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YOUTH SPORTS, THE FIRST IMPRESSION LASTS A LIFETIME

If the question is ever asked, “Why bother with youth sports,” there’s an easy answer. When you overhear someone slamming organized athletics, do you have a response? If not, why not? Try this on for size.

BASKETBALL COURT: A DATE WITH HISTORY FROM THE DRIVEWAY

A basketball court is today’s proving ground for American youth. Like other kids of a certain generation, though, baseball was my first proving ground. After I proved I wasn’t very good at it, something about a weak arm and slow legs, the basketball court replaced the diamond. Instead of going to a lumpy field, I […]

PREEMPTIVE CONVERSATION: SORRY, I WASN’T LISTENING

When is the best time for a Preemptive Conversation? Married men have different answers than singles, from both sides of the fence: Her side, and yer side.

EMPATHY ADDICTION: IT HURTS WHEN I FEEL

Is empathy addiction a call to action every time you feel something so intensely you have to do something? “That could’ve been me; I’ll make sure it never happens again.”

WRESTLING WITH THE DEVIL, A SUN DEVIL, AND WINNING

Great wrestling stories are journeys, internally and externally. From The Odyssey, to Tom Sawyer, to Saving Private Ryan, a journey works to transport readers into the lives and times of those written about. Tonya Russo Hamilton joins the ranks of those who capture time and place and deliver a story flowing with streams of emotion.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL FINAL: HOW ABOUT THOSE OREGON DUCKS

The Oregon Ducks didn’t play in the college football finals last night. Neither did Oklahoma. Today the final rankings came out. Oregon was #5 in the polls that matter, #7 in a network poll where the people probably didn’t stay awake for PAC12 games, and #6 in a poll of experts last updateD in early […]

BITTER SPORTS TAKE VOLUME ONE: THE BAD BULLY

Today’s the day for ‘Bitter Sports Takes,’ a new feature here. What’s it take to make the bitter sports take? Look at Oregon, more specifically the Oregon Ducks of Oregon Duck football. Who remembers Auburn from nine years ago, and why does it matter? Sports history, my friends. Sports history.

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE MEDAL OF COURAGE FOR DAN PATRICK

I don’t know why, but my wife isn’t a fan of sports talk radio. She says it’s all about men trying to sound angry enough to make their opinions seem to matter. I blame Jim Rome, one of my favorites over the years. How often do we hop in the car and she says, “Quick, […]

HOW SPORTS LIFE GUIDES REAL LIFE

Sports life not about winning and losing, but how you play the game? Real life says sports life isn’t an accurate reflection, that winning is the reason, the only reason, to do anything. People in the winning camp like to say winners do what losers won’t do. They’re not wrong, they just don’t know what […]

CONFLICT RESOLUTION BASIC TRAINING

I’ll start with a common conflict that needs a few rounds of conflict resolution. Let’s say you have a pile of composed bark dust and six wheel barrows and six shovels and six Scouts doing community service. They signed up for three hours and know how to tell time. The early teens wanted to work, […]