A brutal hit at a Seattle summer camp destroys Alex’s freshman season and starts him down the path that will lead to his best friends in the Magnificent Seven in The Great American Eagle Hunt.
A Story from The Great American Eagle Hunt Universe
Author’s Note: Alex Martinez is one character in the novel The Great American Eagle Hunt, releasing this year. This is his origin story. Please subscribe to be notified when the full novel releases.
Seattle, the suburb of Ballard, 1993, April, Saturday Morning, 7:00am
The grass at Golden Gardens Park is still damp with the morning dew.
“No problem,” thirty–three–year–old Daniel Martinez tells his eight–year–old son. “Just remember, the ball will move faster on wet grass, unless it hits a soggy patch or a puddle. Then it gets trapped.”
“Got it,” Alex says as he nods.
They trot onto the field, knocking the ball back and forth as they go. Today is footwork day. The warm up feels like play, passing as they run the length of the field. Later will come the ladder drills, toe taps, inside outside touches. Alex knows the hard stuff is coming. He also knows he will be wiped out the rest of the day.
He doesn’t mind.
“If Rivaldo, Beckham and Batistuta, do the drills, so do I,” he thinks.
He never complains. He asks for more.
“One day,” he promises himself, “they will watch me in Serie A, the Premier League or La Liga. I will be the best midfielder in the world.”
Seattle, University of Washington, 1998, June, 7:00am
For the past five Junes, the first ten days of the month have meant one thing. Soccer camp at the University of Washington.
It’s one of the highlights of Alex’s year. School is out. Summer starts with full days of fútbol. While most kids his age are sleeping in, Alex greets each camp morning with the same mantra.
“If Ronaldo Nazario, Zidane and Bergkamp are up doing their drills, so am I.”
Of all the camps and leagues Alex attends, this one is his favorite. Players and coaches from all over Washington come to sharpen skills, learn new techniques and get stronger. He knows he will be pushed harder here than anywhere else. He looks forward to it.
It is also a sleep away camp. Ten days in student dorms, eating in the cafeteria, pretending he is already a pro living on the road with his team. He looks forward to connecting with friends he’s met throughout the year on other teams.
This is his third year. He hopes to room with three guys from the Queen Anne leagues: Kyle Kelly, and the twins, Bobby and Tommy Delvechio. He has played against them several times. To him, they are physical players, bordering on rough. That is not his style, but he likes the challenge. They force him to keep his technical skills sharp. He usually comes out on top. Yeah, they’re rough, but no matter what they threw at him, he can outmaneuver it. He wants more experience against players like that.
Alex especially follows Kyle’s progress. The talk in the Seattle soccer community is that Kyle is the front runner to be captain of the Queen Anne High freshman team in the fall. Kyle and the Delvechio twins will start at Queen Anne. Alex will start at Ballard High. Same division. They will see each other in league play soon.
“I will show them how to play,” Alex snickers to himself.
He has his path mapped out. Four years at Ballard High. Build the resume. Stack up impressive stats. Earn a college scholarship, maybe right here at the University of Washington. Use a big program as a launchpad to get on the radar of clubs overseas.
The plan is clear. All he has to do is make it happen.
Alex checks into his dorm and says goodbye to his dad. After he unpacks and makes his bed, he changes into his training kit.
“A quick run before the first session will get me warmed up.” He reminds himself, “Consistency always wins.”
He pulls on his shorts and socks. The door bursts open.
“I’m telling you, advanced drills are in Field House B,” Bobby is saying, jabbing his finger at the paper.
“That’s tomorrow’s schedule, idiot,” Tommy shoots back. “Today we’re on Dempsey.”
“Both wrong,” Kyle says flatly. “We’re warming up on Rec. Field One, then moving to the East Practice Field for position work.”
The three burst into the room all trying to get through the door at the same time, bags and equipment tumbling in the room with them. Kyle’s face breaks into a grin.
“Martinez! I thought you weren’t coming this year.” Kyle asks.
“And miss watching you three argue about a schedule like the Three Stooges? Not a chance.”
Bobby laughs and shoves Alex. ” You in advanced group again?”
“Where else would I be?” Alex replies.
“Aw, shit.” Tommy groans, but he’s smiling. “There goes my chance at MVP.”
Kyle rolls his eyes. “You’re both getting the MMA award Most Annoying Assholes.’” He turns to Alex. ” Martinez, you still playing the same style, all technique no heart? All those little touches and tricks?”
“It’s called ball control,” Alex says. “You should try it sometime.”
“I’ve got ball control right here,” Bobby yells, grabbing his crotch.
Bobby jumps in. “Five bucks says Kelly gets at least one yellow card in your first match.”
“Five bucks says it’s in the first ten minutes,” Tommy adds.
“You guys are assholes,” Kyle mutters, but he’s fighting a smile.
Alex looks them over. They are not his closest friends. Different neighborhoods, different schools, different lives. But here, on these fields, they are part of the same world. Rivals who respect each other. Kids who love the same game.
“Here is to a good week,” Alex says, heading out for his warm up run.
For now, it is still fun.
Seattle, The Suburb of Ballard, 1999, May, 7:00am
The morning sun is warming up, burning off the last of the gray Seattle mist. Another school year is winding down. Another 12 months of competitive leagues in the books. And 52 more Saturday morning trainings between Alex and his father remained constant.
“Excellent!” Alex’s father claps with excitement. “Your stats have never been higher. Your sprints are faster, kicks are stronger, and footwork faster.”
“It feels good. Thanks, dad.” Alex puts his arm around his father. Alex knows and understands his dad is his biggest fan. Always pushing him but never forcing him.
As they pack up the gear, Alex asks, “Can we stop at Ivar’s on the way home?”
“Sure thing. There’s something I want to talk to you about.” Daniel looks at his son, testing the water.
“Sure. What’s up? Tell me now. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. In fact, it’s all good. But it’s going to mean change is coming.”
“OK, what’s going on?”
“I’ve been offered a job. A good job. It’s with a company called Amazon. They are only five years old, but very solid. They offered me a position of Program Manager, managing the development of software projects,” Daniel explained.
“That sounds great. When do you start?”
“In three weeks. But there’s a challenge. But it’s a good one. The commute is going to be tough. Plus, with pay increase, your mom and I think it’s time we buy a new house. One that’s closer to my new job. And a little bigger. ”
“OK. I get it. That doesn’t sound so bad.”
“But it means you won’t be going to Ballard High in the fall. I know you had your sights set on that school. You were hoping to become captain of the freshman team. ”
“I see. Where would I go?” Alex asks tentatively.
“Queen Anne High. There are some houses in that neighborhood that will be perfect for us. Queen Anne is a big soccer school. I’m sure you can make the team there.”
“I know Queen Anne. They’re on track to be contenders for State Champs. They’re a real threat. This sounds like a good thing.”
“Really?” Daniel asks. “I thought you would be upset not playing high school level with your friends.”
“Yeah, I will miss them. But I will still see them at games and at camp. Plus, I already know a few guys from Queen Anne from camp. I can join up with them. Coach Napa also works this summer camp. I can talk to him when I see him.”
“Good. Thank you. I just want it to work for you.”
“Sounds like good times ahead,” Alex says. “Race you to the car.”
He takes off sprinting, leaving his father to grab the bags and chase after him, both of them laughing the whole way.
Seattle, University of Washington, 1999, June 7:00am
“Camp this year is going to be epic,” Alex thinks to himself as he unpacks his bags and changes into his soccer gear.
For the past five years, it’s been a tradition, really more of a superstition, to go for a run before the first session. Arriving at the first session stretched out and warmed up always puts him in the right mindset. He’s here to do the work.
This year he’s more excited than usual. He’s rooming with Kyle Kelly, and the Delvechio twins Tommy and Bobby again. He’s anxious to tell them the news: his family is moving, and they’ll be teammates in the fall.
Like every year, the three burst into the room arguing.
“I’m telling you, advanced drills are in Dempsey Field House,” Bobby is arguing. “We’re advanced players now, ” jabbing his finger at the paper.
“Martinez! We thought you’d be out on a run by now.” Kyle Kelly says.
“Just heading out,” Alex replies as the four shake hands.
“So,” Kyle says, and something in his tone makes Alex look over. “Your dad still coaching you?”
“Every weekend. You?” Alex replies.
“Private coach. Mom set it up.” Kyle shrugs. “My parents say if I want to play D1, I need ‘focused technical development.’”
“That’s a lot of words for ‘you need to stop kicking people’,’” Bobby quips.
“Shut up,” Kyle shoves at him. “It’s going to be a big year. We’re all moving to high school level. The competition is getting tougher. ”
“We’ve got it all set up and under control,” Tommy chimes in. “This terrible trio has it all figured out.” He pats Kyle on the chest. “This guy will be Captain freshman year. Varsity by sophomore. College scouts by junior. It’s going to be a great ride. Too bad you’re not going to see it up in Ballard.”
“I won’t be going to Ballard in the fall,” Alex responds excited to give the guys the news.
“What gives?” Tommy asks.
“My family moved. We’re in North Queen Anne neighborhood now. I’ll be attending Queen Anne high with you. We’ll be team mates.”
The room goes dead silent. This is not the reaction Alex was expecting.
“Moving up to the big leagues,” Tommy breaks the ice.
“Check out Martinez making a big move, Bobby adds.” He turns to Kyle and punches his in the chest. “You better watch your back, Kyle. Alex’s stats are better than yours. He can challenge you for that Captain position.”
Kyle is clearly upset about this. Deep down, he knows Alex Martinez is a better player.
“I need to hit the road.” Alex breaks the silence. “I’ll see you at the first session. Here’s to a good week.”
Alex heads out of the room, closing the door behind him. As soon as the door closes, Kyle spins in anger. His face is red with rage.
“There is no fucking way that asshole is taking my Captain position!” Alex rages at the two boys.
“Dude, relax,” Tommy tries to calm Kyle down. “It’s all set. Your mom and dad already spoke to the coaches. It’s a done deal.”
“I know. But I don’t trust them. It’s up to us to keep this team under our control. We need to make him look bad this week. Make him look weak in front of the coaches.”
“Extreme!” Tommy yells.
“We go extra aggressive on his ass,” Bobby chimes in. “We show them and him that he can’t compete with us. This isn’t little league anymore. Let’s see how he reacts when he gets some muscle shoved in his face.”
“No limits, no mercy,” Kyle adds.
He stares out the dorm window onto the field below. He catches sight of Alex, the only player on the field prepping early for the day. Kyle realizes in his own mind he’s just declared war.
Seattle, University of Washington, 1999, Wednesday 11:30 am
The next three days turn into a quiet war. Alex is shut out of any chance to bond with his future teammates.
Seats at the dining hall were suddenly saved and filled, leaving Alex shut out. In the locker room, his towel was always “accidentally” dropping off the hook left to lie in a wet puddle, leaving Alex with nothing to dry off with. Shin pads went missing from his equipment bag, leaving him vulnerable to opposing players kicks.
On the field, things get worse. During workouts and drills, the war became more aggressive, more physical. In passing drills, the Delvechio twins would constantly kick the ball at him with full force. If Alex ducked or dodged the advancing torpedo, the ball would go flying past him. As he turned to chase the ball, the twins and Kyle would yell out:
“Come on Martinez! You have to stop those!”
They would yell at the top of their lungs to catch the coaches attention . The coaches obviously didn’t see the forceful kick, they just saw Alex jogging off to retrieve a missed ball.
Coach Morrison blows a whistle from the center of the field.
“Advanced Group A! Let’s go! Scrimmage,” he announces.
The coach calls out two rosters, dividing the group into two teams. Alex is assigned to the blue team. Kyle, Tommy and Bobby assigned to the red team.
“This will be a full scrimmage with 15 minute halves. I want you to play as if this were a match at your school or league. Set your lines and strategize with your team. Play begins in 5 minutes.”
Kyle looks at Alex with a challenge in his face. “Let’s see if you can keep up.”
“Let’s see if you can,” Alex shoots back.
“You fucked with the wrong team,” Tommy sneers, turns and jogs off to his side of the field.
“Mr. Martinez,” the coach calls.
“Yes, sir?” Alex turns and jogs to the sidelines to talk to the coach.
“Mr. Martinez, I heard through the soccer grapevine that you’ll be joining us at Queen Anne High this fall.”
“Yes, sir. How did you know?” Alex asks.
“The parent grape vine loves to gossip. Alex Martinez is coming to Queen Anne High. First, I want to say welcome to the team. I’m glad you’re joining us.”
“Thank you,” Alex replies.
“Also, there’s going to be a lot of noise about you joining the team. You know with your stats and experience you’re a contender for Captain. You’re also a contender for skipping Freshman team and moving up to Junior Varsity. But I need you to stay focused on solid game play. I see what’s going on between you and the other three. Don’t let it distract you. Play your game and the rest will sort itself out. Understand?”
“Yes, sir,” Alex nodded.
“Good. Have a great scrimmage. Show some of these other players what happens when you work hard.”
“Will do. Thank you.” Alex turns and takes his position on the field. Alex looks across the field. He’ll be going head to head against Kyle Kelly, defending and attacking. But Alex suspects he’s being tested. Everyone at that field is watching to see who comes out on top. The other kids sense it, too. When Alex and Kyle are on opposite teams, everyone watches a little closer.
Even though Kyle has the advantage of private coaching and expensive gear. Alex has the technical skills, the field vision, the instinct his dad drilled into him since he was eight.
During the first half, Alex notices Kyle’s game is off. Maybe it’s the pressure. Maybe it’s Kyle’s overthinking. Maybe Alex is just locked in. But in play after play, Alex is beating defenders, reading the field, outplaying Kyle in front of coaches who matter. To make matters worse, Alex is beating Kyle in front of Kyle’s parents, unwanted and unofficial team coaches who barge their way onto every field.
The other kids start whispering. The coaches exchange glances. Even Kyle’s private coach pulls him aside for intense conversations.
The whispers start: Alex is better.
Kyle hears it. Alex can tell by the way Kyle’s jaw tightens. By the way he stops making eye contact. By the way he and the Delvechio twins huddle together glancing over.
The second half starts just as rough as the first. Shoulders and elbows thrown. Hip checks, cleats to the shins. Kyle and the twins are playing aggressive, physical, just shy of dirty. Testing limits. A yellow card is a badge of honor. The Delvechio twins are living up to their reputation as enforcers.
Five minutes in, Alex gets the ball in midfield. He sees space. He sees Trevor Chen making a run on the left. He sees Kyle backpedaling, caught out of position.
Alex threads a pass that splits two defenders. Trevor takes it down the wing, and suddenly Alex is streaking up the right side, completely unmarked. Trevor’s cross pass is perfect, chest high, right into Alex’s path.
Two touches to control it. The keeper is off his line. The defender is closing, but Alex can see the angle. Just needs to plant on his right foot, cut left, and he’ll have a clear shot.
Alex plants his right foot and cuts hard left. The defender lunges, misses. Alex is through. This is the exact kind of highlight moment coaches remember when they make decisions. The kind of play that shows up in recommendation letters. He draws back his left foot to shoot.
But he doesn’t see Kyle and Tommy Delvechio closing from a blind spot behind him.
The collision happens in that terrible slow-motion way that later he’ll replay a thousand times. Kyle arrives first, a second before Tommy. The tackle isn’t a clean challenge for the ball, it’s heavy, late, coming in at an angle that sends all of Kyle’s momentum into Alex’s planted right ankle.
Then Tommy crashes in from the other side. Alex goes down. Kyle goes down. Tommy falls on top of them. A pile of twisted arms and legs.
That’s when everything changed.
In the pile up, he felt it. The excruciating pain shot up from his Achilles heel, ankle and up his entire leg. Four cleats digging into the back of his right foot. He feels the internal snap. He feels everything tearing.
Kyle and Tommy untangle themselves from the heap, pushing themselves up, pushing Alex’s head into the turf. The ball rolls harmlessly away. The keeper collects it, confused. The whistle blows, sharp, urgent.
Alex stays on the ground, he can’t go anywhere else. Clutching his ankle, the pain is unlike anything he’s ever felt. Something inside has torn or snapped or broken. But Alex realized more than his ankle was broken. The pain of betrayal stings just as hard.
The ref is showing a yellow card to Tommy Delvechio. Just one card. Just for Tommy, not Kyle. Because technically, Kyle “went for the ball” and arrived first. The fact that the angle was reckless, the timing was late, and the force was excessive didn’t matter. Those are judgment calls. Hard play is part of the game.
Alex looks up through tears of pain and sees Kyle standing at the sideline arms crossed, face unreadable, their eyes meet. Alex sees nothing in Kyle’s face. No concern or apology. Alex only sees a weak smile. Then Kyle turns away from his team mate to talk to his parents. But that weak smile is there long enough for Alex to register it. Long enough to believe that this wasn’t an accident.
Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, 1999, June, Wednesday 1:30 pm
By the time Alex’s parents get to Swedish Medical Center, the ankle has swollen to the size of a softball. Alex is put through a barrage of tests, X-rays. Examination. Consultation.
The diagnosis: Grade II High Ankle Sprain + Small Avulsion Fracture. A high ankle sprain with tearing of the ligaments that hold the tibia and fibula together. The injury also pulled a small fragment of bone away from the tibia.
“This all sounds scary,” The orthopedist, Dr. Yoon, tells Alex and his parents. “But I’m afraid you will not be playing soccer this fall. High level play is at least six months away with good Physical Therapy. We’ll need to see how the healing goes.”
Alex’s summer is over. Alex’s freshman season is over before it even began.
Officially, everyone treats it as an accident.
“These things happen,” Coach Morrison says when he calls to check in. “High-level play is physical. You’ll bounce back.”
The Delvechio twins never apologize. Kyle never checks in. Back at the campus Alex and his parents collect his things from the dorm room. Alex goes to the filed to say goodbye to his team mates and coaches. They all wish him good luck. Kyle acts as if nothing happened.
But inside Alex’s head, the replay runs on an endless loop.
The angle of Kyle’s approach. The timing, just late enough to be “going for the ball” but heavy enough to cause damage. The way Kyle was losing that scrimmage, seething every time Alex made a play. The way he’d been backpedaling, out of position, exposed.
And that look. That flash of satisfaction before the concern mask came down.
Alex replays it at night. In the shower. During physical therapy sessions. He tries to be rational.
“Maybe I’m being paranoid. Maybe it really was just hard play. Maybe the look meant nothing.”
But inside, his verdict is clear:
“They did it on purpose. Or at least Kyle didn’t care if he hurt me. That’s enough.”
He files Kyle Kelly under a new category in his mind: Dangerous. Selfish. Protected by adults who look the other way.
Alex spends the rest of June and early July in a walking boot with strict rehab orders. His physical therapist, Sharon, is kind but relentless. “If you rush this,” she warns, “you’ll re-injure it and be out for a year. Do the exercises. Build back slowly.”
In June, the gossip among soccer moms was; “Will Alex take Kyle’s captaincy?”
By July, the soccer moms were sighing in relief: “Too bad about his ankle. Guess Kelly’s still the guy.”
The Delvechio twins never face consequences beyond Tommy’s yellow card. Nobody suggests Kyle should have approached the tackle differently.
The wary-but-respectful friendship Alex and Kyle once had died. Not in some dramatic confrontation. Just in silence and distance and the understanding that they’re enemies now, even if nobody says it out loud.
From his bedroom in their new home, he can see Queen Anne High School in the distance. His new school. Kyle Kelly’s school.
But now, Alex’s thoughts aren’t filled with optimism. Every waking moment is filled with resentment. But resentment isn’t about revenge in the comic book villain sense. He’s not plotting to hurt Kyle back. He’s not fantasizing about breaking Kyle’s leg or sabotaging his tryouts. That would make him like Kyle. His “revenge” will be something quieter and more damaging to Kyle’s ego.
“I’ll still prove I’m better.” He promises to himself.
But it may just be on a different field.
Author’s Note: This backstory takes place from spring through fall of 1999, before the main events of The Great American Eagle Hunt. Alex’s journey from Ballard to Queen Anne, from injured player to equipment manager to founding member of the Magnificent Seven, shows how sometimes losing everything, your home turf, your team, your future, can lead you to find something better: true loyal friends.
The injury is the moment Alex learns that talent isn’t enough when the game is rigged. The Magnificent Seven is the moment he learns that the only game worth playing is the one with the right people beside you.
