Regarding the "Good Coach, Bad Coach" recent posting by baseballmom, I'd like to submit a few comments. Although it was NOT said directly, the implication was that Coach J.T. Blair somehow fell into category "B." I would like to say a few words in his behalf. My son went through the NSHS baseball program also, and he was invited on the team as a freshman, the first in the school's history; and there is no way in hades that he would have had that opportunity under Fred Howard...I don't care if he was the 2nd coming of Alex Rodriguez, and this is from those in the "know." I know that his teams won District Championships 3 out of the 4 years he played for Blair, at least going to the playoffs in the one year that they didn't. I know that my son earned "Freshman of the year" honors, All-district honors, and one All-State honor all while playing for Coach Blair. I know that Coach Blair got on my son when he needed to, and praised him when he deserve it, as it should be. As for those who can move into the NS area to play baseball for a perennially winning baseball program, I say,"God bless 'em!". Coach Blair has never broken and will never break the rules of eligibility...to what end? Yet another district championship banner vs. his job? Don't think so! Do you suppose some really good football players moved into the Southlake Carroll district in order to play football under Todd Dodge..renters for sure, as well as those very few who can afford to buy a house and pay the taxes in Southlake? Probably, but this is supposition, not fact. And Newman Smith was smart to let Dodge go on his way...he hasn't done very much since he left the Trojan football program. I know that Coach Blair leaves his home very early in the morning in order to get to school for "breakfast club" at 7 a.m. or earlier in order to help those kids on the team who's grades are not up to par. I know that Coach Blair stays very late and works on Kelly Field..and even on weekends during the baseball season..they do not pay him overtime...he does it for love of the game and pride in what has been given to him. I know that he helps coach the football team during their season, when there is NO WAY he should be called upon to do this extra task. I know that plenty of scouts, both college and pro, come to Newman Smith games just to see who Blair has on the field that year...I have seen them. I know that plenty of ex-players, my son included, and some that didn't even play for him, like to come over to The Tutt or Kelly field and hang out with ol' "category B" Coach Blair. Wonder why? Is J.T. Blair the 2nd coming of Tony LaRussa? He would be the first to admit "not." Is he the incredibly strict disciplinarian of Coach Howard? Thankfully, "not." He is somewhere in the middle, where he should be. Will he become even a better coach, teacher, mentor over the years to come? You can bet your sweet derriere, "yes!" "Baseballmom" dealt an underserved slur at a guy who deserved an ace..because that's what he is. Afterall, her son has moved on and is playing baseball for a quite prestigious D-1 school and on a fat scholarship. Fortunately, my son has also...and perhaps he will play at even a higher level one day, God willing. "Revenge, as well as bitterness, is a dish best served cold!" But in this case, it is a dish "best served" not at all, and simply thrown in the trash where it most assuredly belongs. Sorry for this "Rant," but IMO these were things that had to be said, and a rebuttal that had to be made. Eye of the beholder.
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