            
Fare thee well, CoachSeptember 19, 2007 8:00 AM
You can expect a few blog entries coming soon about my 6-week trip to Europe and my encounters with the world of football on this diverse continent. But first of all, I want to share my thoughts on a more important topic. With news of Bob Lilley being let go, I want to pass along my best wishes to Bob and his family. The sports industry is a fast paced and exciting place, but you have to learn to accept that people frequently are traded, let go, or leave on their own accord. It's the nature of the business. But what I will say is that Bob is a great soccer mind, and an even better person. I used to work at the Canucks and I can tell you that one of the things I love about working for the Whitecaps is how much tighter of a family this organization is. There was a very strict divide between the staff and the team at Orca Bay. Not the case at Whitecaps Headquarters. One of the things I will miss most about him is how he'd come in after a day of practice and sit and chat with you about how the team is doing. He never hid anything regarding player injuries or performance. In fact, it was just the opposite, as he would talk at length about the minute details of the previous game or the upcoming opponent. For me, I felt like I had a backstage pass into the mind of a professional coach every time he stopped to chat. He was also very supportive of the efforts of the staff, a quality not all professional sports coaches share. I remember when I went to Rochester for the championship final last season and wrote my road trip diary, he made a point of thanking me and shared how much he and the team were appreciating the read. Even in the midst of our winless skid this season, he gathered the staff around to tell them he understood that our jobs are more difficult when the team is not doing as well, appreciated the ongoing efforts and encouraged us to keep pushing forward. Over the coming weeks, there will be much speculation about Bob's performance and about a suitable replacement. But make no mistake about it - Bob will land on his feet elsewhere and that organization will be richer for it. Bob, thanks for the memories, and good luck in your next journey! Posted By: Ryan Mckee on September 19, 2007 8:00 AM ARCHIVESSYNDICATION |
