Good bye house of mold

Good morning. The US Golf Open is in town and let's say that the roads are clogged, restaurants are full, and finally we have some sunshine. Tomorrow I have to work and drive in the vicinity of the golf tournament. People are parking in lots 30 miles away from the event and are being shuttled to the golf course. It's fascinating and infuriating at the same time. Good luck to all of the golfers, tourists, golf junkies, and club house workers. This is a pretty huge deal in the world of golf.

What's happening in BP mom world? Well, I made the trip to campus yesterday with the big kid. His goal was to speak with the trainer about his new regimen and how he was not going to be lifting weights over his waist anymore. Cra-zee....

And so, in the rain, we made our trip in three hours while first stopping for gas and Starbucks. He's a Mountain Dew kind of guy which grosses me out, but I am sure that coffee is disgusting to him. By the way, I started to drink the stuff when I was on the night shift. Can anyone blame me?

There were actually two goals for the trip. The trainer appointment and to find a single apartment. Since we got to campus early, we stopped by several apartment rental places to see what was left. Mind you, this is June...anything of value and worth is gone. Therefore, he gets the crumbs. This is his fault and he owns it.

After stopping at three places, we had the list of leftovers and went to see the outside of the apartments. Naturally, all of them were 'yukky". Although as I drove down a tree lined street, there was a first floor single apartment for rent that I loved. The porch was not decaying. There were no garbage or red solo cups on the grass. It was, may I say it....sweet....clean....appealing....and so, I made the call to the realtor.

Sadly, this very nice single apartment on the tree lined street without the trash strewn on the yard or splattered eggs on the windows was designated for graduate students only. I made my plea to the realtor that the rentee would be a senior and would take great care of the place, but he would not be deterred to rent to us....unless....we gave him the entire 10 months worth of rental fees up front....that's right.....in my oh-so-fuzzy mind, I figured that we would have to write a check in July for $10,000. It was at this time that my mind cleared, the beauty of the little garden apartment lost its charm, and I exited my haze. Looking at the big guy, I said: "Uh, dude, you are headed for the ugly brick building down the street...." Next week, we will make appointments with the realtor to see these places and I will look forlornly at my little garden apartment as we drive by to the ugly brick building.





Yes, this means that by the end of next week, he will be free of the house of mold. As we drove by the house, there were the usual red cups adorning the lawn and a citation ready to be written by the police for the trash. At least, by paying a bit more (OK, a lot more), we will have some piece of mind and eliminate some of the midnight calls home. If the apartment is trashed, he has no one to blame but himself. But I must say that he has taken terrific care of my old SUV. There is no trash in it. It is very neat (neater and cleaner than when I drove it). He's trying to get another few years out of it. Fingers are crossed for this one.....

As far as the meeting with the trainer is concerned, he was quite open to the changes and mentioned that during the fall they would work on flexibility. When asked if the coaches were on their way out, the trainer did not have any real news for him. Currently, the College World Series is taking place. Chances are that the Athletic Director is waiting for the outcome to approach one of these coaches about taking the job. With that said, I gotta work!

Later!

Why can't I touch my toes?

Hi! A beautiful day out there and Diva dog cannot settle in. She has been barking for the past 15 minutes after a fawn and her parents walked through the back yard. Hey, this is Diva's turf, not the deer, so she wants to make it known that they are trespassing...although the little fawn is so cute. She ran away from her parents, then they chased her down. It's like the days when I chased my own kids throughout the neighborhood. I was in much better shape back then. I guess the kids were my athletic trainers...

And speaking of athletic trainers, the big kid is headed to campus today to speak with his trainer about the inappropriate weight lifting that they have been exposed to. According to the surgeon and physical therapist (best in their fields, naturally....how did we luck out on this one?) pitchers needs to be limber and not muscular. Buddy cannot even touch his toes nor rotate from his hips. No wonder he could not find the plate. His extension was limited.

Another factor to consider is that his troubles this year on the mound were not from his fear of re-injuring himself (although there was some reticence there) but from mechanics and compensating for the lack of flexibility. Hmmm.....that's right.....best practice models and evidence based practice were not evident nor considered by the trainers and coaches. Yikes. Thank goodness, we were able to figure this one out. I feel for the individuals who do not scrutinize training practices and ask the right questions. They accept things for what they are and not what they could be.


As the big guy heads to the mountains today, he will bring the flexibility and training program created by the PT and will refuse to follow the university's protocols in the future. It's his body. He wants to be on record now and not act like a prima donna in the fall when he refuses to lift weights.

Now for some very interesting news....several of the guys from the summer Ohi-oooo team were drafted by the major leagues this week. In fact, the guy whom he called "Rat Boy" was drafted in the early rounds. The big guy was elated. Knowing that he was as good if not better than some of these guys made his day. And so, there is optimism back in the BP mom household.



With that said, I have to calm Diva down. She is having a fit and cannot settle. Oy! Like a child.....

 

Gotta run!

What happened?

Boy, it's really wet out there. Yep, lots of water that I am praying will stay out of my basement. It's always a joy taking Diva dog out in the rain. She suddenly gets more finicky about where she goes and I probably should wear my bathing suit to walk her....although....it could blind the neighbors, so I
will just keep the clothes on....just sayin'....

What's going on in the big guy's world? Well, he is working at the bakery and deposited a little vanilla vanilla cake in my Weight Watchers tracker that made the numbers spin....but so worth it! As he makes money for future purchases and endeavors, he is also working out and meeting with his physical therapist who has duly been horrified by the look of his body.

Why? Well, it seems that the trainers and coaches at the university have had all of the pitchers bulk up and turn into hulky guys. According to the PT and his surgeon, no pitcher should be looking like linebackers. He should be leaner which is why he has problems finding the plate. His muscles are not longer limber. He also had faulty technique and did not stretch the way he should have....a phenomenon of poor coaching....

Is this a joke? Really...let's consider that this university is one of the most premier in the US and world as far as curriculum, research, and scholarship are concerned, but the athletic department is poorly run and does not abide by an best practice models. So, what do I say?

What the heck? Yeah....that's right....what the heck! You are in one of the best schools in the country, have the greatest facilities, and educators who are top notch and yet...you can't figure things out. Why don't the departments work together rather than against each other? Why aren't the trainers better prepared? Why weren't the stats re: pitchers' injuries and surgeries reviewed by the board and the orthopedic surgeons? If this was my team and the injuries were mounting, I would scrutinize the methods and collect some data and make changes in the program. Wouldn't you? Doesn't that make more sense than watch the players's baseball careers end from preventable injuries. Again, this is not just a parent's perspective but a person who sort of has a few brain cells working....that's really all it takes.


Ok, time for me to go. No word on the coaches and whether there is a "For Sale" sign in front of their homes. As I learn more about the process of training, I feel less and less sorry for them. Although, I hate seeing anyone lose their livelihood. However, with all of the resources that they had to create an amazing team, they blew it to the detriment of many young men's health. And yes, if I do not perform well in my job, then I am replaced. That's it....Job description+aptitude+energy=success. Therefore, what went wrong? 

Later!

Potentially great or not so great?

Good morning! It's Wednesday and I am beginning two summer courses. That's right...in the heart of the summer, I will be plugged in at home and in the classroom trying to inspire and lead my students. But let's be serious, they do not want to be in school any more than most professors.

On the other hand, I am actually looking forward to it since one of my classes is a writing class :-) Perhaps I am a bit of a nerd for enjoying this odd summer routine or.....



The reason that I load up my fall and summer with my classes is to be available for the spring baseball season. Perhaps that is more nerdy...but I also feel that the big guy might have a finite time left on the mound and I should be there cheering him on...in the only way that I know possible....watching the games from the stands, online streaming video, or via the university's radio station. And let's admit it, the broadcasters were not kind to him in their analysis this season, but none of the guys really performed to their potential. Unless, this is really his potential....

Perhaps this is his final baseball destiny. That is, a decent career in D1 college baseball, lots of interesting trips, places, and people....some excitement, highs and lows....life.....and then....

 

It will be time to settle into a career that will pay the mortgage, car, and orthodontist bills. Last night, he attended a Greek Festival with one of his friends and decided that he loves Greek food and needs to find a Greek woman to marry. OK, dude, good luck in your search for your Greek goddess who can cook too.

 

Consequently, while I am able to call my own shots and schedule at work, it's nice to be able to attend and be attentive at his games. Perhaps while I am sitting there, a contingent of Greek women will be in the stands....you know....the sororities have Greek names....a sorority girl? Hmmm...stayed tune....

Leadership 101

Good morning! No news on the coaching front, but I must say that I would not like to be the coaches at this point. There is too much uncertainty although.....



After the past few years, the coaches have had ample opportunity to make a run for the NCAA title. Sadly, they have made it into the conference title tournament and have been eliminated in the first round. This year, they were in the basement of the conference with only three wins. That speaks volumes to someone's job security when they have been given a number of resources (let's say millions) in order to be a national powerhouse.

Then I see apathy at all levels and I believe that there is no passion. Let's consider this term....passion.....no not that kind....get your minds out of the gutter....

The passion that I am referring to is the feeling that a person has when they think about their lives. It is what drives them to perform. They eat, drink (and drink), and sleep their passion. They want nothing better than to hone their craft and be the best. And sadly, I did not see any passion this year. Even my own kid had his down moments and and had to process his dismay on his own or through midnight phone calls home.



Yes, passion is what was lacking in the coaching and players.

How does one inspire passion? Well, I believe that it is dormant in each of us and germinated through leadership. The coaches as team leaders are the ones to inspire, motivate, lead....this was not evident this year. I sat through 75% of the games and stopped going toward the end since they were painful. It seemed that the players and especially the coaches did not want to be there. They went through the motions robotic-ally. What's that all about? If you are passionate about baseball, you scream at the clouds and rain when games are postponed or cancelled. You count the hours until the next time that you are on the field.  And you identify yourself as a player. This is passion.

Without the passion, the game is not even a past time. I recall one game this year that they lost BUT the coaches benched the starters and the second and third string kids played. And they were awesome. No, they did not win but there was an excitement on the field that had been missing. You could see the effort and drive to be the best. I got caught up in their enthusiasm. Yes, they lost, but they made a real game out of it. They dove for balls...ran hard....and focused on their craft. It was a super game.



Then the first string emerged in the next game and the air was sucked out of the crowd. They were bland, lackluster, and no real effort. In other words, they called it in.....

How does this reflect upon the coaches? Well, as far as I am concerned, the head coach sets the tone. He either sits there and curses the players out or when they make a mistake, he helps to fix it. Also, in terms of the pitching staff, he hires a person who understands pitchers and their unique needs. With 13 pitchers surgeries in the past three years, there was an issue that was screaming to be fixed. Now that there will be new coaches (if the twitter rumors are correct), dad plans on visiting the athletic director. Yeah, I know what you are thinking...helicopter parent....maybe....BUT



He could not say anything about the training and pitching mechanics in the past for fear of reprisals. He had to lay low and pray that the ADs would pick up on the statistics re: arm injuries. With a new regime, he can walk in and discuss his concerns and not worry about the effect on his son.

Last but not least, the players have an opportunity to evaluate the coaches at the end of each season. This idea scared the guys because they thought that the coaches would read them, identify the author, and bench them or throw them off the team. As a person who is evaluated all the time, it can be an intimidating process. People will send evaluations if they are extremely pleased or extremely displeased. People in the middle who don't care never bother to send their evaluations in.

Anyway, this year Buddy sent his evaluation in and was honest in his critique, as were the rest of the guys. However, they felt that no one would pay attention to them....ahhh...but what they did not know was that evaluations are mandatory. And it is also mandated that the next administrative level reads them and acts upon them. This is a national accreditation standard. If they were ignored, the athletic department would be cited by the accreditation body for ignoring assessment figures. And so....with the dismal season, lack of passion, and poor evaluations, is it surprising that I wrote this post?

Twitter message: Rumor or fact?

Good morning...it's raining and watering my weeds. That's right, I have more weeds than flowers at this point. I pulled as many as I could yesterday but sadly, they continue to grow and grow. As I pulled some new three leaf weeds, I wondered if they were poison ivy. I guess time will tell....yikes.

  

How's the big kid today? Well, he's not too bad. I would have thought that this would have been awful as his trip to Texas was postponed but he seems to be quite happy. Although.....

On Saturday night, dad's partner whom we call Uncle P sent me a text message. Usually, the texts are to needle me about something that I did, like spend too much money on something stupid. Dad likes to complain to Uncle P about these things...or the time when I was bidding on a retro University baseball jersey with Buddy's number on it. Uncle P decided that he too would bid on it. The jersey jumped from my bid of $30 to $ 75 in a five minute period. By the time the online auction was over, I spent $140.00 on a baseball jersey that was worn several years ago by another player. yet, it was my son's number, so all was well....thanks Uncle P. 

OK, so I kept you waiting long enough...what was the text about? Well, he was on Twitter and it seems that Buddy's baseball coach is either going to be fired or he will resign within the next week. This is huge news although not completely unexpected. What does this mean? Let's consider it....

The coach who recruited my son, left him in the bullpen, created a system in which multiple players were injured with flawed technique, and who ignored positive drug tests is leaving the university.
 




This is probably a good thing. After all, there is not a great deal of integrity here, based upon my limited perceptions. I realize the coaches at all levels are not warm and fuzzy, communicate well, or are even intelligent. But this guy who had the background and experience to be great, fizzled.
 

In the three years that I have watched the team, excellent prospects were brought in to play, but none of them got any better. Take Big Red who is an awesome athlete and was heavily recruited throughout the US, he could not hit the ball this year until the end. Also, look at poor Gopher, whom they brought in from Minnesota. This guy batted .000 all year (which means that he had no hits) until he hit a double at the end of the season. He was relegated to catch in the bullpen after an awful start. He was never spoken to or given extra help by the coaches. In other words, he was placed on the back burner. And what about Buddy, who had surgery last year? Not one coach contacted him to see how he was doing post operatively. This was sad and their lack of communication spoke volumes.

And so, if the rumors are right and the coaches are gone, a new sheriff is riding into town. OK, what will he be like? The recruiting season is over for next year, so he will have to deal with the current crew of guys that are on the roster. Will he be a teacher? A mentor? A yeller? A bat thrower? Can he make cookies or a cake? I have no idea, but after seeing the apathy of the past years, I, for one welcome the new regime.

What does the big kid say? Well, he's a happy guy if the pitching coach leaves. You know the guy, who walked to the mound and told him that he was embarrassing himself....he expelled gas in the kid's face and called him a psycho....stormed out to the mound and told him that he was a junior and he can fix his own problems. Yes, the nice, southern boy who spent time recruiting the kid. He turned out to be quite strange....out of his element....perhaps even, dare I say it? Inept.....

And now, time will tell what is going to happen. Once again, we are in for another convoluted, crazy, wild ride. It's never boring, often strange....and typical of my life. As the rumors turn out to be legitimate or false, I will be typing away sharing my take on it.

Rain is over, time to pull more weeds.....have a great day!

Looking at problems

Good hot morning! Yep, it's juicy....yesterday I had a three hour tennis match against a power house team....yes, they were good, young, and in shape versus me and my faithful partner, Spike (who is in great condition). Thank goodness for Spike...she ran everything down like a champion. I would hit the ball into the air and she would put it away. As we entered the third set, we were tied until the bitter end when all we needed was one point to win and did we do it?

Well, you read my stories, so you know the answers. No, I choked and went back to a tie....then broke the tie...were down...up....down....one point...one point....one point...then we lost in the tie break 15-13. Ouch.....our pride was not the only thing hurt here....legs, arms, back, right great toe, left heel, and my ego.....Spike and I felt that it was a moral victory which basically means that we lost. But she was a champion! As I hobbled around Target and Costco with BP Grandmom and Grandpop, I was still waiting for my saliva to return and to stop sweating. Yep, hours later after playing for three plus hours in 92 degree temperature, I was still hot. With that said, my saliva has partially returned and I am pretty sure that I am still a bit dehydrated...but who cares....it was great fun even though we lost.....which is a very good lesson for the big leftie.....

When I dragged my body home, I knew that I needed to talk to the big kid about his immediate reactions to problems. He avoided me for as long as he could until I captured him on the stairway...."sit down, I want to talk with you...." "Here...yeah, here...I am too wet from tennis to sit on the furniture, so sit on this step. We gotta chat..."

And so it began with his delaying the 'talk' to show me a you tube video of the University of Cincinnati baseball team....I'll post it below....he continued to avoid the obvious mother son chat by showing me a really funny Jimmy Kimmel you tube....OK...enough....although this one was pretty good too....see below....

Finally! We are going to have that moment where I tell him that a person solves problems in the following sequence which can or cannot be modified depending upon the issue at hand:

1. Problem occurs....Option A: Panic Option B: Step back and start to think through your data
2. Look at options. Eliminate the emotions
3. What are your options, leaving panic out of the process? On a good day, you will discover that you have more options than you think.
4. List the resolutions in your mind....process...combine them...delete a few....prioritize....make a decision.....
5. Implement your decision
6. Evaluate.....

This process can be refined and tailored for each person. Now, I am sure that your question is: "did he listen?"

Hmmmmm, that is a toughie....let's just say that he "heard" what I had to say. Whether or not he alters his approach to issues and life remains to be seen. But, he's a young guy, so he is still in the development phase. I know that he has the tools to be effective in crisis management, but he doesn't know it yet.

OK, I am done pontificating and am pretty sure that I need some water....crazy....I must be crazy....after all, I played college tennis years and years ago with Wildcat and still strap the sneakers and knee brace on each week to have someone mess with me. Why? I don't know but after yesterday's epic match, I have to say that the journey and trying to achieve something that really doesn't matter is fun. Yep, fun....Tink....quick...grab the ice pack and a bag of frozen peas for my knees....the Aleeve....and the heating pad for my back....thanks sweetie......





Have a great day!