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Grim news this morning seeing that prolific kicking coach Doug Blevins has passed. Heard they found cancer on him too late. He is the second coaching legend with local ties to pass this week. Tony Colobro passed earlier this week as well. Coach Colobro had his hand on a number of programs, both high school and collegiate and was a tremendous man. RIP to these two great men.

I saw my first soccer match watching T.J. Rasnick play at Abingdon. Knew nothing about the sport. Watching the kids run up and down the field for 90 minutes, wow!! Just when you thought the Dawgs were getting close to scoring, down the field the ball went with the Falcons. To be honest, not knowing the game and its nuances, I wasn't a fan of the game. I wasn't there for the game, I was there to see "my buddy" whose Dad made a special protective covering so T.J. could play this game without injuring his leg after surgery and chemo. After the game, I got to talk with him and give him a huge hug. The score didn't matter to me, T.J. efforts and wanting to play, not as handicapped, but a talented soccer player, such an inspiration!!! Here are some excerpts from the BDT published June 10, 2009 titled "Fighting On". "One year ago, T.J. Rasnick was facing an uncertain future. He was receiving treatment for Synovial sarcoma, a form of cancer found near his right hamstring. He missed his junior year on the soccer field with the Tazewell Bulldogs and did not know if he would play again." On June 9th, T.J. signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Emory & Henry. "It's just a blessing to be able to stand here and be ready to go to college in the fall." Even though Rasnick received the diagnosis on March 11, 2008, he never relinquished hope that he would be able to continue his athletic career." 'You just keep your faith in God and you can do anything," he said. "There's not one day that I changed what I wanted to do or my goals. It's always been the same. You've just got a never-say-die attitude." In his final season, Rasnick reached the 100-goal milestone for his career--despite sitting out his junior season. He had 24 goals in his final season with Tazewell, playing in just 12 games. "If you put your faith in God, you can do anything," he said. "You just push every day. You live every day. You just do everything you can and as long as you keep your faith in God you just keep going." "It was never "I can't do this." It was always, "Nothing's ever changed. It's always been the same from day one." "Just never give up," he said. "Just keep fighting every day, keep your faith in God and you'll be just fine. You can do anything." I'm thankful my "grandson of the heart" never felt soccer was a waste of resources to him or those whose lives he impacted.

Just watch hockey, which, quite honestly, is a better sport than most other options. Just as physical as football, hand-eye coordination of baseball and soccer. Much faster pace. Waaaaayyyy less arrogance and entitled attitudes. My family has a lot of midwestern roots. I played on a street hockey league in Texas for a couple of years while I was in the Army stationed at Fort Hood......a whole new level of being in shape....and I was a plodding defensemen with average change of direction for that league. Those forwards are world class athletes. I remember the other defensemen I played with was a tanker and had a glass eye. He would smack dudes in the boards and was always checking with me to make sure his eye didn't come out. Lol. Good times!

Soccer is a sport you have to experience in person to really appreciate it. I’d encourage anyone to make the trip to Charlotte to watch a MLS match. Tickets are affordable and the atmosphere is worth the trip alone.

Sounds like you had Trouble with the Curve.

Soccer may the worst waste of resources on the planet.

If you enjoy it great...but I wouldn't watch if if was in my back yard and no way in hell am i going to Charlotte unless I HAVE to go

Several victims of Clark County crash were members of Amish community (jsonline.com) Remember the family of this tragedy with prayers.

I had no regard at all for soccer. And then I went and watched a match one evening because nothing else was going on. I had a death grip on the seat by the end of the match and was astonished with the stamina of the players. It's just different. Not my favorite by any means, but still fun.

I don’t agree with it either but just like how we were talking on another thread that it’s all just politics. Upperclassmen always get put on over the talented underclassmen (which Graham and V high both have large amounts of underclassmen)

This recipe can be made spicy by mixing in one fan base speaking a language the other doesn’t understand.

If you think soccer isn’t interesting then you haven’t attended a match. There is always something interesting going on during SWVA soccer, whether its on the field or in the stands.

my best football memory is that time Bobby Boucher came back at halftime and they won the bourbon bowl, and my worst is when Alven Mack took that cut and broke his leg never was the same after that one.