Day: September 12, 2024

My youngest is asking me to give him a pep talk before each home game. Honestly, the idea of it is wonderful, but the execution has me stressed. I am not very good at pep talks. I was never that kind of hype coach. I had the chant–I can lock in on a script–but to freestyle and really say something inspiring may be beyond my can. Still, I will go out there tomorrow and attempt to do my part to help him lock in and be successful as his 15 yr old confidence starts to take form. He needs the help. He isn’t him yet. He needs to believe in the ability he has in order to be successful, and he hasn’t quite gotten to that point. Partially that is my fault. He’s often the best player on a good team. He and his brother played with kids who are being featured on Saturdays now, and he feels like those kids all surpassed him. The ones from his grade/team already all have multiple collegiate offers and trips, etc. Heck, one just was named high school player of the week… for the nation. I would argue that starting alongside these giants would show him that he is that guy too, but he feels more like an imposter.

I’ve experienced imposter syndrome my entire life, and I was never as good as these boys are. Yet I don’t know how to shake that feeling or shake him feeling like he isn’t ‘that guy’. He feeds on success, so once he gets going it is going to be fine. He just needs to get there. That is why he’s asking for that pep talk. That is why I need to figure out how to deliver.

You dad the way you need to dad, and for me, this is the way I need to dad right now. This is what is going to help him step forward. He needs support and encouragement, so I am going to provide exactly that.

The other day I was hyped to see my kids play and have a shot to compete. I was hyped for Deion’s team to face a kid I used to coach. I was super hyped to se Saquon go out there and prove he is one of the best in the league. I was not even a little hyped to see the Giants come out in those busted-ass throwbacks and try and pretend to be a legit NFL team. They are bad. They are so bad that when we (i’m still down, so I say we) got a pick on the 20 yd line I knew we would have to settle for a field goal. The G-Defense is going to need to do it all. They cannot though. We watched them get worn down even by the Vikings. Beyond that, the offense gave up 6. That is more than the offense scored. All Game.

This week the Giants face a terrible Washington team that has every chance of beating them. I mean, they look like my kid’s High school team out there! Speaking of whom, the DV Thunder slipped in the polling to 29… out of 31 Division 6A teams. They are right behind Friday’s opponent Valley Vista who isn’t very good but looks remarkably better than DV. This is still an opportunity to turn up and make some things happen. The offense was productive in spots against backups in the second half last week and the team they will be facing has the skill level of those backups. Offense? They have some skills there. Could be fun to watch him play the deep pass.

Some Thoughts:

1. I’m drifting into that dangerous realm of not being at all focused on anything anymore. It is a bad look for me and argues that I will end up paying for it one way or another. I already am forgetting to click that second publish and the sadness associated therein. How long before I forget to blog at all?
2. Yes, I want to talk about the debate… tomorrow.

Debate night in America.

One thing I know is that this isn’t going to move the needle for the people who’ve dug in on either side. Those who roll with Trump believe what they believe and that is all it will ever be. Those who don’t have their own set of beliefs. Each have media to support this world view. Who will be impacted are those in the middle who have yet to decide what if anything to do. That number is getting smaller and smaller. We are living in an America that looks more and more like it did before I was born. The rampant polarization is not only detrimental to us as a culture but to the security of the nation itself. We aren’t united on anything anymore. That feels less like hyperbole than it does truth.

I’m worried about the future I am leaving my own children. I cannot even begin to consider what they might one day be leaving their own.