This past Sunday I played goalie for our soccer club (Salsa FC) for about 20 minutes. This is only the second (or maybe third) time I have ever played that position, and the first time I've ever faced a penalty kick. I squared off against the opponent, reacted well and (pretty much) flung my body to the right in an effort to block the kick. I missed, and had the 'wind knocked out of me' badly -- see http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/mar97/858749772.An.r.html for a pretty good physiological description. It was very, very scary to not be able to take in a breath at all for what seemed like a very long time -- to the point of nearly passing out. At most it was probably 20 seconds before I was able to begin taking some tiny breaths back in -- but it felt much longer, and I did start to panic a little bit.

After laying there for about 5 minutes I got up and walked back to the sideline unassisted, and even substituted back in to my regular positions a couple of times (fullback or midfield) but felt a growing discomfort in my mid chest region, just below the pectoral muscles. I just couldn't seem to take in any deep breaths without a lot of discomfort. I say 'discomfort' because at the time it wasn't painful -- I just couldn't seem to inhale deeply. It seemed to get worse on the car ride home, and the pain started to set in.

Turns out I have some number of cracked ribs. It's actually quite painful to move. Breathing is pretty shallow because anything deeper hurts. A suppressed cough is pretty bad -- if I don't suppress that it really lights up the pain receptors. I sneezed last night and was seeing stars and had to sit down in a hurry. Even clearing my throat or yawning results in a good bit of pain. My left side is worse than my right, to the point I can't even sleep on my left side -- and I'm very definitely a side sleeper. Once I get into a comfortable position on my back or right side I'm able to sleep -- until I shift the least little bit, then I'm awake for the next 15 minutes or so trying to get comfortable again.

But I'd do it all over again. Why?

My good friend Michael, who along with his wife Wanda got me involved with soccer as an adult said the following as I was desperately trying to find some air laying in the goal:

'Yeah, you missed it. But you looked good.'

Uniform: $30

Shoes: $80

Shin Guards: $15

Having great friends who will make you laugh when you have no breath to do so: Priceless.

Go Salsa...!!!