Kiki Willis goes with the flow of soccer

You hear the grumblings about soccer.
The critics say it's boring. There's not enough scoring. The field is too big. The players aren't known.
But you know there has to be some logic in all of this. There must have been a reason for this past month's World Cup games, all those early-morning wake-up calls, and all of the talk about soccer. Right?
There must be someone who will provide you with an explanation. There must be someone who will say, "It's OK to like soccer and here's why."
Seeking some help
You've heard the talk of a talented, young player from Youngstown.
You hear he has great potential. He must, having been selected All-Ohio as a freshman. You hear he has possible future opportunities overseas. He's that good.
Surely he can help you in these trying times filled with confusion.
You call his coach, who confirms what you have already heard: "This kid is the real deal."
His name is Kiki Willis, a sophomore-to-be at Cardinal Mooney, who just happens to have a trip to the Netherlands planned for next month.
Something about a camp with Ajax, one of the most prestigious clubs in all of professional soccer. If Willis impresses enough, he just may have a job waiting for him down the road.
But that's for another day. We want to find out about this soccer craze right now. You dial his number.
He answers, and you hear a mature 15-year-old on the other end. You ask how many World Cup games he has watched. About six, he says.
"I've paid attention to the big games, the Group of Death with England, Argentina, Nigeria, Sweden," Willis says.
Group of Death? Makes it sound macho and not for the faint of heart.
"I'm not really a soccer fanatic," Willis says. "But whenever I get a chance to play it, I play it. Whenever I get a chance to see it, I see it."
Soccer in America
Willis has played soccer since the age of 5 and has grown to love it. He admits that the game would be tougher to understand for someone who hasn't played.
And he knows Americans like their football -- the pads and helmets crashing together, the test of strength in the trenches, the anticipation of a running back or receiver breaking free for the long gain.
"They can't [get into it] because soccer is still pretty much new to our country and people don't understand it as much as other people do from other countries," Willis says.
You wonder if that bothers him.
"Not really," he says. "Most people are biased against soccer, but they can have their own opinions. I don't care what they say."
If people can have opinions about soccer, Willis is certainly entitled to his. So you ask what he would tell people who say soccer is boring.
"It's one of the highest paid sports in the world," he said. "There's fame everywhere from playing soccer. But it's not just about the money. It's about having fun and doing what you do best."
Game's rewards
You like Willis' approach to the game. He looks forward to meeting new people through his travels, yet recognizes the importance of competition once he steps onto the field.
"It's like a grudge match. I don't want to be friends on the field," he says. "As soon as we're off the field, we're friends."
After Sunday morning's World Cup final between Brazil and Germany, soccer will disappear from the headlines for some time.
The next World Cup will be held in 2006. Maybe by then, Americans will have embraced soccer or Willis will be playing professionally overseas.
Which way to the Netherlands?
XBrian Richesson covers high school sports for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.