An Opinion

After reading some recent posts, I wanted to share an opinion that I hope emphasizes what this forum is about.

I think of this forum and its members as a baseball community. We share our thoughts and experiences hoping that what we say may help someone in this community. Some of the discussions will be about the beauty of the game, while others may discuss the warts. But we have a commonality that we all share: A son, a nephew, a brother, a friend or a neighbor that plays baseball. We must always support one another when it comes to those kids.

One of the most exciting things, as a player or parent, is to achieve success in the game and have it be recognized. But where can they go to read that? The newspaper? Well, in most cases, our areas don’t get that kind of support. And the few websites I visited seem to relish in attacks of players, coaches and fellow members of those websites. I felt there needed to be a place where a player or their families would get excited reading the accomplishments in a comfortable environment---free from personal attacks.

For those of you that are parents, how did you feel when you awoke in the morning after a thrilling game to read how your son played an important role in the team’s success that night? How do you think he felt? If you understand how important that can be, then you will understand why I started this forum. It’s about the kids and helping to inform families about areas that are helpful. It’s about sharing our experiences—good and bad—yet supporting each other during those tough times. Isn’t that what a community does?

I don’t have a son that plays HS baseball, but I am just as thrilled when I read about your son ‘s accomplishments on TBR. If your son had the game winning hit, pitched a wonderful game or committed to a college; I’m just as excited as the parent of that player. I understand the roller coaster rides of HS baseball. I understand the stress of recruitment. I understand the sacrifices some families make to try to give their son’s the best opportunity to succeed. So when that son achieves any success, I share in your excitement.

Sometimes, I believe we get caught up in things that are irrelevant and lose sight of what is important…and that is to support each other during this short journey. Before you blink your eyes, your son will have his own children teaching them what he learned from you.

The last point I want to make is if you ever get too upset about something….Go Fishing, then come back and share your embellished stories—unlike me.

 

"TBR has been very very good to me." in my best Sammy Sosa voice

Great post Braves. Looking forward to the future of this board/community. I been on this thing for awhile and met a lot of good folks. Thanks for getting this thing put together. Now if we could get all our shoeless 'bacca spittin eastern NC friends to join, we'd be golden.

 

Many thanks for the reminder, Braves.

It is out of this sort of consistently positive orientation that this "baseball community" ends up being one of the best information and resource sources for scholastic baseball anywhere. As a result, it continues to be a potent force in the advancement of baseball players' dreams. In my opinion, that's a very significant mission.

 

Heyyyyyyy... we too busy searching the ditches for cans so we can buy shoes....

 

I am very grateful for this board. I have learned alot about something very important to me by reading this board almost every day. I appreciate all the wise advice about how to help my son be a better player and also how to be a better baseball parent. Keep up the good work.

 

I luv me some Deez. One of the all time best members of the board...and funniest, too.

 

Thanks Prep--obviously, you were one of the original members that helped shape the direction of this board and I sincerely appreciate the fact that you have stayed to help others.

If a parent ever gets confused in what role they should play in their kid's life, I'll never forget the post made by ECU78:

"After visiting this site for awhile, I saw this thread and just had to add my special memory. My son liked to play baseball but was never great at it. He wasn't talented enough to play high school ball but he played summer ball whether it was Little League or Babe Ruth, He never made any all star teams or such. He was just good enough to start. Most of all, he liked to play Babe Ruth ball with his friends. The boys just had a good time even though success was hard to find. During a Senior Babe Ruth game one night, my son was playing first and a fly ball was hit behind first into short right field. He turned and hustled to make an over the head catch that Willie Mays would have been proud of. I just stood there not believing what I just saw. I was in awe. Before I could make my way out of the dugout (I was on scorebook duty) to congratulate him, he had already returned the ball to the pitcher and was in stance for the next defensive play. With the next pitch, a ball was hit to second and he dropped a perfect throw at first. I told him when he came in how pretty the fly ball catch was and then asked him what happened on the throw from second. I can remember how fast his smile changed into a lowered head. To this day, I regret not making a bigger deal out of the great catch. And now I can't. My son was killed almost two years ago, months after making that catch. I responded to this thread so I could tell the dads out there to make sure you appreciate the memories you have and ones to come. Make sure your son has a smile on his face after the game. More importantly, make sure you do to. Always be positive and somehow forget the "bad". Believe me, winning or losing a baseball game just isn't that important anymore. I would give anything to see that smile again."

 

Braves,thank youfor this post, because i was getting ready to express my OPINION about some of the posters. This Board should always be about the acomplishments of the kids, teams and organizations. We don't have to like something but keep it to yourself. A lot of the kids i know personally and some i know from seeing play. I am proud of all of them who are doing what they enjoy and proud of the lucky ones who get the opportunity to get an education and play baseball along with it. All of us just need to enjoy the ride that all of these great teams and players are giving us because it will not last forever. Again lets not be negative or down right mean when someone or team or organization does well. Their success will benefit all the kids that are coming up.

 

I love TBR especially the preps basball forum. I learned alot with my older son going thru the recruiting process and even more from TBR. Now #2 is trying his hand at it. I have made many new friends, some on line only, and some I have had the pleasure of meeting and watching a game or skills camp with. I have also had quite a few laughs along the way.

It seems to me that the issues arrive when someone hides behind a screen name just to bash. That is sad. The other times tempers flare is when tor he written word, shortened for convenience for those like me who have spelling issues and type with 2 fingers, gets misinterperated. For those of you who hide and bash there are several boards to go to, for the rest of us, enjoy TBR and all it provides us.

 

You spoke volumes! When parents put what is real first, which is the child, no matter what sport, the child generally will be more comfortable to perform their best. I have been to so many games that I see Mom's and Dad's act ridiculous if their child makes a mistake or has a bad game. I can see the child and know they are already their worst enemy. Then, the parents get on the phone and call parent after parent to let them know every detail that someone else's child is doing. Many times, sharing news of a player that's having a bad game. It thrills some people. I hear other players talk about things their parents say after games, always negative. They are just wanting them to be perfect, get that scholarship, or get drafted, get that name out there. That all is a perk for most, but for every ball player, if parents would let them enjoy, be responsible for their dedication to it, (which is most important) talk about the good and the bad, and what to focus on next game, realize being a part of a team teaches them things that they will use the rest of their life.......having to work with others, having to help out a teammate even if they are the one that missed a catch to win the game, do things you may not want to do all the time. It is what they will all be doing the rest of their life. Enjoy that your child is on a team, chooses to stsay after school, work year round keeping in shape. Look at those kids that have no goal or mission everyday after school. You see so many of them in trouble, just because they didn't want to be dedicated to the task. Parents, don't yell at your child, "How can you strike out looking?" What were thinking when you got picked off? Etc.... I wish everyone would stop calling this parent and that parent, delighting in the fact that someone elses child is not doing well. It's not everyone, but I see it often. I hate to tell them, but all the time they are picking out other's mistakes, and emphasizing their own child's mistakes........expecting perfection....The minutes are going by that they should enjoy every success and mistake their child makes, and help them learn from it, and watch how they mature in how they handle success and failures. It's how they may handle it the rest of their life when baseball is over, .....and sorry, it will be one day! That's why I enjoy every game, good or bad. The attitude my child has is amazing. He's hard on himself, but he doesn't show it on the field, or to his teammates, he does it at home, talks about it, gets over it and moves on to the next challenge. This is more than I meant to say, but I talk to parents that all they can say is how they are calling every school they can, so he can play ball. I just want him to play so bad, they should make sure HE wants to play first. And leave other players alone, and watch every minute your child is on that field this season, stay off the phone with the gossip about who did what. I have gotten calls from people from other schools while I am at an out of town game that can tell me everygood and bad thing they heard was going on. It's amazing. I just don't answer the phone at games. I am trying to enjoy what my child is doing. I have read posts about ball players that left this earth way too early, it brought tears to my eyes! God's plan, we don't understand, I understand it's a gift everyday God allows my child to be healthy and I plan to enjoy all successes, mistakes, defeats, and victories! Loosen up, try after a bad game, saying " Game stunk huh?" Oh well, let's go get something good to eat, and don't talk about the game unless he or she talk about it!