Youth Sports Coaching Quandary

Set the scene: I coach my son's 10 year old traveling baseball team (traveling is code for competitive). Last weekend I faced both sides of the coaching quandary in less than a 24 hour span. What is the coaching quandary, you say? It's the fine line between "having fun" and "win at all costs". Every youth coach faces it at least once a season. In my case, I saw both sides in a very short span.

Scene 1: We're playing a completely overmatched Eden Prairie team (man, the 4 words overmatched, eden, prairie and team sound so nice together by the way) last Friday. Prior to the game, the other team's coach is giving a speech to the kids about having "fun" (which is code in sports for make sure you smile when you get beat), blah, blah, blah.

Scene 2: Next day we are playing an undefeated team from Minneapolis (note: our Bloomington team is .500). These guys are hitting our best pitcher all over the park, they are running the bases with reckless abandon, delayed double steals, etc all with a comfortable 10 run lead. Blah, blah, blah, blah.

So which is it? Do you preach "let's have fun" or do you preach "beat them until they bleed"? Obviously it is somewhere in between. As a coach in scene 1, we did everything in our power to make the game enjoyable for our kids as well as theirs without running roughshod over them. In scene 2, we did everything in our power to tell the kids.."the best way to stop that play is to defend it" and maintain your dignity while the other team is rubbing your face in it. Plain as day the other team whipped us, we gotta get better.

You guys got any food for thought?

My new favorite team

Montreal Canadiens....holy smokes they beat the Caps, now they beat the Pens. I'm sure they are scratching their names on Lord Stanley as we speak in Montreal.

I can just hear some scratchy voiced rube on Montreal sports talk radio (insert Jacque Lemaire voice)...itz onlee a maddir of time beefore we win anudder one....geux habs!

I'm heartbroken on the Pens defeat...was cheering for Gologoski and Leopold, but still holding a grudge against Sid for the Olympics.

What's left:

San Jose: Nope (nice team....they have 2 too many ex Badgers to like them)

Chicago: Nope (I still see Al Secord when I see that sweater)

Philly & Philly : Nope (no reason, their teams just don't have that star)

Normally I don't cheer for the Frogs, but if you beat the 2 best teams in the East you deserve a little love.

What Happened to the Baltimore Orioles?

Pitching, Defense and the 3 run homer...that was the theme for the Baltimore Orioles of the 70's and 80's. A gritty team that always found its way into the thick of it every year. Then in 1992, they built the first of many great ballparks in America (Camden Yards) and had some more success through the 90's.

To me the Orioles were a team you wanted to cheer for:

They played in a town sandwiched in between DC & Philly (and to a lesser degree NYC) and for the longest time only had the Orioles to cheer for.

Their packaging was always really good (good uniforms, nice stadium, great fan base, players you wanted to cheer for...Brooks Robinson, Ken Singleton, Jim Palmer, Cal Ripken, and Eddie Murray).

They played in the AL East vs. the Yankees and Red Sox and always seemed to compete. From 1967 to 1986 they never had a losing record (as a Twins fan in that era I believe I saw 4 winning seasons).

Their fans are remarkable. I've been to 4 O's games and I left each of them shaking my head at how good their fans are. On one occasion they gave Ken Griffey, Jr. a standing ovation (he hit 3 dingers, and while rounding third on the last one the fans stood to applaud the effort).

The O's haven't made the playoffs since Clinton was in office (and they have as much chance of making them this year as a Clinton making the oval office ever again).

Are there other Baltimore Orioles out there (don't confuse the O's with a dynasty, I'd say they were just a consistent winner for a long time and now have fallen on hard times)?

If so, I'd love to hear them.

Retraction

I retract any and all remarks I made about the Gopher BB team in my last post. They manned up and won games they weren't supposed to. Go Gophers, beat Xavier.

Let me be the first to reiterate...."Fire Don Lucia." His time has come. Repeat, our team should never be on the road in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, ever. We've been on the road 2 of the last 3 years.

Jake Zosel turns 10

My son Jake turns 10 today. Thought I'd write out a quick list of his top 10 sports/athletic moments:

10. Shooting hoops on the mini hoop at 18 months (every night after work)....Dad made him a little 3 point line. By age 2 he had mastered the crowd noise (haaaaaaaaaaaa).

9. Swimming lessons at Foss/Chanhassen. Most times Jake couldn't resist that warm pool. With no formal training Jake would just run and jump in, forcing Dad to frantically jump in after him.

8. Swimming at LTF at a very young age, Dad gets Jake dressed first (as any good parent would do) and then proceeds to "run away" from Dad (while Dad hastily getting dressed) into the health club all alone!!!!!

7. After an entire Summer of trying, Jake finally hits the wiffle ball over the Brown Monsta in our back yard at age 3.

6. Jake plays on his first hockey team at age 4...he falls asleep on the way to the rink every time.

5. As a kindergartner, Jake plays on a 1st and 2nd grade baseball team that goes to the City Championship at Kent Hrbek Field.

4. 2 year later, despite losing big in the City Championship Game, Jake hits a loooooooooooooooong home run ball...if it weren't for the fence that ball still might be rolling.

3. Jake scores the winning goal in the final game of the Bloomington Jamboree versus Kennedy.

2. The only 9 year old selected to the August Classic Baseball team, Jake's team wins 1st place!

1. Jake has 3 long TD catches in one half versus the other undefeated team en route to a 37-0 victory.

Winter Musings

For those of you who ever followed Sid Hartman's column, my Winter Musings is my attempt at his Jottings.

1. Winter Ice: This has been the greatest outdoor ice season in my memory. Granted, we've had a couple 3 day cold snaps and a few major snow dumpings...but for the most part since mid December its been in the 20's with very low wind. Nothing better than skating outside. The sounds, the smells, the runny noses, the cold toes, the rosey cheeks, the wet gloves...man nothing better. For my friends in warmer climates...eat your hearts out.

2. Pennant Fever: Somebody throw me into a snowbank, I got Pennant Fever. Pitchers and Catchers report...the Twins have live arms, 2 MVP's, and a great supporting cast to a decent team from last year. If the Twins win the Central....this is their year to put up a fight in the ALDS. No more Bye Week for the Yankees, Red Sox, or Angels.

3. Carrot Top: Since when did Carrot Top become such a great Snow Boarder? He's a much better athlete than comedian.

4a. Gophers: Can the Gopher sports programs get any lower. Going into this Fall, we had a new stadium for football, a returning NCAA basketball team that had 10 returning players and a top 10 recruiting class. Can you spell NIT? Oops, I'm sure most of you can...but not so sure about Al Nolen. Hockey? See 4b.

4b. Will a first round loss in the WCHA playoffs cost Don Lucia his job? IT BETTER. No matter the excuse....a state dripping with NHL prospects, NHL alums, National Championships should never be on the road for the WCHA playoffs.

5. Which American hockey team will show up during the Olympics? The Nagano troublemaking/ whiners? The Lake Placid Miracles? Or the WE'RENOTTHATGOODABRONZEWOULDBEAWESOME's?

6. Favorite Winter Olympic Sport: Ski Jumping. Has anyone ever seen that jump over near Hyland in Bloomington? Just looking at that thing loosens my bowel!

7. Derby: Only 71 days until the Kentucky Derby.

8. Golf: Approximately 70 days until I make my first double bogey!

9. Tiger Rant: Speaking of double bogeys, does anyone really care what Tiger Woods is going to say on Friday? Really, Tiger? The last thing "the people" want to see is a contrived press conference where you control the questions. All they want to see is your facial reconstruction, after that they will probably have the TV set to MUTE and wait for the sound bite. Sorry dude, that's how it works. No one really cares about you and your "situation". And one more thing, if you say you're playing in the Masters this year....I'll be sure not to laugh. No one in the world expected you to miss the Masters.

10. Peyton: Hey Peyton Manning -- I could care less if you shake hands with the other team 25 minutes after you threw the most famous Super Bowl PICK 6 since Willie Brown housed one on the Vikes in Super Bowl XI. If it were NFL protocol or tradition to shake hands after the game (ala the NHL), then sure you're a baby. But the NFL doesn't do that, so you have nothing to apologize for. This country apologizes way too much.

Sorry if this blog was too short (or too long). Sorry if it offended you. Sorry if I made fun of someone. Sorry if, Sorry if, Sorry if, Sorry if....

What Happened to the Dynasty?

My sports personality was formed in the 70's and 80's. Those two decades will be remembered for bad uniforms and really good teams. Here are just a few:

Hockey: Canadiens (76-79), Islanders (80-84) and Oilers (84-90)

Football: Cowboys, Steelers, and Niners

Baseball: The Big Red Machine

Pro Hoops: Lakers and Celtics

College Hoops: UCLA

College FB: N/A

Since 1990, the only dynasty that comes to mind are the Chicago Bulls and Tiger Woods.

Here's my theory why:

GREED (and Boredom)

No Coaches: Bear Bryant coached Alabama for like 30 years and he won National Championships galore. He was probably the richest guy (and most well known) in the whole state of Alabama. Do you think $8 million a year and being beloved by the state of Alabama will keep Nick Saban at Alabama? Doubt it. Eventually winning a couple national championships won't be enough and he'll move onto a higher paying higher profile pro job.....no dynasty for the Tide.

No Players: If a team wins a ton of games and a championship, even if they are the NYY, they still won't have the cash to keep all of their talent. The way professional sports leagues are set up with salary caps and free agency it is nearly impossible to assemble a dynasty. The Edmonton Oilers had assembled the greatest string of players, won championships with ease....one small problem, Peter Pocklington (the Oilers owner) went bankrupt in doing so. So what did he do? He sold his great asset to the LA Kings....Wayne Gretzky to save his own ____.

No Administration: Don't just blame the players and coaches. If you assemble a great team whether it be a great college or pro team, you will be in demand. If you are a pro sports GM and your team wins, you then get greedy and want to be president of the team (see Andy McPhail), which means you don't do anything except start every sentence with, "when I was in _______", and no one argues with you. Shoot sign me up for that job.

Potential Dynasties: The NYY have a legit shot...they have the players, the pitching, a pretty solid manager, and decent admin. The Lakers do to...great player (Kobe), great coach (Phil Jackson) and a respectable GM (Kupchak).

Renewed Dynasty: Some of the greatest men in history have fallen prey to the sword of a woman. Funny how he had it all: talent, administration (the best advisors in the world), coaching, passion, etc.....his greed was just shown in a different light. A recovered Tiger Woods will be scary. I can't wait see what he does now that he has been humbled....he may best Jack's 18 Majors faster than anyone would have ever predicted.

False Dynasties: 'bama....no chance (see above), Pittsburgh Penguins (no money to sustain see Oilers), NFL.....impossible, College Hoops.....impossible.

Am I missing anyone, any team? Or am I just missing it?

Editors Note (yeah, I'm big time now I have a guy who reads it before it goes out): Jimmie Johnson - NASCAR, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer - Tennis, and NYY in the mid 90's would all qualify (man, I hate the Yankees).