Three days a week, at Arena Sports on East Marginal Way South Michael Vujovich, uses his head. At the age of 56 he plays in an adult soccer league.
Michael's love of the game began in his native Yugoslavia as a child. He played competitively and if you ask him, he still does. It keeps him in great shape. He's still fast, outrunning much younger men, and is often at both ends of the field ahead of his teammates. Four minute games are fast and loose. No refs, no hard and fast rules. Play safe and call your own fouls, like pick-up basketball. Score a goal and the balls comes back out immediately in play again.

Sideboards circle the playing pitch, ala hockey. A loose net hangs from the ceiling to protect balls from striking the overhead lights. A ball into the nets halts play. But not for long. No time is wasted as the players begin again. With only four minutes, it does not take long.The buzzer signals the end of action. Like an Olympic athlete Michael hops the 3-foot side panel, landing lightly on his feet to wait for the next round of play. At 1:30 he says "showtime" which is basically the last 30 minutes of the two hour session.

The idea is that those with the most energy begin making their presence felt by scoring more and taking advantage of those players in poorer physical condition. The game is on. Michael proves this, moving hard to his left, catching the ball on his toe, skirting an opposing player and curling the ball passed the goalie in one smooth action. He smiles coming back up field.

He moves with the same grace and energy at his Seahurst Italian restaurant, Bistro Baffi, where he uses his head as owner and chef preparing meals that recently won him top honors in the city among knowledgeable diners. In Italian, the word "baffi" means mustache. The word "bistro" (from French) means a small restaurant. Michael sports a curled mustache, fitting his restaurant and his game.