So, Howard Rubenstein has finally done it. He has retired and moved to Springboro, Ohio so he and his wife Debbie can be closer to their children and grandchildren.  Can't say I don't blame him, wanting to slow down. But soccer in Eastern New York Youth Soccer Association will be much lesser without Howard Rubenstein.

Now, before I go any further, it should be stated that this is the Howard Rubenstein we all know and love from soccer, not the public relations guy who makes his biggest headlines as the mouthpiece for the ailing George Steinbrenner.

Perhaps my most memorable moment of Howard came at U.S. Soccer's annual general meeting in New Orleans in 1992. The Long Island Junior Soccer League was pressing for statehood and ENYYSA opposed it.

It was on the floor of the council meeting for discussion and for vote.

So, who did the youth association pick to argue its case?  You guessed it.

Howard, a member of the LIJSL Hall of Fame (class of 1989), told the hundreds of state delegates assembled that he was just a "little old chemistry teacher" from New York.

"One thing we need is unity," Rubenstein told the council. "We don't need disorganization in the soccer community. We need everybody working together in a joint effort. These people are my friends. I will have a drink with them later.  "Please folks, don't do this. If you approve Long Island's petition, you'll have a 100 of them next year."

In a voice vote, the council turned down the bid.

Yeah, and about that Hall of Fame. In fact, Rubenstein is a member of several Halls -- Eastern New York Soccer Hall of Fame, U.S. Amateur Soccer Association Hall of Fame and the LIJSL Hall of Fame.

The interesting thing about the latter is that Rubenstein really did not have much to do directly with the LIJSL, except perhaps coach his kids in a travel team in the league. Rubenstein made his impact in the Cosmopolitan Junior Soccer League. The LIJSL wanted to honor a man who had made such a big contribution to the game, regardless where he came from.

Rubenstein has worn so many hats that he could start a soccer haberdashery.

Where do you begin? He has been a league vice president. The Eastern New York State Amateur Soccer Association trusted him enough to elect him as their treasurer for many years. He has been involved with the youth referee program also as state youth referee administrator. And of course, he is a past president of ENYYSA, having moved the office from upstate to Rockville Centre, L.I. during his term in the early 1980s.

He has a bellowing, almost intimidating voice. Yet, Howard is a gentle soul.

Oh yeah -- another thing I remember about Howard is that he put his ego aside for the good of the game. At meetings, he would make a suggestion about solving a problem. If it was turned down, he would come up with another idea and another and another. For the good of the game, not necessarily for the good of Howard Rubenstein.

Sometimes officials put themselves above the game. Howard has never done that.

Enjoy retirement, Howard. You earned it.