I never imagined to be the sponsor or cheerleader behind any kind of sports team, the only sport I was ever good at was serial book reading. Every gym teacher was horrified by me, and my father badgered me endlessly to become an athlete, eventually giving up when one of his man-making hard balls hit me in the forehead and knocked me down.

So here I am, a soccer team composed entirely of recent refugee and immigrants to the United States has unanimously voted to name itself the “Bedlam Farm Warriors,” and put an image or patch of my dog Red on its jerseys. I am buying the jersey’s, but I had no idea any of this madness was to follow.

I pleaded for a name change, but was unanimously ignored.

The new jersey’s will be ordered tomorrow, since the name of my farm is on them, I am paying for them and accepting no donations. There is some good news here, the soccer team won a game last Thursday by a score of 3 to 2, they are practicing hard and on a roll. As their unofficial George Steinbrenner, I am going to a game this Thursday in Albany to cheer them on, maybe second guess their coach Ali on soccer strategy.

Maybe I’ll buy some cigars and leak some stories to the sports media.

I am also happy to report that the entire soccer team is coming to the Spring Bedlam Farm Open House this Saturday, that will ensure a lively time. I am delighted they are coming. I hope Ali (Amjad Abdullah Mohammed) will consider giving a talk about his work as a coach/driver/teacher at RISSE, the refugee and immigrant support center in Albany, New York, home of the Bedlam Farm Warriors (really?).

I also delighted that a van of residents from the Mansion Assisted Care Facility in Cambridge, N.Y., where Red and do our therapy work together, will also be coming to the Open House as honored guests.

The Open House is on Saturday and Sunday of this week, 11 to 4. Maria’s increasingly interesting and popular art show is a big draw, so is Red herding the sheep, Fate running in circles, and the ever carrot-hungry donkeys. Sunday, Farrier Ken Norman is coming to trim the donkeys’ hooves.

I love seeing Maria in her studio for days getting things ready, she has a great idea for pulling in gifted artists with interesting ideas. I always thought of the Open Houses as a celebration of Maria’s art, and this has turned out to be true.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that the dogs, donkeys and Maria’s art are the big draws, but I will be happy to conduct sheep-herding demos and sign copies of my new book, “Talking To Animals.” This Open House feels like much fun. And the soccer team, my peeps, are coming. They are great people, and I love Ali like a brother. More, I guess.

There is a lot to see and do at the Open Houses – poetry readings, talks, great affordable art, warm and interesting people. We celebrate our lives together and the art of rural life. Dairy Farmer and junk artist Ed Gulley and his wife Carol are  coming with a friendly cow and some of his striking sculpture pieces and wind chimes.

It’s getting better and better all the time, I am very pleased the soccer team is coming back for another visit, the first of many. Open House. Details here.