During the offseason, I made a quite resolution to approach the next MLS season with a conscious effort to remain positive. No matter what. I find too often in the world soccer it is easy to feel let down with US soccer in general and MLS specifically. I focus on past mistakes, fall victim too much of looking to the future and what could be for the league or simply spend too much time comparing MLS with other leagues around the world. I wanted to live more in the present appreciating the performance and the effort as it was happening. I did not get off to a good start. Red cards, controversy, and general negativity seemed to get me focusing on all the wrong things again. Then came an unfortunate and tragic reminder to appreciate the arts happening before me.
When I heard the news of Prince’s passing I was struck with feelings of sadness and the knowledge that a great number of people were about to feel a great deal worse. The love of music is something I do not truly understand. Sure, I flirted with music when I was younger. I taught myself guitar and joined a band. I even amassed a sizeable catalog of my own musical influences. For a time, I may have even whispered that I loved it but the words were empty. However, I know that music means a great deal to the lives of a great number of people and I understand their grief.
The death of an artist evokes immediate feelings of loss. There is sorrow and sympathy for the family but also a sense of being robbed of future greatness. A sense of loss at what could have been. There is an understanding of finality to their work. While it does nothing for the immediate feelings of sadness the appreciation of the work does begin the healing process and in many cases can reignite or strengthen the appreciation for the artist.
All artists leave behind a legacy in their work. The truly great ones such as Prince, leave behind a part of themselves. There is no doubt Prince poured himself into his art. He shared of himself in his lyrics and exposed his soul in his performance. As fans of Prince continue to enjoy his music, a small portion of Prince was remains immortal allowing future generations of fans to appreciate his work.
How true is this of the athletes we watch and are entertained by. Music was never really my love but sports has long been my passion. While not everyone may understand the enjoyment I receive from watching soccer, the fulfillment and joy I gain simply by watching others perform, I believe, truly enriches my life. Soccer is art to me and the athletes in MLS are my favorite artists. I was reminded of that this week in an unexpected and tragic way but I am determined not to forget or get so easily sidetracked again.
On Saturday night against the LA Galaxy, Nick Rimando became only the second player to make 400th appearances in MLS. The evening could have gone better for Rimando and Real Salt Lake as they ended up losing for the first time this season in blowout fashion. It would have been very easy to sit down and write up an article detailing how the wheels are falling off as RSL fall to their rivals in a similar fashion to the blowout in their last playoff appearance. And maybe at some point that article will be appropriate, but not this weekend. Not with such a fresh reminder to appreciate the art and artistry before us.
My take away from Saturday was simple. I saw the “Wall of the Wasatch” stop a penalty kick from the great Stevie G. Rimando, a player who has been on the pitch for an MLS side since I started watching, stonewalled the great Steven Gerrard. I would never have expected to see that a few years ago and I would have been terribly disappointed to have missed it.
I am not saying to approach every game as if you will never see another one. Or even to watch each player as if they are about to fall over dead. That is far too exhausting and is in itself a distraction. What I am saying is one of the most repeated lines in the aftermath of the death of Prince is that we will never see another one like him. While true, I imagine we would not want to either.
In sports, the search for the “next big thing” tends to result in over analysis, nitpicking, and ultimately a lack of appreciation for individual talent. Searching for the “next” or finding a young emerging, undiscovered talent is fun and rewarding in its own right but it should not detract from the appreciation of others.
In the midst of red cards and controversial endings combined with the disappointments of the national program, it took a tragedy outside of the world of sports to shake me back into the spirit of appreciation. Soccer was different for me this weekend and I hope it continues to be so.
Main Photo: Alex Menendez, Getty Images
