PFC Nick Madaras

I am sitting here downloading footy videos off of youtube with my dial up connection and I am watching ESPN MLS Primetime. Sounds like a rather boring evening right? Well it was until during half time ESPN ran a rather touching story. With Memorial Day coming up this Monday, most of us will be doing the all American thing of bar-b-q'ing or watching Fireworks. Most of us would never associate soccer with America but ESPN showed me that our troops have a deep love for the beautiful game.

PFC Nick Madaras was born in Wilton, CT. and played sports for most of his life. After running through the range of sports available to play, he found his home in the back left corner of the pitch. He played left back for his high school. He helped his brother out with his game. He also attended summer camps to help kids work on their skills. After high school, Nick signed up for the Army and after his basic training he was deployed to Iraq. After some time in country, he noticed the Iraqi children kicking around bags of rocks and he had an idea. When he was home on leave in 2006 he rounded up as many balls as he could to take back to the children. I agree with Nick that if soccer could end the civil war in the Ivory Coast, we could sure give it a try in Iraq.

Nick wouldn't see his dream come to fruition though. He was killed by an IED on September 3 2006. After his death, his family started the Kick For Nick program. The goal of the program is to put soccer balls in the hands of Iraqi children. Dixieland Footie urges you to send what you can to honor the memory of Nick. I know most of you who read this have a ball or two laying around that can be sent in. I will personally be sending in all but one of my balls and I will probably be writing them a check as well. Dig deep people, this is for a good cause. Football is a beautiful game and I can not think of a more beautiful way to support it.