Throughout my career I have been very fortunate to meet, work and play with some really awsome athletes.  This past week baseball lost one of those athletes, Steve Howe.

Steve Howe will be remembered for so many things.  Sadly, how he died will always be questioned as to "were drugs involved?"  I would like for those of you in the blogging community to know he was a very nice man and a true team player.  On and off the field.

Howe leaves behind a troubled past, powerful stats, and a brave future for his son, who is following in fathers baseball footsteps.  His son pitches for Valencia High School in Southern California. 

To Steve Howe, we are sorry you left us so soon, you'll will be remebered not for the trials in your life but for your perseverence.  See you in the Field Of Dreams.

I am trying this again!  Would love your comments!

Barefoot Pregnant and in the Kitchen! ...These are the immortal words of our History. Who's History? Why us little o'le women of the 19th century.

Does the phrase "We've come a long way baby!" mean anything today? All throughout the seventies the Women's Movement was fast and growing. In the last 40 years we have had title 9, more women's events in the Olympics, Billy Jean King beats a man, twin beds on T.V., to showing the all or nothing, a black woman in the white house, oh, and yes a woman in the dug out. Oh My Gosh, can you believe? How could such a thing happen?

Mike Piazza was appalled that a woman was in the dug out. He is quoted as saying, "Women don't belong in the dugout!" "I'm not saying they belong in the kitchen, but they don't belong in the dug out."

Being a WOMAN, from head to toe, I took exception to this remark. I took even greater exception being an Athletic Trainer. You see, when I am in the dugout, or training room, I am not a woman. I, am an Athletic Trainer. I am there to do a job, not be a gender. I went to school as a person, not as a female, not a gender, not a sex , to get a degree in Sports Medicine. NO, not a Mrs. degree as some say girls do. I went to get a degree in a field I chose because of the love of sports and helping others through physical exercise just like a man would. In the year 1980, males and females enrolled in the same classes. (Now there's a thought, men and women in the same classroom, learning together...OMG) I remember when Nolan Ryan was so upset that a female base umpire was on the field in the minor leagues. I am a true fan of Nolan Ryan, so I am not going to hold this against him. I ask you as the reader, is a woman's vision less than a man's? Is a woman's knowledge of the game inadequate compared to that of a man's? Why is it that a woman can not be an umpire? Why is it not her place?

Let me take you back in time to the year 1795, Dr. James Barry was born...a woman. At the age of 20 Dr. Barry graduated from the University of Edinburgh as a Doctor of Medicine. She was one of the youngest students to complete her studies. I say her, because she was not a her in school, but a he. Yes I said a he. Dr. Barry spent her entire life as a man. She did this because women were not supposed to be doctors!

Coming forward to the twentieth century, the year is 1960. A bright, strong, cuddly little thing, oh and cute as a button, girl was born. Yes, me. I was raised to believe in myself, to study hard, and that with work and perseverance I could do anything I set my mind to. My mother encouraged me to get an education. This was the time of the Cold War. She would say to me that the Russians could invade the U.S. and take away all my belongings, but they could not take away my education. I believed her. My father told me I could be anything I wanted to be. He did not say except in the dugout. I looked up to my father in many ways. He was a professional football player, had a master's degree in Exercise Physiology, almost got his PHD, and he supported me in anything I wanted to do. In sports, I was gymnast, played little league until the lady "lumps" showed up and then fast pitch softball. I was forced to play softball because there were no such things as "boobie cups". Go figure. I sang in choir and was a cheerleader in high school. My dad made every one of my school's football games. Yes he loved the games but he came to see me cheer, and right along side him was my mom...whoopin' and a hollerin'. These two wonderful people supported me throughout college. Later, I was a paramedic. The first female in the county. I was an athletic trainer for football, baseball, swimming, volleyball, softball, track and tennis. Both men's and women's sports. Not just the women's. One does not need a bat and two balls between their legs to understand a sport! Nor do we need them to doctor, massage, umpire, interview, or work in a dugout. Yes, women are not equal in braun to men. Ok, well some are...just not this one. Women are equal however in brains. Some of us are even superior. Case in point, Dr. Barry. Dr. Barry was ahead of her time as a successful officer in the British navy for 45 years. She was known as the best surgeon in the navy. In 1857 Dr. Barry became Inspector General in Canada. She was all of five feet tall. Brains got her to where she, was not braun.

I have spent the last 25 years breaking barriers. NO, I am not a bra burner. (Gravity can be cruel to us women.) I am a women though. Strong of mind, of heart, of will and deternmination. I belong anywhere I have a mind to be. Be it in the dug out, the office, the bedroom or the kitchen. I can be in all those places and be successful in each one. Just like the little choo choo train going up that hill, 'I think I can I think I can!' I am now the caboos and I KNOW I CAN!

To Mike Piazza, I do belong in the dug out, it is your sentiments that don't... In the words of Elvis, Thank you, Thank you very much!

She's a tramp, a ####, she was askin' for it.  Did you see how she was dressed?  You know she really wanted it.  No really means yes.  Excuse me boys, what the hell are you thinkin'?

I wake up this morning to head line news that Duke has suspended it's La Cross Games for the seasons because some of the players allegedly sexually assaulted an exotic dancer.  Why do these things still occur?  Why is it that young men, old men, stupid men, never learn?  Why have women not learned?

Teaching sex ed daily, I try to give every side, point, oppinion of sex I can.  (No, not the how too's either)  Including Rape and sexual assault.  Right now caining comes to mind.  I mean, if we publicly cained sexual offenders in the open world would that even make a difference?  How do young boys grow up thinking it (meaning womens sexual favors) is there's for the taking?  Gentle men I ask for your help!

I am a women.  Yes I can be very confusing.  That is because I am still learning myself.  I can be exasperating, but then that is what attracted you to me in the first place.  I can be out of mind going from one stupid argument to another, not making any sense, except to myself!  I can be so sweet and loveable one minute and a compltete pain in the #### the next, but you will still want me when all is said and done.  Notice I said want, not force or make, or take!

Help me teach the young men of tomorrow!

I have a very dear friend who brightens my day with wonderful emails she gets from all over.  She has made me laugh, made me cry, and yes, even wet my pants.  She sent this to me and I just had to share with all my fellow bloggers.  I have added a few comments to each myself.  Please feel free to chime in!   Enjoy!

COWS Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that our government can track a cow born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she sleeps in the state of Washington And they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country. Maybe we should give them all a cow.

I rather like this idea.   Each person that enters the country will recieve one cow.  We have now given you a way to travel when your car breaks down, milk for when you have your children, and food for when all your relatives come.  Please don't get me wrong, I am not knocking our statue of liberty, it is just uncanny how we can track deseases, cows, Terrel Owens Rap sheet but we can find Osama Bin Laden, or missing children!

CONSTITUTION They keep talking about drafting a Constitution for Iraq. Why don't we just give them ours? It was written by a lot of really smart guys, it's worked for over 200 years and we're not using it anymore.

I find this so true.  We have the freedom to speak as long as we do it quietly, we don't offend anyone, and the public doesn't hear us.  We have the right to bear arms, just don't shoot anyone trying to hurt you they may sue you...and win!  We are free yet the government can come in at anytime and take everything you own including your children.  Amazing!

TEN COMMANDMENTS The real reason that  we can't have the Ten Commandments in a Courthouse? You cannot post "Thou Shalt Not Steal," "Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery" and "Thou Shall Not Lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians! It creates a hostile work environment!  And it might offend the criminals!  How dare we!

 And Last but not least.....

George Carlin said it best about Martha Stewart .. "Boy, I feel a lot safer now that she's behind bars. O.J. Simpson and Kobe Bryant are still walking around; Osama Bin Laden too, but they take the one woman in America willing to cook, clean, and work in the yard, and haul her butt off to jail."   Men did this ...  right?

Hope you enjoyed these!  I did!

Baseball is in the House!

It has arrived, baseball is in the house.  Last night  was the first game of a long list of games, that I will be sitting in the bleachers chewing on red vines trying not to embarrass my son.  I usually sit away from the other parents.  (This is so I do not offend them or get into verbal sparring with unequipped persons.)

It has been a challenge for me not coaching my son and allowing other coaches to teach him the game of baseball.  I do not do this well.  My son is a very talented ball player and has great fundamentals.  This is because he has been taught well.  Yes by me.  It is what I do.  Now, I know that I am not the only one who knows the game or the whats and how toos, it's just when you get the guy who thinks he knows and he doesn't, that drives me nuts.

My sons coach has requested that parents reframe from talking or instructing their kids from the bleachers and not to approach the dug out.  Oh my Gosh...This is so difficult for me.  Here is this guy yelling out to the kids 'back up in the box' when the kid should clearly move up, 'move closer to the plate' when the kid should simply balance his wieght and square his feet.  ARGH!  I try so hard to be good, I eat probably 1/2 pound of red licorice just so I don't open up my mouth and say something that will cause my son to die of embarrasement.

I could on about the umpires but that would be too long and another blog.  Next to me in the stands was a mom knitting, two others that chatted about the superbowl parties they had, one that was telling her girlfriend all about her husbands friend who is having an affair with some other girl.  'Hey I'm trying to watch a game here' my mind is screaming.  About every 5th batter the score board went out and of course everyone had to yell it out like the score keeper hadn't noticed.  It was cold,  I ran out of hot coffee and for three innings in a row the ball was hit to our 2nd baseman and he made all the outs.  If this were tee ball the out field would have been picking daisies. Man this is great!  Can you believe I actually enjoyed every minute.  The smile on my sons face playing is worth every minute I figget, moan, cover my mouth, even excuse myself so I don't explode.  And this was just game one, yes! we won.  Game 2 Saturday.  Where's my licorice?

Do you ever wish you could call your team coach and tell him how to fix The Rangers, The Dodgers, The Reds, man I do! Hey Tracey, how about going back to basics, catch the ball, throw the ball, hit the ball.  Novel concept!