I passed!! I am medically cleared to play soccer!!!

2 days shy of 3 month post surgery anniversary

Today I passed my 3 month sport test that has cleared me medically to play soccer!!  I am in Vail, Colorado writing you on a cold snowy night and I am very excited to say that my hard work the past 3 months has helped me reach a huge milestone on my comeback to professional soccer.  I am not done yet, but this is an important step in the ladder back to the top.  The test was very hard and I just went into the zone when I was doing it and reminded myself this is what I want and this test is nothing compared to not playing.

The first part was singled leg squats on my affected leg, left, for 3 minutes straight coming down to a 60 degree angle and then popping up without locking my knee out while holding on to a thick resistance cord.  My thigh was burning, glute was tightening, breath was short from the altitude, and I just stayed focused on the task at hand until it was finally over after 3 minutes.  I threw the cord down, walked around to keep my legs from shaking, and had a big glass of water.  That was the toughest part of the test and the team at Howard Head and Dr. Philippon’s office were happy and impressed that I passed it because not everyone passes at 3 months!

It was motivating to be in there and see new patients that had just come out of surgery and think that was me 3 months ago and know look at me; wow time went by fast, but I guess that happens when you just buckle down and get into the zone.  One patient I spoke to was Stephen Reid.  He plays for Blackburn in the English Premier League and his old coach’s son use to play soccer with me at Lynn University.  The guy just had knee surgery and will be out for 9 months.  Before that he had been playing for 6 months straight after being out for 15 months.  I apologize for not getting a picture, I don’t know what I was thinking.  Seeing other professionals comeback from long term injuries reminds me that I am not the only one who has to do it; so it is not impossible!

I will be back and I am looking forward to making my life dream of becoming a professional soccer player a reality again.  The feeling was amazing when it happened the first time and I think it will be even better this time around!

Keep livin the dream and believing in it!  JM

On a side note when I was back in Louisiana last week I got to do my next favorite thing from playing soccer; coaching soccer!  I did a group training session with Alex and Stephen Schlottman’s team.  Those two have been to my camps a few times and are great little players.  The session went great and their friends and them had a blast; and so did I!!  Alex is 6 and he is the one wearing the Manchester United shirt.  He had a game this fall and he scored like 10 goals and his coach (his Dad) moved him to defense to help out there.  At the end of the game he told his Dad he didn’t appreciate moving him to defense because he had scored 10 goals and if he could have gotten 2 more he could have made the Olympic Team!!  I love it!  With that kinda of dreaming ability he will make the Olympic team one day!!

The Saturday before I left town a friend of mine, Brian Strong, was in town from Jackson, Mississippi with his son’s 3v3 team, Celtic, to play at a tournament.  He is the coach so I stopped by and talked with him and his kids for a bit, gave out some stickers, and watched them play a game.  3v3 looks tough, non stop action, and I wish they had it back in my day because it seems like a lot of fun!  Keep up the good work Celtic!!

Tags: Dr philippon, hip/groin surgery, Steven Reid