I re-entered the world of soccer this week. Beginning on Sunday, I played 3 straight days of soccer. It was like seeing friends I hadn’t seen in years (5 months since the injury and 4 months and a week from the reconstructive surgery). Sunday was kind of a disappointment, as we fell 4-3, but Monday was a much better story. Deney, our goalkeeper who battled a tumor on his brain the better part of the winter, made his comeback the same day as me. The Vandals hadn’t won a game this year, but that changed on Monday. We marched to a 4-1 victory (we didn’t give up a goal until the final second of the game) and I was lucky enough to get an assist on the 1st goal of the game. Tuesday was more of the same, as my Free Agents rolled to a 4-0 win. The knee feels good, despite falling on it in the Vandals game. A few days off should fix everything.

Today I rode in the Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride, a 104 mile expedition across the southern burbs of the Twin Cities. “The Team” I rode with was composed of a 5-time Northfield teacher of the year recipient, a Harvard soccer All-American, a Wayzata hockey ringer, and a freak with a bionic knee (yours truly). During all rest breaks, “The Team” could be found huddled together discussing strategy of “sticking together” with an “all for one, one for all” mantra that would make a great like Bud Grant beam with pride. After each meeting, Northfield wonderboy Ben Danielson and west-side Ward Schwie bolted out of the rest areas like bats out of hell, leaving the rest of “The Team” peering through the dust. Only the times when Keren Gudeman devoured a Snickers bar at the rest stop did she emerge leading “The Team” (this occurred once). Things appeared to work out though, as we all finished and returned home in one piece (sans Keren’s brutal fall on the hill before reaching lovely Lonsdale). Like clockwork, the Bianchi performed admirably and my bionic knee once again stepped to the plate.

Tina and I witnessed her sixth ultrasound test this morning. Everything appears to be fine with the pregnancy and “The Russian” was able to read the monitor and determine we are having a boy! Stryker is due September 3. In the mean time, I’ve designated myself as his e-guardian presiding over his email account. Feel free to drop us a note.

Woohoo! I saw Doctor Chris Meyer today and he was satisfied with my strength to give me clearance to begin attending soccer practices again! Even better, he said I could return to game-action on May 21st. To celebrate, I biked from Eden Prairie to Minneapolis for the Vandal’s first practice of the year. We scrimmaged and I had a hat trick. Sweet. But, I must preface, there was a bounty placed on anyone’s head who took me out. Maybe I took advantage of my handicap 🙂 OK. Next up is the Iron Man this weekend. My Dad has tuned up Benji’s italian racing bike, so hitting 102+ miles should be no problem! Bianchi. Campione D’Italia.

After running a pathetic 6:30 mile on Saturday, I followed it up with an equally pathetic but improving 6:00 mile this evening. I can get use to shaving :30 off my mile time every other day, right? The knee had a little extra juice floating around in it after the 6 minute time, but all in all, it felt great!

Woohoo! 5 weeks and 1 day after reconstructive surgery for an ACL in my left knee, I proudly returned to the ice for the Rangers. The knee felt good, I scored a couple goals, and I was even able to jog a block with Snickers after the game. All in all, the best post-surgery day yet.

Next week, I should have clearance to begin jogging. I can’t wait! I still plan to return to my beloved Vandals no later than June 14. Stay tuned, or not…

I finally got sftp chrooted in Mac OS X (10.3.7). Check out the details here.