Get Stuck In: How it all began.

***DISCLAIMER:NOT INTENTED FOR PEOPLE WHO TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY OR ARE EASILY OFFENDEED. IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T LIKE TO READ SKIP TO LAST PARAGRAPH OR DON'T READ. ALL FEELINGS AFTER READING ARTICLE ARE FINAL.***

"The fuck are you doing here?" I 'm asked as I walk in the front door of the O'Connors residence. I look on the couch to the right. Maynard, Mannix and Helmus, look up at me. I look at the chair to the left, O'Connor stares me down. In my hand I hold a Big Y plastic bag. Out of the bag, I pull 4 boxes of Red Baron's Signles Deep Dish Pizza. I'm reluctantly allowed in.

The summer of 2013 was one for the record books in and of itself, but the traditions and vlaues that have been passed down to rising LHS seniors is something that will last for decades.

Coming into the summer of 2013, I had become close friends with Helmus and Maynard through our multiple J.V seasons together, one of which would feature future Indoor stars Zach Johns and Nick Maurer. Our J.V team ran the show to say the least. But we had bigger dreams. We were determined to make a statement the following year, determined to prove we belonged on the v squad.

The summer of 2013 began with tours. I couldn't break 11 minutes for 3 tours. I was constantly left in the dust, whether it was those damn tours or Darby megging me so bad I couldnt stand properly for hours after. But we were in it together. We pushed each other, every day that summer in everything we could.

Each morning I knew what to expect; Ian would pick up the squad, we'd make our way to the fields, bust out some tours, host a juggle sesh, Hepper would show up and we'd be pissed, Levin would show up and we'd be pissed, George would show up and we'd be pissed, Liam would show up and eh whatever, we'd bang out some 3v3 games for and hour or so, hit up moes, go back to the fields and take free kicks, more juggle sesh, more 3v3, head to the courts, play some more 3v3, some soccer tennis, finnaly peace out, head to Darb's for Red Barron and Super Strikers/Mario Kart and then call it a day. Each day was like this or some variation of this. It was wonderful.

Incredible things happened inbetween those routine days. For one instance, while stoped at a red light Jake Mannix was eating goldfish in the back of the Red Rocket. He then stuck his hand out the window with a solem gold fish and asked Darb if he was ready. Darb, on the other side of the car, stuck his hand out the window and replied, "Do it." Jake then nonchallantly tossed the goldfish over the top of the car and Darby caught it and ate it. We knew this was the begining of something special.

Later that day, Darby holds onto an icecube at the fields. He looks over at me, asks what I like in my coffee, and then yells "KAREEEEEM", sky hooking the ice cube over my head and into the hole of a bottle/cup trash can no bigger than the palm of my hand.

Ian Maynard smashes a bycicle kick bar down in the top left corner of the goal we were shooting on.

To finish of the day, we pound a viciously large watermelon thanks to the generosity of Judy Mannix.

What a day.

We learned a lot about ourselves that summer. We learned that we valued things like hard work, modesty, and showmanship. We didn't give a shit about how good our competitors were or how bad they were. We played tough and long and played to win.

Our 3v3 team of that summer played against competition we didn't have any right to win against. Well, we beat the Spain National Team that summer. Yeah.

If you're unconvinced that we did, you should be, because it was just a bunch of old guys that named their team that.

Anyways, we gave teams a run for their money. Lost pretty much all the time, but made good teams play hard to beat us. College players and hispanics are freaking nasty, I mean we had Jake for G-d's sake and still lost.

This type of playing style became to be know as "getting stuck in", a term coined by Brad Miller himself. Hustle plays, hard (but clean) tackles, dangles, rips, and some finesse, were all included in "getting stuck in".

This playing style carried over into our tryouts that summer. Myself, Maynard and Helmus joined the V Squad. We were "fired up" to put it in Brad's words.

This new style was a huge success too, Brad loved us, loved our never give up attitude, and continued to push us. Never have I been more tired than that season.

Yes, we missed playoffs, and ended with another terrible record, but we grew as players and as people.

Darby would go on to win a championship in Jball with me taken under his wing and with a team that played with our "get stuck in" style. Ian would do something great in track, cant remeber if he won Western Mass but lets say he did. Jake ended up joining a top tier club soccer team, even though he honestly kinda sucks at soccer. And Helmus won Western Mass and States in LAX and then quit because "His work here [was] done".

Ian would eventually move off to UCONN leaving just darb, jake, helmus and me in the long ghetto. And jake on his fancy new club team would leave just helmus and I on the V Squad with Burns. Things got depressing. I thought "get stuck in" was over.

But then, in the distance, a little flame was ignited.

Zach Johns, Ryan Cove, Nick Mauer, Paul, Gordon; they saved us. Twoards the end of the summer of 2014, those five lifted our spirits, they valued what was important to us. "Getting stuck in." the 2014 season ended up being just like 2013. I took over as driver in place of Ian, and we all just got stuck in all the fucking time. It was sick. Burns took over as Garrity and I knew the universe was restored. We still kinda sucked but were easily better than last year but didnt make too much of an imporvement and missed playoffs once again.

But we did boot EL from the playoffs, satisfying me.

Our Indoor team dominated yet again. Shout out to Jake. Losing Hepper, Liam and Ian was actually pretty tough but we contiued to get stuck in.

Darby then moved off to college and I took over as JBall captain and Zach Johns in place of me. Though the playoffs aren't over yet it's looking pretty good for us. Zach and I have just won 8 games strait including the All-Star game. And our team follows our one rule to "get stuck in". The Roy boys especially. Josh Roy looks like he might be the carrier of our flame for the new generations.

All in all, it's been a hell of a ride fellas. I hope you goons keep the strikers heart and soul alive even if the strikers indoor squad breaks up next winter. I'll probably have a job this summer but hit me up for courts or fields or watermelon whenever. Y'all might think I'm soft or something for writing this but in actuality I'm doing this instead of homework.

If you're reading this and last part because you didn't feel like reading the whole thing, please remeber these few important phrases:

-"Weather the storm"~Brad Miller

-"It's a beautiful day for soccer fellas"~Brad Miller

-"I gotta take a shit"~John Croll to Brad Miller

-"Kipperrr"~Brad Miller

-"Let's get it"~Brad Miller

-"You punch like a bitch"~Darby O'Connor

and lastly...

"Get stuck in"~ Brad Miller