Friday, July 18, 2008
Wambach's injury: Been there, done that!
Abby Wambach's broken leg Wednesday has brought back serious memories for me from Easter Sunday, 2001. It was the 5th minute of a Washington International Soccer League match between rival club teams, the Capitol Blues and Capitol Reds. My good friend Chris "Smitty" Smith lobbed a ball from the left side of the box near the PK spot that went over my defender's head and into space to the right, clearly a simple change of direction and calm finish past the beaten defender and over-committed keeper away from an opening goal for the Blues!
However, just as I was changing direction with all my weight on my right leg, the keeper - who had also been fooled by the perfect lob - also tried to change direction but had already committed to the "flop save". One of his knees struck the inside of my right shin at the precise moment I had all my weight on that leg, and the "pop" sounded like a gun went off according to those in attendance.
Before I hit the ground, I knew what had happened, and made every effort not to land on that leg in any way while in mid flight. Not that I really had much choice, as my feet had been propelled above my head by the force of "tackle" anyway, causing me to land squarely on my left shoulder and ear.
It was a clean break of both bones in the lower leg. No fragments, no real tissue damage because I had thankfully not taken another step, nor landed on it in any way. Without describing the details, let's just say the sensation of having your own foot "dangling" was a feeling I'll never forget. At that moment, there is no pain, and you feel like "how on earth am I ever going to stand on that thing again?"
My understanding is that Wambach's break is not quite as bad, that it's not broken completely through - or "detached" as my leg bones had become. Either way, the surgery is no doubt the same. A long titanium - or in my case, chromium - rod inserted right down the middle of the tibia bone - like a "dowel" for anyone who's ever done some construction. There are probably screws involved, though perhaps not quite as necessary as in my case. For me, because the bones were completely detached, I have screws holding the rod in place at the ankle, and below the knee that were there to keep my lower leg from "spinning" on the rod before the bone healed. Nice image huh?
As bad as this all sounds, everything I was ever told by anyone who at least seemed to know what they were talking about was that this injury was "better" than having blown an ACL or broken an ankle. There was absolutely no ligament damage. In fact, the lack of such damage, and the totally clean "snapping" break were all signs that I had tremendously strong ankles and knees, as well as non-brittle bones (which otherwise would have shattered instead of snapped). Plus, with the steel rod in my leg, there was no way the same injury could happen again, so don't worry about that! (yes, the rod is still there, but I can have it out anytime I get around to it. And yes, the airport is a pain because it almost always sets off the metal detectors)
Make no mistake, it's all a study of the lessor of which evil, but I am thankful that I didn't "do" my knee, as it would forever be an injury that was never quite as good as new. In my case, the extra bone that formed to repair the break (and is throbbing now as I write of course) has made things stronger.
The press reports that Wambach will be "back in about 12 weeks" sound a little optimistic to me, unless the break was more of a crack. The atrophy from not being allowed to put ANY weight on my leg for six to eight weeks was significant. By the time I was allowed to start physical therapy 10 weeks after surgery, I had lost well over an inch of circumference on my thigh and calf. Yes, I was standing, jumping, lifting weights 12 weeks after surgery, and even limping around the practice field at 14 weeks, but it was six full months before I could really change direction without "favoring" the leg, and longer before I felt I was back to running full speed.
I wasn't the professional level athlete that Abby is, nor did I have access to the level of treatment and rehab that she will, but I am/was no couch potato either. I was playing on two or three teams, and out on the field almost every day, so was definitely "in shape". However, I'm sure we'll see Wambach back on the training pitch within the 12 weeks mentioned in the press, but don't be surprised if it's more like 20-25 weeks before she gets her next shot at hitting the 100-goal career mark for the full U.S. Women's team.
Best of luck to her, and anyone else who has an horrible injury interrupt their best laid plans to play the sport they love. But time will fly, and there will be other chances for all of us to do good things.Labels: Abby Wambach, Sports Injuries
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
More quotes from Abby and the gang
Thought everyong might enjoy the full quotes collected for my article on the US women's team after their 6-0 steam rolling of Canada Saturday night at RFK.
From Head Coach Pia Sundhage
On the recent performance of Natasha Kai:
I have to say she's done an absolutely fantastic job. I wasn't happy when I saw her the first time. She was not focused. She was unfit, and I don't think she acted professionally. So I gave her feedback – is the look you want people to remind you. And she started to show up in practice and do in a good way and little by little. To me it was very important to give her feedback when she did something good. And she started to play some minutes and more and more and then the starting 11. She did a great job. My job is to give her support and give her feedback, and make her accountable for what she has to do. She didn't act professional in general, and that was bad.
Has she had the opportunity to review the youth development system in the US since arriving?
No. I've been here since December. So, I'm focused on the Olympics. I know there are many things going on. And if I survive the Olympics, I should be part of women's development. Right now, honestly I don't have time. I need to spend time with the game and with the players.
Does she think there should be a single national league for girls just like the USSF created for boys?
Well, I don't know. Because I don't have the bigger picture. But I do think it's important to ask the bigger question of what should there be on the women's side. Because if you look around the world right now. You look at Germany. I know what's happening in Germany – they have a program. – a developmental program. In Sweden they have an elite program, and I know what's happening in Norway. So we need in the US to find our way. And start to look at the situation and ask is this a good environment for a little girl or is a good environment for a 19 year old girls who is just very talented she can play in this team. I don't know the answer of course, but we have to ask the question and right now there's something going on so, but I'm not a part of that right now.
Have you noticed a big difference between how this team is playing now compared to under Ryan last year in the World Cup?
Yes. The reason I am here is the word “change”. I have European style and one word is “keep possession” and find right moment to penetrate to find that timing, and it's a change. But I can't do too much of a change that I confuse them, but I can't do too little either because no one would notice, so I try to do something between, and this game I think we are half way there we are doing a great job. Sometimes we play direct to Abby, and sometimes we keep possession and slow down the game a little bit.
How is to win like this without Abby scoring goals?
Yes, but still she scores, and that's a strength. Of course, she played 90 minutes and she a part of the attack of course, and if you ask Even Pellerud [the Canadian Coach], he will talk about Abby – what problems she creates. She didn't score goals, however we have other players stepping up and scoring goals, and that's a strength.
Abby Wambach
How does it feel to be back at RFK?
It's great. It feels like I'm back home. The fans are great. There were a lot of fans here and the crowd was rocking and when you score six goals, there's a lot to cheer about so it's a great game.
Did you feel you were back home all week, or just when you arrived here tonight?
Yeah, all week. It's crazy how driving all around DC I knew exactly where I was going. I haven't been back here in a couple years. It's special being here and I have a special place in my heart for the city of DC.
Despite your offer to let other players choose first, is Washington your first choice if you have a choice for a WPS team?
It makes sense, but I don't exactly know how the cookies are going to crumble. But I'm going to do the best that I can once the league starts to hopefully make it a success.
Is it exciting to see a lot of other players scoring goals?
You have no idea how relieving it is because it makes my job easier. We're scoring a lot of goals. It's making our attack and our playing more dangerous to other teams and it's a whole heck of a lot harder for us to be the tactically broken down.
Angela Hucles
On only player from this area – what is it like to be back here.
It's great. You can hear the fans that are excited to have us here. My parents, cousins, uncles, [are here] I always love coming back to this area.
What club did you play for growing up?
Beach FC – they're still going strong!
On living in Boston and wanting to play for Boston WPS team – will it happen for sure?
I don't know for sure. Hopefully in the next couple of months we'll figure out which players are being allocated and which are being drafted. I'm looking forward to finding out where I'm going to be.
On scoring the winning goal last week against Australia in the final minute.
It was great. Everything just lined up perfectly. A great ball in from Abby perfectly flicked on. I was very fortunate to get that finish.Labels: Abby Wambach, Angela Hucles, Pia Sundhage, U.S. Women, WPS
However, just as I was changing direction with all my weight on my right leg, the keeper - who had also been fooled by the perfect lob - also tried to change direction but had already committed to the "flop save". One of his knees struck the inside of my right shin at the precise moment I had all my weight on that leg, and the "pop" sounded like a gun went off according to those in attendance.
Before I hit the ground, I knew what had happened, and made every effort not to land on that leg in any way while in mid flight. Not that I really had much choice, as my feet had been propelled above my head by the force of "tackle" anyway, causing me to land squarely on my left shoulder and ear.
It was a clean break of both bones in the lower leg. No fragments, no real tissue damage because I had thankfully not taken another step, nor landed on it in any way. Without describing the details, let's just say the sensation of having your own foot "dangling" was a feeling I'll never forget. At that moment, there is no pain, and you feel like "how on earth am I ever going to stand on that thing again?"
My understanding is that Wambach's break is not quite as bad, that it's not broken completely through - or "detached" as my leg bones had become. Either way, the surgery is no doubt the same. A long titanium - or in my case, chromium - rod inserted right down the middle of the tibia bone - like a "dowel" for anyone who's ever done some construction. There are probably screws involved, though perhaps not quite as necessary as in my case. For me, because the bones were completely detached, I have screws holding the rod in place at the ankle, and below the knee that were there to keep my lower leg from "spinning" on the rod before the bone healed. Nice image huh?
As bad as this all sounds, everything I was ever told by anyone who at least seemed to know what they were talking about was that this injury was "better" than having blown an ACL or broken an ankle. There was absolutely no ligament damage. In fact, the lack of such damage, and the totally clean "snapping" break were all signs that I had tremendously strong ankles and knees, as well as non-brittle bones (which otherwise would have shattered instead of snapped). Plus, with the steel rod in my leg, there was no way the same injury could happen again, so don't worry about that! (yes, the rod is still there, but I can have it out anytime I get around to it. And yes, the airport is a pain because it almost always sets off the metal detectors)
Make no mistake, it's all a study of the lessor of which evil, but I am thankful that I didn't "do" my knee, as it would forever be an injury that was never quite as good as new. In my case, the extra bone that formed to repair the break (and is throbbing now as I write of course) has made things stronger.
The press reports that Wambach will be "back in about 12 weeks" sound a little optimistic to me, unless the break was more of a crack. The atrophy from not being allowed to put ANY weight on my leg for six to eight weeks was significant. By the time I was allowed to start physical therapy 10 weeks after surgery, I had lost well over an inch of circumference on my thigh and calf. Yes, I was standing, jumping, lifting weights 12 weeks after surgery, and even limping around the practice field at 14 weeks, but it was six full months before I could really change direction without "favoring" the leg, and longer before I felt I was back to running full speed.
I wasn't the professional level athlete that Abby is, nor did I have access to the level of treatment and rehab that she will, but I am/was no couch potato either. I was playing on two or three teams, and out on the field almost every day, so was definitely "in shape". However, I'm sure we'll see Wambach back on the training pitch within the 12 weeks mentioned in the press, but don't be surprised if it's more like 20-25 weeks before she gets her next shot at hitting the 100-goal career mark for the full U.S. Women's team.
Best of luck to her, and anyone else who has an horrible injury interrupt their best laid plans to play the sport they love. But time will fly, and there will be other chances for all of us to do good things.
Labels: Abby Wambach, Sports Injuries
Thought everyong might enjoy the full quotes collected for my article on the US women's team after their 6-0 steam rolling of Canada Saturday night at RFK.
From Head Coach Pia Sundhage
On the recent performance of Natasha Kai:
I have to say she's done an absolutely fantastic job. I wasn't happy when I saw her the first time. She was not focused. She was unfit, and I don't think she acted professionally. So I gave her feedback – is the look you want people to remind you. And she started to show up in practice and do in a good way and little by little. To me it was very important to give her feedback when she did something good. And she started to play some minutes and more and more and then the starting 11. She did a great job. My job is to give her support and give her feedback, and make her accountable for what she has to do. She didn't act professional in general, and that was bad.
Has she had the opportunity to review the youth development system in the US since arriving?
No. I've been here since December. So, I'm focused on the Olympics. I know there are many things going on. And if I survive the Olympics, I should be part of women's development. Right now, honestly I don't have time. I need to spend time with the game and with the players.
Does she think there should be a single national league for girls just like the USSF created for boys?
Well, I don't know. Because I don't have the bigger picture. But I do think it's important to ask the bigger question of what should there be on the women's side. Because if you look around the world right now. You look at Germany. I know what's happening in Germany – they have a program. – a developmental program. In Sweden they have an elite program, and I know what's happening in Norway. So we need in the US to find our way. And start to look at the situation and ask is this a good environment for a little girl or is a good environment for a 19 year old girls who is just very talented she can play in this team. I don't know the answer of course, but we have to ask the question and right now there's something going on so, but I'm not a part of that right now.
Have you noticed a big difference between how this team is playing now compared to under Ryan last year in the World Cup?
Yes. The reason I am here is the word “change”. I have European style and one word is “keep possession” and find right moment to penetrate to find that timing, and it's a change. But I can't do too much of a change that I confuse them, but I can't do too little either because no one would notice, so I try to do something between, and this game I think we are half way there we are doing a great job. Sometimes we play direct to Abby, and sometimes we keep possession and slow down the game a little bit.
How is to win like this without Abby scoring goals?
Yes, but still she scores, and that's a strength. Of course, she played 90 minutes and she a part of the attack of course, and if you ask Even Pellerud [the Canadian Coach], he will talk about Abby – what problems she creates. She didn't score goals, however we have other players stepping up and scoring goals, and that's a strength.
Abby Wambach
How does it feel to be back at RFK?
It's great. It feels like I'm back home. The fans are great. There were a lot of fans here and the crowd was rocking and when you score six goals, there's a lot to cheer about so it's a great game.
Did you feel you were back home all week, or just when you arrived here tonight?
Yeah, all week. It's crazy how driving all around DC I knew exactly where I was going. I haven't been back here in a couple years. It's special being here and I have a special place in my heart for the city of DC.
Despite your offer to let other players choose first, is Washington your first choice if you have a choice for a WPS team?
It makes sense, but I don't exactly know how the cookies are going to crumble. But I'm going to do the best that I can once the league starts to hopefully make it a success.
Is it exciting to see a lot of other players scoring goals?
You have no idea how relieving it is because it makes my job easier. We're scoring a lot of goals. It's making our attack and our playing more dangerous to other teams and it's a whole heck of a lot harder for us to be the tactically broken down.
Angela Hucles
On only player from this area – what is it like to be back here.
It's great. You can hear the fans that are excited to have us here. My parents, cousins, uncles, [are here] I always love coming back to this area.
What club did you play for growing up?
Beach FC – they're still going strong!
On living in Boston and wanting to play for Boston WPS team – will it happen for sure?
I don't know for sure. Hopefully in the next couple of months we'll figure out which players are being allocated and which are being drafted. I'm looking forward to finding out where I'm going to be.
On scoring the winning goal last week against Australia in the final minute.
It was great. Everything just lined up perfectly. A great ball in from Abby perfectly flicked on. I was very fortunate to get that finish.
From Head Coach Pia Sundhage
On the recent performance of Natasha Kai:
I have to say she's done an absolutely fantastic job. I wasn't happy when I saw her the first time. She was not focused. She was unfit, and I don't think she acted professionally. So I gave her feedback – is the look you want people to remind you. And she started to show up in practice and do in a good way and little by little. To me it was very important to give her feedback when she did something good. And she started to play some minutes and more and more and then the starting 11. She did a great job. My job is to give her support and give her feedback, and make her accountable for what she has to do. She didn't act professional in general, and that was bad.
Has she had the opportunity to review the youth development system in the US since arriving?
No. I've been here since December. So, I'm focused on the Olympics. I know there are many things going on. And if I survive the Olympics, I should be part of women's development. Right now, honestly I don't have time. I need to spend time with the game and with the players.
Does she think there should be a single national league for girls just like the USSF created for boys?
Well, I don't know. Because I don't have the bigger picture. But I do think it's important to ask the bigger question of what should there be on the women's side. Because if you look around the world right now. You look at Germany. I know what's happening in Germany – they have a program. – a developmental program. In Sweden they have an elite program, and I know what's happening in Norway. So we need in the US to find our way. And start to look at the situation and ask is this a good environment for a little girl or is a good environment for a 19 year old girls who is just very talented she can play in this team. I don't know the answer of course, but we have to ask the question and right now there's something going on so, but I'm not a part of that right now.
Have you noticed a big difference between how this team is playing now compared to under Ryan last year in the World Cup?
Yes. The reason I am here is the word “change”. I have European style and one word is “keep possession” and find right moment to penetrate to find that timing, and it's a change. But I can't do too much of a change that I confuse them, but I can't do too little either because no one would notice, so I try to do something between, and this game I think we are half way there we are doing a great job. Sometimes we play direct to Abby, and sometimes we keep possession and slow down the game a little bit.
How is to win like this without Abby scoring goals?
Yes, but still she scores, and that's a strength. Of course, she played 90 minutes and she a part of the attack of course, and if you ask Even Pellerud [the Canadian Coach], he will talk about Abby – what problems she creates. She didn't score goals, however we have other players stepping up and scoring goals, and that's a strength.
Abby Wambach
How does it feel to be back at RFK?
It's great. It feels like I'm back home. The fans are great. There were a lot of fans here and the crowd was rocking and when you score six goals, there's a lot to cheer about so it's a great game.
Did you feel you were back home all week, or just when you arrived here tonight?
Yeah, all week. It's crazy how driving all around DC I knew exactly where I was going. I haven't been back here in a couple years. It's special being here and I have a special place in my heart for the city of DC.
Despite your offer to let other players choose first, is Washington your first choice if you have a choice for a WPS team?
It makes sense, but I don't exactly know how the cookies are going to crumble. But I'm going to do the best that I can once the league starts to hopefully make it a success.
Is it exciting to see a lot of other players scoring goals?
You have no idea how relieving it is because it makes my job easier. We're scoring a lot of goals. It's making our attack and our playing more dangerous to other teams and it's a whole heck of a lot harder for us to be the tactically broken down.
Angela Hucles
On only player from this area – what is it like to be back here.
It's great. You can hear the fans that are excited to have us here. My parents, cousins, uncles, [are here] I always love coming back to this area.
What club did you play for growing up?
Beach FC – they're still going strong!
On living in Boston and wanting to play for Boston WPS team – will it happen for sure?
I don't know for sure. Hopefully in the next couple of months we'll figure out which players are being allocated and which are being drafted. I'm looking forward to finding out where I'm going to be.
On scoring the winning goal last week against Australia in the final minute.
It was great. Everything just lined up perfectly. A great ball in from Abby perfectly flicked on. I was very fortunate to get that finish.
Labels: Abby Wambach, Angela Hucles, Pia Sundhage, U.S. Women, WPS
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