PLAYER APPEARANCE = MEXICAN STANDOFF

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Originally posted by Pop Up Hitter dad:
Wklink.

Is that really Linecum? Doesn't even look like him now.

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Originally posted by Coach_May:
Love that story Scotty. My dad was a Command Sgt Major in the US Army. No one called him by name. They called him Sgt Major , Sir. We called him Dad. So did Mom. We had many strict rules around the house. And we were expected to treat everyone with respect. There were many days I cursed him under my breath. There were many days I wished I could be like some of the kids I went to school with and lived in the neihborhood. We all had buzz cuts. We had to work in the yard. Cut the grass , trim the shrubs , clear brush , work the gardens and we had to work on my grand pa's farm every summer in tobacco. It wasnt our choice. In fact very few things were.

When we reached the hs years we were told "If you want to play games you can. If you do you will give everything you have or you lose the right to play. I never got to play games as a kid. I had to drop out of school when I was 12 to support the family like all my brothers. So I want you guys to have the chance to play games if you want to."

My dad walked out of the tobacco fields at 18 and to the recruiters office to enlist in the Army. He got his hs diploma while in the Army. He later got his college degree with the GI Bill while in the Army. He never got to play any sports or as he would call them "games."

So I remember coming home after a practice where the football coach was very upset with our performance the previous Friday night. When we came to practice he said "No need for footballs today. No need for anything other than your cleats. Today I am going to find out who really wants to be out here." The entire practice we ran. Laps , sprints , grass drills etc. It was pure hell. But we did find out who really wanted to be there. The ones that were left when practice ended. We did not lose again that year. But that night I came home after puking my brains out I fell out on the couch. My Dad says "Whats wrong with you." I said "Coach killed us today. He ran us the entire practice." I could not get another word out because my Dad sat up looked me straight in the eyes and said "Boy when I was 18 years old I was in Korea. Me and a bunch of other boys your exact age. We were not playing games. If your not tough enough to handle it like a man then turn in your uniform. Dont you ever come in here again and complain about your coach. Dont you ever complain about playing games again. I never got to play games."

I never said another word. I got it. My Dad never missed a game. He was the guy that always cheered the loudest. All those things I used to hate and all those things that I used to think were stupid and had no value he made us do and live by. Those are all the things that have made me who I am. They are the things he gave me I will always cherish. He taught me the value of hard work. Sacrifice , discipline and commitment. I was allowed to make choices but I was made aware with those choices were consequences.

My Dad thank God was not my friend when I needed a Dad. He was my best friend when I needed him to be my best friend. And that was after I had become a man. Its easy to , very easy to be your kids friend. The problem is they got friends. They need you to be a father. Its alot harder to be a Dad. But thats what they need.

Playing a game is not your right. Making up the rules is not up to you. It is an honor and a priviledge to get to play games. It is an honor to represent your school , class mates and community. And your also representing every person that ever played for your school and program. If your not willing to run through a brick wall to get a jersey then you dont deserve one. If your playing is contingent on someone changing a rule so you WILL play. Then you simply dont deserve that right. Your kid has it all wrong. And so do you Dad. Others can disagree with me thats fine it doesnt bother me to be different. But maybe a few months in the tobacco field humping some leaf and maybe a few months not playing games but actually working would give him a different perspective on what games really are about.

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Originally posted by catfish342:
I was actually somewhat sympathetic to 00'sDad dilemma until he came back and posted that picture. That was some weak stuff. If you don't want opinions, then don't ask. Just because there are people who disagree with you doesn't make them narrow-minded bigots.

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Originally posted by kjktj:
I maybe repeating: Bill Walton showed up to the 1st practice in his Jr. or Sr. year.with hair down to his shoulders. Coach John Wooden suggested he shorten his hair. Walton politely refused saying Coach couldn't direct him in how to wear it. Wooden agreed, but let Walton know he could determine the who played. Walton came to practice the next day with a haircut

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Originally posted by 00'sDAD:
No he just stuck to his guns and let his ability do the talking till someone listened .

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Originally posted by Coach_May:
No the coach caved into a players demands and lost. It has nothing to do with ability talking. I could careless if your son could throw 105 and could strike out 21 batters a game. If I had a rule and he refused to follow it he wouldnt be on the team. Rules are not contingent on ability. By the way the Coach is a clown.