Have you ever had the bad luck to be good at something you don’t like doing?
It happened to me once, between my sophomore and junior years in college. I’d accepted a summer internship as a …

First rule of complaining about media coverage: Whether it’s a philandering golfer or a foot in mouth and ink on hand politician, if you’re sick of hearing about someone don’t say something that’s going to …

Other than spinning around MarioKart-style on the court every time he gets bumped, Boots is just not that into soccer. Which is fine with me, because his spins are kind of cute. They play on …

Take one over-sized wall map of the United States.
Add quick sheets filled with random information about various states.
Combine with a boy’s passion for racing, stir with a DryErase marker and marinate for 36 events over …

Big Guy came off the court Saturday with a predictable grumble: “I didn’t score a single goal. Not one stinkin’ goal. I barely got to kick the ball.”
I’d warned him about that, telling him that …

For years, Boots dreamed of joining Big Guy on that glorious place called the soccer field.
He ran onto the grass in the middle of practice. He threw  tantrums so horrific he was banned from going …

I don’t have fond memories of bowling.
For that matter, I don’t have fond memories of any sport other than as a spectator. I’m the stereotypical “last kid picked in PE class” – except it’s not …

It was the most spectacular crash – and not in a good way – since the one about six months earlier at that same track. A track driver Mark Martin calls “the lotto” because winning …

I get what you’re saying, Mike Leach. I also get why you’re saying it.
Your rear’s so sore you probably still can’t sit after last weekend’s 52-30 butt-whoopin’ from in-state rival Texas A&M. A loss at …

Officials in a Central California town had a great opportunity to teach near-adults a tremendous value lesson last week. Too bad they picked the wrong curriculum.
The event was the football game between cross-town rivals, …

I can’t remember why it started – I think my mom might have called earlier the day of the race and mentioned that it was going to be on TV that night.
But I do remember …

It took a whooper of a recession to finally whomp pro sports executives up the sides of their heads with what fans have been trying to tell them for decades: You are too expensive to …

Warning to any California dude who’s thinking of marrying a hillbilly girl. Consider carefully before taking those vows, even if her daddy’s shotgun is aimed at your ear, because there are ramifications for you and …

When last we visited a major league ballpark, Big Guy was barely 1. He didn’t need a ticket, and he didn’t cost us at the concession stand. He did upset the guys behind us when …

I have to admit that, other than what now appears to be a daily pool commitment, I’ve been living the easy life in the past few months since Big Guy’s busted wrist booted him out …

Note to Tennessee Rep. Steven Cohen: Kobe Bryant comes along only once in a generation. Except when LeBron James comes along seven years later. But by and large, the average teen-ager  isn’t ready to leap …

Funny how baseball got serious about trying to verify Latin American player’s ages when the players started coming out ahead.
And funny how the solution – genetic testings – would again exploit teen-agers not literate in …

Big Guy being Big Guy, he immediately was suspicious of the basketball jersey when it arrived in the mail Friday.
Even though he’s begged for one every game of the NBA championship series, even though it’s …

It was our equivalent of a prenuptial agreement settling religious differences in raising the children:
I could brainwash any offspring into following the Cincinnati Reds, while Dad was allowed free rein in turning them into Los …

There’s often a reason why Big Guy does the seemingly quirky things he does. A reason that makes sense only in his 5-year-old brain, but a reason nonetheless.
I usually don’t question, because if it’s genuinely …

A week ago, Big Guy wasn’t sure he liked kararate at all.
It was “OK,” which for Big Guy is almost as big an insult as “ponies, unicorns and rainbows – girl stuff, blah, blah, blah.”
He …

Disclaimer: Any resemblance to baseball is purely coincidental.
If peewee soccer players are bees swarming after the ball, then a peewee baseball team is a flock of ducks. Very hungry ducks, tripping over each other in …

He’s not going to wear a batting helmet – it’s silly.
He’s not going to hit off a tee – that’s for 2-year-olds.
He’s not going to put his hands closer together on the bat because that’s …

First off, thanks to Debra for the chance to guest post on her blog.
One of her favorite features (and mine) is giving a SWAT – Stop Wasting America’s Time – to groups or people who …

I hate it when I fall in love with a baseball team.
There are numbers and names to learn, stats to memorize, favorites to pick. The last part is easy: Unless the shortstop’s a total schmuck, …

Anyone remember the Hanes commercials back in the late 80s? That campaign was so revealing that appearing in it motivated NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason to tone up. Even my mother made note. “I’m tired of …

Hey, didn’t the Bowl Championship Series end two weeks ago when Florida beat Oklahoma in Miami?
Then why was it being played again for 40 minutes Thursday in the U.S. House of Representatives?
Because a representative from …

Weather warm enough that we shed our jackets on the way home from school last week inspired  Big Guy to ask a version of the question flitting through my mind:
“How long until they’re playing baseball …

I got a telemarketing call tonight I’m sorry I missed. I might even return it.
It was from the local Single A baseball team and immediately made me forget I’ve been shivering most of the day …

Dodged the rain again! Didn’t dodge the Halloween hangover, though. Little Guy’s so sick of sweets he didn’t even want post-game Oreos. And this after spending all season trying to mooch the team’s snacks.
Play of …

I thought WVU’s 4:30 p.m. Pacific time kickoff would work.
Big Guy’s soccer practice starts at 5:30 so that gave him less than an hour, taking into account fiddling-around-getting-ready time and pregame talking heads time, to …

Week 6? When did that happen?
We’re headed toward bye week. I think I’ll send Big Guy to practice even if there is none. I like seeing him sack out on the couch, exhausted, and …

A cold and windy Soccer Saturday.

How cold was it? After much initial protest, Big Guy finally admitted he was glad he has his jacket. Little Guy hid out under the blanket the whole game. And turtle necks, long sleeves and gloves were everywhere.

It’s not supposed to be this chilly in early October.

Last August, I didn’t give Reticent Kid’s soccer career more than a week, two max.

He cried through the first practice. Second practice there weren’t as many tears, but he pretty much was epoxied to his mom for the hour.

He cried through the first game. Even when he was playing goalie, which is the favorite position of reticent young’uns, because they get what to do. That and the goal makes a great pretend tent/fort/castle if you’re tired of watching everyone run away from you.

The second game, he protested a bit before standing gamely in at goalie. His mom stayed near him, offering reassurance.

And by the end of the game, he had a huge smile.

How’d you do that? I asked his mom.

It was a dark and stormy morning.
Seriously, it was.
To which Big Guy said, “Soccer in the rain? All right!” To which Little Guy said, repeatedly. “Want it to be over. Wanna go home.” You just …

Serious strategic error in signing up for soccer snacks this season: I was too far away from the coach’s wife when the sheet went around and I’m stuck with a November game.
Tragically, that’s near the …

There are two kinds of aggressive in life.
There’s the kind that’s hard-charging and relentless, but fair.
Then there’s the kind that plays dirty if someone gets in the way.
Big Guy and his teammates ran into the …