First Coach, Forever Friend

When Michael was a tiny boy, he dribbled a soccer ball up and down the hallways of the athletic department of George Mason University, where my husband was on staff. Tow-headed boys and soccer balls inevitably drew the attention of Gordon Bradley, an international soccer legend, and the Men's Soccer Coach at the time. From the time Michael could toddle, Gordon told him he'd play for Mason one day. He encouraged him and inspired him. And I'm pretty sure it was Gordon who first called Paddy a "brilliant wee 'un." Michael wears the green and gold proudly now and his one regret as he finished his first year was that Gordon never got to see him play on the home pitch at GMU. Gordon died yesterday of Alzheimer's Disease. Michael wrote the obituary for the  student newspaper.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.

You are so missed, dear man, so missed.

Updated: Here's a personal piece written by Michael Wednesday night.