There are certain guys that have great baseball names and immediately strike a fear in you...the first great name I remember was Cesar Cedeno. I remember just saying it the first time and it was fun, but on top of that he was a pretty good ball player, he was even better because of his name. A few more off the top of my head: Jaoquin Andujar, Reggie Jackson, Gorman Thomas, Vladamir Guerrero and now Joey Votto....these guys were/are all good/great players in their day, but their name seem/s to have have made them even better (at least to me).
Let's take a look at my beloved Twins. Their best power hitters are Justin, Jason and Michael. This sounds more like the makings of a suburban white-boy band than Murderer's Row. Their highest paid and marquee player is just Joe. And he likes being just Joe. Too bad Joe, you're a slap hitting Catcher with a Vitamin D Whole Milk contract that will forever strangle my profit slathering Twins.
I'm not done. Their pitcher names (except Liriano) are the worst in the majors: Scott Baker, Glen Perkins, Kevin Slowey, and Matt Capps. Carl Pavano sounds cool, but then you see him and his 84 mph fastball and then you're like, no....not cool.
So then you look to the young guns for hope: Ben Revere...sorry, he's not exactly riding in to save the day, or Trevor Plouffe...ah ah, not gonna do it.....Jason Repko...okay, you're starting to see my point. The list goes on and on: Delmon Young (nope, not cool), Matt Tolbert (buh bye) and Alex Burnett (end of story).
But Tony, what about Valencia or Nishi...those are cool names? Not if they can't hit out of a wet paper sack they're not cool.
Okay, I admit picking on the Twins isn't exactly risky at this point...they suck. But I guess it would be more fun if just one guy had a cool name and he backed it up a couple time a week.
Help me add to the list of cool names....send me a few.
Z
PS Not trading marketable players before July 30 deadline made about as much sense as Fox Sports keeping with the Cleatus The Robot gig. Shaking my head.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Baseball/Softball Summer Wrap Up - 4 forgettable encounters and one great 1
An old friend (and let me stress the old part) once told me, "Tony, if your team wins with class and loses with dignity, that means you got the rest figured out. If you don't, you were either raised wrong or you got some unfinished athletic business and you're using someone else to get you there!!!"
This blog highlights 4 encounters I had this Summer that I'd rather forget, but each comes back to what my old friend said...and it also features one encounter that I will choose to always remember.
Encounter #1: I'm coaching in a boys baseball game and the best team (by far) is playing right after us. They pulled off the Triple Crown of prickhood in 15 minutes flat. They laughed at one of the players of our opponent's who struck out looking, they talked smack about being bored playing teams like ours and the team they were about to play and last but not least they barged into our dugout before we were even close to ready to vacate.
Encounter #2: While playing a game against a notorious team from south of the MN river...the other coach yelled so loud at his team and for so long that the other 3 fields stopped play to make sure lives weren't being sacrificed. In the same game, the same coach on 4 different occasions pulled 4 different kids for making errors (total class, dude). But his all time low light came after we swept them for the season, he said "I wouldn't take one of their players over any of his 12...." right to my face in front of like 5 of my kids and parents. Apparently this guy had given our team some thought.
Encounter #3: This is the true prize. While coaching my daughter's K-2 softball team...a friend observed the other team's coach encouraging his girls' rolling the ball to first base rather than the much more difficult approach of throwing it! This technique is offensive and sexist. No coach would ever teach a group of boys to do the same in order to win (I know, I coached K-2 boys for years and never saw this approach once). To add insult to injury, this team had a ground ball hit to their best player at Pitcher (she clearly knew how to throw it) who then rolled it to their second best person at 1st base (who clearly knew how to catch) for their team's only put out of the night. To which the coach yelled, "Nice Play.....that's how you do it!" To which I almost collapsed.
Encounter #4: Last night, my daughter's team is playing a playoff softball game (note: I was not there). Olivia's team is winning handily 14-2 to a completely overmatched team. Late in the game a girl on her team gets injured pretty badly. Through free substitution, another girl was placed in the game. What the head coach failed to realize was that the girl who was sent in had already played her minimum number of innings in the infield....the other coach noticed and immediately called our team on it and we were forced to forfeit the game. Read future blogs about this one....I think the title will be "C'mon get a clue moments". Sidebar: My daughter gets in the car, turns to my wife and says, "I'm so glad Dad wasn't here....he would have FREAKED!!!!" I honestly wouldn't have freaked...the rule is pretty clear on the substitutions...the assistant coach who innocently sent the girl out there didn't know...he felt awful. I probably would've mustered up a nice little barb for the lady who caught it, like "Do you watch golf tournaments and call the PGA when you see an infraction???"
Good One: This Summer, we had the good fortune of playing a team from Winona, MN called Goodview Sandlot. With special emphasis on the word Sandlot. This team had nicknames for all their kids...they had tall kids, short kids, fat kids, fast kids, white kids and even a black kid. For all their differences they had one thing in common - they loved baseball. Their coach fostered a love for the game amongst their kids - the rest took care of itself. Never once did he raise his voice, never once did he shout instruction to his players in the batters box or scream plays or give signals...he just let them play ball (note: the coach was a ripe 25 years old). We lost to them 3-1...had bases juiced in the bottom of the 6th and they brought in their Scotty Smalls to end it...and they did.
This blog highlights 4 encounters I had this Summer that I'd rather forget, but each comes back to what my old friend said...and it also features one encounter that I will choose to always remember.
Encounter #1: I'm coaching in a boys baseball game and the best team (by far) is playing right after us. They pulled off the Triple Crown of prickhood in 15 minutes flat. They laughed at one of the players of our opponent's who struck out looking, they talked smack about being bored playing teams like ours and the team they were about to play and last but not least they barged into our dugout before we were even close to ready to vacate.
Encounter #2: While playing a game against a notorious team from south of the MN river...the other coach yelled so loud at his team and for so long that the other 3 fields stopped play to make sure lives weren't being sacrificed. In the same game, the same coach on 4 different occasions pulled 4 different kids for making errors (total class, dude). But his all time low light came after we swept them for the season, he said "I wouldn't take one of their players over any of his 12...." right to my face in front of like 5 of my kids and parents. Apparently this guy had given our team some thought.
Encounter #3: This is the true prize. While coaching my daughter's K-2 softball team...a friend observed the other team's coach encouraging his girls' rolling the ball to first base rather than the much more difficult approach of throwing it! This technique is offensive and sexist. No coach would ever teach a group of boys to do the same in order to win (I know, I coached K-2 boys for years and never saw this approach once). To add insult to injury, this team had a ground ball hit to their best player at Pitcher (she clearly knew how to throw it) who then rolled it to their second best person at 1st base (who clearly knew how to catch) for their team's only put out of the night. To which the coach yelled, "Nice Play.....that's how you do it!" To which I almost collapsed.
Encounter #4: Last night, my daughter's team is playing a playoff softball game (note: I was not there). Olivia's team is winning handily 14-2 to a completely overmatched team. Late in the game a girl on her team gets injured pretty badly. Through free substitution, another girl was placed in the game. What the head coach failed to realize was that the girl who was sent in had already played her minimum number of innings in the infield....the other coach noticed and immediately called our team on it and we were forced to forfeit the game. Read future blogs about this one....I think the title will be "C'mon get a clue moments". Sidebar: My daughter gets in the car, turns to my wife and says, "I'm so glad Dad wasn't here....he would have FREAKED!!!!" I honestly wouldn't have freaked...the rule is pretty clear on the substitutions...the assistant coach who innocently sent the girl out there didn't know...he felt awful. I probably would've mustered up a nice little barb for the lady who caught it, like "Do you watch golf tournaments and call the PGA when you see an infraction???"
Good One: This Summer, we had the good fortune of playing a team from Winona, MN called Goodview Sandlot. With special emphasis on the word Sandlot. This team had nicknames for all their kids...they had tall kids, short kids, fat kids, fast kids, white kids and even a black kid. For all their differences they had one thing in common - they loved baseball. Their coach fostered a love for the game amongst their kids - the rest took care of itself. Never once did he raise his voice, never once did he shout instruction to his players in the batters box or scream plays or give signals...he just let them play ball (note: the coach was a ripe 25 years old). We lost to them 3-1...had bases juiced in the bottom of the 6th and they brought in their Scotty Smalls to end it...and they did.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Father's Day
So I'm coaching my son Jake's baseball team last weekend in a local tournament. Our team is just above average record-wise, but long on athletic ability and endless potential.
In the early innings, we can't hit their (Elk River) starter. The kid's fastest pitch was maybe 30 mph. Our kids constantly challenged to hit in the 60 MPH cage are completely baffled. The Elks peck away each inning and take a commanding lead into the bottom of the 6th ahead 8-2. I tell all 10 kids, we need to bat around in order to win...we've done it before, let's do it again (truly hoping to just get something positive brewing for our next game immediately following).
We start a little party -- couple hits, couple walks and boom just like that it's 8-5. They yank their pitcher, bring in another kid. Couple hits, a wild pitch...it's 8-7, no outs, they bring in their closer. Nobody out runner on 1st and 2nd, nicest kid under the sun (dripping with potential, has had a rough start to the season) drives a ball to the gap, score is tied. As the runner on first is rounding third, the cut off man bobbles the ball. As the third base coach I send him home....the throw.....safe on a wild throw. We win. We come back from 6 down and win in walk off fashion....9-8!
In the photo below you will see our kid sliding into home for the winning run and the umpire. But if you look closely you will see two males, one past his prime living the dream as a coach and one just hitting his prime - jumping for joy.
In the early innings, we can't hit their (Elk River) starter. The kid's fastest pitch was maybe 30 mph. Our kids constantly challenged to hit in the 60 MPH cage are completely baffled. The Elks peck away each inning and take a commanding lead into the bottom of the 6th ahead 8-2. I tell all 10 kids, we need to bat around in order to win...we've done it before, let's do it again (truly hoping to just get something positive brewing for our next game immediately following).
We start a little party -- couple hits, couple walks and boom just like that it's 8-5. They yank their pitcher, bring in another kid. Couple hits, a wild pitch...it's 8-7, no outs, they bring in their closer. Nobody out runner on 1st and 2nd, nicest kid under the sun (dripping with potential, has had a rough start to the season) drives a ball to the gap, score is tied. As the runner on first is rounding third, the cut off man bobbles the ball. As the third base coach I send him home....the throw.....safe on a wild throw. We win. We come back from 6 down and win in walk off fashion....9-8!
In the photo below you will see our kid sliding into home for the winning run and the umpire. But if you look closely you will see two males, one past his prime living the dream as a coach and one just hitting his prime - jumping for joy.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Why Kids Suck at Baseball
Baseball is called America's pastime. That's because you can play it with a stick and a ball, the rules are simple -- and the heroes are likable and lovable with names like Whitey, Babe, Willie or just Joe. When we were kids we played ball around the clock. Some of the kids never played for a "team"...mostly because they weren't good enough, it cost money, or they didn't care enough to sign up. Kids in my 'hood just played to play.
In 1998, I moved to the suburbs....two doors down there were two brothers (Eric and Matt) that played all day long. Screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs at every close play, every home run -- all with a passion I once played with. In an odd way I was jealous of the passion they played with because now my passions had switched to coaching and projects around my new house. Their shrieks brought back so many good memories, they were sounds of joy (almost music to my ears). Sidebar: Eric and Matt went on to fantastic baseball careers.
Fast Forward to 2011
I coach an 11 year old traveling baseball team. I have a nice crew of boys that play the game well (their defensive statistics rival a major league teams, they throw strikes like a pitching machine and some can hit balls pitched speeds I know I couldn't have ever hit at that age).
But here are a few reasons why kids aren't any good at baseball anymore.
Knowledge: These kids don't know the game. They don't sit around on a rainy day Saturday and watch The Game of the Week on NBC listening to Vin Scully call a game (or even better, the B crew Tony Kubek and Joe Gariogola). Today they watch Sports Center and they know the great players and they know who gets them points on their fantasy team, but they don't understand why a guy would hit a ball to the right side to score a run versus swinging for the fence to get on TV.
Mommy Says: Kids today are very good at being told when to be somewhere, where to be, and how long they have to be there. That's a bad recipe for baseball. In baseball, there is no time limit and no rule on how far to lead off, or how hard to throw it. By age 11, a boy has played for 5 years -- but for the life of me today they don't know if the ball is 45 feet away from the catcher to steal home on a Passed Ball. Why is this? Their coach didn't say so. For the life of me, if a kid is leading off way too far at 1st or 3rd, a kid won't throw down. Why is this? Their coach didn't say so. They don't do these things because they've been programmed to do exactly what authority tells them...and if they don't they get yelled at to conform.
No Instinct: A secondary flaw to the "Mommy Says" reason is kids don't play like I did, or Eric and Matt did as late as the late 1990's. People learn by doing things hands on. Showing up for a practice and learning skills is nice and praises to the thousands of volunteer coaches in America for their time. But you'd be better served coaching kids by dropping them off at the park, hand them a tennis ball and some cheap wood bats, some cheap Target bases and then LEAVE for 2 hours. You'd return to find a kid who understood how to hit a crappy pitch the other way, a kid who knew how fast he was and how much he could get away with, and most important a kid who understands if the punk on the other team is showing you up you just deck him next time.
Other Sport Pressure: One of the biggest problems in Minnesota is the pressure to play Hockey or Basketball year round. Kids and parents are constantly struggling to keep up in the arms race of these two important (longer season) sports. Kids are running from baseball diamonds to hockey rinks, basketball gyms and training facilities....year round. See my blog on Youth Hockey for proof.
Choices/Toys: My 11 year old has access to Internet, he has an iPod touch, Sony Wii, Comcast On Demand, DVR, DVDs, Baseball Cards, a Swimming Pool, and every toy under the Sun. By most standards he's not considered spoiled. Compared to my childhood, he'd be Richie Rich. On top of the toys, his parents have managed to wedge him into 500 other activities. All of these things are all well and fine on their own, but smashed together it can be a mess.
So in summary, kids suck at baseball because we as parents over program, over indulge, and over coach them. The sad fact is there is no easy answer -- other than the fateful crossroads that most parents face - make Johnny specialize in one sport by age 11 so that they can be good/great at something.
In 1998, I moved to the suburbs....two doors down there were two brothers (Eric and Matt) that played all day long. Screaming and yelling at the top of their lungs at every close play, every home run -- all with a passion I once played with. In an odd way I was jealous of the passion they played with because now my passions had switched to coaching and projects around my new house. Their shrieks brought back so many good memories, they were sounds of joy (almost music to my ears). Sidebar: Eric and Matt went on to fantastic baseball careers.
Fast Forward to 2011
I coach an 11 year old traveling baseball team. I have a nice crew of boys that play the game well (their defensive statistics rival a major league teams, they throw strikes like a pitching machine and some can hit balls pitched speeds I know I couldn't have ever hit at that age).
But here are a few reasons why kids aren't any good at baseball anymore.
Knowledge: These kids don't know the game. They don't sit around on a rainy day Saturday and watch The Game of the Week on NBC listening to Vin Scully call a game (or even better, the B crew Tony Kubek and Joe Gariogola). Today they watch Sports Center and they know the great players and they know who gets them points on their fantasy team, but they don't understand why a guy would hit a ball to the right side to score a run versus swinging for the fence to get on TV.
Mommy Says: Kids today are very good at being told when to be somewhere, where to be, and how long they have to be there. That's a bad recipe for baseball. In baseball, there is no time limit and no rule on how far to lead off, or how hard to throw it. By age 11, a boy has played for 5 years -- but for the life of me today they don't know if the ball is 45 feet away from the catcher to steal home on a Passed Ball. Why is this? Their coach didn't say so. For the life of me, if a kid is leading off way too far at 1st or 3rd, a kid won't throw down. Why is this? Their coach didn't say so. They don't do these things because they've been programmed to do exactly what authority tells them...and if they don't they get yelled at to conform.
No Instinct: A secondary flaw to the "Mommy Says" reason is kids don't play like I did, or Eric and Matt did as late as the late 1990's. People learn by doing things hands on. Showing up for a practice and learning skills is nice and praises to the thousands of volunteer coaches in America for their time. But you'd be better served coaching kids by dropping them off at the park, hand them a tennis ball and some cheap wood bats, some cheap Target bases and then LEAVE for 2 hours. You'd return to find a kid who understood how to hit a crappy pitch the other way, a kid who knew how fast he was and how much he could get away with, and most important a kid who understands if the punk on the other team is showing you up you just deck him next time.
Other Sport Pressure: One of the biggest problems in Minnesota is the pressure to play Hockey or Basketball year round. Kids and parents are constantly struggling to keep up in the arms race of these two important (longer season) sports. Kids are running from baseball diamonds to hockey rinks, basketball gyms and training facilities....year round. See my blog on Youth Hockey for proof.
Choices/Toys: My 11 year old has access to Internet, he has an iPod touch, Sony Wii, Comcast On Demand, DVR, DVDs, Baseball Cards, a Swimming Pool, and every toy under the Sun. By most standards he's not considered spoiled. Compared to my childhood, he'd be Richie Rich. On top of the toys, his parents have managed to wedge him into 500 other activities. All of these things are all well and fine on their own, but smashed together it can be a mess.
So in summary, kids suck at baseball because we as parents over program, over indulge, and over coach them. The sad fact is there is no easy answer -- other than the fateful crossroads that most parents face - make Johnny specialize in one sport by age 11 so that they can be good/great at something.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
My Non Bucket List
Everyone has a bucket list, I'm creating a Non Bucket List of things I won't do, ever (sports related).
Some by choice, some by sheer physical impossibility, some by financial/prestige impossibility.
Choice:
1. Go to any MLB stadium and cheer for a big market team
2. Go to a PGA tour event and shout, "You the Man!"
3. Argue with an ump during a Kindergarten softball game
4. String together the next three sentences into one. Lets. Go. Red.
5. Beat my chest when my favorite MLB team wins the worst division baseball
Physical:
1. Sky Dive
2. Enter a Hot Dog eating contest
3. Play on a JCC under 6 foot basketball team
4. Run Boston Marathon
5. Pose with David Stern as #1 pick in NBA draft
Financial/Prestige:
1. Play Augusta
2. Move to Edina ;)
3. Throw out the first pitch at Twins game
4. Sit court side next to Jack at a Lakers game (ran out of choice ones)
5. Coach PeeWee football for a living
Besides your obvious loyalties and the dude who reads this that thinks he's the next Prefontaine, do you see yourself doing any of these 15? If so, why?
Z
Some by choice, some by sheer physical impossibility, some by financial/prestige impossibility.
Choice:
1. Go to any MLB stadium and cheer for a big market team
2. Go to a PGA tour event and shout, "You the Man!"
3. Argue with an ump during a Kindergarten softball game
4. String together the next three sentences into one. Lets. Go. Red.
5. Beat my chest when my favorite MLB team wins the worst division baseball
Physical:
1. Sky Dive
2. Enter a Hot Dog eating contest
3. Play on a JCC under 6 foot basketball team
4. Run Boston Marathon
5. Pose with David Stern as #1 pick in NBA draft
Financial/Prestige:
1. Play Augusta
2. Move to Edina ;)
3. Throw out the first pitch at Twins game
4. Sit court side next to Jack at a Lakers game (ran out of choice ones)
5. Coach PeeWee football for a living
Besides your obvious loyalties and the dude who reads this that thinks he's the next Prefontaine, do you see yourself doing any of these 15? If so, why?
Z
Monday, April 4, 2011
Barry Sanders or Deion Sanders, which one are you?
The age old question, do you jump around like a fool and celebrate because it may be your last time scoring or do you act like you've been there before?
Barry Sanders was my favorite football player. Supremely talented, exciting to watch, but most memorable was how he celebrated a TD. He handed the ball to the referee. Deion Sanders was also supremely talented and exciting to watch. However, his celebrations of success were epic. Pretty sure they made rules against celebration because of "Neon" Deion.
Even the most casual sports' fans would know the difference between the two. And most, if asked, would say they are most like Barry. Barry is what everyone aspires to be (talented, classy, and very humble). Deion on the other hand, was a punk. In case your memory has faded, watch what he did to Tim McGarver during a post game celebration for proof (Click Here). He took his amazing gift and flaunted it...flaunting to the point whereby most couldn't stand him and they couldn't wait until he was out of the limelight.
Okay....I'm not breaking new ground here on Barry versus Deion. But my point is simple, we can all spot a great guy pretty quickly and we definitely know a punk in a hurry. But for all the times we help a little old lady across the street, we probably have done a TD dance in a meaningless intramural football game, or worn a jersey that says, "Excuse Me" on the back (i.e. me).
So, next time you see someone celebrate victory, a TD, or a goal and you don't like it. Here are some things to remember:
1. Think about all of your victory celebrations and success... chances are good your opponent saw Deion in you not Barry.
2. Appreciate it. That athlete or team worked their tail/s off, congratulations.
3. If you don't like it or can't possibly appreciate it, stop 'em next time and quit your whining (i.e. work harder).
4. The sports' God's always get even on guys like Deion (or Tiger).
5. Finally, if you act like a clown, you'll be remembered as a clown.
Thank you Barry Sanders for your great example.
Barry Sanders was my favorite football player. Supremely talented, exciting to watch, but most memorable was how he celebrated a TD. He handed the ball to the referee. Deion Sanders was also supremely talented and exciting to watch. However, his celebrations of success were epic. Pretty sure they made rules against celebration because of "Neon" Deion.
Even the most casual sports' fans would know the difference between the two. And most, if asked, would say they are most like Barry. Barry is what everyone aspires to be (talented, classy, and very humble). Deion on the other hand, was a punk. In case your memory has faded, watch what he did to Tim McGarver during a post game celebration for proof (Click Here). He took his amazing gift and flaunted it...flaunting to the point whereby most couldn't stand him and they couldn't wait until he was out of the limelight.
Okay....I'm not breaking new ground here on Barry versus Deion. But my point is simple, we can all spot a great guy pretty quickly and we definitely know a punk in a hurry. But for all the times we help a little old lady across the street, we probably have done a TD dance in a meaningless intramural football game, or worn a jersey that says, "Excuse Me" on the back (i.e. me).
So, next time you see someone celebrate victory, a TD, or a goal and you don't like it. Here are some things to remember:
1. Think about all of your victory celebrations and success... chances are good your opponent saw Deion in you not Barry.
2. Appreciate it. That athlete or team worked their tail/s off, congratulations.
3. If you don't like it or can't possibly appreciate it, stop 'em next time and quit your whining (i.e. work harder).
4. The sports' God's always get even on guys like Deion (or Tiger).
5. Finally, if you act like a clown, you'll be remembered as a clown.
Thank you Barry Sanders for your great example.
Monday, March 14, 2011
MN High School Hockey Tournament -2011 Edition
As Minnesotans we suffer through hard winters, for several reasons 4 million people seem to stick around. One of those reasons for me is this thing called the State Hockey Tournament. As a youth, my Mom would let me come home from school early to watch the games starting in Kindergarten all the way through high school. From my earliest memories as a child, this tournament has always been very special to a lot of people in this state. Neal Broten, former Gopher Hockey star, Hobey Baker winner, NHL Great, 1980 Olympian, and Stanley Cup winner once said winning the State Tournament would have been more exciting than winning the Olympics (his best finish was 3rd).
To put things in perspective on Saturday night 40 High School kids from Minnesota outdrew every pro and college team in the world (SRO 19,000 fans). And this has been going on for decades here. The tournament always draws over 100,000 people and the games are always very exciting.
The section tournaments to get to state are sometimes even more exciting with a ton of geographic rivals facing off in the section finals for a shot at the tournament. Of the 16 section finals, 5 were decided in overtime (Lakeville North, Duluth East, Eden Prairie, White Bear Lake, and Breck all advanced in miraculous fashion) and 7 were decided by 1 goal.
My personal highlights this year:
* Edina losing (actually didn't see it).
* My nephew David scoring the game winning goal in overtime in both the Section Semifinal game and Section Final to send his team Breck to the Big Dance. Couldn't have happened to a nicer kid.
* Watching a great kid like AJ Reid win a state championship and then win the Herb Brooks Award for being a credit to his school, peers, and community. I'll bet his dad is proud.
* My nephew David during his player introductions on TV, greets my son Jake with a "Happy Birthday Jake, " to which my cell phone goes bonkers!!!
*5 championship round games decided in OT, including all 3 for Duluth East and both Title games.
*My nephew David places #2 on the All Hockey Hair team.....check this video out, it is hilarious. Yeah, he's kind of a big deal.
One more highlight....this one borders on odd:
At the conclusion of each medal ceremony, the High School League hands out the Herb Brooks Award (see above). For the Girls winner, Herb Brooks' daughter presents the award and for the boys his son presents the award. To set the scene, I'm watching the girl's final and Herbie's daughter comes out to present and she's wearing a very revealing red sweater. To which my wife Debi says, "what is SHE wearing?" Two weeks later, Herbie's son shows up to the AA award ceremony in a black leather jacket he must have stolen from one of the Pet Shop Boys...to which I replied, "what is HE wearing?"
I can only conclude that Herbie had those two doing pushups, stairs and "Herbies" their whole life. This is their way of getting back at him, while he sits up in Hockey Heaven.
Congratulations to St. Thomas and Eden Prairie. By all accounts this EP team won a PeeWee State Championship, 2 Bantam State Championships and 2 state Championships. An amazing run.
To put things in perspective on Saturday night 40 High School kids from Minnesota outdrew every pro and college team in the world (SRO 19,000 fans). And this has been going on for decades here. The tournament always draws over 100,000 people and the games are always very exciting.
The section tournaments to get to state are sometimes even more exciting with a ton of geographic rivals facing off in the section finals for a shot at the tournament. Of the 16 section finals, 5 were decided in overtime (Lakeville North, Duluth East, Eden Prairie, White Bear Lake, and Breck all advanced in miraculous fashion) and 7 were decided by 1 goal.
My personal highlights this year:
* Edina losing (actually didn't see it).
* My nephew David scoring the game winning goal in overtime in both the Section Semifinal game and Section Final to send his team Breck to the Big Dance. Couldn't have happened to a nicer kid.
* Watching a great kid like AJ Reid win a state championship and then win the Herb Brooks Award for being a credit to his school, peers, and community. I'll bet his dad is proud.
* My nephew David during his player introductions on TV, greets my son Jake with a "Happy Birthday Jake, " to which my cell phone goes bonkers!!!
*5 championship round games decided in OT, including all 3 for Duluth East and both Title games.
*My nephew David places #2 on the All Hockey Hair team.....check this video out, it is hilarious. Yeah, he's kind of a big deal.
One more highlight....this one borders on odd:
At the conclusion of each medal ceremony, the High School League hands out the Herb Brooks Award (see above). For the Girls winner, Herb Brooks' daughter presents the award and for the boys his son presents the award. To set the scene, I'm watching the girl's final and Herbie's daughter comes out to present and she's wearing a very revealing red sweater. To which my wife Debi says, "what is SHE wearing?" Two weeks later, Herbie's son shows up to the AA award ceremony in a black leather jacket he must have stolen from one of the Pet Shop Boys...to which I replied, "what is HE wearing?"
I can only conclude that Herbie had those two doing pushups, stairs and "Herbies" their whole life. This is their way of getting back at him, while he sits up in Hockey Heaven.
Congratulations to St. Thomas and Eden Prairie. By all accounts this EP team won a PeeWee State Championship, 2 Bantam State Championships and 2 state Championships. An amazing run.
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