TAKEAWAYS, THE WORLD CUP WEEKEND I DIDN’T KNOW I NEEDED:
     The countries of Cape Verde & Norway, their national soccer teams & each team’s goalkeeper gave me a weekend of World Cup soccer I wasn’t aware I needed.
       Cape Verde, the smallest nation ever to advance to a World Cup knockout round, took defending champion Argentina to the limit. The limit reached with a 40 year old goalkeeper that doesn’t have a professional soccer job against a team with a player arguably one of the top 3 all time to lace a soccer cleat. The limit reached, handling defeat with the utmost honor.
       Norway was more successful. Taking on Brazil, practitioners of “The Beautiful Game” with a 35 year old goalkeeper & winning. The goalkeeper is a backup for a team that finished 13th this season in Spain’s top flight of what the world calls football. Today, that 35 year old’s defense gave a countryman arguably on his way to being a top 3 player of all time, the opportunity to bury two goals into the back of Brazil’s net.
      Both Norway’s & Cape Verde’s goaltenders acquitted themselves in a way that in 20 years, they can look at their grandchildren & honestly say that for one day, they were the greatest goalkeeper on earth. They proved that each day shouldn’t be met with the question, ”How much talent is in the bucket?” but ended with “Is the bucket empty”?
       A question worth asking whether athletically, academically, or in any other arena of endeavor. And in a moment of self inspection, teaching P.E. & directing an athletic program.
       Then, Norway’s “Viking Row”, players on the field & supporters in the stands together post game, symbolically rowing a boat in the same direction. Symbolism that should lead to questions, “Who is in my boat & rowing with me?” & “Is there an oar in their boat bearing my fingerprints?”
      Thank you Cape Verde & Norway for the reminder every day to empty the bucket & be thankful for the folks helping row the boat…