Per MajorYellowCard's request:

I'll begin the week at Niiza Park in Tokyo's western suburbs on Saturday for the Kanto Plain invitational track and field meet.

Off to Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, via the Shinkansen (bullet train) for the four-day Far East Class A Tournaments for boys and girls that starts Sunday and concludes Wednesday.

Then, it's off to Yokota for the last two days of the Far East Girls Class AA Tournament on Thursday and Friday.

See y'all then. :)

By request, here they are, the long-awaited Far East High School Soccer Tournament round-robin pools:

Boys Class AA
May 19-23, Lower and Upper Field, Kadena High School, Kadena Air Base, Okinawa
Pool A
Kadena varsity, Kubasaki JV, Yokota, Guam High, Nile C. Kinnick, Seoul American
Pool B
Kubasaki varsity, Kadena JV, Christian Academy In Japan, Robert D. Edgren, Zama American, Hong Kong International

Girls Class AA
May 19-23, Yokota Middle School and Bonk Field, Yokota High School, Yokota Air Base, Japan
Pool A
Kubasaki, Seoul American, Yokota, Robert D. Edgren, Hong Kong International
Pool B
American School In Japan, Kadena, Zama American, Guam High, Seisen International, Nile C. Kinnick

The last big track and field event of the Pacific season, the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools Invitational, is drawing nigh.

Who will win the following matchups Saturday at Niiza Park in Tokyo's western suburbs, based on Pacific's best times/distances and expected attendance at Saturday's meet:

Boys shot put, discus -- Miles Peterson, Christian Academy In Japan; Cliff Collins, Nile C. Kinnick; Mark Lieberg, Seoul Track Club; Lawrence McClain, Kubasaki; Simon Ruiz, St. Mary's International.

Boys high jump -- Brandon Brown, Nile C. Kinnick; Shorai Ash, Christian Academy In Japan; Brandon Lightburn, Yokota; Miles Atkinson, St. Mary's International.

Not much movement in the boys Top Ten, plenty of leapfrogging on the girls' side as we approach Sunday's kickoff in the Far East Class A Soccer Tournaments at Iwakuni; Class AA tournaments begin next Monday.

Here we go: 

Can it really be possible that Far East will be here in less than two weeks at this writing (6 p.m. Japan time; whistle blows on first Class A matches at 5 p.m. May 18)?

Here we go: 

Five years after shot clocks, 35 seconds for boys, 30 for girls, were mandated at all Far East basketball tournaments by DODDS-Pacific's Far East Activities Council, they've been removed starting with next February's Class AA and Class A tournaments.

The rationale for eliminating the shot clock is three-fold: 1) saving the cost of paying a shot-clock operator, 2) DODDS is now an affiliate member with National Federation of State High School Associations, which recommends but does not mandate a shot clock; in fact, only seven state federations use one, and 3) DODDS-Europe does not use a shot clock.

Time was when a player or group of players ventured back into their billeting after the 10 p.m. curfew during a Far East sports tournament, it was up to the coach to mete out discipline.

Nowadays, student-athletes, parents and coach sit down even before the season begins and sign a standard Code of Conduct that must be obeyed to the letter.

Sanctions could include anything from sitting for one game to being sent home at family's expense.

There's been plenty of discourse regarding officiating in this space, particularly the outcome of the last Yokota-Zama boys soccer match. Players, coaches and yes, referees have stated their cases, in some cases with strong passion and feel for what went on on the field and what referees go through as a matter of routine.

Redcard states correctly, I have taken my turn in that blazing cauldron. Two times, in rather clutch situations: