Tourney will be animated

Jeff Tully

Stephen Garden can almost remember what it’s like to go to a youth

soccer tournament and not have to work.

However, attending an event as just a spectator might seem like a

distant memory in the wake of a tournament Garden is coordinating in

Burbank.

Today and Sunday at four local venues, 78 boys’ and girls’ teams

from across Southern California will take part in the Cartoon

Classic, with matches taking place at Luther Burbank Middle School,

Jordan Middle School, Ralph Foy Park and Stevenson Elementary School.

“I have two daughters who play soccer, and they will be taking

part in the tournament,” said Garden, who is the event’s director.

“But I’ll tell you, it was a lot easier when I could go to their

[matches] and just watch. With this tournament, it has been a lot of

work getting things together.

Sponsored by the Burbank Region 254 American Youth Soccer

Organization, the tournament is a big fund-raising event.

“Along with a tournament we have in the winter, this will be our

biggest fund-raiser of the year,” Garden said. “We didn’t do too well

with the other tournament, so we’re hoping to make a little money

with this one.”

By naming the event the Cartoon Classic, Garden said the event’s

coordinators are hoping to attract some of the city’s high-profile

businesses as possible sponsors.

“The name comes from the fact that a lot of cartoons are made here

in Burbank,” Garden said. “We are hoping that maybe Disney or Warner

Bros. will want to jump on board and hopefully be sponsors in the

future.”

Garden said he is expecting some talented teams to grace the local

field this weekend. Squads from as far away as Paso Robles, San Luis

Obispo and San Bernardino will be playing.

The locals should also be well-represented.

“I know we have a boys’ under-14 team that is very good,” Garden

said. “And there is also a girls’ under-10 team that I’ve heard a lot

of good things about. So we should have some pretty good teams.”