I know my basketball friends get tired of me yelling the positives of the “system” brand of basketball that places like Grinnell and Olivete Nazerene play, but the “system” has more strengths then weaknesses. They say athletes can’t be recruited. Colleges recruit players, not systems. And trust me when I say that there are plenty of opportunities for HS players to continue their careers at the next level. It may not be on a full scholarship, but there are opportunities to play.
Checkout number 4,15,26 and 27 on the positives they are good for athletes being recruited.
Checkout five on the negative. College recruiters question sometimes how hard an athlete plays, there is no questioning how hard an athlete plays in the system.
Lastly, a couple of years ago here in Iowa, a system team had the 1A girls’ player of the year. She started 4 out of every six rotations, meaning four out of every six games. In the state tournament she started one of two games. She knew what the system did for her and her team mates. In the introduction line at the state tournament she was the last girl in the line celebrating as hard for the girls that were “starters” as they were. I have been around few athletes that cared more for her team or her team mates than she did. In that game the girl that didn’t start was in the game 35 seconds in. She had 28 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. I do not think the system hurt her much. That girl scored 2012 points in her high school career. Here are the good and the bad.
POSITIVE ASPECTS OF "THE SYSTEM"
1. More players get a chance to develop and play. Especially at the
freshmen and junior varsity levels. More kids get to dribble and
shoot the ball than in most other traditional styles of play.
2. The team scores a lot of points so more players can score more
points.
3. The system draws attention to the kids and that helps kids get
recruited.
4. Kids get higher scoring averages and that helps kids get
recruited more.
5. The coaching staff doesn't have to scout much at all because the
opposing team isn't going to run the offensive sets that they
normally run due to the trapping nature of the system's defense.
This reduces travel time and money spent by the coaching staff as
well as time reviewing opposing teams video tapes. * You should be
aware of opposing teams presses.
6. The system doesn't require taller and superior athletes.
7. The officials tend to get tired of calling fouls so the most
aggressive team tends to gain an advantage. Especially when they
use two man crews !
8. Kids tend to shoot with so much confidence because they are not
under pressure from the coach to shoot a "good shot" only. They all
have the "green light" to shoot after 12 seconds when we have ran a
play for our primary and secondary shooters. Also, everyone has
the "green light" when an offensive rebound occurs. We are trying
to get fast break lay-ups and three point shots predominately.
9. Kids tend to play with so much confidence because they are not
under pressure from the coach that they may be pulled from the game
because of some mistake they made. The substitutions are pre-
scripted until the later stages of the game.
10. Time needed to spend in practice is greatly diminished.
11. Most kids love it because it's fun !
12. You can play players that normally wouldn't get a chance to play
and they still may contribute.
13. It creates more of a stress free environment for the coaches and
the players.
14. The fans like a high scoring, fast paced and hustling defensive
style of play. This style tends to draw big crowds and media
attention.
15. A coach can get the younger players in his program involved
earlier than in traditional systems. This is attributed to the fact
that effort and enthusiasm are often more important than physical
maturity.
16. Taller players get a chance to dribble the ball up the floor to
an extent. This is attributed to the fact that it's very important
to push the ball up the floor quickly.
17. Coaches can be more positive and not have to focus so much on
the mistakes that kids make while playing "traditional basketball".
18. The system tends to wear the opposing team down because the
players playing the system are going 100 miles per hour all the time
they are on the floor. While the systemic players play and rest the
opposing players usually continue to play at this unusual and
uncomfortable pace.
19. Foul trouble is rarely a problem because the playing time is
being spread out so widely amongst the players playing the system.
20. This system tends to create a team that is "more together"
because of the fact that everyone participates and has a chance to
affect change in the games.
21. It's a well thought out as well as a well-tested system that has
one championships and turned many programs around.
22. The system tends to force a lot of turnovers because of the
aggressive trapping all over the court defensively.
23. While playing the system you tend to produce less turnovers
yourself because we are shooting the ball before we can make ball
handling mistakes resulting in turnovers.
24. Creates a much more positive atmosphere in practice.
25. Sometimes average shooters become great shooters because of the
great number of opportunities without the pressure of missing the
shot.
26. Just about everyone involved racks up more stats than they do
during traditional styled basketball.
27. We can concentrate on developing shooting, passing and dribbling
fundamentals rather than mastering a lot of plays etc.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS OF THE SYSTEM
1. Bigger and slower kids tend to not be as effective in this system.
2. Some parents will not want their kids being taken out of the game
so often. They may cry that their child "can't get in the flow of
the game".
3. People haven't seen it and don't understand the system so they
may tend to be very critical of it. Citing things like giving up
too many lay-ups and too many threes etc.
4. The coach is subbing too quickly and the kids don't have a chance
to get in a rhythm.
5. An unknowing observer may declare that there is not a disciplined
way to play. To the contrary, this is a very disciplined style of
play. It's just played at 100 miles an hour !
6. If you have a "star type" of player or a player who thinks they
should be a "star" then they may have a tendency to not embrace this
system.
7. If things are not going well for you against a particular
opponent then you may potentially get beat bad.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
…….. And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda
Music plays a very important place in my life. The funny thing is I have no musical skills at all. Maybe that is why I love it, because I want what I do not have. I have a harmonica and can struggle through a couple songs. I have a replica of a Civil War bugle and I can make it sound like an elephant, I play the radio with the best of them and lately I have fallen in love with Youtube. Still I have zero musical skills.
Last school year I could not get a student to do a presentation in class, she was scared to get up and be made fun of. I made a deal with her, if she would give the presentation, I would sing at Coffee House. Coffee House is our schools talent show. It is for students but I talked my way in somehow. It would be my first public performance, although I sing in the hall all of the time, the last time I performed in public was my 4th grade Christmas show.
I chose for a song “Some humans Ain’t Human” by John Prine. In my mind John Prine is one of the premier song writers of our time. Another wonderful song that John Prine wrote was “Paradise”, besides Prine himself singing it, artists like Johnny Cash and John Denver have as well. It reminds me of going back to West Virginia with my dad and mom in the summer time.
Anyhow for Coffee House I convinced the vocal teacher Kraig Emick to accompany me. He could make pork chops out of pigs’ feet. I went about 5-10 times early in the morning and Mr. Emick and I practiced. He was very kind and patient with me. Also on my evening walk on the river road I would sing it.
Some other songs and singers out there right now that I really enjoy are “Company of Friends” by Danny Schmidt, and “Crooked Road “by Chris Knight, both poignant and heart clenching.
The title of this post is “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”. It is about a man from Australia that fought the Turks during WWI. He talks about the romance and glory, and then he talks about losing both of his legs.
Before I close let me wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Last school year I could not get a student to do a presentation in class, she was scared to get up and be made fun of. I made a deal with her, if she would give the presentation, I would sing at Coffee House. Coffee House is our schools talent show. It is for students but I talked my way in somehow. It would be my first public performance, although I sing in the hall all of the time, the last time I performed in public was my 4th grade Christmas show.
I chose for a song “Some humans Ain’t Human” by John Prine. In my mind John Prine is one of the premier song writers of our time. Another wonderful song that John Prine wrote was “Paradise”, besides Prine himself singing it, artists like Johnny Cash and John Denver have as well. It reminds me of going back to West Virginia with my dad and mom in the summer time.
Anyhow for Coffee House I convinced the vocal teacher Kraig Emick to accompany me. He could make pork chops out of pigs’ feet. I went about 5-10 times early in the morning and Mr. Emick and I practiced. He was very kind and patient with me. Also on my evening walk on the river road I would sing it.
Some other songs and singers out there right now that I really enjoy are “Company of Friends” by Danny Schmidt, and “Crooked Road “by Chris Knight, both poignant and heart clenching.
The title of this post is “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda”. It is about a man from Australia that fought the Turks during WWI. He talks about the romance and glory, and then he talks about losing both of his legs.
Before I close let me wish you all a Merry Christmas.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Taps
The first time I thought about death was in September of my 6th grade year. We were sitting at supper when my dad said to my mom, “I talk to Wayne, he is going to meet us out there at 6:30.”
I asked where, and mom said we were going to meet Wayne out at the cemetery to pick a burial plot. Have you ever seen a 6th grader when he was getting sick? Yet, mom and dad didn’t seem to notice. They started talking about how much plots were and I tried not to listen, but then dad said something about three plots costing $500.00. Three plots? Three plots? THREE PLOTS! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! They were getting me one to. The closest I had been to death was my hamster dying and they were measuring me up for a hole in the ground.
I can remember walking out to the Le Saber my folks owned at the time and driving out to the cemetery with them, those are moments stuck in time. When we got out there, Wayne was waiting for us. Dad, mom and Wayne all spoke of people they knew and then got down to the business of getting us a plot. He dragged us to the back of the cemetery first but mom didn’t like that, it would be too hard for people to find us she claimed. Then he took us to the front by the road. He said people didn’t like it because it was too loud. Dad said that it was alright, he could watch the traffic go by. I thought Wayne was going to wet himself he laughed so hard. I guess there is nothing like grave yard humor.
Well as I said in an earlier post I turn fifty this year and mortality has crossed my mind. I have thought about my burial ground a little and here is what I want done; first burn me, I do not want to be put in a box and placed under ground. I am too much of a wanderer, let my soul remain free.
Second, I have five places I want my ashes spread. I want my old friend Virgil to deliver them to those places and spread them and say a little bit and perhaps raise a glass in respect. He can take his wife and some of my friends if he wants to, or he can go by himself if he wants to but I want Virgil to do it because I know it will be done fitting.
The first place in Virgil’s Odyssey will be the potato patch in Littleton. If my ashes can help grow food for people that need it toss a handful of ash in there.
The second stop is less than a mile from Virgil’s house it is on my beloved ‘River Road’. Less than five minutes’ walk from my house to the east is a creek that runs to the Wapsie. Drop in a fifth of my ashes there. Hopefully they will float to the freedom of the Wapsie. That river has given me many wonderful memories.
Virgil's next place will be on the grounds outside of Vets and Wells Fargo in Des Moines. I have many memories there and it is a place I dream to return to someday.
The fourth place I would like Virgil to take me are the Cliffs of Mohr in the Northwest of Ireland. The beauty and serenity of these cliffs rival any place else in the world, scatter my ashes there and let them blow around with the souls of the warrior poets that fought and won the revolution in 1917.
The last place I would like my ashes spread are on the highway between Abidjan and Yamoussoukro in the Ivory Coast. Few places have I been treated with such reverence and respect as I was there.
There is money in my will for this, so it will cost Virgil nothing.
I asked where, and mom said we were going to meet Wayne out at the cemetery to pick a burial plot. Have you ever seen a 6th grader when he was getting sick? Yet, mom and dad didn’t seem to notice. They started talking about how much plots were and I tried not to listen, but then dad said something about three plots costing $500.00. Three plots? Three plots? THREE PLOTS! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! They were getting me one to. The closest I had been to death was my hamster dying and they were measuring me up for a hole in the ground.
I can remember walking out to the Le Saber my folks owned at the time and driving out to the cemetery with them, those are moments stuck in time. When we got out there, Wayne was waiting for us. Dad, mom and Wayne all spoke of people they knew and then got down to the business of getting us a plot. He dragged us to the back of the cemetery first but mom didn’t like that, it would be too hard for people to find us she claimed. Then he took us to the front by the road. He said people didn’t like it because it was too loud. Dad said that it was alright, he could watch the traffic go by. I thought Wayne was going to wet himself he laughed so hard. I guess there is nothing like grave yard humor.
Well as I said in an earlier post I turn fifty this year and mortality has crossed my mind. I have thought about my burial ground a little and here is what I want done; first burn me, I do not want to be put in a box and placed under ground. I am too much of a wanderer, let my soul remain free.
Second, I have five places I want my ashes spread. I want my old friend Virgil to deliver them to those places and spread them and say a little bit and perhaps raise a glass in respect. He can take his wife and some of my friends if he wants to, or he can go by himself if he wants to but I want Virgil to do it because I know it will be done fitting.
The first place in Virgil’s Odyssey will be the potato patch in Littleton. If my ashes can help grow food for people that need it toss a handful of ash in there.
The second stop is less than a mile from Virgil’s house it is on my beloved ‘River Road’. Less than five minutes’ walk from my house to the east is a creek that runs to the Wapsie. Drop in a fifth of my ashes there. Hopefully they will float to the freedom of the Wapsie. That river has given me many wonderful memories.
Virgil's next place will be on the grounds outside of Vets and Wells Fargo in Des Moines. I have many memories there and it is a place I dream to return to someday.
The fourth place I would like Virgil to take me are the Cliffs of Mohr in the Northwest of Ireland. The beauty and serenity of these cliffs rival any place else in the world, scatter my ashes there and let them blow around with the souls of the warrior poets that fought and won the revolution in 1917.
The last place I would like my ashes spread are on the highway between Abidjan and Yamoussoukro in the Ivory Coast. Few places have I been treated with such reverence and respect as I was there.
There is money in my will for this, so it will cost Virgil nothing.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Saturdays at the Officers Club
Saturdays were special at my house. Dad was home usually after a week on the road and the day was filled with chores with him. Usually my mom worked on Saturday from seven until three so we had the day to ourselves. It usually started at seven o’clock in the morning I would get up and watch Cartoons. Dad usually would sleep until nine because he would usually arrive home from the California run around 2:30 or three in the morning.
Because mom worked all day dad was in charge of supper. When dad got up we would drive down to the Jack and Jill store and buy the ingredients’ we needed. Those ingredients’ included a pigs foot, pinto beans, a five pound bag of red potatoes, a dozen ears of corn on the cob, a box of cornbread, raw onions, a box of saltine crackers, a gallon of whole milk, and a watermelon. We would go home put on a pot of boiling water throw the pig’s feet, beans, and what seemed like half a bottle of salt with it. We would make the cornbread in the oven, and we would slice the potatoes for some of my dads delicious fried potatoes.
Usually between two and three in the afternoon we would go down to the cigar store that my dad’s friend ran. His friend was from Protivin, an area that had a large Czech settlement and so usually half the guys in there spoke Bohemian. I learned part of that language, how to shoot pool, how to smoke cigars and chew tobacco in there. Dad never drank beer in there; usually he had a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Dad usually bought a box of El product Cigars and a case of Mail Pouch Tobacco. He was the product of the tobacco fields of West Virginia. He also rolled his own cigarettes, smoked a pipe, and every once in a while would dip snuff.
About three we would go home and watch a rerun of Roy Rogers or All Star wrestling. The match we waited for was usually Bulldog Bob Brown vs. Irish Pat O’Conner. More than one time we would go down and watch them at McElroy auditorium in Waterloo with my Aunt Nettie. The broadcast man was local newsman Ron Steele.
Finally we would sit down about five and eat supper. I never appreciated how wonderful all of that tasted until now. Mom would hurry and get the dishes done so she and dad could sit down and watch Lawerence Welk at six.
That was the Saturday of my youth, wow how things have changed.
Because mom worked all day dad was in charge of supper. When dad got up we would drive down to the Jack and Jill store and buy the ingredients’ we needed. Those ingredients’ included a pigs foot, pinto beans, a five pound bag of red potatoes, a dozen ears of corn on the cob, a box of cornbread, raw onions, a box of saltine crackers, a gallon of whole milk, and a watermelon. We would go home put on a pot of boiling water throw the pig’s feet, beans, and what seemed like half a bottle of salt with it. We would make the cornbread in the oven, and we would slice the potatoes for some of my dads delicious fried potatoes.
Usually between two and three in the afternoon we would go down to the cigar store that my dad’s friend ran. His friend was from Protivin, an area that had a large Czech settlement and so usually half the guys in there spoke Bohemian. I learned part of that language, how to shoot pool, how to smoke cigars and chew tobacco in there. Dad never drank beer in there; usually he had a bottle of Dr. Pepper. Dad usually bought a box of El product Cigars and a case of Mail Pouch Tobacco. He was the product of the tobacco fields of West Virginia. He also rolled his own cigarettes, smoked a pipe, and every once in a while would dip snuff.
About three we would go home and watch a rerun of Roy Rogers or All Star wrestling. The match we waited for was usually Bulldog Bob Brown vs. Irish Pat O’Conner. More than one time we would go down and watch them at McElroy auditorium in Waterloo with my Aunt Nettie. The broadcast man was local newsman Ron Steele.
Finally we would sit down about five and eat supper. I never appreciated how wonderful all of that tasted until now. Mom would hurry and get the dishes done so she and dad could sit down and watch Lawerence Welk at six.
That was the Saturday of my youth, wow how things have changed.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Captain Turns Fifty
Wow! I turn fifty this year. For those of you that do not know when my birthday is it is February 30th. Drop me a card on that day if you would. Anyhow I was feeling a little sorry for myself when I remembered a book I had read where a guy also turned fifty and he listed fifty things he did. I think that was from a book written by Jimmy Buffett. They are not as glamourous as Jimmy's, but for a guy that grew up in a small town in Iowa I am very proud of them. I do not have anyone posting on my blogs. Jump in what are somethings that you would put? Here are mine. Many of you were with me on my adventures. Enjoy this.
1. I’ve eaten watermelon and fried chicken in the hills of West Virginia.
2. I’ve met the speaker of the house in Dublin.
3. I coached The Ivorian National Women’s Team in the Ivory Coast
4. I’ve been to Lenin’s tomb in Moscow.
5. I’ve been to the Kremlin in Moscow.
6. I was one of the assistants on the Irish Natl. Team in Malta.
7. I was lost in the Coffee fields of Costa Rica.
8. I have been to a Natl. Park in Belize.
9. I was in El Salvador during a Civil War.
10. I was in Guatemala during a national strike.
11. I have been to the Eiffel tower in Paris.
12. I have seen a Nazi Death Camp in Belgium
13. I was at the cemetery at Clonmacnoise.
14. I saw Barak Obama in Cedar Falls
15. I’ve been to Gorbachev’s house in Moscow.
16. I’ve watched Lou Brock Steal second in St. Louis.
17. I watched Rod Carew chase 400 in the Twin Cities.
18. I saw Thurman Munson the week before he was killed in Minneapolis.
19. I have been to the Grand ole’ Opry in Nashville Tenn.
20. I have walked in the pines in the Rocky Mts.
21. I was offered a job on the Navajo Nation of New Mexico.
22. I flew with Billy Tubbs from Oklahoma City.
23. I saw the Natl. Basketball Champion in the Iowa Field House.
24. I was robbed in Nicaragua.
25. I saw President Reagan in Cedar Rapids.
1. I’ve eaten watermelon and fried chicken in the hills of West Virginia.
2. I’ve met the speaker of the house in Dublin.
3. I coached The Ivorian National Women’s Team in the Ivory Coast
4. I’ve been to Lenin’s tomb in Moscow.
5. I’ve been to the Kremlin in Moscow.
6. I was one of the assistants on the Irish Natl. Team in Malta.
7. I was lost in the Coffee fields of Costa Rica.
8. I have been to a Natl. Park in Belize.
9. I was in El Salvador during a Civil War.
10. I was in Guatemala during a national strike.
11. I have been to the Eiffel tower in Paris.
12. I have seen a Nazi Death Camp in Belgium
13. I was at the cemetery at Clonmacnoise.
14. I saw Barak Obama in Cedar Falls
15. I’ve been to Gorbachev’s house in Moscow.
16. I’ve watched Lou Brock Steal second in St. Louis.
17. I watched Rod Carew chase 400 in the Twin Cities.
18. I saw Thurman Munson the week before he was killed in Minneapolis.
19. I have been to the Grand ole’ Opry in Nashville Tenn.
20. I have walked in the pines in the Rocky Mts.
21. I was offered a job on the Navajo Nation of New Mexico.
22. I flew with Billy Tubbs from Oklahoma City.
23. I saw the Natl. Basketball Champion in the Iowa Field House.
24. I was robbed in Nicaragua.
25. I saw President Reagan in Cedar Rapids.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
My Life as a Yankee
This is dedicated to the Yankee fans in Dunkerton.
Yes I'm a Yankee fan................
I saw Thurmon Munson two weeks before he rapped his airplane up! I shook Louis Tiant's hand while he held his Cuban Cigar in the other hand, I got an autograph from George Stienbrenner when I had my Yankee helmet on and he treated me like a son, while he told my best friend who had a twin cap on to get away from him. I saw Willy Randolph have two Opposite field homeruns in one game. I saw Ron Guidry blank the Twins one night and steal a base the next night when Billy Martin used him as a pinch runner. I watched Reggie Jackson throw a guy out from right field at the bottom of the inning then hit a 400 foot homer at the top of the next.
I died when Billy Martin died, I died when Mickey Mantle died, I died when Thurmon Munson died. I Cried the Monday night of Munsons funeral when ABC just had to show the Yankees on the Monday Night Game of The Week and Bobby Mercer hit a homer late in the game to win it and sat down on the bench and cried like a baby ver the death of his friend.
I won with Billy and I lost with Billy. I was there when they hired Bob Lemon and I watched as he got them to the World Series. I lost with Ralph, I lost with Bucky, I lost with Lou, and I'm proud to say I won with Joe.
I watched the night Reggie hit three homers, I watched that day Bucky hit that homer over the Monster, Iwatched as Chamblis won the ALCS with a walk off homer, I cry when they show Lou G on video claim to be "the luckiest man alive.
I was a Yankee fan before George Will proclaimed baseball to be America's game, and the yuppies decided to learn the history of the game and look down their nose at you if you didn't remember Hack Wilson's batting average.
I am a Yankee fan and am proud to live in a country where you can "buy" a team This isn't the USSR. Everyone is not equal and I am not ashamed to say they shouldn't be. If you want fair go to the one in your county. How much money do the Yankee's bring into the third world teams pockets.
This is no brag just fact, I am a Yankee fan and I will not apologize to any one for that.
Yes I'm a Yankee fan................
I saw Thurmon Munson two weeks before he rapped his airplane up! I shook Louis Tiant's hand while he held his Cuban Cigar in the other hand, I got an autograph from George Stienbrenner when I had my Yankee helmet on and he treated me like a son, while he told my best friend who had a twin cap on to get away from him. I saw Willy Randolph have two Opposite field homeruns in one game. I saw Ron Guidry blank the Twins one night and steal a base the next night when Billy Martin used him as a pinch runner. I watched Reggie Jackson throw a guy out from right field at the bottom of the inning then hit a 400 foot homer at the top of the next.
I died when Billy Martin died, I died when Mickey Mantle died, I died when Thurmon Munson died. I Cried the Monday night of Munsons funeral when ABC just had to show the Yankees on the Monday Night Game of The Week and Bobby Mercer hit a homer late in the game to win it and sat down on the bench and cried like a baby ver the death of his friend.
I won with Billy and I lost with Billy. I was there when they hired Bob Lemon and I watched as he got them to the World Series. I lost with Ralph, I lost with Bucky, I lost with Lou, and I'm proud to say I won with Joe.
I watched the night Reggie hit three homers, I watched that day Bucky hit that homer over the Monster, Iwatched as Chamblis won the ALCS with a walk off homer, I cry when they show Lou G on video claim to be "the luckiest man alive.
I was a Yankee fan before George Will proclaimed baseball to be America's game, and the yuppies decided to learn the history of the game and look down their nose at you if you didn't remember Hack Wilson's batting average.
I am a Yankee fan and am proud to live in a country where you can "buy" a team This isn't the USSR. Everyone is not equal and I am not ashamed to say they shouldn't be. If you want fair go to the one in your county. How much money do the Yankee's bring into the third world teams pockets.
This is no brag just fact, I am a Yankee fan and I will not apologize to any one for that.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Donations
In the summer of 2008 I went to the Ivory Coast to put on a basketball coaching clinic. Rarely have I been treated so kind. They have one indoor arena there. It has been condemned so they can not use it. Although they have a number of out door courts they have what I would call two pavilions. Two courts with large openings for breeze with roofs on. Like many places in Africa the people can not afford to buy things and so I asked my connections with FIBA (Federations of International Basketball Associations)in the Ivory Coast what they needed more money or basketballls? They said basketballs. So I set out to raise 1000 basketballs for the Ivory Coast. With the help of many students,parents, coaches, and schools, I accumulated 800 basketballs. I sent over 200 of them. The coast was about ten dollars a ball. Thank goodness people had donated about $2000.00 dollars.
That left me with 600 basketballs in my basement. I talk to many people that had helped me put together all of these basketballs and they help me to decide I would give them to local charities. Then the Athletes in Action out of Dayton, Ohio contacted me and said they would take them with them to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. I just had to get them to Dayton. I made plans only for the cost to rise to about $1300.00 dollars to get them there. I couldn't afford that out of my own pocket, so feeling like a failure again I didn't take them.
Saturday I took fifty balls to the first charity. They had always worked very hard for the local kids and they were very happy to recieve them. It is my intention to donate the balls to the boys and girls club, the YMCA, and the Catholic Charities to name a few.
As I have worked through all of this I feel like I have failed. I know I have helped local charities and will help more local charities but I did not accomplish what I set out to do. I have talked to my connections in the Ivory Coast and they understand, yet I still feel I let them down.
That left me with 600 basketballs in my basement. I talk to many people that had helped me put together all of these basketballs and they help me to decide I would give them to local charities. Then the Athletes in Action out of Dayton, Ohio contacted me and said they would take them with them to Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. I just had to get them to Dayton. I made plans only for the cost to rise to about $1300.00 dollars to get them there. I couldn't afford that out of my own pocket, so feeling like a failure again I didn't take them.
Saturday I took fifty balls to the first charity. They had always worked very hard for the local kids and they were very happy to recieve them. It is my intention to donate the balls to the boys and girls club, the YMCA, and the Catholic Charities to name a few.
As I have worked through all of this I feel like I have failed. I know I have helped local charities and will help more local charities but I did not accomplish what I set out to do. I have talked to my connections in the Ivory Coast and they understand, yet I still feel I let them down.
Friday, June 11, 2010
The Creed
This is from Krzyzewski’s book THE GOLD STANDARD he believes in setting Standards for his teams not rules. LeBron, Kobe, D. Wade and the Redeem team help him set this up for the 2008 Olympics.
• No Excuses –be responsible on the court and off.
• Be on Time- Your teammates,coaches and in their case country
depended on them.
• Have each other’s back.- Win together, lose together.
• Defense and rebounding- without a doubt the best teams in the world do these
two things well.
• Hunger- Play every minute of every practice and every game like it is your
last.
• Be Connected- Be unselfish, teach roles and make sure people know them.
• Be unselfish and flexible do not complain.
• Care- For your teammates and your family
• Enthusiasm- this is the best remedy for pressure
• Pride- Know what you are playing for. Country, school, pride.
• No Excuses –be responsible on the court and off.
• Be on Time- Your teammates,coaches and in their case country
depended on them.
• Have each other’s back.- Win together, lose together.
• Defense and rebounding- without a doubt the best teams in the world do these
two things well.
• Hunger- Play every minute of every practice and every game like it is your
last.
• Be Connected- Be unselfish, teach roles and make sure people know them.
• Be unselfish and flexible do not complain.
• Care- For your teammates and your family
• Enthusiasm- this is the best remedy for pressure
• Pride- Know what you are playing for. Country, school, pride.
Basketballs No Child Left Behind
The man that was kind enough to let me be his assistant, Virgil Hovden, always said that the system was “The no child left behind of basketball.” His claim was this, what if a classroom teacher only took his seven or eight best students and did not put the other thirteen to eighteen students in a position to have the same success. That classroom teacher would be put out on his ear. No question, he would be questioned by all of his immediate supervisors for why he was letting those students fail.
During this time of budget cuts what if we were told as coaches that we could only field one team, a varsity team and you got to have success, yet you need to find important and fulfilling playing time for all students. Could we as coaches do it? I am convinced system coaches could. The following is an example how; First off you need to suit up all twenty players. Second, you have a 32 minute game, that mean you still have 160 minutes to shell out. Third you still want to play your two stars half of the game (64 minutes) 96 minutes remaining. Fourth, you have eight kids you want to play the bulk of the remaining moments. Five, you want for their subs and five that may struggle on the floor you must divvy the minutes up like the following;
Next best eight (58 minutes) 42 minutes remaining
Next best five (30) 12 minutes remaining
Next best five (12 minutes) Done
There are ways in which you can put all players in for success and important times;
Defensive lines
Offensive lines
Ball Control lines
Assassin lines (Your fouling line late in the game)
Three shooters
Closers
(Offensive/Defensive lines with nine in each group)
What does this have to do with no child left behind you ask? Bottom line all are playing in times of high tension and points where it is important. Students will tell you they want to have an impact on a game and it can be done. Recently I have discussed this with a number of people. I am convinced that less is more. Fewer minutes (Not playing JV) but playing some minutes of Varsity is more important to them then a JV game. I would challenge you to ask your players this.
I believe this would do great things for your program; It would unify all twenty people for a common cause, Second, one practice is all you would need because you only have one team, third it would save in transportation costs, fourth It would safe costs for a JV Schedule, fifth people would not complain about playing time. There are multiple other reasons.
Do not get me wrong I am not abdicating an end to JV and 9th grade scheduling, but I do see this as the “No child left behind” of basketball.
Do not be afraid to reply.
During this time of budget cuts what if we were told as coaches that we could only field one team, a varsity team and you got to have success, yet you need to find important and fulfilling playing time for all students. Could we as coaches do it? I am convinced system coaches could. The following is an example how; First off you need to suit up all twenty players. Second, you have a 32 minute game, that mean you still have 160 minutes to shell out. Third you still want to play your two stars half of the game (64 minutes) 96 minutes remaining. Fourth, you have eight kids you want to play the bulk of the remaining moments. Five, you want for their subs and five that may struggle on the floor you must divvy the minutes up like the following;
Next best eight (58 minutes) 42 minutes remaining
Next best five (30) 12 minutes remaining
Next best five (12 minutes) Done
There are ways in which you can put all players in for success and important times;
Defensive lines
Offensive lines
Ball Control lines
Assassin lines (Your fouling line late in the game)
Three shooters
Closers
(Offensive/Defensive lines with nine in each group)
What does this have to do with no child left behind you ask? Bottom line all are playing in times of high tension and points where it is important. Students will tell you they want to have an impact on a game and it can be done. Recently I have discussed this with a number of people. I am convinced that less is more. Fewer minutes (Not playing JV) but playing some minutes of Varsity is more important to them then a JV game. I would challenge you to ask your players this.
I believe this would do great things for your program; It would unify all twenty people for a common cause, Second, one practice is all you would need because you only have one team, third it would save in transportation costs, fourth It would safe costs for a JV Schedule, fifth people would not complain about playing time. There are multiple other reasons.
Do not get me wrong I am not abdicating an end to JV and 9th grade scheduling, but I do see this as the “No child left behind” of basketball.
Do not be afraid to reply.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
The NRBS Project
The world is too perfect for there not to be a higher power. The way an eagle glides through the air looking for his next meal, the way pine trees battle for more sun, listening to a chorus of birds as the sun comes up on a glorious summer morning. Everything is to perfect for there not to be a maker.
Now who is that maker is open to interpretation. Is it Allah, Jehovah, God, or Ahurah Mazda. It could be a host of others as well. Either way I am nonreligious but spiritual. I have believes I will share with you here. I do not need someone dressed in a religious costume telling me what I must do or what I must believe. It is not the middle ages any more. I can read and come to my own conclusion.
That doesn't mean I do not respect and even admire the multitudes of religions and philosophy's that have been on this earth since Cro-Magnun man. Legalism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology, Egyptian Mythology,even the Mayans and the Aztecs all have good things about them. The problem that I see with many of these, is when they were set up, they were set up to control the masses.
Well this massive human doesn't need to be told what to believe, I have my own set of belief's that actually evolve daily. As I said earlier there is no doubt there is a higher power, I pray to one everyday. I believe that there was a representative for that higher power that at one point in our earth's history was on this earth. Could it have been Jesus Christ, Siddhartha Gautama, Mohammad, Zarathusa, Abram, Moses, it could have been all of them or none of them.
I do believe that many of these religions and philosophies all have good in them in some ways. If it is ethical monotheism or polytheism I will not pretend to tell you what is right, but I will tell you one thing, respect for our fellow man is part of this. Helping people that need help is part of it, peace, and love are part of it as well.
Who says you cannot be a Buddhist, Jainist, and Christian all rolled into one? Who says that any of these are right who says any of these are wrong. At the end of the hour, when our day is done the spirit that calls and draws us is just that ours and no one else's.
Now who is that maker is open to interpretation. Is it Allah, Jehovah, God, or Ahurah Mazda. It could be a host of others as well. Either way I am nonreligious but spiritual. I have believes I will share with you here. I do not need someone dressed in a religious costume telling me what I must do or what I must believe. It is not the middle ages any more. I can read and come to my own conclusion.
That doesn't mean I do not respect and even admire the multitudes of religions and philosophy's that have been on this earth since Cro-Magnun man. Legalism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Jainism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Greek Mythology, Roman Mythology, Egyptian Mythology,even the Mayans and the Aztecs all have good things about them. The problem that I see with many of these, is when they were set up, they were set up to control the masses.
Well this massive human doesn't need to be told what to believe, I have my own set of belief's that actually evolve daily. As I said earlier there is no doubt there is a higher power, I pray to one everyday. I believe that there was a representative for that higher power that at one point in our earth's history was on this earth. Could it have been Jesus Christ, Siddhartha Gautama, Mohammad, Zarathusa, Abram, Moses, it could have been all of them or none of them.
I do believe that many of these religions and philosophies all have good in them in some ways. If it is ethical monotheism or polytheism I will not pretend to tell you what is right, but I will tell you one thing, respect for our fellow man is part of this. Helping people that need help is part of it, peace, and love are part of it as well.
Who says you cannot be a Buddhist, Jainist, and Christian all rolled into one? Who says that any of these are right who says any of these are wrong. At the end of the hour, when our day is done the spirit that calls and draws us is just that ours and no one else's.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Veterans
I love golf it is my most recent addiction. Any chance, any where, any time I will play. I will die a bogey golfer but that doesn't stop me from loving to play. I generally play with a group made up of about a dozen guys. It depends on the time of day, the day of the week, and who needs a person in their group.
Today I played nine holes with two older gentlemen. About seventy to eighty years old. It was truly a pleasure. They hit the ball down the middle and they play fast. We played nine holes in 75 minutes.
It was fun, as they were graceful, competitive, and respectful. One of them shot every shot including his puts with his five iron. He probably shot between fifty and fifty five. Rarely was he in trouble. I hope I am playing every day when I am their age.
Now the rest of the day I will get my summer started. I will go to the bank, the grocery store, the Amish Walmart, ride my bike, take the dog for a walk, and if I have time fish for a little while.
Today I played nine holes with two older gentlemen. About seventy to eighty years old. It was truly a pleasure. They hit the ball down the middle and they play fast. We played nine holes in 75 minutes.
It was fun, as they were graceful, competitive, and respectful. One of them shot every shot including his puts with his five iron. He probably shot between fifty and fifty five. Rarely was he in trouble. I hope I am playing every day when I am their age.
Now the rest of the day I will get my summer started. I will go to the bank, the grocery store, the Amish Walmart, ride my bike, take the dog for a walk, and if I have time fish for a little while.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Missing In Action
If you want your heart squeezed go to youtube and type Waltzing Matilda the Tom Waits version. Totally out of this world. He is a veteran of the Amish Civil War. Missing in action because of his own accord, he has the ability to endear himself to anyone. A brilliant writer, singer, and artist.
Waits has a great quote: "If you get far enough away, you'll be on your way back." It seems all of my life I have been running from something. My mom and dad asked me as long as they were alive why I was always running. I could never answer that question.
Perhaps now that I am almost fifty maybe I have some clue; My dad was a truck driver gone weeks at a time in every state but Alaska and Hawaii, I know I wanted to travel like him. Few people knew that dad was a professional athlete. A Pro Bull Rider. He was bucked off one Saturday night and broke both of his arms, that put an end to that career.
My mother was the hardest working human I have ever been around. Be it working the eleven-to-seven shift in a rest home or working in a can redemption center she knew nothing but working as hard as she could every minute of every day. Then she would come home and do the house work inside and out.
Both my mother and father had a eighth grade education but we never wanted. They were incredible. Dad would bring home his pay check on Friday night and mom would give him twenty-five dollars to live on the road for the next week. As a young man I always said to myself no body will ever control my money but me. It took me years to realize my mom was incredible at managing money and dad knew it. Dad or mom never had a credit card. They fought to stay out of debt.
A true family history: My father was a son of a horse trader in West Virginia and my mom was the daughter of a horse thief on the Iowa-Minnesota border. On dads right arm just behind his bicep he had a long scar. I can remember as a young boy asking him what happened, he told me his father had a horse and it bit him they were thirty miles from the doctor and nineteen miles from the vet. You have heard doctors called old horse doctors, today's doctors should leave such little of scar for such a bad bite.
My dad grew up with tobacco farmers all around him. He chewed Mail Pouch loose leaf, smoked El Producto Cigars, rolled his own cigarettes, and would smoke a pipe now and again, and dip snuff. He died of a heart attack on my birthday my senior year in high school. Combine all of that nicotine with all of the fried food he loved to eat and it was inevitable. At the end he was one of my greatest heroes.
Waits has a great quote: "If you get far enough away, you'll be on your way back." It seems all of my life I have been running from something. My mom and dad asked me as long as they were alive why I was always running. I could never answer that question.
Perhaps now that I am almost fifty maybe I have some clue; My dad was a truck driver gone weeks at a time in every state but Alaska and Hawaii, I know I wanted to travel like him. Few people knew that dad was a professional athlete. A Pro Bull Rider. He was bucked off one Saturday night and broke both of his arms, that put an end to that career.
My mother was the hardest working human I have ever been around. Be it working the eleven-to-seven shift in a rest home or working in a can redemption center she knew nothing but working as hard as she could every minute of every day. Then she would come home and do the house work inside and out.
Both my mother and father had a eighth grade education but we never wanted. They were incredible. Dad would bring home his pay check on Friday night and mom would give him twenty-five dollars to live on the road for the next week. As a young man I always said to myself no body will ever control my money but me. It took me years to realize my mom was incredible at managing money and dad knew it. Dad or mom never had a credit card. They fought to stay out of debt.
A true family history: My father was a son of a horse trader in West Virginia and my mom was the daughter of a horse thief on the Iowa-Minnesota border. On dads right arm just behind his bicep he had a long scar. I can remember as a young boy asking him what happened, he told me his father had a horse and it bit him they were thirty miles from the doctor and nineteen miles from the vet. You have heard doctors called old horse doctors, today's doctors should leave such little of scar for such a bad bite.
My dad grew up with tobacco farmers all around him. He chewed Mail Pouch loose leaf, smoked El Producto Cigars, rolled his own cigarettes, and would smoke a pipe now and again, and dip snuff. He died of a heart attack on my birthday my senior year in high school. Combine all of that nicotine with all of the fried food he loved to eat and it was inevitable. At the end he was one of my greatest heroes.
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Treaty
I am lucky; I see a lot of unique things out where I live. The neighbor feeds their wild mustang in the pasture in my front yard; I have an Amish neighbor across the way that is a horse trainer. He is constantly driving a different buggy or a different horse by the house, what a nice man.
The neighbor with the wild mustang also has an Arabian that could be a brother to the mustang, because they look so much alike. Recently my dog Andy has been trying to make friends with them. They are about twenty hands taller than Andy. None the less, Andy always tries to get a smell. As the neighbor says “Andy must think that is one big dog.”
Andy and the horse called Spirit have sort of come to an understanding. Although at times I feel like the local law enforcement when the two get together, they have come to an agreement, sort of a Peace Treaty.
Me, I have been working on my own peace treaty. For some reason the Iowa Highway Patrol has taken a liking to me. They have stopped me so many times; I am on their Christmas card list. I do not know why I am a frequent target because I am a great driver. Yet still Bi-monthly I am stopped. No complaint just fact, bless their heart they are just doing their job.
Late last winter-early spring, I was going to town to check on a couple of students I had on Saturday school. I had gotten out of bed, put on my old jeans, flannel shirt, and fishing boots and walked out the door. I jumped in my old pickup truck and went to town. (That sort of sounds like a country and western song doesn’t it.) I went to school and checked on my two students, then went to get a cup of coffee and started my way home.
As I was going home, I may have exceeded the speed limit a bit. I met a patrolman and he pulled me over. Because I have been stopped so many times, I know they like to see your hands at the top of the steering wheel. (Bless their hearts I would never want to face the danger they do every day.) For some reason this time I forgot and put them in my coat pocket. That was the wrong thing to do.
The officer was a young man and he asked me very politely to please step out of the car. As I got out of the car, I dug my hands deeper in my coat pocket because it was cold. Wrong thing to do, He said “Sir would you take your hands out of your pocket?” I realized at that point he was a little concerned. I removed them slowly.
He said “Sir, do you mind if I search you?” I didn’t want any trouble so I said go ahead. I had on a huge leather jacket with multiple pockets and things in all of them.
He said “Do you have anything in your pockets that will harm me?”
I responded that I didn’t and he began the search. I had a pen in one pocket the size of a hypodermic needle, he felt that and asked me to remove that, then he felt a plastic baggie in there (I had bought cookies at a bake sale) and he asked me to remove that.
By this time, the poor scared young trooper was actually shaking, he was a little frightened. I’m sure he thought what does this big ugly looking guy have in his pockets? As he was searching me of course a couple of my students and one of my neighbors drove by. I knew it would be a long time before I would hear the end of this.
I do not know if he forgot why he stopped me or if he felt guilty, but after he searched me he let me go.
That would not be the last time I saw him.
The neighbor with the wild mustang also has an Arabian that could be a brother to the mustang, because they look so much alike. Recently my dog Andy has been trying to make friends with them. They are about twenty hands taller than Andy. None the less, Andy always tries to get a smell. As the neighbor says “Andy must think that is one big dog.”
Andy and the horse called Spirit have sort of come to an understanding. Although at times I feel like the local law enforcement when the two get together, they have come to an agreement, sort of a Peace Treaty.
Me, I have been working on my own peace treaty. For some reason the Iowa Highway Patrol has taken a liking to me. They have stopped me so many times; I am on their Christmas card list. I do not know why I am a frequent target because I am a great driver. Yet still Bi-monthly I am stopped. No complaint just fact, bless their heart they are just doing their job.
Late last winter-early spring, I was going to town to check on a couple of students I had on Saturday school. I had gotten out of bed, put on my old jeans, flannel shirt, and fishing boots and walked out the door. I jumped in my old pickup truck and went to town. (That sort of sounds like a country and western song doesn’t it.) I went to school and checked on my two students, then went to get a cup of coffee and started my way home.
As I was going home, I may have exceeded the speed limit a bit. I met a patrolman and he pulled me over. Because I have been stopped so many times, I know they like to see your hands at the top of the steering wheel. (Bless their hearts I would never want to face the danger they do every day.) For some reason this time I forgot and put them in my coat pocket. That was the wrong thing to do.
The officer was a young man and he asked me very politely to please step out of the car. As I got out of the car, I dug my hands deeper in my coat pocket because it was cold. Wrong thing to do, He said “Sir would you take your hands out of your pocket?” I realized at that point he was a little concerned. I removed them slowly.
He said “Sir, do you mind if I search you?” I didn’t want any trouble so I said go ahead. I had on a huge leather jacket with multiple pockets and things in all of them.
He said “Do you have anything in your pockets that will harm me?”
I responded that I didn’t and he began the search. I had a pen in one pocket the size of a hypodermic needle, he felt that and asked me to remove that, then he felt a plastic baggie in there (I had bought cookies at a bake sale) and he asked me to remove that.
By this time, the poor scared young trooper was actually shaking, he was a little frightened. I’m sure he thought what does this big ugly looking guy have in his pockets? As he was searching me of course a couple of my students and one of my neighbors drove by. I knew it would be a long time before I would hear the end of this.
I do not know if he forgot why he stopped me or if he felt guilty, but after he searched me he let me go.
That would not be the last time I saw him.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Night Maneuvers
I live in the middle of nowhere in the timber about 200 yards from the Wapsipinicon River. Where I live is heaven. Everyone is always asking me to go to a resort somewhere but heck I live in a resort. From ten at night until five in the morning no cars go by my house. I have a two hundred acre conservation area across the road from me, I have an 80 acre area that is preserved by an outdoor club next door to me and to my north about half a mile I have one of my best friends and his wife that raise and runs sled dogs. Their log cabin is surrounded by pine trees and lilac bushes. I have been delivered. The only other soul close to me belongs to my dog, a rat terrier named Andy who patrols the property and timber around us.
Come night time Andy sleeps hard from his running and chasing rabbits, squirrels, deer, raccoon, and the occasional skunk. Early one October morning about two o’clock Andy was running around the house barking and carrying on. Finally I got up and let him out. For the next five minutes all I heard was Andy running around and around the house barking.
Finally I got up and I went outside in my running shorts and duck shoes to see what was bothering him. When I went out the door a black cat came running around the corner with Andy nipping at his tail. When the cat saw me he ran up one of the four walnut trees I have in my yard, with Andy springing up and down trying to climb the tree after him. After several attempts and failures Andy topped looked up and started barking and wouldn’t stop.
After fifteen minutes of trying to get Andy to give up his fight I finally decided to get a ladder from the garage and get that cat out of the tree. Now mind you it is 2:30 in the morning a cat is in the tree hissing at Andy, Andy is running around the tree barking and jumping, I am putting a ladder against this tree while wearing duck shoes and running shorts and swearing at Andy and the cat whichever one is annoying me more at the time.
As I am half way up the ladder I hear a car coming and eventually see a sheriffs car and he pulls into my drive way. He got out of the car and he says “What are ya doing?” Well it is three in the morning now, I am in ducks shoes and shorts, and what does he think I am doing picking walnuts?
Come night time Andy sleeps hard from his running and chasing rabbits, squirrels, deer, raccoon, and the occasional skunk. Early one October morning about two o’clock Andy was running around the house barking and carrying on. Finally I got up and let him out. For the next five minutes all I heard was Andy running around and around the house barking.
Finally I got up and I went outside in my running shorts and duck shoes to see what was bothering him. When I went out the door a black cat came running around the corner with Andy nipping at his tail. When the cat saw me he ran up one of the four walnut trees I have in my yard, with Andy springing up and down trying to climb the tree after him. After several attempts and failures Andy topped looked up and started barking and wouldn’t stop.
After fifteen minutes of trying to get Andy to give up his fight I finally decided to get a ladder from the garage and get that cat out of the tree. Now mind you it is 2:30 in the morning a cat is in the tree hissing at Andy, Andy is running around the tree barking and jumping, I am putting a ladder against this tree while wearing duck shoes and running shorts and swearing at Andy and the cat whichever one is annoying me more at the time.
As I am half way up the ladder I hear a car coming and eventually see a sheriffs car and he pulls into my drive way. He got out of the car and he says “What are ya doing?” Well it is three in the morning now, I am in ducks shoes and shorts, and what does he think I am doing picking walnuts?
I said “This cat is annoying my dog he has him up the tree and I want to get him down so I can go to bed.” The cop got into his car laughing and he leaves me. At least he could have shot the cat out of the tree for me.
I finally get high enough to grab the cat, I drop him to the ground, and Andy takes off into the timber after him. I leave the ladder up and go back to bed. About five, that same morning I hear scratching on the door, it is Andy, and he walks in the house and walks to his cushion and falls down with fatigue from chasing that cat. If only there would have been a video from that night.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Ground War
These are the things of nature that happen around my home. Speaking of food chain it reminds me of a time when I was a young teacher back in the 1980’s; I lived in an old medal trailer home right on the river. I was just substitute teaching and coaching and didn’t have a lot of money. I would eat air popped popcorn and pancakes at the end of the month just to get by. The place I lived did not have an outside light and I lived in the timber about 200 feet from the river. On nights where there was no moon it would be pitch black. It was wonderful to sleep at night but other times it could be extremely frightening.
One particular dark night close to Halloween I was sitting in the trailer watching television in the dark when I heard a large bang against my trailer. I had not heard a car pull in, and my driveway was almost half a mile long and deep in the country so few people would walk out. I quick shut the TV off, grabbed a bat I kept next to the door and snuck out the back door. Actually I fell down the steps onto the ground and rolled behind a pine tree. If they didn’t know I was out of the house they did now.
It was so dark and I could not see the bat in front of me. I could here four or five of them moving around on the gravel of my drive way. People had been going up and down the river stealing things put of cabins and I do not know if they didn’t see the light from my TV or just didn’t care but I was scared witless and I was going to greet them with a Louisville slugger.
I could hear them walking toward my front door and for some reason they didn’t know I was creeping toward them. When I got within thirty feet of them I could hear five of them breathing very hard like they were as frightened as I was. I said “Tell me who you are or I am going to hit you”. I worried that it was some friends just pulling a joke on me and if I hit them I would kill them.
They didn’t say anything, I took three steps toward them and I could hear them breathing as if they were having a panic attack. Now I was within swinging distance away from them. I pulled the bat back like Hank Aaron and I prepared for battle. I said listen if you are a friend you better say something or I am about to beat you to death.
One of them stepped toward me and just as I was about to swing I heard “bah, bah, bah.” Five of the neighbor’s goats had got out and could not find their way home in the dark. I almost had a heart attack. They had found the greens of what was left of my flower garden and they were in heaven right next to the trailer.
Air Wars Over Iowa
My life has been a wonderful journey; I have taught, coached basketball and cross country, traveled the world and been addicted to things I am proud and not so proud of. I live in Iowa near the Amish on the Wapsipinicon River. The entire way I have had a better life than I deserve, with wonderful people around me that have treated me as family.
I plan to tell you the truth in this blog. By the way, most of the time the truth is more entertaining than fiction anyhow. Anyway, welcome to life inside the Amish Air Force.
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