College parents beware!!

So very true Fungo!

I have wondered a bit recently if message boards are really a good thing or not. Why? Because everyone (me included) now thinks they're an ESPN/SI reporter with all the expertise it takes to praise, criticize, hype or tear down coaches and players. Used to only have to deal with the town newspaper...now we've got a hundred reporters at every game ready to load and fire on the internet the good and the bad. Some don't even have to be at the game to offer their expert opinions.

Fans...fanatics. I do think about it all differently now.

Yeah, it can be brutal to see negative posts about your son or his friends. It makes you understand why celebrities say they never read the paper! Ya definitely have to have thick skin and a sense of humor.

There is that phrase on this site of going to the "the next level". Whenever you go to that next level there are bumps in the road, those who react to those bumps are those who take the next step afer that. We as posters have no right to judge or ridicule, but rather we have the resonsibility to encourage and admire. Anyone who does less than that is missing that human trait we refer to as respect.

At 18, 19, 20 years old these kids have beat the odds and put their hearts and souls on the line during a very influential portion of their lives. The kids and their parents deserve better.

Fungo....are you better off not to even mention what school your son decides on?

AZred,
Good question. But, I think in your heart you know that answer. I think Bob or others that had a vision for this site meant for it to be the motivation for others to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. It was for us.

Have some additional warnings: it can get worse at the next level. Most of the fans are gracious, love their players, love the team and are very nice. We met so many it was hard to count. However, in addition to the issues Fungo addresses, you now build in Thursday night $1 beer promotions and the beer batter where an opposing player is selected and if he strikes out it is free or reduced priced price alcohol for several innings. Have an 8 year old standing next to $1 beer Dad and they don't ask for an autograph they say "hey you, gimme an autograph." Worse yet an 8 year old next to $1 beer parent who says "I don't want the autograph of someone who strikes out so much" When you get paid that grandly salary of $850/now raised to $1,100 you are fair game, especially when the game is now a "for profit" venture. Does not help though when SI runs an article seeming to give accolades to the most belligerent hecklers in your minor league. Read it in SI that it is "entertaining" and it has an impact. BTW, my son knows it will happen and views it as part of what he has to live with and an adjustment he has to make. Can be a pretty tough realization for Mom and Dad though, especially at away games.

Azred,
na - go ahead and mention his school - you have alot to be proud of

fungo is encouraging a thick skin & restraint when the inevitable happens - and, he forgot to mention, keep bail money handy when mom experiences the opposition's student section
(cover your ears, it's not PG13)

and hope she doesn't hurt them too bad

Fungo, I think you've probably given us all some very good advice. While I have never thought about this subject very deeply, I've seen it my entire life. Try being a basketball player at the University of Kentucky or for that matter the coach.

They can be heroes in the community one day and the next folks can be ready to escort them out of town.

Fans can be fickle and fans can be rude. As they say, everybody loves a winner. The loosers don't get much glory. Not right - hard to take - but it is the reality behind sports - college or pro.

quote:

, he forgot to mention, keep bail money handy when mom experiences the opposition's student section (cover your ears, it's not PG13)

Bee:

Even ran across a "blog" recently where some yahoo who I've never heard of giving his assessment of all the players. I read for a little while about a bunch of kids I've come to know fairly welland then realized the guy had no clue whatsoever.

I AM beginning to find it rather amusing and funny. Sometimes you recognize a poster and realize they aren't who they pretended to be in person.

Fungo et al ...

You are so right ... it occurs at the college level, as Fungo has expressed eloquently as usual ... the player is now a part of the fans' team even tho many of those fans could never be half as successful as the current players are. And as infielddad indicated, at the pro level it gets even worse. One of the hardest things to hear is one of the team's fans jeering at and heckling your son so badly that for a moment, you think the fan is for the other team.

And it only gets worse as they rise ... we went to a Padres game to see a family friend make his hometown debut ... he had thrown in 2 other games on the road. He struggled, really struggled that game and we were heartsick for him ... which only got worse when he was booed by the fans.

It takes a thick skin, that is true, and some of us may never grow that thick skin. But I think some of the comments in the other thread point to message board comments that were not a critique of the player's ability or performance but were out and out attacks on the player. We all second guess coaching decisions for our team and for other teams, ask why certain players/pitchers aren't getting play time, etc. ... but a criticism of an outing or a coaching decision is not the same thing as a personal attack.

I don't think any of us can get past a truly personal attack on our sons ... I know I never will.

You haven't lived until your son is loudly booed by 45,000 home town fans. It's a totally different experience than any others I've ever had.

LOL PG! Great perspective. May sound strange, but I hope I get the same opportunity someday. Actually, I think many on here feel the same way.

AZRed,
I agree with RZ1...that it is a very good question. I don’t think anyone would think less of a parent for NEVER signing on to a website, NEVER posting any information about their son and their experiences...but on the other hand... You have so much to be proud of and so much to share. Here’s the way I look at it...when I found the HSBBW is was a fledgling product of Bob, his son, and a few players and parents that had already gone through a process of getting to the next level and were willing to share their experiences. Had they not done that, things would have been a real challenge for my son. I learned everything from them. I do feel a sense of obligation to pass on some of the information I learned from them and some that I gathered myself. This whole process has probably been the greatest experience I have ever been through. It’s not JUST baseball. It’s sharing a part of your life with your son and then being able to communicate and share that experience with others that are doing the same thing. You see, I know how you feel when your son hits a homerun or strikes out. I know how you feel when he is put on the bench. I know how you feel when his name goes up on the scoreboard. I’ve had to wipe the tears of hurt, the tears of joy, and I’ve had to bite my lip many times. Sure we could all go our own way and do our own thing. That would be OK. I guess I look at it much the same way I think my son does when he steps on the field. He’s knows he’s part of a team...a family if you will....a group that laughs when he laughs and hurts when he hurts. I think the majority of the posters on the HSBBW feel much the same way. I say lets all do what we can do to continue the tradition.
That's just the way I feel,
Fungo

Fungo,

That was a classic post. Somehow, your posts are never about you but about what you can do for someone else - the golden rule if you will. Today was an off day to say the least as far as some of the posts go. You have restored some order.

Fungo, :

quote:

Originally posted by PGStaff:
You haven't lived until your son is loudly booed by 45,000 home town fans. It's a totally different experience than any others I've ever had.

Hopefully that did not happen in Milwaukee!

Boy, does this hit a chord right now. He's never had anything like this happen to him.

He hears the whispers and so do I. Fortunately, we've both got pretty thick skin. He seems to be holding up better than I am; it's killing me.

To his credit, he is staying true to one of the oldest sports mantras:

The only thing I have complete control over is my effort. If I keep working, sooner or later there will be a payoff.

Later can't come soon enough.

Fungo,

You truly are one of the good old boys on this great site. You're always trying to help others understand things based on sharing you and your sons experiences. And you are not alone.

What drew me to the HSBBweb was the many people who were really trying to help others. Of course, more than anyone that includes Bob.

I've read so much on this site, the good, the bad and yes even the ugly. But the good is just too good to ignore. I think it makes some of us want to get involved and help.

I suppose some might look at my involvement as being promotional or marketing, but that just isn't true. Before identifying myself, the name was "The Truth" and only Bob knew. Even then if the topic was PG it was avoided.

Others might think... what a know-it-all, but that's not true either. Guess I do have a lot of experience but... In fact, I believe I have learned much more than I've ever given on the HSBBWeb.

Most importantly I've learned that there are a lot of great parents out there who are involved (the right way) with their kids. And they're willing to help those who may not have experienced everything yet.

I really wish this site exsisted when my kids were young. Not so much because of baseball, but more because I might have learned to be a better father. Afterall, baseball ends for everyone at some point. You are a father or mother till the day you die.

Hardly ever use the word "great" in our line of work, but there are a lot of "great" parents involved with the HSBBWeb.

justbaseball,

You too are among the many givers. Tell you what, I'm positive that there are parents here on the HSBBWeb who will get that opportunity you mention someday. Maybe your son, or Fungo's son, BBScout's son, OPP's son, BigHit's son, TPM's son, And many many others.

If anyone wants to talk about nasty websites, go to any of the MLB messageboards and hang on to your chair.

I can almost guarantee that if your son gets there, you will feel the wrath of the "fans". I do hope no one ever experiences the full house booing though.

If so, you might as well join in and boo too, or they might figure out who you are and hang you.

I've heard this booing many times before, but it sure is a lot different when your son is the reason. It's a real strange feeling that comes over you. Not sure anyone can prepare for it. It is just part of the game, I kept telling my wife. Afterwards son knew what to tell her... "No big deal Mom... When I do good they'll all be cheering."

Fungo....thank you....thanks for all postings....we appreciate each and every one of you.....just going to miss TPM.....and because, as Fungo says.....we log on...we post...we learn.....and we come to feel that we are a community....assisting each other....sharing knowledge and experiences....helping our kids get to the next level...and as important...to help when they transition away from active participation....

We'll keep sharing....but it's tough when someone who has helped so much leaves....best wishes TPM....

I dont think this site would exist if weren't for the posters who have been thru it all offering assitance and advice---yea it gets feisty in here many times but the waves flatten out and all is well again--there is peace in the valley

Aint baseball great !!!

Yes indeed Tr, baseball is a great game! I thought the voting on IDOL last night was correct. You inspired me to watch it with my wife and daughter.

A true baseball fan realizes that ALL players go through slumps. Fungo's, Justbaseball's, TPMom's, mine, all of them. If some jackass calls them out, tell him to get his *** in the box, on the field or on the mound and let see how well they perform. Baseball is a game of failure, we all know this. If anyones kid needs to be concerned, its when they feel that aren't into the game or don't feel they need to continually work on their game. That is a cause for concern.

Being relatively new experiencing the minor league "process", I expected issues being raised about a player's game specific performance. What I wasn't prepared for was the public comparison between players on web sites, Baseball America, home team newspapers, etc., that compare teammates based on projections which conclude the exact opposite of what the player's coaches are saying. I truly am in awe of all players that make the major league level, knowing the physical sacrifices they have made over the years, but really appreciating the mental toughness they have to have to reach their dream.