I can see both sides. Or stop the tweets.

The pro football season is underway and once again some players are using the game and attention to bring attention to their cause. The apparent injustice to African Americans in this country by thepolice and in general.

I agree with their tight to protest. I don’t agree with their choice of venue and using the American flag and anthem to do it.

But is the attention they are drawing by using the anthem that’s really keeping them from using some other more appropriate venue and circumstance to protest?   Maybe if it stopped making front pages and Tweets they’d find other peaceful ways to protest the injustices.

Nothing sells tickets better then attention. Yes they need the attention so let’s not give it to their protest until they move it away from our anthem and to a more appropriate place.

Just my two cents.

Why Coach?

After reading an article in my local paper about a girl's HS lacrosse team's victory where 90% of the article was about the suspension of the head and assistant coach, one man, one woman, it begged the question " Why Coach?" These coach's were suspended while a non -criminal investigation was being held.  The investigation was called for after some parent complaints were made.  Not that it matters but the head coach has been coaching ten years and won three Sectional Titles.  His daughter is on the team.  I have been coaching since 1977.  The only times I asked myself the question " Why Coach?" was when parents were involved.  After all, Why would anyone give up 3-6 hours a day during their 4 month season, time during the off season to ( the other 8 months), to organize and run off season workouts, get kids into AAU programs, run camps, etc.  It's certainly not for the money. I used to tell my players parents every year, " Your job is to support your child, feed them, make sure they get enough rest, get them to practice & pick them up & whatever else you can do to support the program". " Remember when you are watching a game you are watching # 12, while I am watching 12 players".   Whenever I had an issue with parents it was about the All Mighty PT also known as Playing Time.  Parents are "blind" when it comes to their child.  They see $$$$$$. A possible college scholarship.  If a coach gets in the way, We'll complain.  We'll accuse him/her of something. You think they are your friends until you take away some of their child's PT, then you find out what you mean to them  You are a means to their end.  So again I ask, " Why Coach?"



I do it for the love of the game and of teaching.  I do it for the joy of watching kids grow and the relationships you make and build. I still am connected with many of my players, their parents, coaches,referees, and others connected to the game. But when ever I see an article about a situation like this I cringe.  Not that all coaches are doing all the right thing but for God's Sake, can you understand then, " Why Coach/"  Sign me Been There........

Is the Character gone in the NFL?

Who remembers the days of Roger Staubach, Jim Brown, and Joe Montana?  Are those days gone? Today the NFL seems to be consumed with domestic abusers; drunks, child abusers, animal abusers, and head hunters. In other words plain old Thugs. Yes we still have the Peyton Mannings, Marshawn Lynch's, and Reggie Waynes but these other types of players seem to be the rule now instead of the exception. The crazy hair hanging out of the helets is on the rise.  The cocky celebrations after a score or big hit are happening all over.  The vicious hits well after the play looking to maim the opponents rather then just get him down are the mantra of some teams and players.



Fans are fed up and are starting to turn off their sets and not going to games.  What's  scary is that it's just not in football. Watch an NBA or NHL game & you'll see some of these behaviors.  Even our national past time is being affected.  It all goes back to the lack of character being displayed in some of our youth programs.  Recently we benched 3 players for a prank they played in their middle school.  Our coach was questioned by some for the benching .  People said that since we are a youth team and not a school team, the boys shouldn't be punished for something that happened in school.  It's that kind of attitude that is allowing our youth to display similar behaviors as the pros.  We need to send a clear message of what we expect and will tolerate from our professional athletes as well as all those in the public eye as well as ourselves.  Enough is Enough.

Schools Can't Save Our Kids

Recently I spoke with a young father.  He told me how he regretted not being able to go over his kindergartener's homework with him because his wife did that before he got home from work.  But he made sure that every night he would read with his son before putting him to bed.  He shared with me how his son was beginning to recognize words .  He was so proud.  Then today I read a Letter to the Editor which stated that the United States students ranked between 15th and 22nd in various subjects world wide. The writer went on to blame our national government with interferring too much.   The Common Core was to blame and that the states should be allowed to decided what is best for the students in their states.



I retired a few years ago after over 30 years teaching, coaching, and administering in public education.  I still substitute teach and supervise education interns, future teachers.  And I'm here to tell you that until we address nationally what is going on in homes across the nation to support our children's education, what schools can do is  never going to be enough. Today schools offer Before School Programs, After School Programs, Mentor Programs,  Free & Reduced Breakfast Programs, Free & Reduced Lunch Programs, and in some cases Dinner Programs, just to name a few.  The Common Core was implemented to try and assure that students everywhere received the same basic education. It's implementation may have flaws but the general concept is a good one.



I substituted in one first grade classroom a multitude of times.  This teacher, like most I come across these days, was doing a fantastic job with her students. However some were flourishing, some were holding their own, while others couldn't even write their own name by year's end.  Each student in her class had a "Go Home" Folder where daily work and notes were placed for the child's parent/guardians to look over, comment on, and remove from the folder. In May, there were still students who's folders were jam packed. Nothing had been looked over.  Was it surprising that those were the students who still could not write their names.  What is learned in school, needs to be reinforced at home.



The young kindergartener mentioned earlier will be successful.  He comes from a home where education is nurtured.  What he learns in school is supported and talked about at home. Until we can assure that all children have a similar home environment, we will continue to fall short.

Joe Bruno....A Case of Right & Wrong ?

Joe Bruno, former state legeslature, was recently found "not gulity" of taking bribes for his political influence for the second time in nine years.  Mr Bruno & supporters then celebrated at Jack's in Albany.  Whether Mr Bruno was guilty or not is really not the question.  The quesion becomes was he Right or Wrong in his actions?  Did he use his political influence for monetary gain? In the end, if you believe in God, he will have to answer to God in the end.    Apparently he didn't break any laws, in the eyes of the 12 people on the jury, or at least the prosecution couldn't find any hard proof that he did. You might think that he & his people did a good job of making sure there was no hard proof.   During & directly after the trial, the state prosecutor was criticized in the media for wasting the tax payers money for going after the "OLD" man, for going after a man who had done so much good bringing many things to the capital region, so much so that 17 buildings carry his name including the Joe Bruno Stadium.  But was he Right or Wrong?  Let's face it.  Behind most "Wrong" lies one of the SEVEN Deadly Sins.  Behind the question we have before us in Mr Bruno's case is the sin of "Greed".  Was this a case of Greed?  Did Mr Bruno use his influence for the money?  Did his benefactor use his money to buy Mr Bruno's influence for his own monetary benefit?    If the answer to either or both of these questions is yes then the answer is simple.....They were greedy and he was wrong.  If their monetary gains were an affect of all the good that resulted in their relationship, then you have to decide if this was still a case of greed and  if he was wrong.  This is why I believe the juries in both trials came back with a not guilty verdict.  They may have thought there was wrong done but they didn't feel there was guilt.  I guess we'll have to wait and see if these verdicts impact future dealings between politicians and money.

Joe Bruno....A Case of Right & Wrong ?

Joe Bruno, former state legeslature, was recently found "not gulity" of taking bribes for his political influence for the second time in nine years.  Mr Bruno & supporters then celebrated at Jack's in Albany.  Whether Mr Bruno was guilty or not is really not the question.  The quesion becomes was he Right or Wrong in his actions?  Did he use his political influence for monetary gain? In the end, if you believe in God, he will have to answer to God in the end.    Apparently he didn't break any laws, in the eyes of the 12 people on the jury, or at least the prosecution couldn't find any hard proof that he did. You might think that he & his people did a good job of making sure there was no hard proof.   During & directly after the trial, the state prosecutor was criticized in the media for wasting the tax payers money for going after the "OLD" man, for going after a man who had done so much good bringing many things to the capital region, so much so that 17 buildings carry his name including the Joe Bruno Stadium.  But was he Right or Wrong?  Let's face it.  Behind most "Wrong" lies one of the SEVEN Deadly Sins.  Behind the question we have before us in Mr Bruno's case is the sin of "Greed".  Was this a case of Greed?  Did Mr Bruno use his influence for the money?  Did his benefactor use his money to buy Mr Bruno's influence for his own monetary benefit?    If the answer to either or both of these questions is yes then the answer is simple.....They were greedy and he was wrong.  If their monetary gains were an affect of all the good that resulted in their relationship, then you have to decide if this was still a case of greed and  if he was wrong.  This is why I believe the juries in both trials came back with a not guilty verdict.  They may have thought there was wrong done but they didn't feel there was guilt.  I guess we'll have to wait and see if these verdicts impact future dealings between politicians and money.

Bar Exam for Future Teachers a Good Idea????????????

My local paper printed an editorial today stating that a Bar Exam for teachers is a good idea.  They lauded the state's efforts to put higher standards on teacher candidates.  Teacher candidates will now have to pass a battery of tests, produce videos showing them in action, & keep a log of evidense of their competencies.    They say this will assure only the Best & Brightes will become teachers. There is nothing wrong with raising the bar.   But for the paper to suggest that up until now, we've had anything less in our teachers is a slap in the face to current & past educators.  As a retired teacher, we did what we had to do to earn our certifications & once a teacher, we did our best to give our students what they needed.  Like any profession, there are some better then others.  Passing a Bar Exam or Medical Boards does not guarentee you will become a good lawyer or a good doctor.  The paper should have chosen their words more carefully to not insinuate that current & former teachers were less than efficient.  Maybe it's time that writers & editors also be made to pass a Bar Exam?