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  • "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."

    -Henry David Thoreau

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  • MY GRANDFATHER, THE SOCCER PLAYER

    Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 6:19AM / Standard Album / Members only
    2 pictures / 387 views

    Unfortunately, my grandfather died shortly before I was born.  It was a very sad day, apparently, because he was loved and respected by many in my hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked as a police officer and served as the head of the Juvenile Division.  Like my dad, I was named after him and, when I was born, my grandmother said, "God took away one of my Joes and gave me another one." 

    Obviously, I never got to meet my grandfather, but I did cross paths with his legacy a few times.  In fact, I can distinctly remember being out to dinner with my dad in the old neighborhood and witnessing strangers come up and pay their respects.  It was a bit surreal, to say the least. 

    Fortunately, my dad is still around and, from time to time, he tells me stories about my grandfather.  Today, for example, while we were sitting around preparing for Christmas, my dad started telling me about how my grandfather used to be a professional soccer player before he became a policeman. 

    This revelation took me by surprise. 

    After all, I've known for a long time that my grandfather played soccer, like a lot of the immigrant families of his generation, but I didn't realize that he'd actually played professionally.  "Really?" I asked.  "How long did he play professionally for?" 

    "Eight years," my dad said. 

    This revelation took me by even more surprise.  Eight years is a long time. 

    Sure, the game was different then and, in some cases, very different.  For example, my grandfather's team drew bigger crowds than the St. Louis Cardinals and football was considered boring because the players spent too much time "standing around."  Soccer players didn't wear shin guards then.  Instead, they would stuff copies of "National Geographic" down their socks and hold them in place with rubber bands.  Soccer shoes were more akin to hobnailed boots than the cleats players wear today. 

    But the game was still the same. 

    It turns out that my grandfather played center forward and was referred to as the "top gun" because he often lead the team in scoring. 

    He wasn't always this good, however.  Although he had grown up playing soccer, he wasn't good enough to play on the team in high school.  The high school coach even went as far to say, "Joe, the only way you'll get to participate with this team is if you pay for a ticket." 

    Needless to say, my grandfather continued playing.  Then, many years later, while playing professionally, my grandfather noticed that very same coach watching in the stands.  So, he ran over and asked the coach, "Now who's paying to see who?" 

    After my conversation with my dad, I quickly went upstairs, got on the internet, and googled my grandfather with the key words, "Joe Phelan St. Louis Soccer" and was amazed by what I found.  I came across old team pictures and newspaper articles, featuring my grandfather. 

    And did I mention that he's in the Hall of Fame?  Wow! 

    Anyway, there's a lot of material to sift through, but I've decided to post a couple of the photos that I found, in case anybody's interested. 

    -Dax

    P.S. Maybe I should have played soccer.

Album comments

  • backtoself
    posted on Thursday, Jan 8, 2009 1:39PM [Report]
    Very cool Dax! Isn't it incredible to find out something new and cool about your family history??
  • jasontobin
    Official artist 
    posted on Saturday, Dec 27, 2008 1:22AM [Report]
    I wonder what grandpa Joe Phelan would think of his grandson being into sports where you roll on the ground with sweaty men as opposed to the great alpha sport he played?
  • carmellarose
    posted on Friday, Dec 26, 2008 8:22AM [Report]
    Very cool!
  • Flagday
    posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 9:23PM [Report]
    What a revelation.  I wonder why this subject never came up before? Maybe it's because it wasn't a "legit" job, your grandfather followed his dreams and "played."  Being a cop was a more serious job to tell a kid about.  Job, salary, pension, stability.   

    I think you have to spend some time interrogating your Dad!  Wonder what else he thinks is just a footnote to the family history.  I always liked footnotes.
  • elle75
     
    posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 11:33AM [Report]
    Silly me, I saw the photo album before you finish the writing or something....too quick to comment, sowee...and blame the BlackBerry's tiny screen...anyhow, your grandpa leads an amazing life!
  • torpedogang
    posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 9:56AM [Report]
    named after him, do u look like him/Clark? =)
  • rottendoubt
     
    posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 9:16AM [Report]
    that's a pretty cool story dax!!
  • Melly
    posted on Thursday, Dec 25, 2008 8:48AM [Report]
    Very cool!

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Dax Phelan's  Music

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  • Dax Phelan was born in St. Louis, MO on July 8, 1975. He graduated from St...

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  • Occupation:  ScreenwriterDirectorFilm/TV Producer
  • Age: 34
  • Gender: Male
  • Total visits: 110,831

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