I went to my first Wave game this week and here are some reflections:
First, I'm a soccer fan and I was reminded that the game the Wave plays isn't necessarily immediately endearing to a soccer fan. Before you indoor soccer fans jump on me, consider whether or not you thought the Mustangs played the same game as the Packers do. Of course not.
I want goals to count for one point, I want teams of 11 playing on a regulation field and I don't want them to be able to kick the ball off the wall. I'm not points-hungry. I prefer a graceful, hard-won victory or even a draw to a mile-a-minute scorefest with an artificially inflated final score. (Detroit scored five goals but ended with 10 points!)
Second, even if indoor soccer isn't the same as outdoor soccer, it's a fast-paced, fun game to watch and I enjoyed it. It doesn't have the same gravity as the outdoor game -- there's less ground in which teams can put together beautiful runs and there's not much time for grace (which explains why a lot of obviously talented athletes looked a little physically befuddled at times, kicking awkwardly at thin air) -- but it's got spirit and action.
Third, the game is popular. There were a lot of people -- and a lot of families -- at the U.S. Cellular Arena to see the Wave lose to Detroit; more than I expected. And having brought my son and my nephew, I can see why.
Within minutes of kickoff, they were both on their feet chanting "Let's Go Wave" and shaking their free Wave towels frantically. For my nearly 5-year-old nephew, that's no surprise, but it was a first for my son who is 2. He loves going to baseball games, but he's reached a certain sports fan tipping point in the Brewers' off-season.
I'm not sure the Wave will replace the Brewers for him, however. When I asked if he wants to go to another game -- I meant Wave game, because we were talking about that experience -- he said, "yes, baseball game!"
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
