This may bore you, but I think it's a cool story. Plus I'm a proud dad and am bragging a bit, hope ya don't mind.

My kids have always been playing sports. They've been on bad teams, good teams and average teams.

This year, as you know for little league they do a draft. My kid was bummed out cuz he only had one player on his team from last year. Then, after two practices, he told me, "dad, were terrible". He said they could barely hit, couldn't catch, couldn't throw, he was bummed. I could tell he was so bummed that he wanted to quit, and he's not a quiter. I told him to stick it out, he committed, and had to stay on the team. Well, their coach was new, from Minnesota. He kept at them, taught them how to play the game well, was aggressive, and very patient. The season started and they won their first few games. We had a kid on the team who had never had a hit in two years of little league, he had 3 in one game once this year and had many hits over the season. The coach loved the game and love winning. Half way through the season they were undefeated, then everyone started gunning for them. Soon they just thought they were gonna win. Then they got behind pretty good in a couple games in a row and came back and won.. They would cheer each other on, they were the ultimate team mates, and listened to their coach. They were not the most talented team though. Well they ended up finally losing a game, but then won the last one. They ended up 17 and 1. Pretty darn good. It was totally cool to watch, especially how they were good buddies and the love of winning the game. Some of their not so good players got timely hits. One time they were behind, and a kid who had a batting average under 150 got up to bat in the last inning (6th) with 2 on and bopped a home run. Should of seen his smile. The winning hit. I said to my kid, not very good huh?

This is the bragging part. They were 17 wins, 1 loss, my kid had the highest batting average in the league, over 770, not a walker, a hitter. He was a pretty good pitcher too. Just being a proud pappa here, but I think it is cool. Now they've been invited to a big tournament.

Second part of the story is my daughter plays soccer, she's in 2nd grade. Somehow she got put on a 12 and under team, she's 8. So she was the only second grader on a team of 5th and 6th graders. She was scared and wanted to quit. We called the head of the league and he told us he put her on that team because there wasn't any more room on the younger league teams and he thought she could handle it. Jennifer and I told her to stick with it. She could quit if she really wanted to, but that she would learn a lot and be much better for playing against and with the older girls. Well, she was apprehensive at first, but really got into it, got aggressive (wierd for her) and is having a blast. She's never cared about winning. Now her team is 8 and 1, with one game left. She is not the same, she wants to win now and is always wanting to practice. She even got a goal in the last game.
Oh yeah, Jeff D's daughter is on the team too. You should see how much she has improved too.

I just think it's cool to see them in a great learning experience, having fun, sticking with it, enjoying it, having good coaches who actually want to win. Just seems like a good story to me that will stick with them for a long time. And sometimes watching your kids will inspire you too. Plus as I said, being a proud pappa now too.

Cool story...sounds like you and Jennifer are doing something right.

Fish on...

Todd

You're a pretty hubble charicter so if people think your bragging it's only because they don't know you. Keep up the good work with the kids, bud.

Stam's just desperate enough to cut his penis so "mom" could administer first aid.

Great story and good for you. Sounds like you've got your kids aimed in the right direction and that you talk to your kids, not at them.
Watching kids grow and change is one of the joys of life, IMO.

Oh man, am I gonna have to tell Jennifer not to read this thread for her own good. Just when I get her to think highly of you guys again, ya gotta say a line like that... Just kidding. She will understand, boys will be boys. She cracks up at the comments on here....thinking it sounds like a bunch of junior highers in a locker room. She's right.

Yes, that is a cool story Addicted!

Can only hope my kids turn out Ok. So far so good, but they are still young.



Yeah, which translates to "mom" yelling out:

"Richard. The Boy tried to cut is dick off. This one is all you...."

While your down there doing 1st aid on Stam's TallyWhacker, be sure to change his diaper, too.

That is cool man. I loved sports and loved my kids sports. My son was better than good at football and we really enjoyed the games. Some years they had good teams and some years bad. I guess the fun was in seeing pretty much the same group of kids grow up together on the same team for the most part and watching them get better. They also had alot of fun along the way.

770 !!! Jebus.. ( I'd have just walked him )

What do you mean "will spend"? Try "is spending"

We all have to have our own talents.

That is a nice story...and not boring at all...that is great your kids are having that kind of drive...when you do good at something it only makes you want to do better....thats great...c