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[h=6]Written byPaul Daugherty[/h]
Cincinnati Enquirer article posted on 2/6/13
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130205/COL03/302050148/Doc-Signing-Day-everyone?nclick_check=1
National Signing Day is all about the players. The kids have spent a decade or so working for this day. Everything they?ve ever heard or uttered about hard work and dedication is all right there, in that document on that long table in front of them. A dream validated. For some kids, it?s the best day of their lives. It?s arguably the best day in sports all year, because what are sports if not opportunities, and what purpose do sports serve if not to honor life lessons?
The Bengals or Reds could win it all, but that?s their dream, mostly. You watch, they participate. Signing Day is personal. It?s a collaboration. It doesn?t always take a village to raise a scholarship athlete. But you?d better have a minivan.
The kids are celebrated and praised and, these days, televised. That?s all well and good. What about the parents?
This day isn?t about the parents. But it is for them. Very much so.
This day is for mom and dad and anyone else who co-authors a kid?s athletic dreams.
It?s for anyone who has ever Picked Up or Let Off at practice. This day is for you.
If you?ve baked cookies to raise money for the new uniforms, this day is for you. If you?ve worked the concession stand or sold split the pot tickets or Christmas trees. . . if you?ve written a check to pay for the silent auction item or the table of eight at the stag or simply to pay for your child to play a sport in school. . . this day?s for you.
If you?ve ever volunteered your lower back for the pain of a hard bleacher all weekend, watching a swim meet or a wrestling tournament or a cheerleading competition. . .
If you know more about minivans than the car dealer. . .
If you?re as familiar with Dayton and Lexington and Columbus and Toledo and Louisville as you are your own neighborhood. . .
If you think the word ?van?? is both noun and verb ? ?we?ll just van ?em to the tournament?? ? this day?s for you.
If you?ve scheduled your vacations, your meals, your social life and your career around kids playing games. . . if you?ve ever juggled a schedule or eliminated it altogether. . . if your best friends ? check that ? if your only friends are the parents of your kids? teammates. . . this day?s for you.
If you?ve spent hours playing catch. . .
At the batting cages. . .
Rebounding jump shots. . .
Returning serves. . .
If you?re so proprietary about the ****** field at your local park, you feel obligated to cut its grass. . .
This day?s for you.
If you?ve ever washed a uniform, a tip o? the Tide cap. This day?s for you.
If you?ve ever worn a whistle and a pair of nylon pants and bought or borrowed a how-to book on ?the fundamentals of. . .?? If you?ve ever consoled a 7-year-old at the local Whippy Dip/Dairy Queen/Tastee-Freez. . . this day?s for you.
My dad coached me in one baseball game. I was in 8th grade. Our regular coach couldn?t make it. My team was playing the best team in the league. We had no chance. My dad?s pregame rouser included the old reliable, ?They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you guys.??
They sure did, Pops. Then they beat us, 22-5. This day?s for you, Dad. Sort of.
If you?ve ever fallen into bed at 1 a.m. after the ****** weekend in Lima. . . eaten soggy sandwiches pulled from a cooler wet with spilled Gatorade. . . crammed your spouse and three girls (all under the age of 8) into one hotel room. . . wondered how much longer you can subject your stomach to McDrive-thrus. . . this day is for you.
If you?ve ever paid for a Select camp or attended an AAU tournament. . . this day?s for you.
If you?ve ever blanched as someone else?s dad screamed at an umpire, this day?s for you. If you?ve ever been the one prompting the blanching, this day?s for you.
If you?ve changed a moment with a smile or a word of praise. . . re-directed an attitude with a benching. . . helped style a life with your tireless devotion. . . showed a child the vital-ness of simply Being There. . .
This day is for you. Take a bow. Then take your shoes off. Sit awhile. You?ve earned it.
Cincinnati Enquirer article posted on 2/6/13
http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20130205/COL03/302050148/Doc-Signing-Day-everyone?nclick_check=1
National Signing Day is all about the players. The kids have spent a decade or so working for this day. Everything they?ve ever heard or uttered about hard work and dedication is all right there, in that document on that long table in front of them. A dream validated. For some kids, it?s the best day of their lives. It?s arguably the best day in sports all year, because what are sports if not opportunities, and what purpose do sports serve if not to honor life lessons?
The Bengals or Reds could win it all, but that?s their dream, mostly. You watch, they participate. Signing Day is personal. It?s a collaboration. It doesn?t always take a village to raise a scholarship athlete. But you?d better have a minivan.
The kids are celebrated and praised and, these days, televised. That?s all well and good. What about the parents?
This day isn?t about the parents. But it is for them. Very much so.
This day is for mom and dad and anyone else who co-authors a kid?s athletic dreams.
It?s for anyone who has ever Picked Up or Let Off at practice. This day is for you.
If you?ve baked cookies to raise money for the new uniforms, this day is for you. If you?ve worked the concession stand or sold split the pot tickets or Christmas trees. . . if you?ve written a check to pay for the silent auction item or the table of eight at the stag or simply to pay for your child to play a sport in school. . . this day?s for you.
If you?ve ever volunteered your lower back for the pain of a hard bleacher all weekend, watching a swim meet or a wrestling tournament or a cheerleading competition. . .
If you know more about minivans than the car dealer. . .
If you?re as familiar with Dayton and Lexington and Columbus and Toledo and Louisville as you are your own neighborhood. . .
If you think the word ?van?? is both noun and verb ? ?we?ll just van ?em to the tournament?? ? this day?s for you.
If you?ve scheduled your vacations, your meals, your social life and your career around kids playing games. . . if you?ve ever juggled a schedule or eliminated it altogether. . . if your best friends ? check that ? if your only friends are the parents of your kids? teammates. . . this day?s for you.
If you?ve spent hours playing catch. . .
At the batting cages. . .
Rebounding jump shots. . .
Returning serves. . .
If you?re so proprietary about the ****** field at your local park, you feel obligated to cut its grass. . .
This day?s for you.
If you?ve ever washed a uniform, a tip o? the Tide cap. This day?s for you.
If you?ve ever worn a whistle and a pair of nylon pants and bought or borrowed a how-to book on ?the fundamentals of. . .?? If you?ve ever consoled a 7-year-old at the local Whippy Dip/Dairy Queen/Tastee-Freez. . . this day?s for you.
My dad coached me in one baseball game. I was in 8th grade. Our regular coach couldn?t make it. My team was playing the best team in the league. We had no chance. My dad?s pregame rouser included the old reliable, ?They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like you guys.??
They sure did, Pops. Then they beat us, 22-5. This day?s for you, Dad. Sort of.
If you?ve ever fallen into bed at 1 a.m. after the ****** weekend in Lima. . . eaten soggy sandwiches pulled from a cooler wet with spilled Gatorade. . . crammed your spouse and three girls (all under the age of 8) into one hotel room. . . wondered how much longer you can subject your stomach to McDrive-thrus. . . this day is for you.
If you?ve ever paid for a Select camp or attended an AAU tournament. . . this day?s for you.
If you?ve ever blanched as someone else?s dad screamed at an umpire, this day?s for you. If you?ve ever been the one prompting the blanching, this day?s for you.
If you?ve changed a moment with a smile or a word of praise. . . re-directed an attitude with a benching. . . helped style a life with your tireless devotion. . . showed a child the vital-ness of simply Being There. . .
This day is for you. Take a bow. Then take your shoes off. Sit awhile. You?ve earned it.