All I ever wanted to do was document my brother's journey towards a career in professional soccer, but I guess some people see it another way....
After Richard attended his second combine with the Tampa Bay Rowdies a couple months ago, I wrote an article(check back a few posts to see it). Well apparently, some of the Rowdies' execs viewed my blog and weren't pleased with what was written. No big deal for me, right? WRONG! It turns out, the Rowdies WERE interested in signing my brother, but because they didn't appreciate the things I mentioned on this blog, they decided not to offer him a contract. Richard was told(flat out) by his former agent, that what I wrote deliberately ruined his chances of signing his first professional contract. It's silly to think what a few words can do to affect someones future! To me it seems childish. I'm mean, this blog was originally created to get Campbell University press. It shifted to Richard when he left for the pros. It might have given Richard press before and during the combine, but he didn't need it after he got drafted and made his speech. At that point, he had made his own press.....I just documented it!
This blog has been reading material for friends, family, former teammates and parents, but after Richard became known throughout the states, more people tuned in. He became somewhat popular amongst soccer fans and people wanted to follow his story. So I wrote! Richard never asked me to do any of this, but I did it because I love him, I love to write and I look up to him(even though I'm taller and older). When Richard told me that I ruined his chance of signing a contract with the Rowdies, I was crushed! My intentions were harmless and they should be meaningless to coaches and GM's, but then again, I guess I got some pretty important people reading my blog, huh?
With these comments, I wonder if I(in any way) hurt my brothers' chances of signing with the Chicago Fire. Richard obviously proved himself by beating out all the other draftees and trialists before getting released. The Fire fans loved my insiders view on the preseason and the updates on their team. Just look back at the comments on my posts from last preseason. Some of the things I wrote about could have be shared with the public, but there are clubs out there that don't want to make the effort. So I ask myself, was Denis Hamlett reading my blog?(Haha, I doubt it) Did he not like the information I was sharing with the rest of the world? These are the things I have to live with now. All I ever wanted to do was help my brother, but in all actuality, I might have ruined two perfectly good opportunities for him to get that contract.
Months will go by, without any word from coaches or teams, but the players are talking. Richard has grown up playing soccer with several players in the MLS and USL. They all want to know why he STILL hasn't signed with a team!
Is THIS BLOG preventing my brother from signing his first professional contract?
After 4 solid years at Campbell University, the Vince Petrasso coming out party has officially begun! The Harrisburg City Islanders passed on the 2008 Conference Player of the Year in Richard Jata, but decided to sign the 2009 Conference Player of the Year instead. Campbell University sports writer, Stan Cole, recently posted an article listing all of Petrasso's stats and achievements.
