Curt Cannon walked into his house after a long day at work and was greeted by his wife, Diana, like he is most days.
Diana began talking about their daughter's soccer team.
"She said everything was fine with the team, but they didn't have a coach," Curt said. "But then she says, 'They do now, though.' I had no idea what she was talking about."
Diana had already picked out the coach. Of course, it was Curt.
"I didn't know anything about soccer," said Curt, a mortgage loan specialist. "I went out and bought books and learned everything I could. I figured if I was going to be the coach, I better know something."
Fast-forward 26 years.
The coach has been engulfed in soccer ever since, and this weekend he was presented with the Founder's Award at the 21st Tucson Association of Realtors Shootout.
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Cannon has been involved in all 21 events, and he has no plans to stop.
No longer coaching a team in the Shootout, Cannon does a little bit of everything for the tournament. He makes sure the fields are in good condition and checks to see if teams have everything they need.
The Star chatted with Cannon about his three favorite Shootout memories; it didn't take the veteran coach long to think of them.
Crazy Cats reach out
In 1996, Cannon's team, the Fort Lowell Crazy Cats, a U-10 team, played against the Las Cruces (N.M.) Pink Panthers. Cannon doesn't remember the final score, but knows his team won.
The game isn't his favorite memory of that year's Shootout, though. It's what happened after.
"We just struck up a relationship with them and it still sticks in my mind," Cannon said.
The Pink Panthers started attending all of the Crazy Cats' Shootout games and vice versa. Eventually, the teams started eating together and spending time together off the field.
The Crazy Cats then traveled to play in a Las Cruces tournament the next four years.
Friday night rain
In 2004, Cannon and the Shootout organizers prepared for another fun, successful tournament.
Mother Nature had other plans.
During the opening ceremonies with athletes all over the place, it started to pour.
It wasn't what anyone was planning for, but ended up being a blast.
"The kids had so much fun," Cannon said. "I still remember it so well. I think the reason I love the Shootout so much is because it keeps you young, and something like that is a perfect example."
The rain went away after Friday and the next two days were "nothing but sunshine," he said.
Snow day
Two years after the Friday night rain, the Shootout got some more unpleasant weather.
This time it was a Sunday snow.
The contests continued and there were no delays, just some freezing soccer players.
"It was a real unique experience," Cannon said. "Snow is the last thing teams from out of town expect to see when they come here. It just added another element we hadn't seen. Everyone adapted and had a great time with it. I'll never forget it."
IF YOU GO
• What: 21st annual Tucson Association of Realtors Shootout
• Who: 306 teams
• When: Final day is today
• Where: 10 locations throughout Southern Arizona - Fort Lowell Park, Brandi Fenton Park, Freedom Park, Golf Links Park, Himmel Park, Jacobs Park, Lincoln Park, Ochoa Park, Townsend Middle School and Udall Park
