My daughter repeatedly told me, "Eli has asthma and he can't keep up with the other kids. He is short and all his friends are much taller than he is."

These observations hurt me as I come from a very athletic, ball-playing, rough-housing line of uncles. Unfortunately, Eli was on the West Coast, so I had to take my daughter's stories as gospel.

I kept hidden in my deepest heart the idea that my daughter is deeply concerned and somehow I was positive that Eli would outgrow this strange disease called asthma. Loving mothers sometimes vent their insecurities.

About five months ago, my wife and I traveled to San Diego to see the grandchildren.

Eli was playing soccer that day and I was asked to go along. I had coached soccer for 15 years in Hicksville and I loved the game as did all my children. I was on a mission.

The soccer fields in the San Diego suburbs were lusher and more verdant than the Long Island fields. As a granddaddy, it was a pleasure to stand on the sidelines and have no coaching responsibilities.

Eli's coach came from Hollywood Central Casting. A tall, lean blond, well-muscled, handsome California type who, I felt, would certainly be at ease on a surfboard. He handled his team easily and the kids responded well.

The play started with the referee's whistle and the 5-year-olds attacked the black and white ball. Nobody stayed in their classical positions and they all "bumble-bee'd" after the ball.

Where was Eli? Where was Eli?

He was everywhere! He ran with such ease and grace my old eyes almost dropped onto the field.

He was on offense! He was on defense!

He was kicking! He was passing!

He was tacklinging! He was my grandson!

After the game his face was redder and he was perspiring more than I had ever seen before. He was breathing hard as he drank the water, but he was OK.

I told my daughter not to worry. "I am not a physician, but Eli looks pretty good to me."

After all, I said, "He's a Greenberg!"

I kept repeating, "He's a Greenberg!"

My late father and all my dead uncles could rest easily. "He's a Greenberg."