So I originally started this blog thingy to rant and rave about love and all that. Then I progressively started explaining my eff'd up philosphies on life. Then progressively I used it to update my life and share some of my poetry/ songwriting ability (good and bad). Again it progressed, or should I say digressed, when I began just finding ways to give props to good music and my creativity levels lacked sorely. Well tonight I am going to do the title Mr. Peters' Rants and Random Thoughts proud by once again ranting like there's no tomorrow!! (beats writing this essay thats due in less than 5 hours...but really its only a six pager and I could write that in my sleep...which I just might have to if I keep teaching y'all "a lesson in prcrastination")
I am a basketball coach of a high school senior boys basketball team at the age of 21. Last year I was co-head coach and this year was slated to be the number one head coach...until the school decided to give one last shot to a man that is going to be refered to as "the dew". Thus to my coach title I had to add assistant to the front, which is never good. As the season progressed my opinions seemed to have less validity until the point where the dew would have most likely refered to me as "that guy with the beard, good looks, great style, hillarious jokes and charming smile who sits on the bench (minus everything between that guy and who sits on the bench)". So being the coach I know I am I found new ways to relate to the players. I coached them one on one, helped them become better in the terrible offense set in front of them..thus rather than creating an overhaul I leraned to adapt and thus turned that around into teaching the players how to adapt. When he yelled things at the kids I took them aside and put it in terms they could understand...ie talking. Well at some points in the season the dew was a complete eff'ing moron and I kept my mouth shut because I wanted to take over the program next year and by snapping on current head coach I probably would put myself out of the running. But tonight, playoffs, could be last game for 5 of these kids, he made one final mistake that I couldn't let happen. We played hard, with my schemes I can't honestly say we would have done any better or worse but the end of the game neared. 3 of these 5 players were not playing very well most of the game. Most coaches would have subbed them off while the game was still in hand, maybe tried something different...but not the dew, no he stuck by them until there was only a minute and a half to go, team down by 18, game out of reach. He takes 4 of those same 5 guys off and benches them...syaing he is "making a statement". I don't know if y'all play sports or anything but this was thier last game ever and he was benching them for no reason, thats like your band going to the grammy's but not letting 3 of you come because as a manager "you're making a statement". So I had enough, these kids hanging thier heads wondering what they had did wrong, parents of these kids reasy to rip the dew's head off I got up and put these kids back in the game and proceeded to lay into the dew about how much of a self centered prick and terrible coach he was. Those 5 seniors finished the game, with nothing left in them but thier pride. I recieved many pats on the back and thank you's from both the players and parents, I was givven 5 huigs (creppy man hugs some may call it) from 5 players that at that one instant had lost all hope, confidence, spirit etc. because some asshole wanted to make a statement. When it is all said and done a coach is someone who helps people get better at a skill and ultiamtely trys to help shape a person for the better. the dew is not a coach, the dew is an asshole and i am not proud to say that I was part of your "coaching staff". You yelled at kids for no reason, you never listened to thier thoughts or ideas and worst of all you cared nothing for them. so I left the dew with this question as he said he only had one passion greater than b'ball and that was his kids..."the dew, what if I were coach and the kids I benched were you kids? describe to me whats going through your head as a parent and how your kids would feel?"
Guys (I know a few of ya read this) keep your heads up, you are a great group of kids that i am proud to say I have coached, that I have been part of a team with you and most importantly that I have to opportunity to call you friend!!
anyway if y'all read through that whole thing congrats you must be trying to procrastinate more than I am!!