I am special because ________.
Saw this today: ” I am special because … I am really good at playing soccer.” A mother’s shout-out from her teacher-parent conference, complete with an image of her young child, kindergarten age, with a quotation bubble completing this phrase. His smiling face hovered atop a cutout body, colored with red and green Crayola crayons. […]
How the 2019 Washington Nationals Made Us Believe
On May 24th, the Washington Nationals are 19-31, twelve games below .500. They are no hits, no runs and all errors. With injuries piling up as fast as losses, I confess, there were several evenings I just had to turn the game off because I couldn’t watch the bullpen implode one more time: self-flagellation’s not […]
Who Missed Manny Machado?
There are many kinds of poverty. During the MLB National League Championship Series, I have observed a stark demonstration of poverty: the very impoverished behavior of an exceptional individual. He is talented, capable, skilled and highly paid. But, by the way he plays and the way he behaves, he shows a deep, deep poverty. He […]
Collective Joy
They’re out. All twelve boys and their soccer coach are free. What is it about that news sends me to the verge of tears? I’m a soccer coach. I have taken my teams on excursions as team building opportunities. None of these have gone badly wrong, but they could have. I’m a parent. I cannot possibly […]
Competitive Nearsightedness: it’s Treatable
Both teams were there. Both coaches. Lots and lots of parents. The only thing missing was the referee. No one wanted to reschedule this last game of the season, which didn’t determine anything in the standings. We just needed to get it played. As it happened, there was a parent on each team who was […]
To whom do you pledge your allegiance?
When they play the National Anthem, do you sit? stand? lock arms? kneel? put hand over heart? Do you sing? remain silent? Can you remember all the words? Can you reach all the notes? I’m pretty sure we’ve never given it so much consideration as a nation as we are doing right now. What does […]
God, Jesus and Baseball
I was born kinesthetic. Not until some time later did I realize I had God to thank for that. Not until I came to know Jesus did I realize I had to do something about it. Several Washington Nationals players drove this home for me during the post- game celebration of Faith Day at Nats Park. […]
Playing to win a game we all know we will lose: It’s the game that makes winners of us
I just love to compete! folks say to me, pretty much never. I’m not the competitive type, they say, pretty much always. And then they cut each other off in conversation. One-up each other in accomplishments. Go off about something on Facebook. Cannot believe that offending patron! Swerve around that maniac who is texting while driving. While on the […]
Why do we edit God out?
Just wondering. I watched Simone Manuel finish first in the 100 meter freestyle in Olympic record time then turn to look at the score board and put her hand over her mouth in utter surprise and delight. That girl just performed a miracle as far as she’s concerned, and in her after-swim interview, the first […]
If we let them
When they’re young, children need to learn how. How to tie a shoe. How to make their letters. How to ride the bus. How to strike the ball. How to throw the pass. How to swing the bat. How to greet a friend. How to get themselves to sleep. How to decline politely. These, they […]