I received the only yellow card from Trent Green. Here’s what I did to earn it
Five minutes is a long time. Just ask the 50-plus media members on the pitch at CPKC Stadium.
While the Kansas City Current and the NWSL season are on international break, the teams are keeping themselves busy by competing against other professional organizations in small tournaments. The Current, during their break from the season, are hosting the Teal Rising Cup.
The cup involves the Current and three other teams: the NWSL’s Chicago Stars, Corinthians SC and Palmeiras, both of whom play in Brasileirão Feminino A1, the top league for Brazilian women’s soccer.
The series of games was also important for one reason: It was when the Current’s communications department hosted its annual media game, where they invite local and national media outlets to play on the field during the game’s halftime on Saturday, July 12.
Star intern Kylie Volavongsa represented the newsroom during last year’s media game, and when the sign-up email was forwarded to me by a friend at a local news station, I knew what I had to do.
I hadn’t played soccer since I was a member of the JV squad at Cristo Rey Kansas City High School as a freshman, way back in 2012. My athletic years are far behind me, but I was certainly eager to kick a ball into the net or into the river, like Current star Temwa Chawinga did last year.
I prepared well for Saturday’s star-filled halftime game, but in a game officiated by former Chiefs quarterback Trent Green, nothing could prepare me for what went down.
Pre-game excitement
The media game was set for halftime for the Current’s game against Palmeiras, which kicked off at 8 p.m. Around the 25-minute mark, participating media members met on the concourse and were escorted into the locker rooms to change into custom jerseys, each decked out with the name and number we chose.
It was the first time that my team, Team Heartland, was in the same space..
Everyone, from new ESPN Chiefs reporter Nate Taylor to local lifestyle TV host Kerrigan Arnold and Power 105.1 disc jockeys Ivani Bing and Boogie D, were chatting, taking pictures and sharing laughs as we counted down the minutes until halftime.
Before we took the pitch, we were reminded not to try to kick the ball into the river, dashing another dream of mine. I had bought cleats for the occasion, but an email a few days before alerted everyone, that cleats weren’t allowed to preserve the pitch. It’s not hard to imagine the damage done to the field if an additional 55 people were running around with spikes on their shoes.
Reminders to have fun and high fives from owners Angie and Chris Long sent us off, and all of a sudden, we’re under the bright lights and surrounded by thousands of fans in attendance. Once the teams got set, referee Trent Green, the former Chiefs quarterback and current CBS NFL commentator, blew the whistle, and it was showtime.
A yellow card from who?
Almost immediately, Team Heartland was running down the field and poised to score. Team Storm’s defense looked lost, and the offensive attack led by KSHB reporter Marlon Martinez looked to be too much for them to handle.
With all defensive eyes on Martinez, I found a spot off to his right side where one pass would get me a clear shot at the goal. It’s the type of moment you dream about as a kid, scoring a goal in a professional stadium.
All week, I was telling everyone from co-workers to my girlfriend and our two cats that I would score a goal at CPKC Stadium. I even guaranteed it to the team’s communications department staff members.
Martinez passed the ball my way, and Team Storm’s goalie was off-center. It was going to happen.
Until it didn’t.
It was all but handed to me on a silver platter, but I didn’t make contact with the ball on my swing. Instead, it rolled out of bounds, and Team Storm later scored on their attack. All I could do was drop to my knees and wonder what I did to deserve this cruel fate.
It got worse, as seconds later Green approached me, pulled out the yellow card from his pocket and held it above my head. The avalanche of anguish continued, as Team Storm added a second goal, and just like that the five minutes were up and my dreams were dashed.
Green said postgame that he felt bad that he gave me a yellow card, but that I earned it. He also signed the yellow card and handed it to me in the locker room to remind me of my shortcomings.
“You were right in front of the net and had an opportunity to score,” Green said. “The reason for the yellow card is not because you missed the ball, but not only did you miss the ball, but you fell after you missed.”
“It was a great effort, but it was yellow card worthy.”
It would be easy to blame the slippery pitch since we weren’t allowed to wear cleats or my sprained ankle I suffered playing basketball two weeks ago, but it’s only myself at fault. In my moment to shine, I fell short.
Team Heartland may have lost, but I’m choosing to look on the bright side of life. It was a fun time for what might’ve been a once-in-a-lifetime chance to share the field with so many talented journalists, producers and on-air talent, some of whom I’m proud to call friends.
Not many people can say that a quarterback they grew up watching and had a poster of on their wall in their childhood room gave them a yellow card. In fact, I don’t believe anyone else can.
If I receive an invite to participate next year, I’ll make up for my mistakes. I guarantee it.
