Random Thought

Interesting topic... I've skimmed most replies... Like smokeminside I got a "rise" out of the 3 types of posters comment as I don't fit into any of those categories. I also find the "Random thought" and the (politely) very varying/strong opinions/arguments afterwards to be an interesting paradox. /me thinks this was more than a random thought... If it was random, would the author have kept replying?

Anyway building off of 2019of's last sentence "Failure is in the eyes of the beholder." but keeping in mind some of the discussion that has occurred... If failure is 4 years of D3 baseball at a HA followed by 3 years of UNC Law school to be a lawyer because my son realized early on that being able to continue to play baseball and get a quality education was more important and/or likely than what it takes to get into the MLB, then I'll take that "failure" 7 years out of 7. I can thump my chest over that accolade for a lifetime rather than the few weeks/months at the end of the HS school if my son got a scholly at some D1 school. When he was going through the process - even applying to low level D1's or D2's wasn't an option for him because he felt he needed the HA. So yes, while D3 chose him, he also chose D3 by not pursuing other options. Going to a D1 or D2 would only have been a "status symbol" gesture at best. 

When you "see" yourself the difference between the levels (I also had a son play at a D2 school) - it really becomes more apparent that it's important to choose the right level for yourself (both baseball and school). I think that's what quite a few posters have noted here as well (not only in this thread but in many others over my years of mostly reading).

I will note as a parent watching D3 baseball for 4 years, I wondered about a few players along the way - thinking they could have played "higher", but each player and family has reasons for where they are playing. To a degree the sport has chosen where they'll play. If they do well enough at any level, a pro scout will find them.

"Failure" for my kid who played D-II is walking out of a school 4 years later with no student loans and not owing a cent to anyone.  A more than decent athletic scholarship along with great academic monies ensured that.  2020OFDad, your son is an outfielder if the "OF" stands for outfield.  Do you know that the big athletic money for college is going to pitchers and your son stands a chance of having a 25% athletic scholarship?  Of course you know that.  Make sure that the D-I loan payments are manageable when/if that MLB money does not come your son's way.  Of course you can't think like that so, enjoy that bonus and having a bonus baby for a son.  

2022OFDad posted:

Luv Baseball, Toby Keith is a country singer who tends to talk about bar stools a bit. You seem to feel life is feast or famine, success or abject poverty. That is sad. What I teach my kid is when the odds are 1 in a million, strive to be the one. I’m sure there are plenty of guys in your imaginary bar wondering if they could have made it in sports if they had just taken the chance. 

Your daughter would be lucky to date/marry my kid, he’s the hardest working person I know, successful in almost everything he does. 

AHH.  Never listened to Country music, sorry to have missed the reference.  I am a movie guy.

Not sure how my mentality is feast or famine when you are telling your kid "when odds are 1 in a million, strive to be the one".  Well Highlander - that is the very definition of feast or famine.  

My approach to being self aware and creating multiple options - is the antithesis of feast or famine.  But it seems like we just see things differently and that is OK too.

Now knowing your boy is from MASS his odds really are closer to 1 in a million if all in on baseball is the plan.  So I have to ask,,,Why bother with college at all?  If he gets drafted then sign and get on with it.  If he doesn't send him to an independent league. 

It will speed up his process to get on that bar stool listening to Toby Keith. 

Best of luck....I really mean it.  The world needs another Mike Piazza before it needs more guys talking about glory days.  

luv baseball posted:

2022OFDad posted:

Luv Baseball, Toby Keith is a country singer who tends to talk about bar stools a bit. You seem to feel life is feast or famine, success or abject poverty. That is sad. What I teach my kid is when the odds are 1 in a million, strive to be the one. I’m sure there are plenty of guys in your imaginary bar wondering if they could have made it in sports if they had just taken the chance. 

Your daughter would be lucky to date/marry my kid, he’s the hardest working person I know, successful in almost everything he does. 

AHH.  Never listened to Country music, sorry to have missed the reference.  I am a movie guy.

Not sure how my mentality is feast or famine when you are telling your kid "when odds are 1 in a million, strive to be the one".  Well Highlander - that is the very definition of feast or famine.  

My approach to being self aware and creating multiple options - is the antithesis of feast or famine.  But it seems like we just see things differently and that is OK too.

Now knowing your boy is from MASS his odds really are closer to 1 in a million if all in on baseball is the plan.  So I have to ask,,,Why bother with college at all?  If he gets drafted then sign and get on with it.  If he doesn't send him to an independent league. 

It will speed up his process to get on that bar stool listening to Toby Keith. 

Best of luck....I really mean it.  The world needs another Mike Piazza before it needs more guys talking about glory days.  

 

Major Country Music guy here.  As an FYI, Toby Keith sings about a lot more than bar stools.  Some time listen to the song American Soldier.   For many of us, the proof is in the pudding.  In this thread, there is a lot of good advice from people who have "been there and done that."  For the casual member reading this with a 2020 son, this thread would be good reading.  

Here’s another example of someone choosing D2 over D1 and not having any regrets about it.

 I ran track back in the late 80s early 90s.  I was recruited by a number of schools.  A lot of mid D1s as well as D2s and D3s.  The biggest named D1 who offered me was U of Mich.  At the same time I had an offer from a Midwest D2.  I choose the D2 over the D1.   I guess I gave up on my athletic career at that point. 

The offers were exactly the same between UofM and the D2.  Why would I choose the “lesser school”?  For starters my grades were not up to UofM’s normal standards.  They were decent but I would not have gotten in to the school without athletic sponsorship.  When I met with the athletic/academic advisors I was told I would most likely graduate with a Sociology degree or a degree in Physical Education.  Neither of which I was interested in.  I was wanting to get into Computer Science.  The D2 school afforded me that opportunity.

 In addition the D2 had the better program then UofM.  It was a very strong D2 program 2 of the 5 years prior to my attending they won the national championship.  We came in 2^ndand 8^thtwo of the four years I was there.  With the exception of the conf meet and the national championships they competed at the D1 level.  Over the years we had meets at Kentucky, Indiana, Purdue, Tennessee, MSU, UofM.  So I did not lack for competition.  In fact I frequently placed higher then most of D1 guys in my event.  Heck most of our team would place higher then many of the D1 guys.

 In the end the D2 program was a way better choice.  It offered me the opportunity to get the degree I wanted and was way more competitive then many of the D1 programs.

I really have to question the glorification of "going pro".  The vast majority of pros never make it to MLB.  Even most of those who do will still have to do something else later in life.  My son's former hitting instructor was a first round draft choice.  He made it!!  He now scratches together a living giving lessons and charges less per hour than my cleaning lady.

luv baseball posted:

2022OFDad posted:

 

Best of luck....I really mean it.  The world needs another Mike Piazza before it needs more guys talking about glory days.  

 

I played against Mike Piazza in HS, he was a beast. The tales of his HS days being not impressive are highly misleading. Plus he went to a JC in Florida somewhere....stories have a way of making it sound as if he was totally unknown.

A lot of players choose D2 over D1. Here in the state of NC there 20 programs that play D1 baseball. Why would a player offered by some of these D1 programs opt for D2 or D3 program?

Maybe they can go to a D2 with scholarship money vs being one of the many on these D1 rosters not on scholarship money?

Maybe they can go to a D2 with scholarship money and the price of tuition is far less than that of the D1 program?

Maybe they will be playing in a program that has the opportunity for post season play. Is a consistent winner. Is not a perennial cellar dweller?

Maybe they will actually be playing in a program that is a better baseball program than some of the D1 programs they could have attended? Mount Olive, Belmont Abbey, UNC Pembroke, Catawba. Make no mistake some of these D1 programs are terrible. They never win. They have a losing culture. Their facilities are no better and in some cases not as good.

Maybe they would rather go where they are loved than where they are liked? Maybe they are more concerned with what they do where they are than where they are?

Maybe they would rather have the opportunity coming in to play right away rather than being R/S, get 10 innings in relief, recruited over, etc etc etc. 

Take a look at any D1 roster. Tell me how many at bats the bench position players get each year. Now take a look at how many guys throw significant innings and how many guys don't. Out of that 25 guys tell me how many actually see significant playing time. Sitting on the bench at at D1 vs being on the filed at a D2 or D3? 

Yes your chances of being drafted are higher if you play D1 baseball. But what are your chances of being drafted if you sit the pine at a D1 vs actually being on the field at a D2 or D3? You don't get scouted sitting on the pine. Even if your jersey says State U. 

Some guys are smarter than some parents. 

K9 posted:

I really have to question the glorification of "going pro".  The vast majority of pros never make it to MLB.  Even most of those who do will still have to do something else later in life.  My son's former hitting instructor was a first round draft choice.  He made it!!  He now scratches together a living giving lessons and charges less per hour than my cleaning lady.

This!  This is why you better go to college to get an education even if you're planning to get drafted!  In my town, you can't throw a rock without hitting a former professional ball player trying to scrape together a living coaching and/or teaching baseball.  I've seen quite a few of them give it a go for a few years only to turn to something else when they realize they can't really pay the bills.  Usually happens around the time they get married, or if they're really persistent, after they have their first kid.  The other kind I see are the "sports management majors" who played college ball with no plan B and now work at sporting goods stores selling my son his baseball cleats.

If your son was a gifted musician and he told you he wanted to try to earn a living as a professional violinist, I think you might tell him something like:  "Son, you have a lot of talent and if that is your dream, you should go for it.  But I hope you'll get a college degree in Economics or History or Math as a double major while you get your conservatory training."  (You can, for example, study music while also pursuing another major at Johns Hopkins, among other schools...)

Even if your kid is the next Mike Trout or Bryce Harper, a career-ending injury is always a possibility--and that can happen off the field, too, such as in an auto accident.  (And odds are your kid isn't the next Mike Trout, or even the next replacement-level guy on an MLB team's bench earning the $545k league minimum.)  Even the 10% of college players who get drafted mostly end up earning the equivalent of less than minimum wage as pro baseball players.    

If my kid were drafted (even in a high round) and wanted to give MiLB a shot, I'd root like heck for him and try to help him with some grocery and rent money for a couple of years.  But I'd feel a lot better if he had a solid college degree to fall back on to earn a living during the next 40+ years of his life.

K9 posted:

I really have to question the glorification of "going pro".  The vast majority of pros never make it to MLB.  Even most of those who do will still have to do something else later in life.  My son's former hitting instructor was a first round draft choice.  He made it!!  He now scratches together a living giving lessons and charges less per hour than my cleaning lady.

I think there is a corollary here as well.  Even if you make MLB if you don't do it until you are 23 -25 you will not hit free agency until you are 30 or older.  Without the greenies and PED's the contracts for 31/32 year old players are likely to be significantly diminished compared to the past.

The reliance on analytics has made GM's and owners realize there is a financial disincentive to pay big money to late career free agents.  Those in that camp will likely see more 2/3 year deals than the 6/7 mega deals that once happened.  That will be for all-star or real high level pros.  If you are a .240 guy with 10/15 HR potential that is not a SS or Catcher - you might well be done going forward.  Why pay a 8 year vet $6MM rather than a 24 year old rookie the minimum of $535K to be your 4th outfielder or utility guy?  This is especially true if you are one of 20 teams that have no real shot at the WS.  If you are a borderline team like Phillies last year you can wait until July and add a real pro for the last couple of months to add depth and experience like when they grabbed Cabrera from the Mets.

The kids that make it as teens - Harper/Machado types will get to ring the bell at 26/27 but others may never get the monster payday that seemed common a few years back.  Watch what happens to guys like deGrom.  For all the world he looks like a 5 year $150 MM guy today.  He is a UFA after two more seasons when he will be 33.  I would never make that deal with him unless he was the last piece for 2 or 3 runs at the World Series.  I would know going in that the last couple of years are risky.  If he has any trouble or drops in velocity at any point in the next two seasons - he'll never get that money.  

I love this bar.

LUV, wish you spoke with the Brave's GM before he inked Donaldson for 1 year at $23M, coming off an 8 HR, 52 game season.  Yikes!

2022OF,

    ...   Take off the....

2022OFDad posted:

RoadRunner posted:

2022OFDad posted:

RJM posted:

2022OFDad posted:

RJM posted:

I know kids who played in the Centennial League and NESCAC who received D1 mid major offers. They knew they weren’t pro prospects. They were more interested in the best avenue to grad school than pro ball. 

They knew they would start and probably star on a D3. They chose the best combination of their perception of baseball experience and academics. I know kids who played at these schools knowing it was ok to miss practice or a game due to academics.

Here’s a simple big picture, long term example. Do you want to play D1 baseball and get a UMass degree or play D3 baseball and get a Tufts degree? If a kid picks UMass he should get his head examined.

 

I understand what you are saying, but to me it is taking the easy road and they gave up on themselves and their dream after their senior high school year. I don’t respect guys who go that route simply for the “BMOC” effect. I get being “realistic” and knowing most players don’t get the opportunity to play pro ball, but you can’t tell me that if players have the chance to play at a school (let’s say Ivy or Patriot League in D1) of comparable value (educationally) they wouldn’t choose one of those schools if they had an offer to play over a D3 school. They likely did not have an offer from a school of that caliber and went the route you stated.

I could argue they gave up on themselves academically taking the much less challenging academic situation.

You certainly could make that argument! This site seems to have 3 distinct flavors of parents posting on it: 1) kids are bonifide studs going to big time programs...no need to brag, kids are legit 2) Kids are going to mid major programs and parents are grateful for the chance their kids have received 3) parents who are making making excuses as to why their player is going to a school other than D1. 

Thats just my observation. Yours may be different.

This is just so wrong. And furthermore, I hope that no one here, registered user or not, believes this kind of nonsense!

It’s just my observation. 

Well this observation lacks credibility and helps no one here. 

Ok boys and girls that's enough piling on we all had a different view of things when our players were freshman and the merry-go-round was just beginning! 2022OF my son just signed his nli to a top 20 D1 but at the beginning of the summer we were discussing D2 or JUCO as reality, he had a outstanding summer and the path took a turn had this not happened then who knows where 44 could have ended up! I said all this to make a point sometimes the path leads us regardless of our best laid plans and the truth is most of the times it's financial not talent that ends up steering our path, there is one fact that is always true! College baseball is hard and there are great players at every level for all kinds of reasons so let's play nice😁

Catchdad44 posted:

Ok boys and girls that's enough piling on we all had a different view of things when our players were freshman and the merry-go-round was just beginning! 2022OF my son just signed his nli to a top 20 D1 but at the beginning of the summer we were discussing D2 or JUCO as reality, he had a outstanding summer and the path took a turn had this not happened then who knows where 44 could have ended up! I said all this to make a point sometimes the path leads us regardless of our best laid plans and the truth is most of the times it's financial not talent that ends up steering our path, there is one fact that is always true! College baseball is hard and there are great players at every level for all kinds of reasons so let's play nice😁

 

 

Congrats to your son on signing and good luck to him. I appreciate your intention of trying to smooth things over on this forum, however, I am questioning whether you read the previous post, in its entirety. 2022OF made a pretty insulting statement about the parents posting on this forum when he classified them in 3 different categories. As a fairly new member with less than 500 posts, I think he would be better served by the community by not making all or nothing insulting statements. And then further digging his heals in. Furthermore, I think those that he insulted have been remarkably kind and gentle with him. 

I sincerely hope that you are not bothered by my comment about 2022OF observations of classifying parents on this forum lacking credibility and being unhelpful. And hoping that this last post clarifys my statement. 

Again congrats to your family!

Roadrunner not bothered at all by yourself or anyone else comments, I was actually trying to nicely drive home the fact that there are many extenuating circumstances that control the recruiting path and some our outside of our control! This forum has been a huge help to our journey so far and I am sure it will continue to be! I am forever grateful to the members for there experiences and opinions, not that i agree with all of them😁!

RoadRunner posted:

Catchdad44 posted:

Ok boys and girls that's enough piling on we all had a different view of things when our players were freshman and the merry-go-round was just beginning! 2022OF my son just signed his nli to a top 20 D1 but at the beginning of the summer we were discussing D2 or JUCO as reality, he had a outstanding summer and the path took a turn had this not happened then who knows where 44 could have ended up! I said all this to make a point sometimes the path leads us regardless of our best laid plans and the truth is most of the times it's financial not talent that ends up steering our path, there is one fact that is always true! College baseball is hard and there are great players at every level for all kinds of reasons so let's play nice😁

 

 

Congrats to your son on signing and good luck to him. I appreciate your intention of trying to smooth things over on this forum, however, I am questioning whether you read the previous post, in its entirety. 2022OF made a pretty insulting statement about the parents posting on this forum when he classified them in 3 different categories. As a fairly new member with less than 500 posts, I think he would be better served by the community by not making all or nothing insulting statements. And then further digging his heals in. Furthermore, I think those that he insulted have been remarkably kind and gentle with him. 

I sincerely hope that you are not bothered by my comment about 2022OF observations of classifying parents on this forum lacking credibility and being unhelpful. And hoping that this last post clarifys my statement. 

Again congrats to your family!

He’s not new. He’s only new with the current name. He was previously tossed for behavioral reasons. You can’t hide your personality and writing style long. There are moderators who know who it is.

Chico Escuela posted:

A career-ending injury is always a possibility--and that can happen off the field, too, such as in an auto accident.

Worst thing anyone ever said to me was "your son is one play away from the end of his career." Scary, but true. We plan for the future accordingly.

CTbballDad posted:

LUV, wish you spoke with the Brave's GM before he inked Donaldson for 1 year at $23M, coming off an 8 HR, 52 game season.  Yikes!

CT - Dollars are high but years are right.  Betting on 500 AB's and 30 HR's but I think they are wrong about that.

FWIW - 25 years in Danbury -  State isn't what it used to be.

If anyone gets offended by a 3 categories statement, or for that matter anything on the internet; you need to examine yourself.

2022OFDad posted:

Matty posted:

Well, "how we do things in my family" is to find the right fit for the child, not the parents' egos!  And the edge that we want sharpened is the academic one.  As for choosing D3 because there were no D1 offers, it never got that far for our son.  He set his sights on the education he wanted first, and when a school expressed interest in him that he didn't think was an academic fit, he told them very nicely that he wasn't interested.  So we don't know how many offers may have come.  He achieved his goal of continuing to play the game he loves and getting a world class engineering degree from a certain technical institute in Cambridge.  By the way, one of his teammates was drafted in the 8th round by the Cubs AND has a kickass education, so it does happen.

That’s great for that one player, and for your son. But you don’t go to MIT for baseball. You may as well say the name if you are going to hint around it that hard.

Best hitter in previous Yrs Cape Cod League was SS for MIT, and he was drafted.

FURTHER: my son had multiple Mid D1 opps but they weren’t a Duke, NW, or ND.  His dream is to play pro ball, he was a late bloomer, he understood the odds of playing professionally, so opted for HA D3, he played well enough in summer league as an incoming freshman and was able to secure a contract in a top summer league next year. 

Son went from 5’9 160 in Sophomore yr to current 5’11 185, crushes the ball and he was one of the top MIFs around, and competed against the top National teams at WWBA and PG Super 25’s. 

Kid can play, has a dream, we deal with the next 40yrs.

Search the posts Sir, lots of these types here.

Kid throws 93 across IF, 90 on mound... and fortunately for him his exit velo has gone from 90 to 96 in past 3 months.

Dream, understanding probability, and work ethic.  

Dad doesn’t squash dreams, dad is ok with paying for NESCAC vs 10% for State U.

Straight A’s will serve as a great hedge for options should baseball end.

Happy Holidays to you.

2019OF posted:

If anyone gets offended by a 3 categories statement, or for that matter anything on the internet; you need to examine yourself.

It's rare for anyone here to feel offended, but it does happen from time to time.  I wasn't particularly offended by the categories statement.  I just think it is not only flat out wrong, but wasn't offered in the spirit of generosity that I feel is usually one of the hallmarks of this site.

Iowamom23 posted:

Chico Escuela posted:

A career-ending injury is always a possibility--and that can happen off the field, too, such as in an auto accident.

Worst thing anyone ever said to me was "your son is one play away from the end of his career." Scary, but true. We plan for the future accordingly.

My oldest was a soccer player.  She tripped and fell while walking to practice.  Two knee surgeries, many months of physical therapy, a whole lot of grit and two years later, she did make it back on the field; but was never the same player.  

2019OF posted:

If anyone gets offended by a 3 categories statement, or for that matter anything on the internet; you need to examine yourself.

I called the statement offensive.  I didn't say I was offended.  They are not the same thing.

I do sometimes get offended by statements I see on the internet, but it's usually stuff that is racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, etc.  

I will be glad to examine myself if you promise to do the same.

BTW are you and 2022OF the same person?

CoachB25 posted:

Major Country Music guy here.  As an FYI, Toby Keith sings about a lot more than bar stools. 

Not to start another huge argument here (because I like ya, B25), but Toby Keith simply isn't country music. Willie, Waylon, George Jones, George Strait + country music.

Next thing you'll tell me is you've been to a Florida/Georgia Line concert.

I like Luke Bryan and Walker Hayes but I bet you don't think they are country music either.   

It does present an added part to this discussion.   Everything is not the same for everybody.  My son has always dreamed of playing in the SEC and wants to be involved in baseball after college unless he gets drafted out of HS.  He has a plan to get to a point and hopefully that day will come either through college or not.  He has good grades but not outrageously good grades.  College is an avenue for him to get where he wants to be but it is more about fulfilling the dream.  So for him, the SEC was his best choice but not for everyone.  He had offers from other P5's.  All of it was good baseball but not what he wanted. 

In country music, I listen to it all but I like the new stuff over the old stuff.  Those who don't like the new stuff are not wrong and I'm not right.  Every road does not fit for everybody.  That is why you hear on here all the time make sure it is a right fit for your family whether we are talking picking a travel team or picking a college or accepting a draft offer right out of school. 

I don't think my son would be happy going to a D2/D3 but we have definitely discussed JUCO according to his draft options, if there are any.  My middle son played baseball all of his life and was at a college coaching baseball when a nice softball coach job opened at the college.  He thought it through and made the jump and loves it now.  Never would have guessed that would have been his journey.  Don't let anybody tell you that your road or your son's road is wrong.  It is their road.  I would have never picked the road I have taken but it has been a pretty good journey, most days.  Most of all, I believe God led me down this road to get me and my family where he wanted us to be.

Yee Haw.

I'm sure this is going to trigger a few people, but I'm gonna say it anyway.

My favorite country artist is Robert Earl Keen.

Wheeler walker jr

i also agree on classic country but have a place for some artists who are newer. Not really into CRaP, country rap and it seems like all these dudes today have two first names. WUWT?

JCG posted:

I'm sure this is going to trigger a few people, but I'm gonna say it anyway.

My favorite country artist is Robert Earl Keen.

Merry Christmas from the Family !

My favorite “country music” song ever! 

2019OF posted:

If anyone gets offended by a 3 categories statement, or for that matter anything on the internet; you need to examine yourself.

The other side of that coin is that anyone that makes uneducated and inflammatory statements on an internet message board should also do some self-examination.

I like Kenny Chesney. He’s country, rock and Jimmy Buffett all rolled in one. Chesney will never drone on about losing his woman, his dog and his pickup. His beer, his boat and his beach chair is another issue.

Besides ...

The sun's too bright,
The sky's too blue
Beer's too cold to be thinking about you

I go to one of his concerts at Gillette every year. I know it’s the only place he did two concerts this year. Surprisingly, he’s played in front of more people in Massachusetts/Gillette than anywhere else. 

Over a Thanksgiving I played some Chesney with my cousin’s daughter who also plays the guitar. At the beginning of the video (parents recorded us) I added the disclaimer “no minors were corrupted in the making of this video.” Most of his songs involve beer, bars and getting some.

Eric Church once opened for Chesney. He has a weird voice. But I like him. This year Brothers Osborne opened. I liked some of their stuff.

I’m not into the old twangy stuff .... My woman just left and the dog lifted his leg on me. I had to walk cause the bank just took my Chevy. 

My kids went to college in areas with southern country influence. They like Chesney too. My daughter said her generation is killing classic rock. Nothing will be worth hearing in ten years. My son likes my generations music. He believes most of the best guitarists are from the 60’s and 70’s. 

Al Green. Charlie Daniels. Lynard Skynard. The Eagles. Hank Williams. Patsy Cline. Yes I know I am a little bit crazy. But I like me just the way I am. 

Coach_May posted:

Al Green. Charlie Daniels. Lynard Skynard. The Eagles. Hank Williams. Patsy Cline. Yes I know I am a little bit crazy. But I like me just the way I am. 

Interesting lineup. I like Al Green hitting leadoff but don’t like The Eagles in the 4 hole. 

Maybe we’re all here ‘cause we ain’t all there.

- Kenny Chesney

Now, this is the nice, polite, agree to disagree, celebrating each other's differences kind of conversation I'm talking about.

"Up against the wall, red neck mother!"

Ray Wylie Hubbard . (might have to make his name my new handle)

Just saw Ray Wylie in Austin a couple of weeks ago. Snake Farm!

Just remember that I got this thread all mushy when I say something that offends you. 

BTW, I love Jimmy Buffett but do not think he is country. 

Grew up way more rock than country.  Always laughed at the country story lines and flipped the station.  Our kids all latched on to our favorite music from our era.  Except the youngest, the ball player... he went heavy into country as a young teen.  He would always change my settings in my car to country stations and it would tick me off.  After a while, I started secretly leaving the country stations on.  Still laugh at the story lines, though.  

Have no idea of names though...  we have a big Mid-State Fair just up the road.  They do a great job attracting the biggest names and they bring in more country than any other genres.  The boys (and girls) will gather at the house to make calls for tix the minute they become available.  They get REALLY excited and tell me who it is they are trying to get tix for.  No clue.