Chris Arthur – football and lacrosse; Sean Castillo – water polo and swimming; Jessica Davis-Ricci – basketball and softball; Kelcey Fisher – football, soccer and lacrosse; Preston Lujan – swimming and water polo; Kyle McArthur – lacrosse and football.

Also recognized were: Megan Mushovic – volleyball, soccer and track; Marissa Nagler – soccer, cross country and lacrosse; Kelly Phelps – volleyball, water polo and swimming; Farrell Pompa – basketball and softball; Blake Spitzer – baseball and basketball; Sasha Vido – lacrosse and soccer.

The annual luncheon is considered by many Rotarians as the best program of the year.

Last week we made light of the World Cup, which began play over the weekend. As the humor of Jerry Lewis is beloved by the French, who also think mimes are humorous, the global appeal of World Cup soccer is lost on most Americans. Some concepts simply don’t translate well across cultural barriers.

However, as a sports fan, Your Natterer felt compelled to watch the best in the world at what they do over the weekend and think I have a handle on the perception problem among most U.S. citizens regarding soccer. Follow along and feel free to disagree.

First, in the first eight games played, there were a total of 18 goals scored in 720 minutes played by 16 teams. Included in that total were five shutouts and one 0-0 tie. This latter contest pitted Trinidad-Tobago vs. Sweden and being of Swedish descent, I was particularly proud of that result.

Doing the math, that is exactly one goal for each 40 minutes of game action.

But the real problem is contained in my second point. In one of the games, won by England on an ‘own goal’ scored by Paraguay (the defender from Paraguay scored the goal in his own net), four minutes into the game. That was the game’s one and only goal as England controlled the ball throughout the balance of the game, content to let time run off the clock. With 30 minutes to go, England stopped trying to score; substituted defensive players for their strikers; and had all 10 of their field players crammed into the defensive backfield.

While a perfectly acceptable, and as it turned out winning strategy, the result is not satisfying to Americans, where more, bigger, better, faster, stronger are the watchwords. By definition not trying to score in a sporting contest is un-American. Dean Smith’s four-corner basketball offense at North Carolina, where the Tar Heels milked the clock to perfection, was so despised that the college game’s rules were changed.

A die-hard baseball fan admires a 1-0 shutout, but casual fans prefer a 10-6 slugfest. The fear from fans that a 1-0 game might break out is one of the reasons that baseball is no longer America’s Pastime. The steady, some would say slow, pace of the game is another.

Football, where the action is frenetic and physical, and scores occasionally require calculators to compute, now carries the mantle of America’s Favorite Sport. Football no longer has an off-season. Check out ESPN’s SportsCenter on any given night and see if you can get through a complete show without a pro football update. It can’t be done.

Soccer at the World Cup level is an acquired taste and thus far most Americans haven’t given the sport a try. Every four years I remember why.

This just in, the ‘best American soccer team ever’ got smoked by the Czech Republic 3-0. Looks like it’s three games in group play and out for the U.S.

In a non-sports note, the Natter Wife and I are feeling pretty darned cultured this morning, as we were among those theater goers who attended "Jersey Boys" during the play’s extended run at the La Jolla Playhouse. Derided as a ‘jukebox musical’ by critics when it debuted on Broadway, the Frankie Valli-inspired work was just named Best Musical and two of the play’s leads were named Best Leading Actor and Best Supporting Actor… As this column is being written, Your Natterer, a life-long Chicago National League Baseball fan is nattily attired in a Cub t-shirt and my vintage 1957 Cub baseball cap. A modest three-game Cub winning streak is reason enough to break out the gear… Looking ahead to the Coronado High School Football season? The Islander varsity will play in the Kick-Off Classic Saturday, August 25 at Mesa College. Kick-off is slated for 5:30 pm. The first home game will be Sept. 21 at 7:30 pm vs. Medicine Hat of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. If all goes well, that contest will serve as the debut of the artificial turf surface at CHS. The Homecoming game is slated for Friday, Nov. 10 vs. University City… In this space last week, a prediction was made by moi that the Miami Heat would win the NBA Playoffs in six games. Although a playoff series doesn’t really begin until the home team loses a game, the Maverick’s team speed looks too effective for the Heat to contain. Pardon me while I backpedal… CHS Girls Varsity Basketball Head Coach Toler Goodwin will be holding his Islander Basketball Camp June 19 and 20. Each camper will need to wear proper basketball gear both days, including shorts, t-shirt and a good pair of basketball shoes. They will also need to bring a sack lunch and water will be provided. The camp runs from 9 am to 2 pm both days. The camp costs $65 and will be held at the Coronado High School gym. Please contact Coach Goodwin at 619-282-4888 for additional information… Finally, while we’re suggesting ways for you to spend you money, there are two fine events coming up in the next three weeks that are fun to participate in and benefit worthy causes. First is the 9^th Annual Rotary Club of Coronado Low Tide Ride & Stride, set for Sunday, June 18, 2006. The event provides participants the opportunity to ride a bike, run or walk 8.2 miles along hard-packed sand from Imperial Beach to Coronado along the Pacific Ocean. The event starts at 8 am at the YMCA Camp Surf in Imperial Beach and finishes at North Beach on Coronado. Entry fees are $30 for adults and $20 for youth (18 and under) The registration fee includes the LTR&S race bib, T-shirt, refreshments and transportation to the race start before or after the race. Entry forms are available at Holland’s Bicycles… The other event is the 32^nd Annual Coronado Independence Day 15K Run – 5K Run/Walk. The race, which benefits the Islander Sports Foundation and the CHS and CMS sports teams, begins at Tidelands Park at 7 am. Entry fees are $25 before June 23; $30 after that date; and $33 the day of the race. This year’s race is presented by GMH Promotions, a Coronado-based screen printing and embroidery company. To register for either or both of these races or for more event information, please go to kathyloperevents.com or call 619-298-7400. Sign up today.