Thursday, June 28, 2012

Youth Athletics...and Parents

I coached a girl's youth basketball team a few years back and I must say we were really good.  As a matter of fact we went undefeated...not that we were keeping score...wink wink!  I really enjoyed getting to know the young athletes; they were easy to coach and really mastered the fundamentals.  We moved the ball on offense always hitting the open player.  On defense we swarmed the point guard and created massive turnovers.  There was only one aspect of youth athletics I didn't enjoy...the parents!

The parents of at least half of all youth athletes are living vicariously through them!  They are willing to put them on travel teams, drive all over the place, and pay top dollar for private coaching.  Paying for coaching for children...with no guarantee of success.  If you're lucky they will make their high school squad.  Parents are aiming for that ever elusive college scholarship.

I understand investing in your children and wanting them to be successful.  I understand getting coaching and hoping that it all pays off in some monetary way down the road.  But I really hope that these parents take the child's wants into consideration.  This isn't about your frustrated youth sports career; it's about your child...having fun and enjoying the sport they love.  Don't forget that!!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

The College Football Playoff System...

The decision makers in college football have agreed to a 4-team playoff to decide the National Champion.  There will be a committee appointed to evaluate who the best 4 teams are and they will rank them 1-4 based on strength of schedule, record, and a combination of the two major polls.  I am hoping that this will end all talk of the true National Champion and we can end any speculation at the end of the year.

I am sure that this is all about properly crowning a Champion correct?  I'm sure it has nothing to do with money and it's all about the student athlete...correct?  Wait...you say that everyone involved will make tons of money...minus the student athletes themselves?  Well then let's support it 100 percent!!  I mean really? This sounds like politics where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer!  I'm sure the SEC won't have a built in advantage correct??  Fair...not in American Politics...and not in American Sports!

Monday, June 25, 2012

Football traditions...are they fading away?

College football is steeped in tradition, fight songs, school colors, mascots, rivalries and rabid fanbases!  Recently when talk of the mega-conferences began several traditions were altered almost immediately.  Texas and Texas A&M will no longer meet on the football field as a result of A&M's move to the SEC.  Money and greed are threatening to ruin college football ...so I ask...where is the outrage??

Nobody is protesting the end of this Lone Star State rivalry...it really makes you wonder what happened to those storied fanbases that they just let this rivalry game go without so much as a peep.  What happened to the passion?  Guess we shouldn't be suprised when today's student athletes don't seem to grasp the concept of tradition and rivalry...they don't seem to feel it to their core.  Guess that's why they think it's ok to sale their bowl and rivalry gear and awards.

Am I alone in my passion for college football and the worry about where it is headed?  Anybody care to chime in?

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Flashback time...Sports Goggles...Reds Third Baseman...





Who was that goggled third baseman that played fundamentally sound defense and aggressive offense?  None other than Chris Sabo!  For those of my younger readers who aren't familiar with the exploits of this hard-nosed member who played most of his career in Cincinnati I've included a few pics.  A close personal friend of mine recently mentioned his exploits not to mention his sports goggles.  Check out the photos...he rocked a crew-cut as well!!


 

King James...

Bron Bron and the Miami Heat won the 2012 NBA Championship this week.  Many fans hated the fact that LeBron is no longer without a ring.  They ridicule him still for many reasons, his hairline, his money, his leaving Cleveland, his ability, all kinds of things.  The owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers said that they would win a title before LeBron did...How's that crow tasting right now Mr. Gilbert? 

TEAM HEAT!!!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Miami and OKC for the Title!!

David Stern has his dream match up, America has picked sides, and the ratings will be off the charts!  I hope it goes 7 games and gives us a memorable series.  Most of all I hope LeBron can earn his ring and people can appreciate his skill and forget "the decision"!