Comments on: More to Life Than Kicking a Ball: Shane Supple and Ty Harden http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/ Exploring football culture around the world Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:23:56 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Lloyd http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-9206 Lloyd Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:38:03 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-9206 Nice piece. I also wrote something on Supple's decision here: http://thetwounfortunates.blogspot.com/2009/08/lest-we-forget.html. Nice piece.

I also wrote something on Supple’s decision here: http://thetwounfortunates.blogspot.com/2009/08/lest-we-forget.html.

]]> By: Lanterne Rouge http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8784 Lanterne Rouge Wed, 02 Sep 2009 19:43:04 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8784 You have to respect Supple, who's decision is an incredibly honest one. Many players quite happily remain in the reserves or on the bench for years on end, collecting the money shamelessly - and this is something that is particularly easy to do for a goalkeeper. Supple is no Winston Bogarde for sure. You have to respect Supple, who’s decision is an incredibly honest one. Many players quite happily remain in the reserves or on the bench for years on end, collecting the money shamelessly – and this is something that is particularly easy to do for a goalkeeper. Supple is no Winston Bogarde for sure.

]]> By: In defense of American college soccer: A community perspective | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8717 In defense of American college soccer: A community perspective | Pitch Invasion Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:07:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8717 [...] At the same time, however, one of my biggest concerns with dismissing college soccer in favor of increased professionalization is the social implications of creating a youth system that is focused on finding a few great soccer talents at the human cost of thousands of others.  If we continue pushing for a system that forces people to specialize at earlier and earlier ages, both in terms of sports and in terms of education, we will likely have more success identifying 18 players for a World Cup team sheet while simultaneously creating a generation of individuals who devoted their adolescence to soccer at the expense of the many other potential contributions to their communities.  The things we think we want to do at 15 are often very different from what we think we want to do when we are 22. [...] [...] At the same time, however, one of my biggest concerns with dismissing college soccer in favor of increased professionalization is the social implications of creating a youth system that is focused on finding a few great soccer talents at the human cost of thousands of others.  If we continue pushing for a system that forces people to specialize at earlier and earlier ages, both in terms of sports and in terms of education, we will likely have more success identifying 18 players for a World Cup team sheet while simultaneously creating a generation of individuals who devoted their adolescence to soccer at the expense of the many other potential contributions to their communities.  The things we think we want to do at 15 are often very different from what we think we want to do when we are 22. [...]

]]> By: In defense of American college soccer: A community perspective | Pitch Invasion http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8718 In defense of American college soccer: A community perspective | Pitch Invasion Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:07:12 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8718 [...] At the same time, however, one of my biggest concerns with dismissing college soccer in favor of increased professionalization is the social implications of creating a youth system that is focused on finding a few great soccer talents at the human cost of thousands of others.  If we continue pushing for a system that forces people to specialize at earlier and earlier ages, both in terms of sports and in terms of education, we will likely have more success identifying 18 players for a World Cup team sheet while simultaneously creating a generation of individuals who devoted their adolescence to soccer at the expense of the many other potential contributions to their communities.  The things we think we want to do at 15 are often very different from what we think we want to do when we are 22. [...] [...] At the same time, however, one of my biggest concerns with dismissing college soccer in favor of increased professionalization is the social implications of creating a youth system that is focused on finding a few great soccer talents at the human cost of thousands of others.  If we continue pushing for a system that forces people to specialize at earlier and earlier ages, both in terms of sports and in terms of education, we will likely have more success identifying 18 players for a World Cup team sheet while simultaneously creating a generation of individuals who devoted their adolescence to soccer at the expense of the many other potential contributions to their communities.  The things we think we want to do at 15 are often very different from what we think we want to do when we are 22. [...]

]]> By: soccer goals http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8561 soccer goals Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:26:04 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8561 I hope that he does well. I hope that he does well.

]]> By: Pete Green http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8554 Pete Green Tue, 25 Aug 2009 18:47:57 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8554 "One has to respect that rather than taking the pay cheque and pretending to care, the likes of Harden and Supple take the honest decision to walk away from the sport." Indeed - and in turn It makes you wonder how many pros feel the same way as these two but carry on going through the motions, because they're afraid of the alternatives or just out of sheer inertia. I'm sure most fans could think of one or two possible names at their own clubs... “One has to respect that rather than taking the pay cheque and pretending to care, the likes of Harden and Supple take the honest decision to walk away from the sport.”

Indeed – and in turn It makes you wonder how many pros feel the same way as these two but carry on going through the motions, because they’re afraid of the alternatives or just out of sheer inertia.

I’m sure most fans could think of one or two possible names at their own clubs…

]]> By: Trickyleftwinger http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8553 Trickyleftwinger Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:32:34 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8553 Having walked away from a pro contract after 7 years to enter the real world I empathize completely. The world of pro soccer has I believe, an overwhelming majority of unhappy players. Guys not playing, guys not happy with wages, guys who hate commuting etc. It is very hard to appreciate what you have until it is gone. Sometimes the 'bubble' of pro sports takes over and you find yourself stressing like an unemployed mother of 4 because you have a sore hammy!! So good luck to both these guys on understanding that they want to pursue another passion. Also check this out trickyleftwinger.blogspot.com Having walked away from a pro contract after 7 years to enter the real world I empathize completely. The world of pro soccer has I believe, an overwhelming majority of unhappy players. Guys not playing, guys not happy with wages, guys who hate commuting etc. It is very hard to appreciate what you have until it is gone. Sometimes the ‘bubble’ of pro sports takes over and you find yourself stressing like an unemployed mother of 4 because you have a sore hammy!! So good luck to both these guys on understanding that they want to pursue another passion.

Also check this out
trickyleftwinger.blogspot.com

]]> By: Steve http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8552 Steve Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:10:17 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8552 A bit hard for someone who's dream was to get paid to kick a ball, but I guess like anything else it just becomes a job.. A bit hard for someone who’s dream was to get paid to kick a ball, but I guess like anything else it just becomes a job..

]]> By: Tom Dunmore http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8551 Tom Dunmore Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:55:31 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8551 No, though I get the gist: actually, Harden made $17,700 in his rookie season and was on the path to a lot more (by MLS standards, anyway) after an excellent rookie season. I think he was set to earn $30,000+ for 2008 if he hadn't quit shortly before the season started. He certainly didn't make more going back to college... No, though I get the gist: actually, Harden made $17,700 in his rookie season and was on the path to a lot more (by MLS standards, anyway) after an excellent rookie season. I think he was set to earn $30,000+ for 2008 if he hadn’t quit shortly before the season started. He certainly didn’t make more going back to college…

]]> By: Alex Usher http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2009/08/25/more-to-life-than-kicking-a-ball-shane-supple-and-ty-harden/comment-page-1/#comment-8550 Alex Usher Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:46:07 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/?p=2458#comment-8550 I thought Ty Harden quit because the Galaxy were only paying him $12,000/year. I thought Ty Harden quit because the Galaxy were only paying him $12,000/year.

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