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[reporter]

Sheriff John Brown always hated me,
For what, I don't know:
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow -
He said kill them before they grow.
And so:

Read it in the news:
(I shot the sheriff.) Oh, Lord!
(But I swear it was in self-defence.)
Where was the deputy? (Oo-oo-oh)
I say: I shot the sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence. (Oo-oh) Yeah!

I Shot the Sheriff

Does anyone like Bernie?

Like Bernie? Does anyone like Bernie? You mean anyone who really knows him? Like, that's not a word you would use with Bernie. Bernie plays with everyone's confidence, with others its more than that. I guess it makes some hard, gives them that extra edge it takes to make it to the top. Anthony and Kelyn don't care, nothing he says bothers them. Mostly it looks like contempt I see when they look at him. I think Bernie's even played with them, he can't help it, it's second nature. Bernie likes them though. Bernie likes anyone that makes it to national camp. As for the rest, some kids Bernie likes, some kids Bernie screws. Bernie is Bernie. It is what it is. He gets everyone to work hard, no one wants Bernie screwing with em. Everyone jumps at the chance for a minute of playtime. He's got us trained like dogs, his little bitches. We agree to any opportunity to play, he wants us to compromise something, he teaches us to run over our friends, our teammates, if you want it you have to go after it. I guess that's what it takes. He does get some guys amazing opportunities, and others, well, he has fun with that too. Guys on the bench, he loves to play with us, our minds, our emotions. He steals our confidence, he steals our chance. Even if we could get in, it's hard to play without confidence. The nerves set in. There's this 92 on the U16s. Grew up in a really bad part of LA. I heard his brothers got murdered by a gang, I don't know if it's true or a rumor, it's not the kind of question you can ask a guy. He's hard to describe, quiet, treats everyone with respect, even Bernie. Being around him is calm, he puts everything in perspective, helps you keep going. He plays cool, really cool, works really hard, runs the midfield all game, nothing bothers him. I asked him how he plays without any nerves. He looked at me like I was crazy, "it's just a game". On Bernie's team you forget that.


I've heard that Andy's in some big trouble.

Being on Bernie's team is a f'ing mind game. With Flory it was different. There's Flory's U18 team just sitting here, what's left of it. But Andy's not around anymore to help us. This bench is endless. Screws with your mind. Bernie got Flory the most. Years ago, Andy's team, our team, beat Bernie's at state cup, up and coming coach, guess Bernie didn't like that. We pay for that too. Bernie's got patience, he can wait years to f you. You love your teammates, they're your friends, your brothers, even the guys not from our team, you make new friends in the Academy. But you just want to watch them to f up so that maybe you can get in. Makes you feel bad inside. And even then it doesn't happen. Even if they f up, they're still in, and we're still on the bench. It's all one big sick twisted game to Bernie. I wish I just had a chance, wish I could escape this nightmare of lost dreams. Lost, nowhere to go, running in the dark, something chasing you, everything ruined, no escape. Bernie's nightmare, taking it all away from you. At least Andy was there to help you out, wake you up, watch out for you. See that you had something, that potential. Flory was building this team, we were national contenders, brought his team to XF from Storm, combined his team with Bernie's, Flory was the head coach, Bernie took the the teams in other age groups. We were going all the way. But then Academy came along. No Problem. Looked like it was going to be the opportunity of a lifetime, an even bigger stage. We were golden. But the team got split up, some to the Academy U16s, others to the U18s. Coaching assignment flipped, Bernie coach, Andy Assistant Coach. The 91 U16s had 8 starters from Bernie's 92 team, 8! And that doesn't include Bernie's junior 91s. The senior 91s, all these big guys sitting on the bench watching the weasely little 92s play, not that it was their fault, they were so psyched, thought they were so great, so cocky. Bernie likes to use the little guys to fuck the big guys. Thought they would have a killer team next year with 8 returning starters. Bernie does that, uses little innocent kids to fuck people. The kids have no idea. It's not their fault. They were spoiled, given their spots without earning them. And the 92's don't have Kelyn this year, no Spencer, a team needs stars. A team needs the best players it can get, players working hard for the privilege to play, not having it handed to them. Shit. It was like having your face rubbed in it. Where was the play for the 91s? The 90s in U18 also had to sit around and watch Bernie's 89 and 90s play, but that was expected they were senior, not quite as bad, but weird stuff, making them feel like they didn't have it. Fair, it just isn't fair. Didn't really matter 90 or 91, most of us were left out on the bench, out in the cold, along with other recruits. Bernie cherry picked what he wanted from our team, f the rest. Flory tried to help us, but there's only one coach here, it's Bernie. And you better be from Bernie's team or be in a position that he needs, or there's some way he can use you. He's left so many really talented players with nothing, nothing. If he doesn't need you, or just because he can, he leaves you to stew on the bench, watch everybody else get the opportunities. I think that is what he likes the best. Watching someone lose. Bernie's wants everyone to think only he can make you, that you didn't do it with your own work, with your team. But what he likes best is trying to break you. As it turned out Andy ended up not being the assistant coach, he wasn't even on the bench with us anymore, in the end, he was sitting in the stands, with the parents. Well apart from the parents, watching the Academy games, crumpled high up in the corner of the stadium, replaced by Lance, a parent of the 92s. Lance, Bernie's partner in crime, laughing at us, playing Bernie's games with him. Paving his privileged kid's street of gold. Cutting down the competition for his son, cutting down the coaches who get in the way. Stabbing Andy in the back, while Bernie shakes his hand. Think he's doing his son a favor. He's stealing from his kid, just like the rest of us. Stealing his chance of being part of a really great team. Limiting his potential by not letting him earn it himself. Everyone's got to carry their own weight. His kid's got some talent, but he isn't letting him find it in himself. He won't ever have the chance to be on a Clockwork Orange team with everyone sharing the load, serving each other, sharing the glory, the fun. Lance coaching, making XF some rec league with parent coaches. And now their Henderson's players, cycle starting all over again. Andy, one of those truly special coaches that come along only once in a while, in the stands! Just sitting there, watching his team play, the one that could have gone all the way, win the national title, from the stands. Teams like us don't come along every day. What a joke, on us. I had dreams of playing pros, at least college. Don't know how that's going to happen sitting on a bench, no D1 ball for me, I'll be lucky to make it to D2. Coaches don't pick up players from other guys' benches, they want the starters. A couple of guys made it from our team, but mostly we got nothing. And Flory was sent off to coach a girls U15 team, A GIRLS TEAM! Some guys should only coach guys. Guys will put up with talk, behavior that girls won't. It was a set up. Sorry you can't coach your national potential Academy team that you've been working on for years, I've got some B teams, and a girls team for you. What was Bernie thinking? Was he thinking about the girls on the team. Why would he do that to Andy. He knew Andy was a player in his day, everyone's got faults. A whole team of U15 girls, how many young guys do you know that could handle that. Sexual harassment is what we've been told, bad language in text messages. At least the parents caught it. Saved their kid. I hope the girl is OK. I hope the family's OK, their team. I'm sure Andy is sorry. I just want you to know why he would've done it. Andy had been worked, spinning out of control. He'd lost everything, then Bernie puts him in with a bunch of girls. What was Bernie thinking?  Why would he do that to Andy, or those girls. Now Andy's fucked, his career is ruined, he may never coach again. Bernie knows how to burn the competition. Uses innocent kids, innocent girls to set his traps. And Andy had a wife and a baby. But Bernie knows how to exploit your flaws, plays really dirty. He knows all the locker room stories. When you travel the circuit as a team, four to a room, there are no secrets. I saw Flory a couple of months ago, before all of the shit went down, when he wasn't making Academy practices anymore. Flory looked bad, really bad, like the life had been sucked out of him. It was sad, I didn't know what was so wrong, but I did, our whole team was in despair. But he got f'd worse than anyone else. Bernie sacrificed Andy and his family, all of us, up and coming coach. For what? How is Andy going to save himself or his family without soccer. Soccer is life to Andy. Andy please keep at, find your way, we need you.

How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book

Jah Luv Andy
Jah Luv Andy's Team

Preacher man dont tell me, heaven is under the earth,
i know you dont know what life is really worth
its not all that glitter is gold,
i got story aint never been told
so now you see the light
you stand up for your rights

Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!
Get up, stand up: stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up: don't give up the fight!

Most people think, great god will come from the sky
take away everything and make everybody feel high
but if you know what life is worth
you will look for yours on earth
so now you see the light
you stand up for your rights

Get up, stand up! (Jah, Jah!)
Stand up for your rights! (Oh-hoo!)
Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!)
Don't give up the fight! (Life is your right!)
Get up, stand up! (So we can't give up the fight!)
Stand up for your rights! (Lord, Lord!)
Get up, stand up! (Keep on struggling on!)
Don't give up the fight

We sick an' tired of-a your *ism-skism game -
Dyin' 'n' goin' to heaven in-a Jesus' name, Lord.
We know when we understand:
Almighty God is a living man.
You can fool some people sometimes,
But you can't fool all the people all the time.
So now we see the light (What you gonna do?),
We gonna stand up for our rights! (Yeah, yeah, yeah!)

Oh, you better:
Get up, stand up! (In the morning! Git it up!)
Stand up for your rights! (Stand up for our rights!)
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight! (Don't give it up, don't give Get up, stand up! (Get up, stand up!)
Stand up for your rights! (Get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Don't give up the fight! (Get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up!
Don't give up the fight!

Take heart, stay with the game!
Remember your teammates, your friends, your family, share the load, serve each other, you can't do it without them.

Jah come to break downpression,
Rule equality,
Wipe away transgression,
Set the captives free!

Jah Luv Crossfire

Jah Luv Man

[Big Youth]

As the protagonist stated in Breaker Morant, "that's what comes of empire building".  Yeah, Bernie's walking over people building his empire, as all knew he would.  But Flory was chasing his own empire dreams, and had no problems recruiting, cutting or otherwise squishing people to get them either.  I have no sympathy for a guy who ran into an adversary that played the same game better.  And I certainly have no sympathy for his actions with respect to the girls' team.  A team of 15 year old girls isn't an irresistable excuse for improper behavior.  Anyone who seeks to be around children should be able to handle it, and anyone who can't handle it should decline to be in that position.  I'm neither a Crossfire fan nor a Bernie apologist.  My kids played against Crossfire teams and had winning records against them.  But you do your cause no service by bringing in some absurd arguments.  I've always disliked the way Bernie handles his bench players, and think it is inappropriate for the youth level.

Flory's 90s didn't play Bernie's team in State Cup.  Bernie's team was a year younger in WSYSA leagues.  Some guy named Brown coached that Crossfire team before Flory moved his team up north to Crossfire.

If Flory's only issue with the girls' team was some ill advised messages, he probably wouldn't be in big trouble.

Being a "player" at one point in one's life doesn't justify a married person's inappropriate behavior with minors.  Period.  Further, coaching at that level is a job; all jobs have standards for behavior and he breached a very basic standard.

I saw Flory not play his bench players in a number of games as well.

If the academy isn't working out for a player, his family should move him.  I opined to that effect here several times since the academy was brought to Washington.  I think it is expensive, disruptive and, in most cases, unnecessary.  And if the kid isn't playing, it may be a nonviolent form of child abuse to leave him there; in any case, it is a foolish decision.

Embrace the paragraph; it may help someone have the patience to endure your entire diatribe before determining its value.

[juggles]

There's little doubt that reporter has smoked way too much of the ganga   Hey,maybe he's really Andy Flory

[truth]

I don't think that your explanation that Flory was somehow set up when he was given a girls team make much sense.  Assuming that he did something that he should not have then the only one that he can blame is himself. 

[vms]

Countless tales of kids promised the moon by BJ. And left hung out to dry...He is all about performance. And the $$ it seems...

[duffer]

Look I don,t think this kid is smoking any thing  His veiw on the flory thing is exacly how a kid at this age would see it many parents have raised there kids it always some one ealses falt Not His falt later in life he will fined we are all responcible for our own actions including speaking words to kids that are inapropreat! I,m sure Mr James has a free pass on many things becouse he makes sure his board at crossfire is loaded with his supporters! SMART!!
Now The fact that he would let A coward parent past Pres defacto Lance coach or even sit on the bench at the level the acadamy is sopose to be is a comleat JOKE!!! If Mr james is not playing the best talent he has that makes him a JOKE and beleave me people are raising that question in the collage circles
I have heard many say they realy wonder if Mr James should be invoved after the age 14 and  not befors 12? what this means is he has lost his luster!

He will be moveing on soon and does not even now it From what I Hear the club will be in for another major change Meaning
The acadamy is  insolvant and will need to go!
TIC TOC TIC TOC

[1usa1]

If Mr james is not playing the best talent he has that makes him a JOKE and beleave me people are raising that question in the collage circles

He IS playing the best talent,at least in his opinion,and that has gotten many people upset. He plays his starters,whom he thinks are his best players,much more than the other players. I think he is doing the right thing.

[reporter]

Dear Duffer,

 My son was tortured by Bernie James for 3 very long years. The story was his story. 3 incredibly tough years on him and our family, took away his confidence and joy for the game. And there's tons of other kids out there like him. Taking soccer away from kids is a crime. The head of the Sounders, the guy that fired him, he questioned his character. If you ever deal with BJ, keep that in mind. Always question his character.

If you want to do something to help. John and Andy and Andy's team need your help. Help and support. My kid respected them as coaches, they gave him respect. As far as Andy having to face more than sexual harassment, I pray not. Could BJ be spreading rumors? Andy has lots to face as it is. Andy, ask for forgiveness from the family that you hurt - her parents, also your team. See if they can forgive you. There's been others facing worse before. I too have been a victim of crime. It takes time to heal, time to forgive. Forgiveness allows the healing.

Juggles, funny thing about you. Your son is a friend of my son. You better be praying for it big time that you don't ever have the displeasure of having BJ as a coach.  I can't believe you never saw the way he treated members of your team or other teams.  You act like you know him. Better watch out. Blinded by the ambition for your dk being offered by BJ, being duped by BJ, take a number and get in line. Who hasn't? But hard to deliver the moon. Stars got to make themselves. You've got a great GKD. Could you please start cheering for other kids than your own. Your kid's teammates. Watch out for other people. That's your team. 

Whatever you create you have to face. Facing your creation can be a very scary thing. I have compassion for you too, you have lots to face. You need to go out and seek forgiveness from all of the other people you have hurt. Someone must have hurt you badly to be destroying so many around. And you better be thinking of ways to make redemption to the people for what you've done. Make ammends. Apologies. Setting things right. Bernie, you should have that license of yours taken from you. Coaching is an honor. An honor that you abused. You no longer should be allowed that privilege. Lance, you should be using all that money of yours, for the good. Try setting up a scholarship program for kids that don't have access to big club soccer. Level the playing field.

As far as setting people up and taking responsibility. An organization and a leader and a coach, all need to set things up so that people can succeed, do better, grow. Pathological management creates pathological acts. Where was Bernie, was he helping people to be there best, win. Or was he trying to make them lose. We can help each other or hurt. Our choice. If you hurt others, it's going to come right back at you.

And the other thing when you find people crying out in suffering. Stop, Listen, Try to Understand. People don't cry for no reason. Denying their story, victimizes them again. Duffer I believe you.

Peace

[juggles]

You're entire diatribe is BS....if things were so bad why did your kid stay on the team?

[1usa1]

if things were so bad why did your kid stay on the team?

  Reporter;sounds like your kid had an absolutely MISERABLE time but I have to agree with juggles why did he stay? The fact that he stayed through all this makes your postings have far less impact and all it sounds like is the proverbial "sour grapes". Your support of Andy Flory is telling. I susapect that he was real good to your kid. However,he was fired ,not because of his coaching but because of inapproprite stuff that happened with some of his players...if I had a kid who was on his team i also would have called for his head.

[Taxicab]

So at this point we've gone from impassioned bench sitting kid writing something interesting, yet possibly flawed, to Bitter Dad who left his kid on a team from hell for 3 years and watched it nearly destroy him?

Bitter Dad who feels a coach was set up for harassment of 15 year old girls?

Bitter Dad who carries a knife and wants people to know it and has a tough time restraining himself from castrating people? (But not the guy who harassed 15 year old girls!) 

I am now frightened. Bernie scares me a little. But you scare me a lot, reporter!

[reporter]

Loving Mother

[Taxicab]

Loving Mother

 

[reporter]

OK, I took the knife part out for you, Taxicab.  Couldn't help it, makes my blood boil when I see these guys and how they treat people. Women think of defending ourselves sometimes. Bernie and Lance have already done so much damage to so many people.  I'm trying to take on guys who are out of control, wake them up to their actions before they destroy everything around them. Stop setting up people to fail. People need to take responsibility for each other, but we also have to watch out and set up a place that that's easy to do. Set up the game to win, create an environment that supports and develops our children and their goals. Not knife everyone in the back, for fun. Time for Bernie and Lance to step down. Figure out their own lives, stop messing up everybody else's. Crossfire parents and coaches need to boot them out! Why did I not leave with 3 years of abuse. It's my son's decision, not mine. There were coaches there taking care of us and many, many friends and teammates. We are trying to change things, set things right. Running away won't fix the problem, help our teammates. We were not out there just fighting for our own kid's ambitions (ask the kid, they are not as ambitious as most parents). My son loves the game, his teammates. Who abandons their teammates?  Fight for the team. All those quotes in the story, those are real. What happened there - taking kids and coaches down. That happens. Ask the players if their teammates are being treated well. Let's make WA soccer a better place.

[sissy]

OK, I took the castration part out for you, Taxicab.  You guys are so afraid of that...  Couldn't help it, makes my blood boil when I see these guys and how they treat people. Women think of defending ourselves sometimes. But I'll keep trying to spread the love. I'm trying to send a healing message. Heal Crossfire. Lets make WA state soccer a better place.

Honestly, have never felt the need to carry a knife to defend myself when I walk on the soccer field with my kids.  Feel confident I can handle/defend myself/kids with my words.  I haven't read back through this entire Academy thread, but I am not feeling the love/healing message you are trying to spread.

On a positive note, I applaud the sentiment , "lets make WA state soccer a better place"

[reporter]

Ever had Bernie James for a coach?

[sissy]

Ever had Bernie James for a coach?

Are you seriously suggesting that you fear for your personal safety with BJ?   (dang I wish this eye roll thing would work). 
Absolute waste of your time to type that, mine for reading it & anyone else who reads it. 
Now if you are calling into question integrity...Go for it!

[breakaway]

OK, I took the castration part out for you, Taxicab.  You guys are so afraid of that...  Couldn't help it, makes my blood boil when I see these guys and how they treat people. Women think of defending ourselves sometimes. But I'll keep trying to spread the love. I'm trying to send a healing message. Heal Crossfire. Lets make WA state soccer a better place.

Honestly, have never felt the need to carry a knife to defend myself when I walk on the soccer field with my kids.  Feel confident I can handle/defend myself/kids with my words.  I haven't read back through this entire Academy thread, but I am not feeling the love/healing message you are trying to spread.

On a positive note, I applaud the sentiment , "lets make WA state soccer a better place"

I get it.  Keep on livin Sissy

[reporter]

Personal safety, yes, be very worried about personal safety around him. He destroys all in his circle. Just not upfront about it, behind your back.

But the knife thing, I was thinking revenge, which is not a good thing. So I erased that.

[1usa1]

YOU ARE TRULY NUTS reporter

[vms]

YOU ARE TRULY NUTS reporter

Hmmm...is BJ really 1usa1? Hmmmm...

[reporter]

Very observant VMS, you are very good at this game. Spot any others hanging around taunting woman? Look at the rabble coming out, picking on a crazy parent. Thank you Duffer, a Samaritan stopping and listening to the story, trying to help. A neighbor.

The Good Samaritan Parable, also known as the Parable of the Good Neighbor

Luke 10:30-37 Jesus answered, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance a certain priest was going down that way. When he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion, came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two pieces of silver, and gave them to the host, and said to him, ‘Take care of him. Whatever you spend beyond that, I will repay you when I return.’ Now which of these three do you think seemed to be a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?" He said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

[EWSoccer64]

A decade or more ago, I was at a party (brought along by my wife, it was a lawyer type party, UGGH).
Ran into a number of soccer people - coaches, parents, and one former Club Director.   The Club Director related to me how once, after a HS game, she saw her own youngest son's HS varsity coach in the parking lot, walking towards his car.   She gunned her pick up truck and drove straight at him!  He saw her and dived between two parked cars.   She came to her senses and veered away.

She had simply been totally overcome with rage at how this coach had treated her son, among others entrusted to his care.

My point is, even the most normal among us can become unhinged about youth soccer.