As the end of another school year becomes a reality, I find that my summer schedule is as busy as ever. A part-time summer job, graduate school, a few house projects, watching my kids play youth baseball, and trying to set up summer activities for athletes has me wondering where any time for fishing and golf might exist. I have... READ MORE >
Over the years I have enjoyed the gift of athletics in many different roles. As a young kid, I participated in youth sports like Little League and youth basketball and then grew up to play on the varsity football and basketball teams at Cook County High School. While my playing career was short-lived and fairly uneventful in college, I did... READ MORE >
When something bad happens, we always want someone or something to blame. It seems that people need a reason for their anger, a person to hate, or a philosophy to trash. We live in unsettling times with division causing as many of our problems as anything else. These divisions exist at the local, state, national, and worldwide level. Honest, vigorous... READ MORE >
I have to admit that there is one thing that I absolutely hate about basketball. Each and every year it happens…. and always in the same way. It may happen early in the playoffs, or it may follow a lengthy playoff run, but inevitably it always happens. The season ends abruptly. Basketball can be a grueling season. It starts in... READ MORE >
It is hard to believe, but tonight is the end of another regular season. While basketball season is the longest of any sports season, when it begins winding down, I am constantly amazed at how fast it seemed to go by. While this will conclude my 14th regular season as a high school basketball coach, in many ways, this year’s... READ MORE >
Each year we do something a little bit different, but in general, our family suspends our television service when football season ends. This year, we shut off our service with a few weeks still remaining in the NFL’s regular season. Yes, I have to admit that the Vikings’ uninspiring play led me to shut off the television a bit earlier... READ MORE >
Most people watching from a distance probably think that high school athletics are all fun and games. This perception is held by many fans and observers who have never experienced a full season of competitive athletics. However, those former athletes in the stands know that there are trials and tribulations during every season. High school athletics are competitive and despite... READ MORE >
I love working with this year’s young men on the basketball team. We have 16 young men who come to practice each and every day and really work hard at getting better. They are one of the hardest working groups of young people that I have ever coached. With that being said, I will be the first to tell them... READ MORE >
As I write this column, the noise in the background is of my three sons actively trying to kill each other…. well, not exactly. Each of the boys received Nerf dart guns from Santa. Who would have thought that Santa and the NRA would ever form a pact? I wish they had formed that partnership when I was five years... READ MORE >
In my own experiences as a coach, and in my numerous conversations with fellow coaches throughout the high school ranks, the main source of parent-coach conflicts usually stems from the issue of playing time. “Why doesn’t my son/daughter play more?” is a frequent question that parents ask coaches. Sometimes the conversations go well, but unfortunately, sometimes this conversation leads to... READ MORE >
