The Ucal McKenzie Breakaway Foundation

Early September, 2007. It was my senior year of high school and we were in a tight, intense game against Medford. I received the ball right around midfield with a player on my back. I saw a second defender charging towards me, so I dragged the ball back away from him while shifting my body to keep my center of gravity low. Instead of stopping, the defender ran into me. We both fell to the ground and rightly so, a foul was called. I got up immediately and aggressively. I stood over him ominously. I lost it: “Get the f**k up” I yelled, infuriated by his tackle. I got a red card for inciting a player—unsportsmanlike conduct. We ended up losing the game 2-0.

That day Ucal talked to me about the need to be composed and control my emotions. He didn’t care that what I meant was for him to stop “faking” an injury because he was the one who instigated it. I’ve always had issues with overreacting and letting emotions get the best of me; Ucal made it a point to help me with it throughout the year.

May 30th 2009. Ucal asked me to play for Carico. We had been talking about me playing with him over the summer for a few months. That day was my first opportunity to watch the team play after being back for the summer. Ucal played three positions that day—right wing, center-back and center-mid. I remember the day very clearly.

There was one poignant moment during the game that specially stuck with me. It was a tight game. He received the ball right around midfield. A defender came from behind and tackled him to the ground—a dangerous and aggressive play. Rightly so, a foul was called. Ucal got up immediately and stood over the defender. I saw the Medford game flash before my eyes and how I had reacted after a hard foul. I imagined this was what Ucal saw at that game—ominous, anxious as to what will transpire next. I thought Ucal was going to retaliate. His body was tense, with the defender on the ground defenseless.

What happened next was amazing. He took a deep breath and patted the guy on the back. Ucal shrugged it off and even helped him up. Unlike me, he got on with the game.

I smiled. It was as if he was telling me: “look Phil. This is how you do it” He was composed, cool, collected. He didn’t let the intensity of the game get the better of him. I was planning on mentioning it to him after the game; talk about how I admired his play. Sadly, I never got the chance to do so.

When I remember the 30th of May, I choose to remember this final image I have of him. The way he carried himself on and off the field is something I want to emulate. He was always teaching me how to be a better man. That day, he showed me how to be a better man.

Sun Jae (Phil) Song played for Ucal McKenzie as captain of the 2007-2008 Newton North High School team—his first year as head coach at North. He is currently a senior (class of 2012) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, pursuing a dual degree in Sport Management and Spanish. His dream job would be to work in Europe for a professional football team. Follow Phil on Twitter @SunJaeSong