Pierson moved from a team he (and we) loved to a new team because of an alleged ‘adult’ (his former coach) who decided to hurt a child to get back at me because he did not like the fact that I told him the truth. Pierson’s new team is with a club that is extremely competitive and not only did he make it onto a team, he made it onto a premier team.

Last weekend, Pierson’s new team played his old team in a tournament. To say that I was dreading the experience would be a gross understatement. First of all, Pierson’s new team had not even met each other yet or even started training. He is not the only new player, half the team is new. They did not even know each other’s names to call for the ball. In addition, Pierson is still friends with boys on his old team who go to his school, which was starting on Tuesday (today.) If either team won by a large margin it was going to be painful and uncomfortable for one side or the other at school. I was fearful that their friendships would suffer, and more so that Pierson or his friends would suffer.

Pierson’s team took the field and looked great in their new uniforms....like little mini-Brazilians in their gold gear head to toe. They scored first and dominated the game despite it being the first weekend they ever played together. Their chemistry, finesse, discipline, athleticism and heart will take them far this season, I can’t wait to see them in a month. Fortunately, Pierson’s old team tied the score and the game ended in a tie.

For my own personal (and temporary) reasons, I would have loved to see Pierson’s new team tromp all over his old team–only to see the old coaches faces. But I am happier with the tie in the long run. Pierson was able to start school today without concern that he would be greeted with hurt feelings and there was no awkwardness between good friends. Eventually the feelings will not be so raw and if we play them in the future, the score will not be so important. Well, except to Pierson’s former coach who screeched, "Get it, get him!!!!" every time Pierson touched the ball during the game. I told Pierson that I never expected the level of sickness that youth sports brought out in some seriously warped ‘grown adult’ egos but we do not have to let that kind of illness effect us ever again. The play is over and we are very happily moving on.