Bad Write-up or Dumb Move?

"The fine folks over at thisboardrocks.com were blasting the blog article on Aaron going to Gospel Light. They have a great resource message board for high school baseball scores and player info but they don’t believe in ever questioning player movements or transfers decisions. It’s all positives at thisboardrocks.com and that’s not the way it is in the real world and that’s why we get readers talking out on these contraversial subjects. In the long-term scheme of things in life, who is going to respond with any stir at all to everything that is picture-perfect. I appreciate the good info at thisboardrocks.com and have sent many people to that site but they can’t carry a candle to where this sportswriter has been."
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I must admit, I had a big chuckle after reading this. I dunno, I think we have done pretty well in our "picture perfect" world.

But I do want to address one thing he brought up and that's the subject of transfers or any other controversial subject....and I believe he made my point with his article. If one wants to discuss transfers and the potential concerns following that subject, that's great. I believe we could (and have) received some excellent responses to it. But when the subject becomes personal and names are mentioned or it is obvious that a "new" member's only purpose in joining was to stir the pot or have a personal axe to grind, then the purpose of the thread and of TBR is compromised.

I offer no apologies in trying to be positive about HS baseball. In an era that most avenues of the media want to find dirt (realizing dirt sells) or in our case, increase members, we determined from the beginning that we want to become HS athlete's supporters. We want to set a tone that would be inclusive of HS and college coaches. That they would provide much needed information to our members.

You can't have it both ways. You can not expect a coach to join if they fear they will be attacked or any of their "brothers" are, too.

There are only two ways that you can start a HS sports website. You can create controversy and allow "anything goes" responses. In the short term, it will initially increase members to respond, but it is short term because people grow tired of the bickering, name calling and trash talking and start looking for something else. Posting rumors will kill a website.

or

You create an environment that is not only informational, but gives a family a sense of pride knowing their son was recognized for an outstanding performance. They don't have to fear waking up the next morning to read that their son "is gay", "he's overrated" or "he let down his former teammates and took Mr. Brown kid's position".

Now, the guy mentioned we don't live in the real world. The real world? You mean the world of TMZ, paparazzi, National Enquirer, Access Hollywood, People magazine? The world that has its so-called journalist looking in the sewers and trash cans for information? A world that "heard" from a source that a HS kid was dismissed from a team because of drugs and deemed that important to report. A world that reports a particular HS kid "illegally transferred" to another school for baseball reasons, when the truth was "his parents are abusive alcoholics and he was allowed to have a family member to take him in as legal guardian.": or that a kid transferred because his father lost his job and they moved into an aprtment they could afford.

We choose not to enter into that "real world" because it is not our business. Our world is to help provide helpful information for families in many areas, to promote any player that deserves recognition and to promote high school baseball through out the state. We know that we are discussing "High School kids"...they make mistakes; Just like all of you did growing up. It's not our purpose to announce to inquiring minds why they made those mistakes.

I wish some people would look in the mirror and ask themselves, "Did I make mistakes when I was a teenager? Would I want those mistakes discussed in the media by adults?".

Again, I offer no apologies for not being a part of the "Real World".

 

Braves, I can't say how much I agree w/ you & appreciate TBR. But I'd like to attach this addendum:

This board discusses a game that has an unwritten code of honor. There's a 'right way' to play it, starting w/ how you get dressed & ending w/ how you shake hands at the end. It's a beautiful game with roots tied to old fashioned values...core values that should never change: God, Country, Family, Friends.

Yea, I'm glad you've created an environment in which coaches are comfortable hanging around. But TBR's greatest virtue is avoiding sullying itself in the world's trash talking, opponent bashing, Me-First pig sty.

Those on the other side probably consider my view as naively sanctimonious. But in my eyes, they're indicted by their ignorance. The Game is not on trial...they are.

 

Wasn't going to reply but...

I live in Guilford County and am very familiar with the site this article was posted in. I sent Braves a pm as soon as I saw it was posted here and shared a couple of things with him about the site. I thanked him for a 'well run' site here at TBR. I then get up this morning and I see a poster named 'sportsmom' has left a response and so I had to address this and let those of you here who know me and have read my posts that I am not the sportsmom that posted on Greensborosports. I am very opposed to the negativity that some other sites use. I agree with you Dook and join you in being 'naively sanctimonious'.

Anyway...thanks for letting me clear my name. I only have one reputation and I am trying hard not to ruin it!

 

Hahaha...sportsmom- you da best!

 

He has a few good points and a lot of bad points. Aaron's family made a choice. It's their business. Lots of kids play college ball from the private christian schools. Will Myers from Wesleyan is going to South Carolina. Dimock at Wesleyan is going to Wake. The coach at Wesleyan (Scott Davis, former NCSU baseball player) does more than most coaches for his kids.

I got a son at Wesleyan and it is nothing like Greensboro Day. My son is chaplain for his basketball and baseball team. He leads all the prayers and invites the opposing team to pray after each game. Usually they do. Before 1 game he invited Greensboro Day to pray after the game and they turned him down. He continued to ask until they joined. Greensboro Day does not claim to be a Christian School. Doesn't make them a bad school. It's a great school. Just not church affiliated.

I would agree that sometimes at TBR we only address the positive and gloss over the facts. I've read so many stories on kids that 'fill it up' or can 'rake' to all fields yet many of us shake our head and ask are we talking about the same kid. A lot of Dad's here over-inflate at times. But this is the purpose of the site and the way Braves wants it so we all go along with it or we can leave. This site does a good job promoting kids. If a kid is over-hyped the scouts are knowledgable enough to figure it out.

I feel the writer is attracting attention to himself. Pretty big ego to say he is the best sportswriter in town. 1st, that's not saying much in Greensboro. 2nd, most people have never heard of this guy.

 

I agree that some kids get hyped, but the neat thing is learning who the sources are that are doing the hype; it's not always the parent. What weight someone places on one's opinion is an earned reputation; not by someone listiing their credentials. Quite honestly, there are many parents on this site that I highly value their opinions (many of them have been involved in baseball at ALL levels.)..and there are parents, such as yourself, that bring a different view, at times that are equally or more important.

The thing about mentioning a player and perhaps overhyping; my thoughts on that is this may be his last go around playing competitive baseball. It sure is nice to be able to read your name mentioned when you affected the outcome of a game. I am reminded why I started this in Charlotte. There was not a place a player or his family could read an article about a HS game. For them to know that their son has a place to read about something he achieved, can not be overstated. So if a player gets overhyped by an overly enthused member...so be it. I'm glad we could make his day........and his grandparents.

 

Just an observation. After a while I have come to recognize (most of the time) the parent over hyping their son vs. the parent praising a player.

 

The source

I guess it comes down to the source because I thought TBR was meant for ALL the kids to be talked about and promoted. It is a great site to read about kids doing good things in the great game of baseball. Yes some people might provide more details than others but I see nothing wrong with that.

I personally have had college coaches call me about things that they have seen posted on TBR about kids and their accomplishments. In some cases this might be the first place they hear about a potential recruit. This is a good thing.

As long as what is being posted is actually the truth then it should be all for the good of everyone except of course for some that do get jealous.

The truth about a kid does not hurt regardless of who does the posting.

 

THE TRUTH

The only problem with the truth as we all know, is that it can be streeeeeeetched by the person telling it over and over. Radar gun readings and Braves catching minnows are 2 good examples.

 

I love details. The more the merrier. But I also favor the truth.

I enjoy reading about kids here. I wish i could post on some of the Ragsdale kids. Some of them are having a very good year and a couple are having a freakish year.