After playing soccer professionally for a few years, Billy found a career in teaching writing at Portland Community College, and writing about Portland Soccer History for Green is the Color. He will guest lecturer on Wednesday, October 14 for MEDA 240 at 2:15 pm in Walter B-2.
Interview conducted by Megan Heinlen for MEDA 240
MEGAN HEINLEN: You’re in the Pacific University Hall of Fame for soccer; how did you get into soccer?
BILLY MERCK: It still blows my mind that I’m in the Hall of Fame at a college. Even going to college is huge, I was the first person in four generations to go. I started to get into soccer because of what was going on in the Portland Timbers. I went to a soccer camp at the University of Portland, and I liked it. I had such a great experience there, and soccer was starting to grow around the Portland area. There were club opportunities, it was starting to get televised more so I was able to see it and I realized it was something that I really liked. Also, I grew up in a small, working-class neighborhood in Portland where it was all baseball, football, basketball, that’s how social life was structured. At that time soccer felt like something that was my own, it was nice to be independent in that way. Then I started playing soccer and really fell in love with it.
MH: Do you have a favorite memory from playing soccer?
BM: Back when I was younger there was this soccer player named Tattoo, he played for the Dallas SideKicks. He would score a goal, take his shirt off and throw it into the crowd, and I was like, I want to be like that guy; he’s my hero. When I got older my first professional game I played in Dallas, and I played against Tattoo.
MH: Did you win?
BM: No, we didn’t, they were so good. I mean we played well; we only lost 5 to 3. But I remember in that game, I kicked a ball and I heard someone say behind me “oh great ball” and I turned around and it was Tattoo. I was like, okay, this is cool. Honestly, another memory is just playing with my son.
MH: Does he like soccer too?
BM: Yeah, he does. It’s amazing to just share the game with him.
MH: How did your sport shape your life? Where do you think you’d be without it?
BM: Honestly, nowhere good. I can say that with certainty because I look at my siblings. A lot of people I grew up around are products of the environment. Soccer no doubt saved my life. So I
do get emotional, because I wouldn’t have my family if I didn’t have soccer because I wouldn’t have an education. Pacific was the one school I applied to because the soccer coach there said I should. In my sophomore year I was invited to find other education opportunities, which was the diplomatic way of saying, you can’t come here anymore. I looked at transferring but I appealed to get back into Pacific. They said my grades had to get up and I couldn’t play soccer. I had professors there, specifically Lorel Brown, who was like, ‘aw man, I love you, you’re great. But you fucked up. I’m gonna kick your ass until you get it right, and until you kick your own ass.’ To have someone like Lorel who was so intellective and supportive, I could just tell that her heart was in it. That was huge. I turned it around, got my grades up and got too many bachelor degrees. I realized that soccer was the thing I wanted to do, but I also fell in love with having an education.
MH: Why did you decide to go into writing? Particularly sports writing?
BM: The way I got into specifically sports writing was because I realized there was something more in the game for me. I wanted to do something more but it couldn’t be coaching, playing or things that took me away from my family. So, I came back to the idea of writing. I ended up pitching a story, and I got to interview the player Tattoo! From there I just had a sense of urgency to write people’s stories. I pitched another story that I knew would open the doors to writing about Portland soccer history. And they said yes. And I love it
MH: What would you say to athletes who are going through challenges with their sports?
BM: Talk about it. That goes for any transition. Talk to someone you trust, who also understands the sport. A team captain is exactly what that’s for. Just talk about it.
Another thing is when you’re older and facing a similar challenge think about what lesson you learned. Think about when you’re my age, when you want this lesson to tell you something about life. What would you want to take from it? It helps you embrace the struggle.
Leave a Reply