I remember starting this blog when my boys were playing little league baseball. Inspired isn’t quite the word – it was more that I was compelled to share the crazy underbelly of insanity of youth sports. At the time my boys were playing three sports, and it was prior to the internet frenzy of outrageously bad behavior among parents and coaches. Back then – the periodic outburst among and between coaches and parents was fairly uncommon – at least for us. Over the course of their athletic seasons from grade school to junior high to high school to college selection we lived and observed the slow unraveling of appropriate behavior, respect and boundaries from season to season. At the same time we were living through the evolution of youth sports – this transition from “kids playing sports to PLAY sports” to the “youth athlete as specialist” – with options and choices shrinking for kids. Passion and fun slowly giving way to more serious competition and grooming for the next level. So with that as the backdrop – I thought it would be a fun idea to record the ride, but maybe share some lessons and knowledge with other parents, or just entertain a bit. I mean on balance, even as the world of kids sports was evolving…it was and is – an absolute blast.
Alas, like so many with the grand idea of starting a blog because the world needs to know…my posts became fewer and farther between. Even though I filled a file folder and notebook with fun, crazy and emotional drafts, the urgency of the message slowly faded. Well…here we are. It’s February 14th 2020 and those little leaguers opened their respective 5th and 3rd division one college season today! For me and their dad – it’s the last season we’ll have two boys playing college baseball – so we’ve scheduled the dog sitters, reserved our flights, hotel rooms, pulled out all our Redhawks and Dons gear and are off on a marathon of college baseball this Spring!
I’d love it if you would come along with us for a few more Tales from the Bleachers. We’ll travel back to the wooden bleachers at “K&E” little league field, to the metal ones at the Chatfield High Chargers’ diamond – I’ll regale with past and present visits to the million dollar baseball facility in Oxford Ohio, to the sweeping views of the San Francisco skyline from the Dons’ friendly confines. So many tales to share, and I’m just as curious as you about where this spring will take us (and the boys.) First stop: College Station TX where the Redhawks take on the formidable Texas A&M Aggies.
Here we go!
Tales From The Bleachers 