Busy and Loving It!

I have two sons playing sports right now. My oldest, Mitchell is a freshman in high school playing on the varsity volleyball team. We didn't expect him to get much playing time, but were excited that he had the makings of a varsity player at such a young age. We have been surprised that he has received a lot of playing time. Until last night, he was playing a little stiff and nervous, but last night he stopped thinking through the game and allowed his athleticism and new knowledge of the game to shine through. I was so tickled to see him be a contributor in a match that went through four tight games. He exploded on his blocks and hit the ball with new aggression. He is 6'1" and still trying not to smile like he did as a five year old when something good happens. I love it. That is what I stay involved for. To see him fight that grin and know that he is happy with himself makes my eyes moist every time. Unlike him, I have stopped fighting that emotion. No dam can stop those waterworks.

My younger son's baseball team is struggling right now. Last year this team won the tournament of champions and with 8 returning players all of which were major contributors last year, we expected even greater success. It has not come. We (I am an assistant coach) have struggled in our wins and took a beating last week against a weaker team. My son Cameron is doing very well. He is hitting with new power and purpose. His batting average is 500 and half of his hits so far have been legitimate triples. Still we can't seem to get hits in bunches to start scoring runs. His personal success feels good at home, but with the team in a funk, it is hard to really enjoy it.

We have a game or practice to attend every week night until May 7th. I couln't be happier about that. My sons will never know how thrilling it is to watch them until they have sons or daughters of their own to coach and support. The gift of sports has meant so much to our family. There is always a buzz, something to talk about together and look forward to. We have set goals and talked about hard work and team play. If you are not living on a farm these days, I am not sure where else you can instill these values. We may learn some of these things at church, but you have to put them into practice somewhere. For us, it has been on the field/court.

Dream Job

I put together an application with Major League Baseball yesterday. Why not? My dream job, if there is one, would be to serve as the Executive for Community Relations for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Major league baseball is a product I still believe in. I love to watch the NBA and NFL as well, but baseball to me is the quintessential game for the fan. NBA players have become rock stars and very few NFL players are recognized when they are not protected by helmets and shoulder pads. Baseball is a one at a time, get to know you sport.

What I mean by that, is that the fan can watch every play, one at a time. Pitch by pitch, you become familiar with the pitcher's grimaces and batters stances. You know if they are chewing Hubba Bubba , seeds or a little pinch between the cheek and gums. This is why Little League parents are the worst. They have time to criticize. In a football fame, the average fan ignores a scrum of 21 men to follow one guy with a ball. In basketball, you have two seconds to hate the call before the fast break is coming back.

Can you honestly picture Lebron James and Kobe Bryant coming to a community BBQ? What about Brett Favre? Is he really playing two hand touch in his Wranglers? Give me a break. There is something about the run of the mill big league baseball player that makes you think he probably does his own grocery shopping and picks out his own sofa. True or not, that is the image we get from baseball. And I want to be a part of it.

I believe the players of the Diamondbacks can sell a few more seats and a few more nachos with a little more community involvement. I am sure they are doing some now, maybe more than they would like. But if these players can embrace this community that is full of some of the kindest people in the country, I believe this community will embrace them right back. I think the Phoenix Metro area is dying to climb on the backs of Justin Upton, Mark Reynolds, Dan Harren and Brandon Webb and make them feel like the winners that they are.

I want to be the guy that makes that happen. Call it a dream, but I have the passion to make it work. The Marlins are hiring for this position right now. Maybe we'll go to Miami.

Bret D.

Gotta Start Somewhere

Where to begin?  I never thought I would read any blogs much less begin my own.  But there is a therapy in purging some of the thoughts I am passionate about.  I am the father of 5 children.  The year is 2010.  I have a 15 year old son, a 12 year old son, an 11 year old daughter, an 8 year old daughter and a 3 year old daughter.  I would rather be at one of their ball games, than just about anywhere in the world.  I have coached their athletic teams for 11 years (primarily soccer with a  splash in basketball and a bit more in baseball).  It is my Disneyland and my Bora Bora.  It helps tremendously that my wife was an athletic woman in her youth and feels the same way I do about spending time court side.  We may never welcome a Division 1 coach into our living room to talk about one of our kids getting scholarship money, but it will not  be for a lack of effort or heart from this house.  We have the fever and the only prescription is another inning, another practice, another ball glove to break in, another coach to meet, another banquet to attend, etc.

I have other passions.  But this blog will be dedicated to the experiences I have with my kids and my wife surrounding their athletic triumphs and struggles.  We try to maintain balance.  We insist on terrific grades, spiritual exercise, community involvement and so forth.  My wife and I do our best to lead by example and like all parents fall short of our own expectations from time to time and we certainly fall short of the expectations of our great children from time to time.  But we learn and we move on.

I may also ramble from time to time about my thoughts on sports at a professional level or collegiate level and my philosophies of team work and discipline that come from sports at any level.

I welcome any and all thoughts and criticism.  I ask only that you keep it clean.  My kids may be reading this. 

Bret D