Tourney time. Summer time!

This weekend Emmy and the Bad Girls played in Liberty Park in the annual NSA State tourney for the north central part of Alabama. Playing against other 12 and unders from different parts of the state was a big time experience for the team. This three day tourney in Vestavia had almost eighty teams from 8 to 16 years of age playing on twelve different fields. This is the tournament the team has been preparing for all season. The girls were pumped and it showed in their first game.

Some of the fun things about this tournament are seeing the wild uniforms (lots of hot pink, dayglo green and sun yellows), crazy team names (Hissy Fits, Diamond Divas and Sassies are just a few) and hearing the crazy team chants. Always amusing and fun. Fans take their softball very seriously as they grill out and deck out their dugouts. Great fun.

In the first game the Bad Girls took on the feared Odenville Saints. With their ace on the mound, the Saints looked imposing in the first inning. Our first three batters were swinging at anything and everything. Their pitcher threw hard, but not many were for strikes. Rodney settled down the team and got them focused. Boy did he! Playing their most complete game the year, the Bad Girls whipped Odenville by a score of 9-3. The girls bunted for hits, stole tons of bases and were tough on defense. Their superb play really shocked the Odenville team that was talked about being the favorite team in our bracket.

Emmy was super at the plate and in the field. She knocked two singles, including one on a beautiful bunt. She scored two runs and stole four bases. She made three nice plays at second base as well. The team was on a big high after the win. Several fans from other teams watched the end of the game and were very complimentary. However, soon after the win was clouded in slight controversy.

The Odenville coaches questioned whether the Bad Girls had added illegal players to the tourney roster. What a crock. The Bad Girls team is comprised of players who signed up to play in the Homewood rec league. In comparison, most of the other teams are made up of all stars chosen from within their respective league. Unfortunately, Homewood does not have enough players for multiple teams for the 11-12 year olds. (That is a sad commentary for another day.) Frankly, the Odenville coaches were just shocked that the Bad Girls whipped their team so badly. Ultimately they dropped their protest and the games resumed.




Moving on to the second game, the Bad Girls took on the Moody Venom. Such a tough name for girls wearing powder blue uniforms and matching hair bows! In these tourney games we like to hit first so we can put runs on the board before the other team gets to bat. Like taking the ball first in football from the coin toss. Did not happen this game and the team dug a huge hole that they could not climb out of. Spotting the Venom eleven runs in the first inning quickly erased the good vibes from the first game. Our girls braved the 90 degree heat in a 32 minute first half inning that just drained them. However, in their half of the first to their credit the Bad Girls rallied for six runs. Very proud of their spunk, cheering and enthusiasm. Emmy walked and singled in her two plate appearances. She score one run, but the team could have used ten more in their loss by a score of 16-6.

In this game Coach Rodney gambled by pitching our #4 pitcher, while trying save the others for the later games. He brought in the #2 pitcher but it was after most of the damage had been done. While I do agree with his philosophy of allowing all players to play in the games, in tourney play it is about playing the best players at their strongest positions. The girls were taught this early in the season and knew this was his game plan. For some reason Coach did not follow through and was much more diplomatic at the tournament. While it might not have made a difference ultimately, it sure would have made us more competitive this weekend. Our #4 pitcher looked like a zombie on the hill and was not prepared. Oh well. Second guessing gets us nowhere.




In the semifinals (third game of the day), the Bad Girls again dug themselves another deep hole early in the game. This time they were playing the Pell City Storm. The Storm put nine on the board in the first two innings and the Bad Girls could only counter with three of their own. Coach Rodney gathered the team for a pep talk which then sparked a six-run third inning to tie the game. Exciting, exciting. This too was short lived. With time running out and the score tied in the bottom of the third, the Storm eeked a run across for the win. Game over. Tourney over. Season over.




Em learned a ton this season. Her hitting improved every game. She was very strong handling second base with ease. Next year she hopes to part of the pitching rotation if she plays for Coach Rodney. Maybe Coach Keith will allow her to work out with the Lady Knights next season. Remains to be seen. Em is sad the season is over but looks forward to perfecting flips off the diving board as soon as this next weekend.

Having a very good week: Australian Jessica Watson became the youngest individual to sail non-stop and unassisted around the world. The departure was from Sydney, Australia on 18 October 2009, headed eastbound over the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Last week she crossed the finish line in Sydney Harbour, three days before her 17th birthday. Angel Pagan hit an inside-the-park home run and started a triple play Wednesday night, but that wasn't enough for the New York Mets in a 5-3 loss to the Washington Nationals. Pagan became the first player in 55 years to take part in both feats in the same game. 13-year-old Jordan Romero is attempting to become become the youngest person to reach the summit of Mount Everest. On Saturday he departed base camp with his father, Paul Romero, and Paul’s companion and professional adventure racing teammate, Karen Lundgren. Our lovable high schooler, Siddy G, is finished with middle school as of this past Friday. She spent a really fun weekend at the lake with some buddies. Way to go Sid!



Not having a good week: Florida Marlins superstar shortstop Henley Ramirez is an idiot. He has a $70 million guaranteed contract, yet he cannot find the energy to run after a ball he booted in a recent game. He then called out his manager and would not apologize for his actions. Now his teammates are turning on him. He's 26, last year's batting champ and all star. What a doofus. The manager was right to bench him. Later this week Ramirez apologized to his team and manager. Too little. Too late. Shamed 2006 Tour de France winner, and now admitted HGH user, Floyd Landis is now naming names. Landis, who was stripped of his '06 title for doping, now admits he was using PEDs and says Lance Armstrong and others are all dirty with illegal drugs. He just mad that Lance kicked his butt all those years. What a shame. Canadian doctor, Anothony Galea, is being accused of smuggling HGH and other illegal drugs into the US and treating pro athletes. I bet it's just the tip of the iceberg. This will be really bad before it's over.

Thank you for putting up with our weekly sports adventures again this year. I get as much joy sharing the girls' accomplishments with you as they do performing them. I still need an editor, but for now you get what you get. Signing off for a few months. Fun year. Should be a fun summer. Enjoy, everyone!
The Sports Guy

Varsity letter. Presidential Fitness award.

At the spring sports assembly this week Sid was awarded her first varsity letter. While the softball season was not one that will go down in Altamont's sports legacy, it certainly was one to remember. Well, maybe. Yea Sid! Coach Keith hopes to have a skills camp for the team later this summer.
























This week Sid tried out for the varsity hoops team. Little doubt she will make the team. Coach Matt is setting up some training camps this summer. Should be intense but fun. He wants her to grow another inch this summer to play the point. Stay tuned ....

During Monday night the Bad Girls played a doubleheader against two teams from Leeds. Finishing at 9:40pm (who schedules these things???), the Bad Girls took two more losses. The 14-5 loss to Leeds 2 in the second game was not close. However, the first game was very exciting, but disappointing. Down by four in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Bad Girls looked to make another exciting comeback. Two walked. Then Venus knocked then both in with a double. Emmy was hit by a pitch. Both stole on the next pitch. With two on, down by two and only one out, it was looking good for the Bad Girls. Well, that is until the next two batters never moved the bats off their shoulders and both struck out looking. Backward Ks. Game over. Mind numbing. Frustrating. Thems the breaks.

The other scheduled games for the week were canceled. First state tournament begins next weekend. The team hopes to show their skills against teams from other parts of the state.

Toward the end of a hard practice on Sunday, the skies opened and a big rainstorm drenched the field. This allowed the girls to work on their sliding skills.


Seen hoops coach Nolan Richardson lately? Here he is (top photo in center) in 1994 at the SEC tourney when he was the Arkansas Razorbacks coach, and in May 2010 as the WNBA Tulsa Shock head man.



Having a good week: Yesterday in Birmingham golfer Dan Forsman broke the Regions Charity Classic tournament single-round record with 62. Big crowds and great weather have made this annual tourney a huge success. Our very own Emily was one of only three students in her school to achieve the Presidential Fitness Award. Way to go Boo! With memories of slain teammate Yeardley Love everywhere, this weekend the Virginia women’s lacrosse team played for the first time since her death, looking to clear what the coach called a “huge hurdle.” Love’s mother and sister were in the stands when the Cavaliers rallied in the last four minutes to beat Towson 14-12 and reach the quarterfinals of the NCAA tournament. Veteran ball player and announcer Bob Uecker recently had heart surgery and looks to be on the mend. Sure hope he makes back announcing Brewers' games soon. The Cinncinati Reds are in first place? Won't last. No way.

Not such a good one: Major league batting leader Andre Ethier of the Los Angeles Dodgers has a fractured bone at the end of his right pinkie and isn’t sure how long he’ll be sidelined. Ethier leads the majors with a .392 batting average. The NY Mets are sucking. Last place. How long will Manuel last? Cubs, Astros and Bosox are having tough times as well.

Dance is over for the school year. Sid's out of school as of this Friday and turns 14 in a few weeks. Say what? High school, here she comes! Emmy still has a few weeks left. Some say I've been done for years. Stick a fork in me. Want a fun experience? Go visit a Bass Pro Outlet store. Awesome.

Have a great week everyone!
The Sports Guy

"A million guys can dunk a basketball in jail; should they be role models?"

Charles Barkley uttered this comment in 1993 which sparked a debate that lead to then Vice President Dan Quayle getting bent out of shape and Nike's responsive commercial campaign. Are professional athletics role models? is a valid question, but also has an easy answer - THEY ARE ROLE MODELS! The difficult part of this question is how to explain their role to children.

Being a role model comes with the territory of being a professional athlete in today's world. When you sign for the big bucks, you sign for the responsibility. You now represent not only yourself and your family, but also now a well known employer and likely in a well known city. Many of these sports studs are the face of the organization. That's always been the case. So long as there have been professional sports, the owners have needed to promote their players to put butts in the seats. However, the big difference now is our modern society and the world of reporting "news."

Unlike back in the days of Ruth and Mantle with the unwritten agreement between sports writers and the athletes they cover to ignore most irreverent behavior, in modern society every facet of their lives are subjected to public scrutiny. That is, unless they somehow safeguard themselves with the utmost extreme. Every day Sportscenter, espn.com, cnnsi.com and others put bad stories in their front page current news. I-journalists, Facebook, twitter, blogs, TMZ.com and TMXsports.com, camera phones, etc., etc., etc. Everyone is a snoop, a reporter and a blabbermouth. (Me included.) Especially, when photos of the famous at rehab facilities reportedly fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars to the tabloids.

In the past several years, the public has been hit with daily news items from sports figures: Pete Rose's longtime saga about betting on baseball, an NBA referee facing game-fixing accusations, pro quarterback Michael Vick accused of dog-fighting, Raffy Palmeiro, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds' home runs and steroids, Tiger Woods, several NFL QBs improper social behavior, and sadly the list goes on and on and on. I believe in second chances, but how far can this be allowed to go? I guess it's to be determined person by person, situation by situation.

Do you want your children looking to these guys as role models?




How do you tell your eight year old son (who wears a #7 Steelers jersey every day) that since the Steelers QB has done some really bad things he will not be playing several games this year? How does a parent convince their child to root for his favorite player of the field but ignore what he does off it? Today's child is way too savvy not to know something bad is associated with some of these knuckleheads. These same knuckleheads, who are most typically single and younger than thirty years of age, are making millions and millions to represent their teams, communities and families for professional organizations. I wonder if their entourages are comprised of a bunch of "yes" men who are just pumped to hang in the presence of their heroes. Or, hopefully, these multi-millionaires employ some folks with the wisdom and enough influence to keep them on the straight and narrow. Where's mama in the mix? Where's the strong father figure?

Unfortunately, the media emphasises way too often the failings and shortcomings of these sports gods. This pretty much echos the news as a whole. Not enough good stories. The good stories do not sell as well. Thankfully we have Mitch Albom, Rick Reilly, Bob Costas and other to provide these feel good stories. See Rick Reilly's article from a few years ago. Here is a feel good story that did not receive much press: http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3930609

There are many great examples that should be more newsworthy but have been largely overlooked. For example, World Series hero Curt Schilling and his wife support several charities that help raise money for various medical organizations. So do countless other professional athletes. Here is a list from several years ago:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/2001-07-20-public-table1a.htm

Tough call as a fan. Tough call as a parent. What's your call?

Happy Tuesday, I hope,
The Sports Guy

Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs.

Emmy was finally back on the diamond this past Monday night as her Bad Girls took on Oak Mountain under the lights at West Homewood Park. The girls looked good in the top of the first holding OM to just one run. In the bottom of the inning the Bad Girls took advantage on the base paths while creating two runs using small ball, National League-style. Emmy wore a fielder's mask playing first base as she battled the setting sun while fielding throws across the infield.

Small miscues can lead to big problems was the rest of the game. Two fielding errors turned sure outs into seven runs, in both the second and third innings, for the Bad Girls. Ultimately these errors doomed any chance at victory this game. Losing 16-8, the Bad Girls still need more fielding practice. But then again, don’t well all?




After Em's game we watched a few innings of Meyer's game against the Yankees. Meyer played first and pitched in a wild contest. Losing 12-4 in the third, the Angels mounted a valiant comeback that just fell short by a run. Kudos to the young Mr. Wolnek for earning All-Stars honors this year. Nice job Mey!



One of the things we have been working on with Emmy's team is the strategy of the game. Learning and implementing strategy can be the difference between a win and a loss in many games. Largely execution, of course, makes the difference, but part of this includes the strategy. Getting the girls to learn signs from the coaches is one way we are trying to teach them. This happens mostly when they are batting.

Before each pitch we are trying to get them look at the third base coach (me) and figure out what I am signaling to them. Half the time they forget so I yell at them to step out of the box and look at me. Getting the girls to understand and learn this skill often leads me to a range of emotions from the third base box. It goes from maddening (often) to hilarious (too often) to just right (rarely, but improving). In case we have any future opponents reading this blog (highly doubtful, but you never know), I will share with you that we have only three basic "live" signs - steal, bunt and take a pitch. To send the sign to the batter I might touch my left arm, right knee, brim of my hat, nose, chin, etc. Often though (and this is what is so hard for the girls to learn) I will signal four or five bogus signs with the one live sign. The looks I receive in return indicate whether they get it or not. When they don't get it, unfortunately, too often a timeout is called as the batter and I meet half way done the third base line to rediscuss (what we just discussed three minutes prior in the dugout) what the signs are for that game. Here are some examples of real coaches doing their signs:





Saturday afternoon the Bad Girls had a rematch against Oak Mountain. This time they played at OM's park. Unfortunately, the results were the same. the Bad Girls took another one on the chin. They have a few more games before tourney plays begins.

The greatest generation of sportscasters is now pretty much gone, save for Vin Scully. Sad to learn of the passing of Ernie Harwell. http://freep.com/article/20100505/COL01/5050493/1321/Ernie-Harwells-gone-never-forgotten.

Who says playing video games doesn't pay?http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2010/05/05/2010-05-05_alabama_man_wins_1m_for_perfect_game.html


The dugout at Hawkins Field on Vanderbilt's campus, taken May 1st.


See what happens when you run onto the field in Philly? A law enforcement officer prepares to taser a fan that ran onto the field before the eighth inning of a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the St. Louis Cardinals, Monday, May 3, 2010, in Philadelphia. St. Louis won 6-3. AP


Having a good week: Dallas Braden pitched the 19th perfect game in major league history on Sunday, shutting down the majors’ hottest team and leading the Oakland Athletics to a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Auburn University hit a school-record seven home runs and the Tigers rallied from a huge early deficit to beat Mississippi State 16-14 on a wild day for baseball.
Auburn and State combined for 11 home runs. Auburn hit four of them in a six-run fifth inning. The Tigers scored six more in the seventh. State led 9-0 in the middle of the second, but Auburn started pecking away from there. The Tigers finally overtook State in the seventh to match the biggest comeback in school history.

Ugh. Not such a good week for them: Finally, JaMarcus Russell was cut Thursday, three years after being the No. 1 overall pick by the Oakland Raiders. Right now Russell must be considered the biggest bust in NFL history. Even bigger than Ryan Leaf. Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor was charged Thursday with raping a 16-year-old runaway who police said was forced into prostitution by a man who had beaten her up. After withdrawing from the Players Championship on Sunday, Tiger Woods might be dealing with a bulging disc in his back.

On Sunday, the girls and I floated down Five Mile Creek. Fun afternoon.


Happy Mother's Day,
Have a great week everyone!
Mayor of Nap City aka The Sports Guy

Good sportsmanship or cheating the game?

In 2002, Brett Favre takes a dive so Michael Strahan can achieve the single season sack record. In 1968, Denny McClain throws a lollipop pitch so Mickey Mantle could hit his 535the homer to pass Jimmie Foxx on the all-time HR list. Recall the famous staged layup by Connecticut senior Nykesha Sales in 1998. Sales was two points away from breaking the school’s all-time scoring record when she ruptured her Achilles’ tendon in the second-last game of the season, ending her college career. The Huskies coach, Geno Auriemma, conspired with Villanova’s coach to allow Sales to hobble onto the court and shoot an uncontested layup to get the record.

All well known examples of athletes or coaches in the heat of battle with good intentions, but their decisions call into question the integrity of the games they are playing. Read this next article. What is your opinion about this golfer's good intentions?

http://sports.yahoo.com/golf/blog/devil_ball_golf/post/When-losing-a-golf-tournament-really-makes-you-a?urn=golf,238912

I don't agree with the author one bit. Any competing athlete will tell you they want to earn their honors, trophies, etc., and not for an opponent to help out. I'm all for good sportsmanship but I would not feel right having a game given to me like that. I would rather go down fighting than to win a game I didn't earn. Even with good intentions by my opponent, I would feel embarrassed if someone laid down to allow me to win.

Here's the Disney movie version of the rest of this story: These two guys meet again in the national finals. Think Jonah Hill vs. Michael Cera, in the Super Bad rematch at Sawgrass. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Does the Cera now allow for Hill to win? Nope! He's out to kick his butt and win the title.

Happy Thursday,
The Sports Guy

Fasten your seatbelt. Here goes ....

What a great weekend. A year's worth of hard work, dedication, sore feet and mangled toes all came together for two outstanding dance recitals. Sid and Em glided across the stage in many numbers for friends and family to enjoy. We saw the girls perform ballet, jazz, tap, musical theatre and even some moonwalking. I will not spoil the fun by trying to describe it. Just enjoy the photos below.

During Thursday night, the girls rehearsed for about five hours getting ready for the weekend performances. It certainly showed. They were more than ready. During Friday night the girls were in the Adult Tap Spectacular recital. This is a new show featuring the older dancers who are part of the Backstage Dance Centre. Sid, Em and several other younger dancers were also involved in various numbers.







Saturday night was the main show. The girls were busy all evening. Numerous costume changes. A huge shoutout to all the family and friends who came to the shows. After the show, as an added bonus we got to hear the Goo Goo Dolls belt out live one of their best tunes "Name" as we left the recital venue. They were playing at the crawfish boil which was going on next door. Very cool.











In the girls' absence during this past week, Emmy's Bad Girls team went 1-5 and Sid's Lady Knights lost both of their sectional tournament games. Both girls were sorely missed by their teams. Sid's season is now over. Emmy's team has 3-4 games remaining before tournament play.

On Sunday afternoon, we watched Lilly in her first dance recital on the famous Alabama Theatre main stage. What a big time. Looks like we've got another dancer on the Home Team!






Did you know that the University of Texas came close to joining the SEC in the early '90s? Read more here: http://blog.al.com/press-register-sports/2010/04/finebaum_how_texas_nearly_join.html

Can you believe the Chicago White Sox wore these softball inspired awful uniforms during the 1976 season?


Having a great week: LeBron James has won his second straight NBA MVP award, dominating the voting just as he dominated on court all season. Grant Hill of the Phoenix Suns has won the Joe Dumars Trophy for outstanding sportsmanship in the 2009-10 season in a vote by NBA players. The 37-year-old forward, whose standout early career was derailed by injury but has missed just one game the last two seasons, won the honor for the second time in three years. Also, in Hill's sixteen year career he has never advanced beyond the first round of the playoffs, until this year. Hill's Suns have the pleasure of taking on Tim Duncan and the Spurs during the second round. The Atlanta Braves finally won some games in a row. After a nine game skid, they finally defeated the Astros over the weekend. Rookie phenom J-Hey hit is seventh dinger in the win.

Wishing they were having a better week: Last month Miami Dolphins GM, Jeff Ireland , allegedly asked NFL prospect Dez Bryant during a formal interview whether Bryant's mother was a prostitute. The question supposedly was asked after Bryant told Ireland that his dad was a pimp and that his mother worked for his father. Ireland later apologized for asking the question. What an idiot. Tiger Woods fell back to earth this weekend. He missed the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship for only the sixth time in his professional career.

Looking forward to the SEC baseball tourney in a few weeks. Hope Vandy holds on to make the top 8. Only a few weeks of school remaining, then SGN is a high schooler. Oy. I'm not ready. Are you?

Good night, Gracie. Time for shut eye.
The Sports Guy