Kick for Nick

I was just looking at the UConn Men's Soccer promotional schedule and I noticed that Kick for Nick is once again coming to UConn.

This is a great charitable organization that honors a soldier who died in Iraq named Nick Madaras. He loved soccer and he wanted to give the kids in Iraq soccer balls to play with because they didn't have any. Kick for Nick collects the soccer balls, puts Nick's name on it and then they are shipped to Iraq for the kids to enjoy. It's a great example of how sports can be about more than just wins and losses.

(Nick Madaras is from Wilton, Connecticut in Fairfield County, not far from my house in North Stamford. It is also where my Uncle, who is a priest, lives and where Kristine Lilly is from.)

I was very happy when I saw that the State U, UConn, helped this charity out last year. I believe that over 1,000 soccer balls were collected in a dumpster at UConn. It was a great success. I ran out to the store to make sure that I gave one. I encourage everyone to do the same this year.

The collection is listed to happen at the St. John's game on September 25th...which makes that game a must see game.

Here is a video done by ESPN about the Kick for Nick intiative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uo0iPO8uYFk

Here is the official website for Kick For Nick.

http://www.kickfornick.org/ball_collections

Hopefully we can collect even more soccer balls than last year and also see UConn pick up a win against St. Johns.