Sports fans often fall into two categories — love ‘em or hate ‘em. But soccer is one sport that continues to add new fans — perhaps because it’s exciting to watch even when we don’t completely understand how it’s played. Or maybe it’s because it’s nothing like the big four professional sports, with overpaid players and ridiculous ticket prices to pay for it all.
Well, here’s your chance to see what soccer’s all about. The Philadelphia Falcons are hooking up with gayforsoccer.com to give you a chance to see the Philadelphia Union play for $10 off the regular price on Aug. 29 at PPL Park. This is a great opportunity to see more, learn more and, ultimately, enjoy more soccer. And if it inspires you to play with the Falcons, great!
If you want to play with the Falcons for their next tournament, you still have time to register. At least 15 players are heading to the Rehoboth Beach Classic XIV over Labor Day weekend. You can check out the tournament at www.federaltriangles.org/ftsc/social-activities/rehoboth-beach-classic, the Philadelphia Union at phildelphiaunion.com and the Philadelphia Falcons website for tickets to the Union game at falcons-soccer.org.
Softball World Series
The men just completed their world series on Aug. 18 in Minneapolis. All of the three participating Philadelphia teams — Honey Badgers, Outlaws and Triple Play — had great games and smacked down a couple of highly touted opponents — DC Capital Punishment and New Haven — early. In the end, out of 48 teams, the Philadelphia Honey Badgers came home with D Division third place bragging rights and Triple Play settled into the C Division fifth place spot. Congrats to all of our softball ambassadors!
The women are playing their world series now through Sept. 25 in San Diego, where the threat of a hurricane messing with the tournament is far less likely than last year. (See “Hurricane hinders weekend in gay Philly” Sept. 2-8, 2011.) Five teams represent Philadelphia this year and three of them are battling it out in the C Division. Best of luck!
Finally, fall ball is on the softball field horizon. Registration is open now, and games start Sept. 9. Fall ball is strictly for fun, or so the website says, and games are played in South Philly’s FDR Park by the stadiums; visit cblsl.org for more information.
See Bob run. Run, Bob, run.
Those crazy runners are at it again. If they’re not doing a midnight run or a color run or the ODDyssey half marathon, then they’re hosting the Philadelphia Rock and Roll half marathon Sept. 15-16 to raise money for the William Way LGBT Community Center. Get out those running shoes again to raise some money for our community center or throw a couple of dollars in the pot if you don’t run.
Members of the New York Frontrunners and DC Roadrunners are joining in the fun and fundraising over the weekend, which includes a pasta party Saturday night and a brunch Sunday after the run. Registration is going on now and there are a host of additional incentives offered for donation money raised in addition to the registration cost. For a large enough donation, I would suspect they would even get someone to run for you. For more information, email [email protected].
Short stops • The Gryphons rugby football team open the fall season with a visit from Old Gaelic (love that name!) Sept. 8 at George Pepper Middle School. Game time is 1 p.m.; philadelphia-gryphons.org. • Spartans wrestling practices resume in September after Labor Day Weekend. If you’ve wrestled before or are curious about trying it, practices are held at 6:30 p.m. Mondays and 9:30 a.m. Saturdays at First Unitarian Church, 2125 Chestnut St.; phillyspartans.com. • Greater Philadelphia Flag Football League is having its first Hang Onto Summer pool party and barbeque Sept. 9 at The Raven in New Hope. Thanks guys for adding water sports to Get Out and Play!
If you have a game, tournament, fundraiser or party for Get Out and Play, email [email protected].