Whew...what a night!! I don't know that I've ever been in a more electric atmosphere as I experienced in the Dean Dome last night. Yes, they were upper level corner seats. But I would have settled for the last row touchdown seats for last night's game. Unfortunately the last three games I've seen in person at the DD, our Heels have come away with losses. And to make matters even worse, all three losses were to the two teams I hate the worst...dook and UK. So as you can see, I don't get the opportunity to see my Heels in person very often, but when I do, I seem to bring some tough luck with me. So I apologize to all of my Heels fans out there. As much as I hate to say this, I think I'll stay away from the DD in these big games.

Now, on to the topic at hand. I was a bit perplexed at last night's effort from the Heels. Duke took 29 three pointers in that game. And I don't remember a single one of those three's NOT being wide open. I know this has been an ongoing debacle of sorts now for several years in Chapel Hill...."how to do a better job of guarding against the three's?" And much to my discernment, things appear to have slid even further into the abyss. We can blame the players for not getting around the screens. Heck, we can even blame the players for setting themselves up for the screens if that be the case. But I have been giving this a lot of thought. And I think I've come up with an analysis of this situation that most, if not all, UNC fans are not going to like.

I saw in the post game quotes from Roy where he was calling out Wayne for not hitting shots in game time situations. He said something along the lines of, "we have to be able to hit our shots during the game, not just in practice. If we can't do that, maybe we're not as gooda shooters as we thought we were." I'll have a link posted for his actual quote later. But I'm thinking that Roy just may need to heed his own advice. If he thinks his players are not quite as good as they think they are, and if he thinks that the effort just isn't there at times, then maybe, just maybe he needs to take a long hard look in the mirror.

We were beaten by a team that made some nifty "game time" adjustments. Roy is NOT a coach who seems to be able to make these "game time" adjustments. What we do hear from him is that he doesn't like the zone defense. But it's not just that he doesn't like it, he says he's not good at teaching it. What? Did I just read that correctly? So because you don't like the zone, and you don't like teaching the zone, you're just not going to teach it? Now, I may not be a smart man. But to me, that sounds like a lack of effort. It sounds like stubborness. And it sounds unfair to his players. Now, I'm not saying that a zone defense would have won the game for us last night. And they might still have had 29 open looks at three's. However, aside from a few half court traps last night, and a little full court pressure when the game was on the line, Roy made NO adjustments in that game. He didn't give his team a chance. And why?...because he doesn't want to put forth the effort to teach a defense that, not only would give our players a chance to breath a little, but would also throw a #### wrench in the game plan of the opposing team.

As I was driving home from a weekend of reserve duty at Camp Lejeune, NC, I had about five hours to reflect on my life, and the events that have shaped it over the past 15 years.  Life is a complicated thing.  From the time we enter this world, to the time we leave it, we are nothing but pawns in a chess game called life.  In fact, when you really sit back and think about your life, it is actually one gigantic illusion.  The present slips away in the blink of an eye, quickly becoming the past.  The only thing we have to hold on to are our memories of those moments. 

With this in mind, I felt it necessary to post a blog that might just give us some of those old memories to ponder.  And what better memories do we have here on the Fox Blogs...than those of sports.  I will be looking specifically at the years between 1993 and 1996…as those years will lead into the message of my blog.  However, don’t be surprised if I don’t throw some actual life experiences in there along with the sports. 

1993 was quite a year in my life.  As a teenager, I had attended a church camp on the coast of North Carolina during our summers off from school.  It had been my dream to one day be a “staffer” at this camp.  After all, those staffers were my heroes during those years.  Well, after applying in the spring of 93 for a summer job at this camp, I was accepted…yee haw!!!!  My Tar Heels had just won the NCAA Basketball National Championship, and Davey Allison was burning up NASCAR as an up and coming driver.  Little did we know that he would end up leaving us all too soon when his helicopter crashed that summer….and we may very well have lost one of the greatest NASCAR drivers of all time, if he only would have had the chance!!  With this being said, that was the best summer of my life…as you will see later.

1994 brought another summer as a “staffer”…and who could ever forget the OJ Simpson saga!!!! Although we wouldn’t learn for another year what his fate would be, we all were left bewildered and appalled at what he had likely done.  Baseball ended early that summer, as the players went on strike.  Jeff Bagwell was on his way to a possible triple crown, until the almighty dollar reared its ugly head!!!

1995 brought, you guessed it, another summer as a “staffer”.  Although it was a slightly shortened season, due to the strike, my Atlanta Braves won their one and only World Series that fall.  And I can’t mention 1995 without remembering those who lost their lives in the Oklahoma City bombings.  And we will never forget the heroes who likely saved as many as died. 

1996…yes…okay, one last summer as a “staffer”.  And who will ever forget Kerri Strug’s heroics on the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team that took home the team gold.  She had sprained her ankle earlier in the competition, and yet was able to suffer through the pain, and pull off a miracle for U.S. again!!!  On a downer, however, my North Wilkesboro Speedway would lose its races after 1996.  It still sits there empty…with the ghosts of the past still being heard from time to time…if the wind is blowing just right!!

From there I would go on to get a Master’s Degree at Campbell University.  I would then join the military during its most turbulent times in over 30 years.  I would see two combat tours and lose three of my buddies in the process. 

This all leads me back to 1993.  As I sat at the gate of the camp where I was working, I can remember feeling the warm coastal breeze in my face.  I remember a car pulling up to the gate, with a man and his wife, both in their 30’s, wanting to make a round through the camp.  He was a former “staffer”, who had worked there during the early 80’s.  He said to me, “you better make the most of these days, for they will be the best of your life…and they will pass quickly.”  And of course, being the cocky 20 year old that I was, I thought to myself….” Whatever dude…these days will last forever…and I will stay young forever!”  That was 14 years ago…and I’m now 34.

Next weekend, two of my old buddies and I will be taking a road trip to visit this old church camp.  They were two of my closest “staffer” buddies during those years.  We have since gone our separate ways, each of us choosing our own paths.  However, we have remained close over the years…and I can honestly call them my brothers.  I’m very excited about seeing this place again….which has a strong nostalgic pull.  And yet I find myself equally as excited about what the next 15 years will bring in my life. 

Sports is something that keeps us young.  It keeps us close.  And as heroes grow older, and eventually fade, young heroes will simply take their place, and keep sports on the tips of our tongues, and at our fingertips.  Keep blogging my brothers and sisters.  And remember, the NOW is already gone!!!

I advise everyone to read this post...and tell me what you see wrong here!!  If you see nothing wrong in this article, then you can throw the Constitution of the United States of America to the wolves, burn our flag, and spit on every American's grave who has faught and died for our country.  I guess those who are waving foreign flags are so proud of their country that they are trying to become a citizen of the United States illegally.  Makes sense to me..LOL!!!  Let the frenzy begin......

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/05/01/immigration.p
rotests.ap/index.html

Mountain climbing is one of the most rigorous and dangerous leisure pastimes anyone can tackle.  Mt. Everest has become famous for more than just the fact that it is the tallest peak on Earth.  The excavations to the summit have become legendary.  The brutal terrain, along with the ever changing and unpredictable weather, have made the mountain a graveyard for many who have attempted to tackle its summit.  Only the most experienced and seasoned climbers attempt to make that treck.

 It seems that in recent times, mountain climbing has made the headlines for rescuing stranded climbers, than it has for legendary escapades.  Mt. Hood Oregan has become famous over the past five years for the rescue efforts of those who attempt to climb the mountain in horrible conditions.  I recall reading and watching the news on a few occasions, just this year, about rescue efforts being made to search for lost or stranded climbers.  Of course, we all hope and pray that there will be happy news during these efforts.  However, let’s take a look at another side to these stories, one that entails the expenses and danger that come to those who are putting forth those rescue efforts. 

Each time a climber gets lost or is stranded, a search not only consists of manpower, but it consists of pulling resources from government agencies and sometimes even our military.  While are hope and our wish as that there will be a happy ending to the searches, it should be noted that there is a substantial danger to those who are leading the search efforts also.  This is no more evident than a search effort for stranded climbers in 2002, when a Blackhawk Helicopter was being used in the rescue efforts of some climbers who had fallen into a crevice.  The Blackhawk was flying to its altitude limits during this search.  Sometimes, at these altitudes, a downdraft occurs which can send a helicopter spinning out of control.  Well, that is exactly what happened.  The helicopter began twisting out of control before slamming to the ground, critically injuring one of the crewman on board. 

It is worth mentioning here that the use of a Blackhawk Helicopter can run around $2,800 an hour to operate.  This doesn’t include the manpower and other resources being used for this effort.  The only time those being rescued are forced to pay back some of that money, is if they are found to be negligent.  And even that caps out at $500 a piece. 

In December 2006, there were three climbers who attempted to scale Mt. Hood.  They were caught in a terrible blizzard, which isn’t uncommon this time of year, and subsequently lost their lives.  The rescue efforts, though desperate, were in vain.  In an exerpt from CNN News, Tom Kovacs, the former President of the Mountain Rescue Association had this to say…

“Rescues on Mount Hood are primarily done by volunteers. The expenses for the sheriff's departments run about $1,500 to $2,000 a day, Kovacs said. The full-time deputies and crews provide the logistics to set up the search, and the volunteers do the bulk of the work in the field.  When the hypothetical cost of the unpaid volunteers is added, the price for a typical 18-hour rescue mission shoots up to about $8,000. In the more dangerous parts of Mount Hood, the typical rescue mission is two to three days, Kovacs said.  When helicopters from the military or Oregon National Guard are used, the cost can go up thousands of dollars. The smallest choppers run about $750 an hour, and the larger helicopters can easily cost more than $2,000 an hour, Kovacs said. Add to that overtime, meals and supplies, and the number keeps rising.  Part of the cost is covered by the military, because some helicopter use is considered basic training. Some states provide money to reimburse local authorities and donations contribute a portion of the cost, but whichever way you look at it, taxpayers foot much of the bill.”

Now, I may not be a smart man, but I have to wonder…just how smart is it to attempt to climb these monsters?  If it is such a big deal to climb these mountains, in peak blizzard season, then maybe we should make this a spectator sport.  Maybe we should charge admission for people to watch these selfish idiots attempt to have their day of glory, all at the expense of those who may very well be leading search efforts to find them later.  How else are these rescue efforts going to be funded?  I don’t know, maybe it’s just me…but it seems to me, that rescue efforts are only being made because of selfish and foolish decisions being made by “glory seekers”.  Unfortunately, some will never know, and to those who lead these rescue missions, the glory of rescuing those who have been stranded become tainted, because they have basically just rescued idiots!!!

In these days of individualism and greed, it seems that education has taken a back seat to million dollar contracts and scandals.  As little as two decades ago, college athletics was where we went to see big time sports at its purest.  Now to mention the word pure in regards to sports in general brings a laugh and an after thought to the “good ole days”.  In 1979 Magic Johnson left Michigan State one year early for the NBA.  This, of course, was something new to college sports, and set a precedent that has since rolled into complete chaos.  In 1982 James Worthy left UNC one year early, only to be drafted by those same Los Angeles Lakers, who had snatched up Magic only three years earlier.  Michael Jordan left school a year early in 1984, and we all know how he fared.  But since the time of Jordan, college basketball players have been leaving school early in more abundant numbers.  Since the Fab Five, it has been common place for college basketball players to leave school one, two, and even three years early.  And even the unthinkable has happened.  High School athletes have totally by-passed college in order to enter the NBA draft.  That, of course, has been changed.  However, leaving school early is not limited to NCAA basketball.  It is becoming more common for NCAA football players to leave early also.  These actions have, of course, been driven by economics and, in my opinion, greed.  However, let’s see just how the graduation rates have stacked up in recent years for the NCAA.

The overall graduation rate for the NCAA is 77%.  If you look at Men’s NCAA Basketball, that rate is well below the overall average at 59%.  However, here’s the kicker to these numbers….they don’t include those who leave early to enter the professional drafts!!  That being said, there are many professional athletes who will eventually go back to school and finish their degrees.  Women’s athletics are much more successful at graduating their athletes.  In 16 out of the 18 major women’s sports, the graduation rate is at better than 80%.  In six of those it is above 90%.  Kudos to the women!!!  Keep in mind that these figures are figures for the years between 1996 and 1999.  Those figures are likely on the decline, though they had increased by 1% from the previous year when this survey was completed.

At first glance this would be a disturbing thought.  However, after doing a little more research on the matter, overall graduation rates for all students was only 61%.  That number was quite glaring. It seemed as though I needed to rethink my perception of college athletics and its “poor” graduation rates.  However, the overall numbers didn’t distinguish between students on scholarships and students who paid their own way.  And the numbers also didn’t take into account those scholarship athletes who leave early for the professional drafts.  At any rate, these numbers are a bit perplexing.  And I’m not really sure where I stand on the issue of “Student Athletes”.  How many students who would kill to be enrolled at their favorite universities are turned down every year because of athletes who leave early for the professional ranks?  And on the flip side, how many lose spots due to “regular joes” who wind up spending one year in college, and dropping out due to excessive partying and laziness?  You decide. 

This is part one of a two part story.  More research and more details are to follow soon.  If you would like to see the numbers for yourselves, here are a couple of websites I used to compile my numbers:

http://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/instAggr2006/1_0.p
df

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/2006-09-2
8-graduation-rates_x.htm

In the wake of the latest Bob Knight scandal, I think it is time to take a hard look at what has become of America and its fascination with abuse.  And that fascination rears its ugly head in one of our favorite past times, sports. 

Coaching is under the microscope as much as any profession in America.  Men and women are expected to be guardians of children, youth, and adult athletes, as well as teachers and mentors.  With this comes tremendous responsibility.  Imagine being asked to take care of someone else’s child, knowing the tremendous risk that today’s society levies on you.  As teachers, coaches are expected to lead athletes in the right direction.  They are expected to teach athletes right from wrong.  They are expected to always do what is “right for my child”.  Can you imagine being responsible for, not only the education of, but also the disciplining of someone else’s child?  Let’s take a look at all the risks involved in this profession.

First, a coach is expected to be fair and impartial.  As a child, I expected to play, no matter how horrible I was at that particular sport.  My parents expected no less.  Practices were more about teaching than they were about workouts and repetition.  Parents were more involved in the programs.  I’m 33 years old.  So my childhood was much different than that of today’s children.  As I entered my teenage years, my coaches became more like father figures and mentors.  Education was first.  Discipline consisted of sitting out games and having extended practices.  In some cases, it meant being suspended from the team, though I never experienced that myself.  And yes, yelling was a common everyday experience.  Coaches were only under the microscope of winning vs. losing.

Let’s fast forward to the late 90’s and early 21st century.  Daycares are forbidden to “spank” or physically discipline children.  Principals and teachers are required to get written permission from parents in order to “spank” their children at school.  In some cases, spanking is forbidden all together.  Our military has even been forbidden to use any emotionally or mentally stressful measures to interrogate our enemies.  Parents are using “positive reinforcement” in order to “discipline” children.  Methods such as “timeout” are used instead of yelling or spanking.  Coaches are more scrutinized than ever.  Yelling or belittling the athletes has become intolerant.  And anything that would lead someone to believe that a coach has laid a hand on an athlete could be taken to court, and tried as harassment or abuse.  No doubt, coaches like Bob Knight have done things over the years to attract scrutiny.  And they have even done things that would be considered abuse in any generation. 

Now, with this being said, let’s take a look at our college and professional athletes of today.  The coaches of 20 years ago are no doubt cringing at the pressures of today’s coaches.  And it is impossible to overlook the fact that our abuse of our legal system has a major effect on the coaches of today.  A look in the wrong way from a coach, can be a one way ticket to harassment.  A smack on the rear, which was once commonplace in sports, can land you in a court room today.  Yelling at an athlete can be determined as emotionally and verbally abusive.  So how exactly are the coaches of today supposed to be father figures, teachers, and mentors of today’s youth, if they are not allowed to be disciplinary.  Discipline, as defined by Webster’s, is training that corrects, molds, or perfects the mental faculties or moral character.  It is control gained by enforcing obedience or order, and orderly or prescribed conduct or pattern of behavior.  My question is, how can we maintain our definition of discipline if our legal system continues to declare it wrong?  Our coaches are so handcuffed that they can’t even properly discipline our players of today.  Take a look at what has happened with the University of Miami.  Take a look at how spoiled and individualistic our athletes of today are.  Our coaches don’t stand a chance.  Just ask Bob Knight.  I  am not a Bob Knight fan.  But how many of his student athletes have ever been in any kind of legal troubles.  Yes, I realize Isaiah Thomas is a Bob Knight product.  Nobody’s perfect.  My point is, that of all the bad things Bob Knight has done over the years, this latest incident has been taken way too far.  How would a father have gotten his son’s attention?   How are our coaches to teach our children right from wrong, when they can’t even be a real father figure any longer.  Where has the real America gone?  Are we seeing the death of team sports?  What do we really expect of our coaches?  If you expect them to do the right thing, you must expect them to properly discipline our children.  Sometimes positive reinforcement and a timeout may work.  But sometimes it may not.  You must ask yourself….”what is abuse?”  If you can figure that one out in today’s society, you are one step ahead of everyone else, including our coaches.

There have been several blogs over the past several months that have revolved around religion, politics, and sports.  One of the most controversial subjects in the U.S. is prayer in our schools, at work, and at our sporting events.  It seems that the minority has once again reared its ugly head and screamed, "I'm offended by those who practice their faith in public places."  Well, I'm actually offended that you're offended.  And my question is, how exactly are you offended.  Does it cause you pain?  Does it cause you to just want to cry?  Or is it simply a result of individualism, of just wanting to be heard?  If those who are praying at public sporting events, are actually praying, then they probably won't know that you're not, simply because they should have their heads bowed and their eyes closed.  If not, and they complain that your'e not, well, then you have the right to complain.  The same goes for our National Anthem.  If you don't want to hear it, show up a few minutes late, or wear headphones.  If you are offended by prayer in public places, then have your own prayer.  If you're an athiest, then why the hades are you offended in the first place?  You should be laughing, that there are so many stupid people out there praying to a God that does not exist.  How exactly does it offend you?  And probably the most important aspect of life, is how our children are raised, and how they portray that raising in our sporting venues.  So with all of this being said, here is a statement prepared by Ben Stein during the Christmas (so sue me for saying it) season, and then recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary, that puts a different kind of spin on this whole subject.  Enjoy!

Herewith at this happy time of year, a few confessions from my beating heart: I have no freaking clue who Nick and Jessica are. I see them on the cover of People and Us constantly when I am buying my dog biscuits and kitty litter. I often ask the checkers at the grocery stores. They never know who Nick and Jes sica are either. Who are they? Will it change my life if I know who they are and why they have broken up? Why are they so important?

I don't know who Lindsay Lohan is either, and I do not care at all about Tom Cruise's wife.

Am I going to be called before a Senate committee and asked if I am a subversive? Maybe, but I just have no clue who Nick and Jessica are.

If this is what it means to be no longer young. It's not so bad.

Next confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beau tiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don' t feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't th ink they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ####. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution, and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him?
I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too.

But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this Happen?" (regarding Katrina)

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.

And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK.

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about and we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell.

Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Enough said....or is it?

Athletes, war heroes, political or religious figures…all of these leave behind legacies. Legacy is defined as "something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past." Over the years our Presidents have left behind legacies. And though our media seems to determine what those legacies are, we tend to have our own minds made up as to how we feel about a particular person. Religious figures have left behind powerful legacies that have played parts in wars spanning thousands of years. For Christians, that person would be Jesus. For Muslims it would be Mohammed. And there are others. But few give us more happiness and more hope than our athletes.

As I have posted in one of my earlier blogs, sports is what keeps us up late at night rooting for the home team. It’s what brings us together with our friends and families. It takes us away from the realities of work, school, politics, and even religion. It gives us hope. And we seem to thrive on the legacies of athletes past and present. Joe Lewis left behind a legacy of respect and honor for the black athlete. Mohammed Ali left a legacy of political change, hope for the poor, and a mouthy and great Champion. John Wooden left behind a legacy of a college basketball dynasty. Magic Johnson left behind a legacy of tragedy, yet turning it into hope. Larry Bird's legacy will probably always be that of being "the great white hope" in a time when Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Dominique Wilkins dominated the NBA....no matter how politically incorrect that may sound. But what will our athletes of today leave behind, in a time of individualism, material wealth, and a growing number of run ins with the law? How will our generation be seen 20, 30, even 50 years from now? Wheras sports was once filled with role models and "good ole boys", it seems to be growing into a way of life seen as lavish, unruly, and greedy.

Our perceptions of athletes have taken a hit over the past five to ten years. And it is up to us to change that. It must start in the home. Parents much teach children that values are to be placed before material and individual successes. In our pee-wee leagues, children must learn that team success is much more gratifying and honorable than individual stats. Coaches must be an off-shoot of parents, teaching children these values. And they must not waiver. The days of one game suspensions for assault, dwi's, and weapons charges must be done away with. For if our parents, teachers, and coaches do not change the present situation, our children will see the results. And ethics and morality will be seen as hindrances to a more lavish and individualistic lifestyle. And this will be devastating to our younger generations.

I have done much thinking on this subject over the past couple of days. And there are things I need to change in my own life. I like to think I’m a reasonable person. But I have seen lapses in my own character that bother me. Let me first apologize to "fishwanda" and her friend "gale". I was flat out rude and mean to both of them on a blog posted by "fishwanda". I apologize to you both. There is a difference in having opinions and throwing out insults at those who do not share your opinions. I would like to apologize to anyone I have offended on this blog-site. I will always be argumentative, but I hope not to be insulting. I would like to leave this world knowing I did everything in my power to make it a better place for our children to live in. That is the legacy I would like to leave. And I would hope that sports would be a building block to this better world. What will be your legacy?

(Sorry guys..my work computer will not allow me to copy and paste pics..I'll have them later today.)

There once was a time when days of playing tag, riding bikes, swimming, and playing our favorite sports gave us hope and gave us dreams.  But just as quickly as the sun rises, and then sets, those days pass, and we find ourselves wondering where all the time has gone.  For some, the aging process comes gracefully.  It doesn't hit like a virus, weakening the body.  And with the body comes the mind.  For those who age long before their time, life deals a devestating blow.  But those who are able to beat the odds, stay trim and fit, sports will remain a way of life.  It will keep the mind and muscles strong.  It will give hope, though not the kind of hope that brings millions of dollars...like those we dreamed about as a child.  But it gives us an outlet to meet others and to build our self esteem.  It is as much a part of our lives as our sleep, our jobs, and our nutrition.

As a child my dad would take me to the nearest ball park, where he would hit fly balls to me.  He was my hero at that age.  I was barely old enough to go to school.  He was very encouraging, teaching me the fundamentals as a good coach would do.  From my T-Ball years all the way to high school, baseball was a part of my life.  My game was not a game of power.  But it was precise, and it was skilled.  My stature was never intimidating as a child, as I was always one of the smallest in my class.  But my competitiveness and my skills allowed me to keep up with the big dogs. 

As a freshman in high school I decided to try out for the wrestling team.  Not only did this give me more discipline than I had ever had in my life to that point, but it cut that ever present baby fat that seemed to linger.  My high school years were spent wrestling in the winter and playing baseball in the spring.  However, my senior year of high school brought forth a devestating blow to my athletic career.  During a routine dentist appointment on December 26, 1990, it was discovered that I had a heart defect that could be life threatening.  To put it simply, I had a runaway heart.  For the next year, I was in and out of hospitals, and my athletic career was non-existant.  It was devestating.  But by a God send miracle, doctors at Duke University (Yes, I'm a Tar Heel fan) performed a new procedure on my heart, and in an instant I was a new man.

I had never experienced the kind of energy I had after the surgery.  I felt like I could explode with vigor and with happiness.  All the things that had been taken from me were mine once again. 

My body began to take on another form.  I had muscles I didn't realize I had.  I had energy that seemed to just race through my body.  As time progressed, I graduated college, then went on to graduate school.  The military had always been a fascination of mine, but never really an option, especially after my heart condition was discovered.  But as graduate school began to come to a close, I began asking myself many questions.  These questions led me to many realizations about my life.  I was a Patriot.  I loved my country.  And I had always wondered what it would be like to be a part of the military, where I could push myself mentally and physically.  But at 28 my prime was quickly slipping away.  So I decided to see what would happen if I attempted to enlist in the U.S. Marines.  I knew that the Marines would push me to the limit.  They would discipline me like no other.  They would test my physical abilities, and they would test my mental abilities.  As fate may have it I passed the physical, and before I knew it, I was on my way to Parris Island, SC. 

At 28 I was pushed harder than I ever had been in my life.  My DI's used my age against me.  I was thrown into a leadership position that I did not expect.  When someone else made a mistake, I paid for it.  But in the end, I not only graduated, but I was an Honor Graduate of Alpha Company.  All of my hard work had paid off.  Little did I know that 9-11 would occur while I was in boot camp...and that changed my life forever.

I know, what does all this have to do with sports and aging.  I am now working in my hometown of Wilkesboro, NC.  I have one year left on my Reserve Duty with the USMC.  If fact, I will leave in early August for an exercise, and will not return until early September.  But here's where I'm going with this.  Age is nothing more than an illusion.  You are only as old as you think you are.  I have seen many of my old high school classmates around.  Some I have seen on the football field during our community flag football games.  The ages of these diehards range anywhere from 18 to 40.  There are many who have continued in their athletic ambitions, though only in a community manner.  But it keeps us close.  It keeps us competitive.  It keeps us physically in tune with our bodies.  It keeps our minds free.  On the flip side, I have seen old classmates who seem to be ashamed that I have even seen them.  One such instance happened just this week in my office.  A young woman, 33, who I had been all the way through school with, walked in the door.  I barely recognized her, as she had probably doubled in weight, and looked at least 10 years older.  She would barely even look at me, with her eyes facing downward at all times.  It seemed like she was very uncomfortable in my presence.  It is times like that, that I realize how blessed I am.  My dad is 60 years old, and he can still whip my ####.  My mom runs 5k races every year.  And I continue to grind away....on the trails and in the weight room.  And sports is what keeps me young. 

Aging happens only as quickly as we allow it.  Professional athletes stay younger longer because it is their profession.  For the rest of us, it is up to us.  It must remain a part of our everyday routine.  Otherwise, we can sit at home and contribute to the long list of heart disease patients who drain our economy and leave families and friends grieving in the end.  I'm 33 as I write this piece.  But in my mind, I'm still that freaky 22 year old who knew no boundaries, and who still dreamed of being able to just PLAY!!!!