One Missed Shot by Matt C.

I placed the ball exactly where it had been before. Just like before I gauged the wind and slowly approached. Then I kicked as hard as I could. It had the same amount of spin as before and I just watched as it went into the upper corner of the goal. Why couldn’t that have happened last time. Why.

What happened last time was just short of a disaster. I am a soccer player and I’m really good judging by what I’ve accomplished. I had just made the Russian national soccer team and was being called great. All of Russia was obsessed with soccer because they thought I was the key to a World Cup. Then we started the World Cup and we advanced through the ranks. I was scoring multiple goals every game. My specialty was free kicks and my accuracy was called deadly. Then the game for the gold came and it was us against England. With about two minutes left there was a hard foul and I was picked to take the kick. I went to take it and was too confident. I screwed it up and it hit the post.

Now I’m back home in Russia and I can’t go out in public. I tried to a week after the game and I was almost killed. I have no idea why everyone is so mad, it’s just a game and the team would never have gone to the finals if I hadn’t been on it. People are calling for my retirement at the age of 19. They think I should just stop playing now because I missed one shot. I might have to quit because I’m scared, so far there have been death threats and my house has been egged every night. The people are insane and even my friends and teammates hate me. I don’t know why I’ve gone from a celebrity to hands down the most hated person in all of Russia. I decided I'm gonna try to go out tomorrow and see if people confront me in person, they probably will. It ain't gonna be fun.

"Boo, you suck" another man yelled at me. "Good one" That’s about the hundredth time I’ve heard that, the fans here are so creative. I should definitely have stayed inside for another week, or a month would have been better. Nothing has gotten better. If possible I think its worse and I don't see how that happpens. Everyone that I walk by either gives me a dirty look or attempts to spit at me. I tried calling my teammates and they still won't answer the phone. This sucks, I'm an outcast in my home country. I just think that the only way I could gain back the support that I once had is by winning again and maybe then they would have as insane a reaction except this time a good reaction. One that includes me being loved by everyone, that would be great. I'm gonna practice again and then won't have to be scared to walk down the street.

I've been practicing for about 3 hours a day and I found a team to join. They are in the Russian pro league and I've already noticed a difference in the number of people that hate me. Now it’s just a strong dislike by most people that I walk by. But they know that what I bring to the new team is insane skills and they know that they're going to win. I hate how people are, they hate me when I make an mistake even though anyone could have done it. Then once I help them win they are back on the bandwagon. If I had listened to them I would have quit and I couldn't do that. Soccer is too much fun and I can't listen to people who know nothing and will change their opinion in a week. I've gotta make my own decisions and continue to play the game I love.