Podcast Episode 156 – David Kline, US Soccer, and some Cal Poly baseball updates

On this sometimes rambling episode of the Podcast, David Kline joins Owen in the studio. David, a recent Cal Poly graduate, has done some work for that school’s broadcasts online and on ESPN Radio 1280 and has some pretty solid world soccer knowledge at the ready.

Kline is a big soccer fan, and we go on about soccer in this country, the future of it, and Jurgen Klinsmann’s job thus far.

First though, my thoughts in the sports world are really focused on former Cal Poly pitcher Matt Imhof. Last week, Imhof, who was pitching for the Phillies organization in Florida, suffered an injury to his eye when a piece of exercise equipment at a ballpark broke off a wall. After a few surgeries, Imhof had a prosthetic eye implanted and his career seems to be in serious jeopardy.

Of all the guys on the team at Cal Poly that hosted a regional three years ago, Imhof was one of the easier guys to root for. I interviewed him a few times and he always came off as a really good, thoughtful kid who had worked very hard to get where he did (a second-round pick). Every time I think about what happened last week I just get sick to my stomach for the kid.

As one might expect from a guy like Matt, he’s putting his best foot forward.

As many of you know on Friday June 25th I had an accident. A large price of metal hit me in the head/eye resulting in a fractured nose, 2 fractured orbital bones, and most significantly, the loss of vision in my right eye. I was immediately taken to the ER and then transferred to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the #1 eye hospital in the world. That night, the doctors informed me that the damage to my eye was extreme and essentially that my eye had been crushed like a grape. The doctors told me they were going to do everything possible to reconstruct it but in all likelihood I would never regain sight in my right eye. The first surgery was somewhat a success but overall nothing had changed, so after discussions with my family and my doctors, it was decided that the best chance I had to live a normal life was to have my right eye removed and have a prosthetic one put in. This decision was not an easy one to make but to me it seemed like the right one so on Tuesday afternoon I went forward with the surgery. I’m currently still in Miami recovering from surgery but I’m doing well. This has been the hardest week of my life but I’ve had amazing support from my family and friends to help me get through it. For those who have been wishing me well, your support has not gone unnoticed and I appreciate everyone who has kept me in their thoughts and prayers. I had the best doctors in the world doing their best work on me and for that I am grateful as well. Although this injury has been tough it could have been much worse…I’m lucky to still have vision in my left eye…I’m lucky that i didn’t have brain damage…and I’m lucky to be surrounded my the most loving and understanding people in the world. I just wanted to write this message to let everyone know that even though I suffered some bad luck, I’m not dead. I’m gonna be alright, I’m gonna persevere, and I’m gonna succeed. It takes more than this to bring me down. Again thanks to everyone for the support .

A photo posted by Matt Imhof (@matt_imhof48) on Jun 30, 2016 at 9:44am PDT

That’s some perspective.

Matt now has almost 3,000 likes. On the Instagram post, I mean. One of them is definitely me — and that’s not limited to just social media. Sending good thoughts your way Mr. Imhof.

Enjoy the Podcast.

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