cooperstown

Ryle's offense is, quite frankly, painful to watch.

iHigh broadcast is now working.

Starting to chase a rabbit here a bit, but I've always wished I could "re-coach" my son. I most certainly didn't fall into the category of giving my son any special treatment or showing any favoritism. He got "coached" harder, which by and large, meant criticized harder and more frequently. My assistant coaches were constantly on me about being too hard on him. I had a very hard time separating my coaching role and father role and he got "coached" at practices, games, on the car rides home, at home, etc.... I think a lot of guys fall into this trap (at least I'm hoping I'm not on an island here). I wish so badly I could re-do it. I think I killed a little bit of his baseball spirit and he turned out to be a football-first kid by the end of high school. I will always regret this. Fell into the trap of yet another dad living out his unfulfilled baseball (or whatever sport) career through his son. Oh well, nothing to do with the topic at hand. A couple posts just got me to thinking and re-living some regrets.

There's a bunch of great places, but let me give you one that's kind of a hole-in-the-wall, but awesome - Best Italian Cafe & Pizzeria. It's up around stoplight 9 or so. Sits way in the back of a rather non-descript strip mall. Absolutely awesome pizza and rolls. You won't find pizza any better. If you go there and don't like it, I'll pay! (not really).

I have been battling this God-awful condition on and off for several years, but non-stop since November. It's been horrible - I have tried every treatment out there - anti-inflammation pills, steroid packs, cortisones shots, several 3-4 week periods in a hard boot, night splint boot, taping my foot, two sets of custom orthotics, various therapies (rolling foot on tennis ball/frozen water bottle), stretching exercises, special shoes, limiting all running, icing it all the time etc... I was told by one doctor I needed a serious nerve surgery, but another doctor said the first was crazy and that the nerve operation was dangerous and unnecessary. He did say I'd likely need the plantar fasciitis surgery if it didn't start to improve. Well it hasn't - it hurts every day, all day long. It basically consumes my thoughts all day. I am going to a pain clinic to see if they can at least get me through to November/December, when I'd be in more of a mental state to have the surgery. Anyone dealt with this freakin' injury and have any suggestions for me? Not too many things in life have bothered me as bad as this injury - meeting Clyde was also painful and a nightmare, I guess - but this one is worse. I sure I don't know what I'd do if some expert told me there was no cure and I'd have to live the rest of my life this way. It hurts like a b.... day in and day out. Someone give me some hope . . . . .

One of the things I loved most about the Cooperstown Field of Dreams complex and tournament is that they stick parents down the RF and LF lines. No parents behind the backstop or near the dugouts or the players during the game. Always a few exceptions, but mostly just kids playing baseball. Now after the game, I'm sure moms and dads can scold their future major league for making an error or striking out, but at least during the game, it's just the kids and coaches. Great experience. Done it twice and loved it both times.

Drinking while you were in Little League probably didn't help your chances for a pro career.

Nope. Always been that way. Watch the Little League WS this summer on TV and you'll see what I am talking about. Half the pitchers throw 70 mph+, which is equivalent to a 100 mph pitch at the major league level.

No. Which is one of several reasons it is a stupid league for kids ages 11-12. 9-10 year olds, fine, but kids 11-12 (13 by time midseason rolls around) should be leading off, pitching from stretch, catching third strikes, playing distances longer than 46' pitching and 60' bases, etc.....

Not at all. And not sure how I was having a "cow," but if you say so. But when you started the thread using the term "Little League", I was simply wondering if you were referring to the actual league itself. There is a specific league called Little League.

BTW, when you say "Little League", do you mean the actual league or just referring to younger age kids that may have been playing knothole? Not that there's a huge difference - there's idiot parents in both leagues. Just curious how you were using the term "Little League."

Yes. Gonna take a lot of years to make enough people forget the steroids. He epitomized the "Steroid Era" and won't be forgiven for it any time soon.

Absolutely love Destin. So much to do there. Everything is so clean and new - basically because so much of it was rebuilt after a bad hurricane there 7-8 years ago. Make sure to check out Harborwalk Village - pretty cool place.

Pretty happening place.

Folly Beach is Charleston, S.C. Not that it isn't far from Hilton Head, of course. Only know because once we dump the kids off at college this August, me and the ball-n-chain are heading there. Went to Charleston about 6 years ago for a 14U baseball tournament and absolutely loved the place. Can't wait to get back.

Basketball, not baseball.

Little League here in NKY has never had its own complex, as do many Little Leagues around the country. They make use of whatever fields to which they can gain access. Some of these fields are softball parks that are concurrently used for softball leagues and obviously allow alcohol. Not the best situation in the world, but generally not a problem.

None of this is particular to Little League per se. It's becoming more and more commonplace in all of youth sports. Mommies and daddies who know more than the coaches, believe their kid is the second coming of Ty Cobb/Jim Brown/Bob Cousy and deserve special treatment, accord umpires as much respect as they've taught their own kids to respect authority, and generally have all the courtesy and class of a bar room drunk.

Unusual score for extra inning game. What happened in the 9th inning? Congrats to Brossart on a terrific season!!

I am left with the feeling that either he took this past break without having a true recurrance of any serious shoulder issues (especially as he was so clear soming out of Spring that things had healed) or that if he did have some problem, he is pushing too soon to come back. Ultiamtely I think he's struggles again down the road and again pulls the plug due to nagging injuries.

And don't forget the kids that wear their hoodies up . . . . in the rain.

Take into consideration that losing tends to bring about unhappiness and this past season appears to have an aberration from the "typical" Beechwood season? So did something about his coaching style change this year that brought about all this heartache? Have people been as equally unhappy during past years when Beechwood had so much success? Or did the winning cover up some of the upset of past players/parents? The BHS people that I know sure swear by the guy. Actually, I'm not certain I know any BHS baseball people that don't think highly of the guy, though admittedly I don't know any of the current players/families. I just find it hard to believe that things went south so quickly.

What a shame. Obviously Cain pitched a whale of a game. But whoever pitched for Henderson must have been lights out as well. Not all that often in high school ball are you going to play a 9-inning game and shut out your opponent. Just too many walks and errors at the high school level for this to happen often. Great season for NCC. No all-NKY final this year, so go 'Stangs.

Everybody and their brother wants to get their concealed carry permit these days. That's all well and good and I'm most certainly pro gun rights and all for protecting yourself and your family. Just remember that at the moment you decide to pull that trigger, you better dang sure be able to articulate a justifiable reason why you felt in fear of your life . . . . .

Beechwood's "direction" under Meyerhoff the past ten years: 2012: 16-19-1 No regional appearance 2011: 30-9 .... Regional appearance 2010: 21-13 ...No regional appearance 2009: 22-16 ...Regional champion 2008: 23-10 ...Regional appearance 2007: 23-17 ...Regional appearance 2006: 37-6-1 . Regional champs; State runner-up 2005: 29-8 .... Regional appearance 2004: 32-7 .... Regional champs; State Final 8 2003: 25-1 .... Regional appearance Gee, what a crappy direction. Surprised they didn't go a different direction several regional championships ago.