One thing, if you make a donation to the UCLA fund, according to the NCAA, it makes you a "booster". For life. And there are rules and regulations that go with that. I am not sure if that affects a person vis-a-vis UCLA or all NCAA schools. So if you work with HS age kids as a coach, etc..... And some of those rules are dumb and arcane--I almost got in trouble for giving some gymnasts some chocolate chip cookies once. But I'm already a "booster" so I may just send in a donation. This has been a pretty s*cky day.
The way he was reported entering the hospital, the veil of secrecy surrounding the details... it always seemed as though something serious was happening. What a terrible loss. It's odd that when I heard of GBS going to the Galaxy, my first thought was of Sigi, how we got him in Columbus when LA foolishly sacked him. Ten years ago, we were still basking in the glow of that MLS Cup win, knowing that we were likely to lose Sigi to Seattle. US soccer has lost an icon. R.I.P., Sigi.
I had the same feeling too after updates gone silent that it was pretty serious. I was expecting the worst. He'll be missed.
That's a very nice piece. I recommend that everyone reads it. FYI, as the article notes, Sigi was in need of a heart transplant. Soccer aside, we knew the real reason we lost Sigi in 2008: family. He was going to have an opportunity to coach on the west coast; not Southern California, exactly, but the same time zone, and in a city with tons of cheap daily nonstop flights to/from LA. I couldn't, then, begrudge him the opportunity to be that much closer to his home and family. I know he was driven to remain involved in the sport, but I see the way his last two jobs ended as, in a way, a blessing. Seattle sacking him gave him the opportunity to get back to LA. And the Galaxy firing him in September meant he was - finally - able to spend what ended up being his last months with his family; not on a Skype or phone call, or shuttle to/from the airport, but in his own home. I recall him hanging with Crew fans (Fourth Steeet Bar & Grill, right?) on a return visit to Columbus shortly after taking the Seattle job; thinking at the time what a caring and classy move that was. We were damned fortunate to have been associated with Sigi Schmid. But I'm happy for Sigi and his family that he finally found his way back home.
I named my dog after the man. We got Sigmund in 2011, 3 solid years after Sigi had left to coach Seattle. What a remarkable coach with a unique ability to take control of a messy organization and completely turn it around, leaving it in a much better state than he found it.
Two other articles this morning. These may have been posted elsewhere, but both speak to Sigi, the man.... Sirk's excellent and heartfelt piece https://sirkbook.com/2018/12/27/thank-you-sigi/ Another really good one over at The Athletic that has been removed from the paywall... https://theathletic.com/735031/2018...defined-by-far-more-than-his-mls-wins-record/
To the first point, he wasn't the only high profile sports figure in need of a heart transplant this Christmas. Matt Millan did too--and got one on Christmas Eve, which must be hard, knowing that you are alive while another family is suffering on a holiday. The second point is also a good one. Home and family are important. I'm just glad Sigi was part of our Crew family for the time he was. There's been a couple of times when my teams have lost players to other teams for this reason--and it's the one I don't mind--much.
I think I shall share my Sigi story here. I got to interact with him on occasion--not that I was any one special--but he was always open to talking about soccer, and since I was on the Crew Chiefs in those days, I got to be around the stadium a bit. One day, in the concourse (and I couldn't tell you what event it was) we started talking about Steve Cherundolo. He'd played for Sigi with the U-20s. Sigi then went on to give a wonderful description of Dolo as he got ready for a game. Sigi noted that he was fairly reserved but the closer it got to game time, the more animated he got--saying "when do we play, when do we play!" over and over. It was a moment of insight into the game and its players. That ended up meaning a lot to me personally. About the time I turned 50, I'd been having more and more trouble with my knees. I also began to realize that my own "when do we play" had turned into "I need to go for my team" and "do I have to go today". That told me that it was time to put my boots in the center circle and walk away (while I still could). I am thankful for the memory of that chat with Sigi.
He was the best Coach we have ever had, he transformed our team into something that was fun to watch and be a part of. I understood why he left, family is always important, but I also believe we didnt offer him what he was worth. Sad loss for soccer.
Really saddened to hear the news, especially feel sorry for the Family on losing him at Christmas. With Transplants they are up since the overdoses epidemic, OSU has been doing record transplants, I was really surprised by this but didn't think you could use them but Fentanyl just stops your breathing and goes out of your system pretty fast.
I had one brief encounter with him. It was during the 2006 WC; it was after our third loss—to Ghana. They were showing the games in the tent at Crew Stadium. Bruce Arena was being interviewed on TV. Clearly he would be out as coach. Sigi happened to be walking by. I said to him, “So, will that be you in four years?” He kept walking, never missing a beat, and said “Huh!” under his breath as he went by. It was said in a tone of disdain. It’s made me wonder over the years if he’s had a falling out or bad relationship with US Soccer, considering he’s never really been in the conversation for coaching openings—when Bradley, Klinsmann, and Arena (pt II) were brought in. I also appreciate that he thought enough of the fans that he’d always wear the Crew scarf given to him by the fans. Rest in peace, Sigi.
Save The Crew has done a great amount of good work (great work) to keep the Crew here in Columbus. Here's an idea: How about working on a statue of Sigi to be erected at the new stadium? Just a thought. With what the Save the Crew group has done thus far, I bet they would be able to make it happen
It would be a nice tribute if LA, Columbus, and Seattle all carried a mark on the back of their uniforms this season in honor of this legendary coach. RIP Sigi.
Im not one of these guys who want to tell the new owners what they should and shouldnt do, but that said: The new stadium should include a pub or even an area with some stand up tables where fans can have a beer, called something like Sigis Place, in honor of a guy who did love a good beer. Better than a plaque or a monument. Its the kind of thing he would have liked.
Thznks for the opportunity to say that, to me, Tom Fitzgerald founded the Crew. Any heart and soul it has comes directly from him. What a man.