Realtors and support staff. We were all watching the recently
posted YouTube video from NIKE, entitled, "The Chance Global Finals
2012". Click video on right to view.
At
exactly two minutes and eight seconds into the above video there is a
very short highlight of a sixteen year old soccer phenom, by the name of
Brian Iloski. He is wearing a red jersey with the number 100 on his
back as he competes in Nike's, "The Chance - Global Finals 2012" at the
Mini Estadia Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, last weekend. This match is
the conclusion of a worldwide search where over 150,000 competitive
soccer players battled valiantly for only sixteen spots on Team NIKE'S
2013 International Soccer Tour.
While
under extreme pressure, and the eyes of the world on him, Brian deftly
and miraculously gathered in a soccer ball which had fallen out of the
warm, blue, Barcelona sky, coddled it, accelerated, and then magically
and unbelievably lifted the ball into the air, passing it to a teammate
who then shot at the goal. I was stunned. I felt the lump in my throat
and my eyes threatening to water. I knew it was not the air
conditioning in our office. I was feeling the emotion of the moment. I
also knew there was absolutely no way I could turn in my seat and look
at, or much less, say anything to Brian's Iloski's mom, "Yo" who was
sitting behind me. I am sure Yolanda was smiling. I cannot imagine any
mom or dad that would not be so very proud of their son.
Similar
to the soccer ball which tumbled in the air, I was momentarily
disorientated and wondered, "Is this really happening?" Did I really
just see Brian who was chowing down on dinner in our backyard two weeks
ago, just run past the referee we all watch on European Premier League
Soccer? Did Brian, a local San Diego SURF Soccer Club player,
demonstrate to the European coaches and his fellow players from around
the world that in America we really are playing some pretty darn good
soccer?
The Iloski Family |
Did
Brian just place his size eight, NIKE, white and pink Mercurial soccer
boots on the first rung of a ladder which may lead to where some of the
most elite, professional, and well compensated soccer players compete
in the world? I know what our three boys, Troy, Raymond, and Ryan would
likely yell out in excitement, "Yeah Dad, he frickin did!"
If
all the above was not enough, it was Brian. A local kid from
Escondido, California. A good kid like his brothers, Eric, Milan and
sister, Brianna. A kid who clears the table after dinner and chills on
the couch
dreaming of one day playing for Barcelona. A level headed boy who
does not do any drugs and is a role model in both school and life. A
kid who's parents, Yolanda and Mike are solid, "salt of the earth"
people. I am not exactly sure what that means, but I know for sure they
are the type of family you care about because they care so much for
other people.
The Chance U.S. Finalists: Global Finals!
|
With
so many of our sports heroes turning out to be false leaders, we need
more athletes, and true competitors we can believe in. There is a great
deal right about our country. I believe it is incredible to have one
of our own travel from the San Diego area, to such a far away place and
under daunting odds, demonstrate that through hard work, some help from
God, and maybe a little luck, we really can compete with the best that
this planet has to offer.
I
think it is OK that I felt the chill when I saw Brian pass that ball in
the final. I am a lucky guy. I also think it is OK for other people
to recognize Brian is young, but heroes come in all ages, even if they
are only sixteen years old. So good luck Brian, enjoy the ride,
wherever it may take all of us.
Enjoy your week,
Ray & Theresa Shay
Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved. No duplication of this material without written consent of Shay Realtors.