Mentality 2008

[4him]

Couldn't agree more RidgeDad. I think that "its all about fun" and "everyone plays" attitude is also liberal born. And I fear you are right; we will never regain the discipline.

[Eaglealum]

You're right. It's gone(true discipline) as is JV sports as we knew it, it's one big snowball. The AYSO theme, "everyone plays, everyone gets a trophy" starts them at an early age. If kids don't start, they are done. Most wrestling teams start with 20 to 30 kids in November, and by January it's down to 10-20. most other sports are the same way. In the '80's and even early 90's if you started JV wrestling, meant you had to win 2 eliminations 'cause we were 4 deep at most weights;
Most other things are the same way. Heck our band had nearly 200 kids in it in 1988, this year, there might have been 40 people on the field counting the staff. Kids have PS2,Xbox, 4-wheelers, and parents that don't want to push them or don't want bothered running them into practice, God forbid they walk or ride a bike. This is todays' society.

[HWT]

alot of parent and coaches are worried about being their childs friend. guess what thats not your job your job is to be their parent or coach, and instill the disipline and values in them to guide them throughout life. thats is what being a parent or coach is. and in the workforce today you can tell who played sports and who did not.

[CRWizard]

Mike Marshall is a great coach with the right principals that guide him. the biting is dumb, but i seriously doubt that he hurt the kid. I've seen coaches rolling around and giving kids intense cross-faces and against the joint moves, intentionally, but laughing as they were doing it. Lets think about this... If Marshal wanted to hurt the kid don't we think he would have put him in a double arm bar or something??? Biting? he was clearly horsing around. What was that parent thinking.

[4him]

Those are a couple of excellent points. You make a good point, EagleAlum, about parents not wanting to run their kids into practice. You get all kinds of excuses about it too, like "gas is $3 a gallon" or "I already had plans that day." Guess what, there are expenses that come with having children and when you have children, life is no longer about you! It's not just the right thing to do, it's God's command. My father never missed a single match that I wrestled. Even in college when I was traveling all over the east coast. If I didn't have a ride to practice, he made sure I got their somehow, even if that meant riding the horse in to school.

Another good point HWT. Trying not to offend your child or push them, because you want them to be your friend is just stupid. Setting forth a reasonable punishment is not going to make your child an enemy. They may be mad for the moment and maybe even for a week, but they will still love you in the end. Even so, I would rather see my child become an upstanding citizen and refuse to talk to me, than have them become a thieving crack dealer because I was afraid to punish them for being deviant.

[Sgt. O'Rourke]

Please, sir. May I nominate you to run against Hilary/ Obama? You have so much common sense and obviously a large pair. I will back/ vote for you anyday. I'm dead serious. Bravo and well said.

[backer53]

the lack of a work ethic doesnt end in high school either. We've had several kids at the college level quit just because they didnt want to work hard nemore

[big gamer]

I think COACHES have alot to do with the dwindling numbers. Back in the day the coaches did not care who your parents are or how much your dad makes or which family you came from......JUST talent was all you needed. Kids now have been exposed to all the hype put on an average player but due to coaches playing favorites they are put above others. Not due to talent but due to padding the stats and bragging of a COACH that puts more emphasis on one rather than all. I blame the low numbers in sports AND the Mentality now on the COACHES....I firmly believe in hiring coaches OUT OF THE DISTRICT! They cannot be influenced by teachers, friends and butt kissers. We need more coaches that appreciate RAW TALENT and hard workers not made by coaches "bragging" their kids up. Give me the day where the strongest, most grittiest, gutsy kid wins - no matter who they are and they get the appreciation for their talent not because the coach played favorites. Parents might be some of the problem but more and more I see where the COACHES are big problems.

[realfootball20]

Mike did nothing wrong. The story I heard is that him in the kid were messing around during prac. about two weeks ago...when this happend...The kid skipped practice the thursday before the thomas tourney and mike wouldnt let him wrestle in it. The kid gets pissed and cries to his parents about something that happend a while ago. Marshall looses his job...the whole thing is rediculous and it is about a kid crying around because hes mad at the coach.

[pas2326100]

I can understand how that would happen at CC Just annother example from a great topic by 4him. I have heard that politics such as this is a big part of why John Strittmatter stepped down as coach.