Ricardo Portillo

I'd Rather Lose Than Act Like You

In Memory, And In Honor, Of Ricardo Portillo

Fox News, among pretty much every other news outlet covered the story of Utah referee Ricardo Portillo, who passed away Saturday after being punched by a 17 year old GK during a game a week prior.

(Story here)

After the behavior of the Quick Boys and the spectators at the State Cup Final on Saturday, and the home fans at the Springbok's away game on Sunday, this news was particularly sobering to me.  I'm not going to get on my high horse for too long here, but for whatever impact it will have, I offer this thought.

Why do we insist on placing such importance on such an arbitrary activity?  Sure, anyone with half a brain will say "I know it's only a game...I want my kid to learn teamwork, and leadership...blah blah blah"  but over and over I hear teenage refs (Saturday) being sworn at "Jesus Christ, a foul is a foul" was one particularly enlightened mother's appeal, if memory serves; the coach of the opposing team subjected to cursing and accusations of dirty play (mind you, Steve is a pal of mine who teaches the game in a very similar way to me, so accusing him is accusing me, to say nothing of essentially attacking a person with whom I have a personal and professional relationship with based on mutual respect).  On Sunday I was much prouder of the LMSC players and families, as we all watched a Concord parent lose his mind over a non-call on a passback situation & an advantage call in their favor (the ref, to be fair, also got pretty heated...but we just won't help each other get out of this cycle, will we?) and then continue to spend the remainder of the game baiting the ref with foolish comments.

Knowing the "right" thing to say is not sufficient.

Just to be clear, whatever respect I have earned in the short time I've spent in the Philly area, I detest and am ashamed of those among us who act in anything other than a respectful and courteous manner toward all involved with a game.  I don't give a rat's ass what your bank account says, what car you drive, how many people you spend bossing around 9-5, or what you see when you look in the mirror each day, you're name is mud in my book if you won't conduct yourself with class.

I love this game more than most things, and the opportunities it offers to help kids grow into people they can be proud of and confident in, and the joy it offers- as well as the many gifts it has given me.  But no aspect of it is worth the loss of respect, the embarrassment of others, or threatening or endangering others that has occurred the past couple days both here and in Utah.  Think the LMSC events were a different situation entirely than the Utah one?  Then you're naieve and only fooling yourself.  These things (and I've seen it go like this, though thankfully never with such grave consequences) turn on a dime, going from standard operating procedure to completely out of control in a blink.

It's a great game.  But it's a game.  And it's a pretty stupid game if you think about it; 22 grown men in short pants kicking a ball around.  Ascribe it only the importance it ought to be given.  Nothing more.