Fastball, lets start with the fact that the esteemed cplz referred to me as a tool, i think its it great that his son made it into a fine institution and i told him so. I just see things differently I made my comments thats it. The rhetoric that followed and the unnecessary
Slurpy,
Deflecting a question with a question...Hmm. Sounds familiar.
And for the record, I too value the whole experience of travel ball as precious time spent with my son. Both my wife and I grew up without the benefit of both mom and dad in the house. There were no baseball, basketball and track meets attended. Same for my wife. The value of long drives, flights, and hotels will never be measured in dollars. My wife and I decided as she was first pregnant that we would spend significant time individually as well as together with our son. It's an opportunity for us to witness the ups and downs of his career. We'll be there to hold and encourage on the downs. We'll be there humble tears of pride when all is good. Your perception of this family (HSBBW) as wanting to live through their kids is so far off it's incredible...we want what is best for our kids and also to share the triumphs and tragedies with others that understand.
I think all these experiences (travel, showcases, private instruction etc,) that you so despise and criticize others for are great avenues for these kids to realize their true athletic potential. And the road to true potential is filled with life lessons that will be usefull in whatever profession they may choose in life, not to mention galvanize in them a desire to support their own kids.
And when my 3 year old daughter tries something, you can bet this "daddyballer" (your term) will be there too, with checks in hand.
Deflecting a question with a question...Hmm. Sounds familiar.
And for the record, I too value the whole experience of travel ball as precious time spent with my son. Both my wife and I grew up without the benefit of both mom and dad in the house. There were no baseball, basketball and track meets attended. Same for my wife. The value of long drives, flights, and hotels will never be measured in dollars. My wife and I decided as she was first pregnant that we would spend significant time individually as well as together with our son. It's an opportunity for us to witness the ups and downs of his career. We'll be there to hold and encourage on the downs. We'll be there humble tears of pride when all is good. Your perception of this family (HSBBW) as wanting to live through their kids is so far off it's incredible...we want what is best for our kids and also to share the triumphs and tragedies with others that understand.
I think all these experiences (travel, showcases, private instruction etc,) that you so despise and criticize others for are great avenues for these kids to realize their true athletic potential. And the road to true potential is filled with life lessons that will be usefull in whatever profession they may choose in life, not to mention galvanize in them a desire to support their own kids.
And when my 3 year old daughter tries something, you can bet this "daddyballer" (your term) will be there too, with checks in hand.
FBD, I believe that Feb 25th is the day that Slurve first paid us a visit.
This is an interesting thread, IMO. We've got some posters here who, in the past, have had their differences, myself included. But, it seems that none of us would change much at all with regards to the time, energy, and money spent to afford our son's the opportunity for them to become the best that they can be. All of those long, arduous road trips in the summer are just a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my son, let us get to know each other and develp a bond that is stronger than ever. A few big hits and a few big pitches along the way sure were exciting. I love every minute of it, and so does he.
I resent someone coming on board and telling me, and us, that we're just plain wrong and almost to the point of saying that we've been bad parents. You raise your children the way you wish, and I'll raise mine the way I wish. I wouldn't think of telling you that your way is wrong, just don't criticize me (and us) for what we've tried to do.
This is an interesting thread, IMO. We've got some posters here who, in the past, have had their differences, myself included. But, it seems that none of us would change much at all with regards to the time, energy, and money spent to afford our son's the opportunity for them to become the best that they can be. All of those long, arduous road trips in the summer are just a wonderful opportunity to spend time with my son, let us get to know each other and develp a bond that is stronger than ever. A few big hits and a few big pitches along the way sure were exciting. I love every minute of it, and so does he.
I resent someone coming on board and telling me, and us, that we're just plain wrong and almost to the point of saying that we've been bad parents. You raise your children the way you wish, and I'll raise mine the way I wish. I wouldn't think of telling you that your way is wrong, just don't criticize me (and us) for what we've tried to do.
Traveldad, well done off you go. Good luck and thanks for making demands on me then not answering my question. Look I don't have a blanket dislike for all things travel ball just the crazed guys who get way too involved. My point is this: some of you guys are misguided and need to be called on it.
Not everyone should feel compelled to follow your approach, thats it, i just wanted to show some of the parents and kids that you dont have to go that route. Nothing that sinister, not everyone can hand out the money to the showcases, instructors, lessons, travel expenses. What kind of message are you sending to the kids that visit here that dont have dads like you? Your kids are lucky. What do you think is going on in the minds of kids that dont have deep pocketed involved dads? What about the kids that must scrape to buy their own mitt and bat. And then have to watch your kid show up with two $300 bats, $400 mitt and stories of all the super travel tournaments hes going to. When all that kid has to look forward to is some time wasting hs summer ball and rec league stuff. You dont think your approach doesnt affect others? Well it does, and the kids and parents that are affected should know that if their kid puts in the effort and works his *A off he too can make it. Not just the scions of personal agent daddyballers. . Who does your kid play for traveldad?
Not everyone should feel compelled to follow your approach, thats it, i just wanted to show some of the parents and kids that you dont have to go that route. Nothing that sinister, not everyone can hand out the money to the showcases, instructors, lessons, travel expenses. What kind of message are you sending to the kids that visit here that dont have dads like you? Your kids are lucky. What do you think is going on in the minds of kids that dont have deep pocketed involved dads? What about the kids that must scrape to buy their own mitt and bat. And then have to watch your kid show up with two $300 bats, $400 mitt and stories of all the super travel tournaments hes going to. When all that kid has to look forward to is some time wasting hs summer ball and rec league stuff. You dont think your approach doesnt affect others? Well it does, and the kids and parents that are affected should know that if their kid puts in the effort and works his *A off he too can make it. Not just the scions of personal agent daddyballers. . Who does your kid play for traveldad?
quote:Originally posted by slurve07:
What drives these guys? An insatiable appetite for attention.
quote:Originally posted by slurve07:
My point is this: some of you guys are misguided and need to be called on it.
Slurpe,
That finger that you have pointing at people...find a mirror in your house and you'll see who that finger should be pointing at.
I want to start this off by saying that I do not have any children so I do not know what it is like.
But I will tell you that as a former player and now a coach, I do not think that there is a right answer to the travel, showcase, website, etc. debate being had here. As long as what you do as a parent is in the best interest of your son and it is what he wants then it is correct. The answer changes with each individual player. I had a father that would send me anywhere I asked (even if it meant he had to get a second job) and that was great. I am very thankful for that. I also had players that were good at it but did not enjoy the game and had fathers that pushed the stuff. That must be tough on a kid.
There is no answer. No one way is the correct way. Be a good parent and do everything that your son wants. It may be going to showcases, it may be to stay out of his business. Keep your son in mind when you make decisions.
But I will tell you that as a former player and now a coach, I do not think that there is a right answer to the travel, showcase, website, etc. debate being had here. As long as what you do as a parent is in the best interest of your son and it is what he wants then it is correct. The answer changes with each individual player. I had a father that would send me anywhere I asked (even if it meant he had to get a second job) and that was great. I am very thankful for that. I also had players that were good at it but did not enjoy the game and had fathers that pushed the stuff. That must be tough on a kid.
There is no answer. No one way is the correct way. Be a good parent and do everything that your son wants. It may be going to showcases, it may be to stay out of his business. Keep your son in mind when you make decisions.
quote:Originally posted by slurve07:
Traveldad, well done off you go. Good luck and thanks for making demands on me then not answering my question. Look I don't have a blanket dislike for all things travel ball just the crazed guys who get way too involved. My point is this: some of you guys are misguided and need to be called on it.
Not everyone should feel compelled to follow your approach, thats it, i just wanted to show some of the parents and kids that you dont have to go that route. Nothing that sinister, not everyone can hand out the money to the showcases, instructors, lessons, travel expenses. What kind of message are you sending to the kids that visit here that dont have dads like you? Your kids are lucky. What do you think is going on in the minds of kids that dont have deep pocketed involved dads? What about the kids that must scrape to buy their own mitt and bat. And then have to watch your kid show up with two $300 bats, $400 mitt and stories of all the super travel tournaments hes going to. When all that kid has to look forward to is some time wasting hs summer ball and rec league stuff. You dont think your approach doesnt affect others? Well it does, and the kids and parents that are affected should know that if their kid puts in the effort and works his *A off he too can make it. Not just the scions of personal agent daddyballers. . Who does your kid play for traveldad?
Slurpe,
Please do share with the class all your experience with economic and social blight that you dig so deep to bring out and share with us from your investment banking firm and residence in Bannockburn. How oppressive is it these days at North Shore Country Day School in Winnetka? I didn't realize that they had switched conferences and were now playing in the CPS league where you gained all this first hand experience and interaction.
Once again, we are supposed to genuflect and bow to the great Slurpy, here for our enlightenment and salvation.
I guess that the slurveman doesnt realize that one of the purposes of the board ( especially for the parent of a player ...duuh !!) is to let it be known where the kid is attending school . Obviously you didnt have all your bases covered when you came on here to post.
I also find it very very very very veeerrry interesting that somehow someone from the faraway sleepy rich town of bannockburn ( no offense to those who actually might live there ) who just popped up on the board claiming to have a kid throwing major heat ( 90 ) , somehow knows traveldad who lives way way far away from bannockburn and is also interested ( see differenmt thread ) in how many games traveldads kid plays .
Slurve..you are a fraud posting bogus information and now everyone here knows it.
I also find it very very very very veeerrry interesting that somehow someone from the faraway sleepy rich town of bannockburn ( no offense to those who actually might live there ) who just popped up on the board claiming to have a kid throwing major heat ( 90 ) , somehow knows traveldad who lives way way far away from bannockburn and is also interested ( see differenmt thread ) in how many games traveldads kid plays .
Slurve..you are a fraud posting bogus information and now everyone here knows it.
Sulltiger the great wizard, are you attempting to analyze my signature?
Cplz I was born in a box car in west virginia and spent my formative years living in van down by the river. I walked 6 miles to school barefoot everyday in the snow.
All that and I never put up one billboard for my kid.
Classes offered
Conspiracy theory by Sulltiger
Embellishment 101 by cplz
Effusion and effusive praise of your children by traveldad
Language: Braggadocio by cplz feature class in cockiness and arrogant display and manner
Cplz I was born in a box car in west virginia and spent my formative years living in van down by the river. I walked 6 miles to school barefoot everyday in the snow.
All that and I never put up one billboard for my kid.
Classes offered
Conspiracy theory by Sulltiger
Embellishment 101 by cplz
Effusion and effusive praise of your children by traveldad
Language: Braggadocio by cplz feature class in cockiness and arrogant display and manner
Sulltiger, I may have missed something in your investigative report. Do tell us all under what pretext (I will explain that to you) what is my motive assumed in order to conceal the true purpose? If your report indicates anything other than my sincere effort to take some of the posters to task over their overzealous pursuit of the dream. To awaken some from the blurry haze of showcases and travelball or to shine a light on what ails and clouds the judgment of so many...if not you are mistaken
CPLZ and Sulltiger,
Well played...very astute observations. Tennis, anyone? (shameless reference to my friends affluent ramblings)
Is he starting to sound familiar with his last post? Me thinks the kitty is nearly out of the bag, and he's done it all by himself. I can't wait until next weeks "k*******". (Edited)
TEE HEE
Well played...very astute observations. Tennis, anyone? (shameless reference to my friends affluent ramblings)
Is he starting to sound familiar with his last post? Me thinks the kitty is nearly out of the bag, and he's done it all by himself. I can't wait until next weeks "k*******". (Edited)
TEE HEE
...AND WHAT WAS THE TOPIC OF THIS THREAD?
Please, PLEASE can we get along? The following might be choppy since I'm very tired.
I've seen some amazing stuff in this past week. It bodes well for all of us - this thing called youth. My kids have been through an amazing week. We don't have an batting cages outside. The wind is 30+ miles an hour, it is 28 degrees, and snowing. We have a craft fair in our gyms Friday, Saturday and tomorrow. NO place to practice. We made room and went to one of our barns to improvise a practice one or two at a time. We practiced today from 9:30 to 2:30 a few at a time. We started this morning at 6:00 in the morning helping crafters set up their booths as a favor to the booster club. (our school only has one for all sports) and they left collectively as a team talking about how they were going to see my assistant coach in the hospital in St. Louis. For the past few days because of other tragic circumstances, I've been the only paid coach in practice. YET, they believe in our program, love the game and have busted butt. THE SEASON HAS BEGUN!
Please, PLEASE can we get along? The following might be choppy since I'm very tired.
I've seen some amazing stuff in this past week. It bodes well for all of us - this thing called youth. My kids have been through an amazing week. We don't have an batting cages outside. The wind is 30+ miles an hour, it is 28 degrees, and snowing. We have a craft fair in our gyms Friday, Saturday and tomorrow. NO place to practice. We made room and went to one of our barns to improvise a practice one or two at a time. We practiced today from 9:30 to 2:30 a few at a time. We started this morning at 6:00 in the morning helping crafters set up their booths as a favor to the booster club. (our school only has one for all sports) and they left collectively as a team talking about how they were going to see my assistant coach in the hospital in St. Louis. For the past few days because of other tragic circumstances, I've been the only paid coach in practice. YET, they believe in our program, love the game and have busted butt. THE SEASON HAS BEGUN!
Im not sure the coaches at North Shore Country Day would even know what to do with someone firing 90 .
Do they even have a baseball team ?
Do they even have a baseball team ?
Well said, coach! There are things in life more important than this petty war of words. Keep it all in perspective.
Someone needs to be the bigger man and let this topic get back to the season and more importantly the student athlete.
How was everyone elses week 1 of practice??
By the way...I am pulling for your team Coach and more importantly your asst. Get some rest.
Someone needs to be the bigger man and let this topic get back to the season and more importantly the student athlete.
How was everyone elses week 1 of practice??
By the way...I am pulling for your team Coach and more importantly your asst. Get some rest.
CoachB, good to hear you find a way to improvise.
Also, sorry to hear about your assistant coach. Let us know if there's anything we can do.
Woke up this morning not expecting there to be snow. I would have much preferred to catch pitchers this morning out in the bullpen rather than the gym.
Good news, it must be getting warmer in the next 48 hours. Coach Vogel said we was going outside on Monday!
20 days til our first game!
Also, sorry to hear about your assistant coach. Let us know if there's anything we can do.
Woke up this morning not expecting there to be snow. I would have much preferred to catch pitchers this morning out in the bullpen rather than the gym.
Good news, it must be getting warmer in the next 48 hours. Coach Vogel said we was going outside on Monday!
20 days til our first game!
Wander, I will take you up on that. Coach I hope your asst. Coach recovers quickly. Sulltiger please stop making reference to the school my kids attend that topic is now off limits. You want to talk or debate something baseball great lets do it.
Rosey
you have PM
you have PM
quote:What kind of message are you sending to the kids that visit here that dont have dads like you? Your kids are lucky. What do you think is going on in the minds of kids that dont have deep pocketed involved dads? What about the kids that must scrape to buy their own mitt and bat. And then have to watch your kid show up with two $300 bats, $400 mitt and stories of all the super travel tournaments hes going to. When all that kid has to look forward to is some time wasting hs summer ball and rec league stuff. You don't think your approach doesn't affect others?
Isn't this America? Opportunity is equal not fair. How is a strong work ethic effected by the cost of gloves and bats? Slurve don't impoverished kids see Cadillac commercials and trips to Disney on t.v.? It's o.k. to go without, it makes you appreciate it more when you finally have it. While I am not a proponent of travel ball (for a myriad of reasons) I see no reason to categorize or condemn the whole institution. I do resent the reference to wasting time in a hs summer league.
We had a really good week of practice also. Anyone that has to play us in a gym should be scared. 
Darrell you have a PM
Playball2,
HS Summer League has come a long way, and I hope it can become even better. If the coaches who run it keep on working at it like they have it will continue to grow. For many kids it is the best place to be, and the addition of the Soph. League was a great move as that age group doesn't have as many options (no Legion.)
Unfortunately, each school is different and if you are fortunate enough to play at a school where the coach takes it seriously, then it can be very good. On the other hand, I've seen far too many Varsity Summer League games with Freshman of average ability playing.
Hopefully it will get stronger and stronger to the point where these teams have their best kids all the time instead of just when the playoffs start. It would also be better if all the schools really tried hard to compete.
HS Summer League has come a long way, and I hope it can become even better. If the coaches who run it keep on working at it like they have it will continue to grow. For many kids it is the best place to be, and the addition of the Soph. League was a great move as that age group doesn't have as many options (no Legion.)
Unfortunately, each school is different and if you are fortunate enough to play at a school where the coach takes it seriously, then it can be very good. On the other hand, I've seen far too many Varsity Summer League games with Freshman of average ability playing.
Hopefully it will get stronger and stronger to the point where these teams have their best kids all the time instead of just when the playoffs start. It would also be better if all the schools really tried hard to compete.
FBD,
With all due respect, I think Summer League has a different agenda than other travel ball, in that its focus seems on the most part to be more developmental. Our school is a no cut summer league program and as such, there is usually a couple of players there that won't make the school team and do get a chance to play. That being said, I am glad to see an outlet where sometimes previously less talented players get a chance to play and improve their skills without the pressure of winning.
From a developmental perspective, I can tell you from coaching a number of years in basketball, in both competitive and developmental leagues, that there is a different aura and pressure level on the player when the focus isn't winning. It's also a chance for the higher end players to vest themselves into developing the lower echelon players as they buy into the program that we will only be as good as our weakest link. From that standpoint the better players don't resent bench time in favor of making the team better.
I can tell you from experience that the parents of higher end players have more problems with this format than the kids. The great benefit to all, is that it becomes easier to spot emerging talent, develop its potential, and bring cohesiveness to the kids involved. JMHO
With all due respect, I think Summer League has a different agenda than other travel ball, in that its focus seems on the most part to be more developmental. Our school is a no cut summer league program and as such, there is usually a couple of players there that won't make the school team and do get a chance to play. That being said, I am glad to see an outlet where sometimes previously less talented players get a chance to play and improve their skills without the pressure of winning.
From a developmental perspective, I can tell you from coaching a number of years in basketball, in both competitive and developmental leagues, that there is a different aura and pressure level on the player when the focus isn't winning. It's also a chance for the higher end players to vest themselves into developing the lower echelon players as they buy into the program that we will only be as good as our weakest link. From that standpoint the better players don't resent bench time in favor of making the team better.
I can tell you from experience that the parents of higher end players have more problems with this format than the kids. The great benefit to all, is that it becomes easier to spot emerging talent, develop its potential, and bring cohesiveness to the kids involved. JMHO
CPLZ
I don't know that I disagree with you at all. My comments were strictly regarding which was a "higher level of play" and I agree that doesn't mean that in the long run Summer League may benefit some kids more than Travel wiil.
Certain players of "Elite" ability are great when it comes to talking with and helping other players. Many others and for many reasons are not so good at it or willing to do so.
A coach who builds his program through Summer League is making it worthwhile for the kids to be there. Not all programs are that well run.
I don't know that I disagree with you at all. My comments were strictly regarding which was a "higher level of play" and I agree that doesn't mean that in the long run Summer League may benefit some kids more than Travel wiil.
Certain players of "Elite" ability are great when it comes to talking with and helping other players. Many others and for many reasons are not so good at it or willing to do so.
A coach who builds his program through Summer League is making it worthwhile for the kids to be there. Not all programs are that well run.