You might say I was late to social media. In fact, in 2013 when I finally broke down and logged on to Facebook for the first time, there were already an estimated 700 million daily users. I guess that would classify as late.
During most of the year, I don’t spend a lot of time of social media. With a busy work and family schedule, it just isn’t a priority. Funny enough, I do get a lot of great soccer articles fed to me on facebook…yeah, I’m on facebook for the articles.
With that in mind, I often cringe when I see some of my posts, especially the countless selfies I have taken over the years. And that is where Austin Meyer comes into this story. Blame him…Austin taught me how to take a selfie.
Austin Meyer in action with the Stanford University Men’s Soccer team
I looked for the photo but couldn’t find it and I can’t even remember the exact date. My best guess is June 2013 when the San Jose Earthquakes hosted LA Galaxy in the California Clásico at Stanford University. At the time, Austin was a student at Stanford University and playing for the men’s soccer team. Austin grew up in Santa Rosa and played for my brothers Benjamin and Marcus for Santa Rosa United Soccer Club. Although I didn’t ever coach him, I was the director of the the SRU club in his early years so I followed his career and reached out to him when we were on campus.
I was at the game with my daughter Sally and one of her teammates and we connected with Austin before the game. I suggested we get a photo to send to my brothers. Keep in mind, this was before the iphone had the selfie button, so my thought was to take a photo of the three of them, when Austin suggested we take a “selfie” and turned the camera around and snapped a photo of all of us. It didn’t seem like much at the time, but a few thousand selfies later and it was a game changer to the point where all phones have a built in selfie view.
Austin would go on to finish a stellar soccer career at Stanford University including scoring the game-winning goal to clinch the Pac -12 championship. He would also earn his B.A.(creative writing) and M.A. (journalism) before becoming a documentary filmmaker, photographer, and podcaster, with his works published by National Geographic, The Atlantic, The New York Times, POLITICO, and Slate among others. Austin is also the host of The Austin Meyer Podcast, a show in which he interviews the world’s best storytellers in all genres about how they craft the stories they tell. I’m blown away by his work and would encourage you to visit his webpage at http://austinmeyerfilms.com/
While Austin is doing great work, I just continue to take selfies like they are going out of style. Full disclosure, I often cringe when I see the photos (especially selfies), but I also get a good chuckle as I don’t take myself too seriously. I don’t try to take the perfect selfie and I have never used a selfie stick. Having said that, in context, the selfie has been a great way to chronicle some of my adventures and experiences, whether with my family, friends or alone. Especially when I’m alone. I often travel with teams or groups and love to insert myself into the photo for a good laugh. When I’m alone, it is often the only way to quickly get a photo without asking someone to take it.
Some may say damn you Austin Meyer, but I say thank you!
With that in mind, here are a few of my favorites from the 2019 Women’s World Cup…I took a lot! For many of them, inserting myself into the photo changes it (for better or for worse). For example, if I wanted a picture of legendary US Women’s National team player April Heinrichs, I could have pulled one from the internet.
April Heinrich photo from the internet.
Instead, I wanted a a picture WITH legendary US Women’s National team player April Heinrichs.
With April Heinrichs in Reims
The same applies to the cathedral in Reims as there are beautiful photos available.
Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral
Notre-Dame de Reims Cathedral – I was there…
At US vs Thailand
With Julie Foudy, US Women’s National team legend
One of the first photos of my trip with a French girl wearing a US jersey and her father
With English player Lucy Bronze, one of my favorites in the World Cup
Chris & Crepes…good combo
In the trophy room at ACC Cambrai…a moment of friendship through soccer
My morning run in Reims in the rain
Cheering for China!
First of many selfies with Mark Schwarzer, former English Premier League and Australian legend
Just me and Parc de Prince
well, no caption needed
At the Stade de France, national stadium of France, home of the 1998 World Cup Final
Not sure who took this one…
At Roland Garros, home of the French Open tennis tournament
How could I not take a photo with Griezmann’s jersey
Yes, I love FOOT…another morning run shot.
Marching with the American Outlaws fan group…amazing experience!
With Sally at the Louvre
With Sally at some tower
Hey Mark, it’s me again…
Good friends meeting up in France!
Sally took this…we drove almost 2000 Kilometers
With Sally at a picturesque small club in a picturesque small village
A final nod to Paris at the airport
Good times with Sally at the US vs Chile game
When you run into the French team bus, you need a photo – don’t you?
You again?
Before US vs Sweden – heading into Le Havre
With the German Soccer Federation (DFB) and VW marketing team
Fox Sports personality Jenny Taft
Attempting a photo with Abby Wambach (in purple)
After US vs Sweden in Le Havre
With German Soccer Legend, Horst Hrubesch
With US National team coaches in charge of advanced scouting
After a great conversation with The PFA (English Professional Footballers Assn)
With English Football Assn marketing team
With Lucy Bronze’s parents, brother and sister in law
Morning run outside Stade de France
Morning run on the English Channel in Le Havre
Safe arrival back in San Francisco
