TheLounge
02-02-2007, 01:54 PM
Omar Rashid’s latest resurrection project has been so monumental that it’s probably impressed Jesus Christ.
The second-year Westmoor High girls’ soccer coach has done the unthinkable and put the team on the map. The Rams are the feel-good story of the winter sports season, having made tremendous strides since Rashid took over the program. Against all odds, Westmoor has been in contention for the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division championship, compiling a 12-3-3 overall mark and 8-3-3 record in league action.
This after the Rams finished 4-13 last season. Before that, Westmoor endured even leaner times, finishing with one or two victories a year. Things got so tough that a couple of years ago there was discussion of discontinuing the program, Rashid said.
However, a couple of dedicated players on the team worked tirelessly on fundraising efforts and the school helped, too. Now Westmoor’s future looks as magnificent as a picture-perfect day in Daly City.
Though stunning and unbelievable, the Rams’ renaissance shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
After all, Rashid had the unenviable task of resurrecting the school’s boys’ soccer program, which was in dire straits when he took that job 18 years ago. In 16 years, all Rashid did was direct the Rams from San Mateo County bottom feeders to the top of the PAL. So how has Rashid pulled off two amazing turnarounds? By making every player accountable, preaching a positive attitude and being a stickler for fundamentals.
“I instill in the girls that they’re champions and to act like champs,” he said. “I told them that we can’t be pushovers and challenged them as much as I did the boys in the past. We run six days (a week) practices.
“I took over the girls as a new challenge and with the goal of doing what the boys did, and that’s beating everyone in San Mateo County. I’m hoping to give the girls a championship. But as long as they play with high energy and a love for soccer, I’m more than satisfied.”
The girls have responded, with sisters Isharene and Rebecca Malave, Winnie Chang, Adriana Cortes, Bernadette Barte and Emily Leong leading the way. The best part about this story is that Westmoor won’t be a one-hit wonder. The Rams lose only three starters from this year’s squad and with an extra year of experience, they’ll be contending and maybe even be the favorite for the 2007-08 title. So how far can the Rams go? Rashid is thinking big — really big.
“Could it be possible that one day we’ll win the Bay Division?” he said. “Yes. I’m only 38 years old, still young. It took me 15 years to take the boys and become the best in San Mateo County, and hopefully it won’t take as long with the girls.”
No debate
Any debate now as to who is the best quarterback in the NFL? It’s Peyton Manning, hands down, even if he doesn’t win a Super Bowl. When Tom Brady and the Patriots worked over the Colts like a rented mule in the playoffs after the 2003 and 2004 season, New England was clearly the superior team.
But when the teams played nearly two weeks ago in the AFC championship game, the matchup was a coin flip, with Indy having advantages in some areas while the Patriots had superior talent in others. But it was Manning who played better down the stretch, and Brady who made the critical mistake.
For all of Brady’s heroics, he’s never had the defining drive of say a John Elway (The Drive) or Joe Montana (strike to John Taylor against the Bengals). When it comes to Manning or Brady, you can’t go wrong with either one. But when the matchups were even, it was Manning who showed why he is the greatest QB of his generation.
Emanuel Lee can be reached by e-mail: emanuel@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.
The second-year Westmoor High girls’ soccer coach has done the unthinkable and put the team on the map. The Rams are the feel-good story of the winter sports season, having made tremendous strides since Rashid took over the program. Against all odds, Westmoor has been in contention for the Peninsula Athletic League Ocean Division championship, compiling a 12-3-3 overall mark and 8-3-3 record in league action.
This after the Rams finished 4-13 last season. Before that, Westmoor endured even leaner times, finishing with one or two victories a year. Things got so tough that a couple of years ago there was discussion of discontinuing the program, Rashid said.
However, a couple of dedicated players on the team worked tirelessly on fundraising efforts and the school helped, too. Now Westmoor’s future looks as magnificent as a picture-perfect day in Daly City.
Though stunning and unbelievable, the Rams’ renaissance shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
After all, Rashid had the unenviable task of resurrecting the school’s boys’ soccer program, which was in dire straits when he took that job 18 years ago. In 16 years, all Rashid did was direct the Rams from San Mateo County bottom feeders to the top of the PAL. So how has Rashid pulled off two amazing turnarounds? By making every player accountable, preaching a positive attitude and being a stickler for fundamentals.
“I instill in the girls that they’re champions and to act like champs,” he said. “I told them that we can’t be pushovers and challenged them as much as I did the boys in the past. We run six days (a week) practices.
“I took over the girls as a new challenge and with the goal of doing what the boys did, and that’s beating everyone in San Mateo County. I’m hoping to give the girls a championship. But as long as they play with high energy and a love for soccer, I’m more than satisfied.”
The girls have responded, with sisters Isharene and Rebecca Malave, Winnie Chang, Adriana Cortes, Bernadette Barte and Emily Leong leading the way. The best part about this story is that Westmoor won’t be a one-hit wonder. The Rams lose only three starters from this year’s squad and with an extra year of experience, they’ll be contending and maybe even be the favorite for the 2007-08 title. So how far can the Rams go? Rashid is thinking big — really big.
“Could it be possible that one day we’ll win the Bay Division?” he said. “Yes. I’m only 38 years old, still young. It took me 15 years to take the boys and become the best in San Mateo County, and hopefully it won’t take as long with the girls.”
No debate
Any debate now as to who is the best quarterback in the NFL? It’s Peyton Manning, hands down, even if he doesn’t win a Super Bowl. When Tom Brady and the Patriots worked over the Colts like a rented mule in the playoffs after the 2003 and 2004 season, New England was clearly the superior team.
But when the teams played nearly two weeks ago in the AFC championship game, the matchup was a coin flip, with Indy having advantages in some areas while the Patriots had superior talent in others. But it was Manning who played better down the stretch, and Brady who made the critical mistake.
For all of Brady’s heroics, he’s never had the defining drive of say a John Elway (The Drive) or Joe Montana (strike to John Taylor against the Bengals). When it comes to Manning or Brady, you can’t go wrong with either one. But when the matchups were even, it was Manning who showed why he is the greatest QB of his generation.
Emanuel Lee can be reached by e-mail: emanuel@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 109. What do you think of this column? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.