Thursday, October 04, 2001

Coaching

I don't know if I mentioned this to you before, but I, along with Buff Bagwell, coach an 8th grade girl's volleyball team. It's not easy to work full time, then race home and then go to practice, and handle working with these hormonal freaks who can barely pay attention to direction much less their coach. I'm doing this partially to stay active, and another to give back to my community and spend some time with some new kids.

It's a major test of my patience, really, and more or less what I do at work. I enjoy it and all, but sometimes you just want to throttle someone every now and then. Most of the time I'd rather throttle myself just to relieve myself of this misery.

I haven't played ball in such a long time, and it's not that hard to get into it, but I tell you, getting winded is not my idea of fun. Chasing balls is hard freakin' work, my babies! I hate to admit it, but I was hurtin' for a bit. I hit the floor a few times, and now I have bruises on my knees. I also have a nice bruise on my wrist. I'm exhausted. But it's nice to be out and about these evenings. I get to see their game improving, which it is, and that's great. I wish I had more time to mentor them and work with them on other levels. They're so young, and already I have a good idea of who's going where in life.

Funny when you watch sports teams, you already know who they are as individuals by paying attention to their habits and their intensity. Girls who slack off and mess around, I shake my head sadly. Girls who are focused and present, I am hopeful for. I want to be able to see them later in life, as I have been able to do with other teams I've coached, and their temperments have remained constant, but with some variation. For the most part, however, I see that things never really change. They just get taller.

As a child growing up, I always liked playing games because it gave me an outlet for all that energy. I didn't have to think too hard, or be the smart girl. It was nice like that. Playing games meant learning new things and meeting new people. Interacting in another way that didn't make one person stand out. We all played. Sometimes when I watch sports, I think about the players and what they were like as children. Interesting, isn't it. Some players musta been real pricks as kids too.

Talent combined with a really shitty attitude is just not cool. We honor our athletes without much of a second thought, but when they're assholes, there is a reserved cheer that goes through the crowd. Congrats, and all, but you're an asshole. Barry Bonds comes to mind. Hm. He tied the record tonight, and that's cool, but who in the dugout is cheering wholeheartedly? Maybe his kid.

Well, enough of sports for tonight. I'm going to rest my old bones and enjoy my evening. Much love to you all....

Voodoo

PS> Hey Wolfie, I love you bro! Check out your directory entry. I also updated all the entries as well.

PS2> Much love to my boy PaiGow for calling me after all these years. So nice to hear your voice, and yes I miss you lots too. You'll always mean something to me. See you in LA....

posted by Voodoo Child @ 10:15:00 PM