Body wouldn’t let me play sports. Sure as a grade schooler when no one is exceptional, but just on school grounds. But it was the sweet pipes on The Schoonz during the Blazers Championship Season with Lucas, Lionel “the Train” Hollins, Dr Jack, that got this studious kid into sports. Helped that Seahawks became a pro team then too so had racing in summer, the now two-time SB Champs in Fall and Blazers in winter. Can’t play but able to coach and officiate for awhile.
I had to take on playing sports on my own, in my younger days. I wasn’t into motorsports (auto racing) like my dad, and I wanted to play team sports, growing up. Didn’t really hit the playing bug (though) until high school and college, and wish I had a mentor, to lead the way, during my elementary years. I knew deep down my lack of size and ability was never going to translate to big time success. Becoming a fan in adulthood was all I could ever dream of, though, and I am just fine with that.
Assuming a parent is interested in a particular sport, I think they typically talk and encourage their child to try some things relevant to that sport, i.e., Can they dribble/bounce a ball? Can they hit a plastic ball when tossed? Can they catch/throw a ball? etc.
IF the child shows some "natural" eye/hand coordination, and IF they show some personal interest in trying to become better, then encourage them and assist them... but don't force and continuously try to correct them.
Help them, yes. Encourage them, yes. Inform them of your history/experiences, yes.
BUT if they are not interested now, maybe try later (months/years) to see if they are then interested.
Basically, the parents and the child's friends direct their motivation. But without good coordination and natural technique (swimming? tennis? golf?), let THEM tell YOU what they want to do. I can play a good game of Chess with 1 hand!!!
My parents were huge baseball fans, so it got passed down to me. Pre-Internet era, read the box scores in the paper every morning, and then again every night (2 newspaper town, we got both). Played Little League, high school, town league, county league ball until I was 22.
Watched the Saturday GOTW, Dizzy and Pee Wee on the mic. We'd go to Cleveland for one series a year. Also was able to go to original Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium and DC Stadium to see games. We'd go to Florida in the spring, games were $2 or $3 at the most. Went to countless triple-A games before the Expos pulled the franchise in 1970.
Still a fan, but I can tell you the starting lineup for the 1966 Cleveland Indians before I can tell you the starting lineup for the 2026 Cleveland Guardians, other than Kwan and Bazzana.
That (Phoenix Municipal) is a nice old ballpark here in Arizona, now the home of Sun Devil baseball (after they tore down their old on-campus ballpark). It was already here when I was at ASU in the late 70s (built in 1964). The Giants have used that as their AAA ballpark and spring training park over the years. Now they play spring training in downtown Scottsdale where the A's used to play (where the PAC12 had its tournament). I remember watching Chili Davis play there back in 1981. You knew he was going to make the bigs with that swing!
I got to personally experience the results of my prediction of Chili's future success when he played for the Twins for a couple years and batted 3rd on the 1991 WS Championship team, while I was still in Minnesota. Chili always had a huge smile. :-)
Great story. The kid is an old school baseball fan which I love. Reminds me of my two best friends in high school who are baseball fanatics, collected Sports Illustrated posters, baseball cards and played tabletop baseball all the time. I was more into basketball but I admired their devotion. Also, I like the Mark Apell story a lot, very encouraging. I wish he would have lengthened his major league career, but he did make it and pitched well. Kudos to him for hanging in there, sports at that level is not easy.
IMO humans are wired to have "addictive" behavior. We usually think of an "addiction" as bad but that just is not the case for most of us. It's that drive to figure out what we like and be good at it. It's what gets us up and out the door to go to work or handle things we might need to do but not be so good at it. So we can come back home and have money to do those fun things or enjoy those who we love to be around. We are lucky if we find something that we truly enjoy and are able to make a career of it. Not unlike your storytelling John.
This is just an awesome story, John. My obsession was basketball, and I can identify with this boy's love of all things baseball in that I never trolled for autographs or stuff. I was too shy. I just loved my team (Celtics) and spent many nights with my ear to the 6 transistor radio listening to every play. It does my heart good that there are kids out there right now doing the same thing with their sport. It's one of the best things about sports!
I have loved watching my grandkids since they were old enough to be on the tiny league teams, first in multiple sports, then narrowing it down to the one or two they loved in H.S.
Now, I still have two that play at college level and travel to as many games as possible. I did the same thing for their dads (my 4 sons) while they were growing up. Sports at any level is one of the most rewarding things a family can invest their time in, both as coaches and fans. It not only keeps kids out of trouble, it teaches them vital lessons & habits that last a lifetime!
My wife and I figured we already have sat on the pine cheering at over a thousand games!🤣 Not to mention coaching little league. We have 14 grandkids and ALL of them as well as our 5 kids have played multiple sports.
In my own personal experience, I think it's both Nature and Nurture, but Nature is usually the most dominant factor in a kid's interest in a sport and success with it. For whatever reason (Nature), I absolutely loved basketball at a very early age. My dad loved sports, especially football and basketball, so I certainly had that influence on me growing up. But out of the three siblings in my family, I was the only one who gravitated toward sports in a big way. My dad encouraged me but never forced me to play. I played basketball in my driveway hoop before I was even strong enough to really shoot it the normal way. Two-handed underhand is all I could do at that point. Then when strong enough I played for hours almost every day across the street at the outdoor church basketball court. I couldn't get enough of it. Some of the local kids my age played with me some, but none of them had the drive and interest in it to play constantly like me. It was just "in my blood." I don't really fully know why. I simply loved it. This carried on throughout my childhood years. It is my most cherished memories as a kid. The success certainly helped keep me motivated as I grew older. My high school basketball period of life was amazing and I often wish I could do it all over again. I ultimately wasn't able to reach my goal of getting a Division I basketball scholarship because of two very important physical traits you are either born with or not: speed and jumping ability. I was not! (I blame my parents! Haha...kidding). So, I ended up playing small college basketball and it was great! Most importantly, I was able to keep playing the game I loved for four more years. This ended up being a long story! Moral of my story: Nature is the most critical component and Nurture is an important secondary component. In my life experience anyway.
What I so enjoy of JC’s random hits in my inbox are just his thoughts on whatever, sports flavored, that happens to cross his mind. Won’t get those rando writings in the daily newspaper tying people, history and sports into a nugget for my day. Sometimes twice! So reminds me of me, posting my applesauce canning adventures on Facebook. My people, like JC’s, are interested/entertained and might learn something. And the comments allow any so inclined to offer their tips, memories, and optimism for the future of canning and sports! I look forward to whatever topic comes along.
Just keep the kid away from Marv Marinovich. (Though Marv is now deceased)
Body wouldn’t let me play sports. Sure as a grade schooler when no one is exceptional, but just on school grounds. But it was the sweet pipes on The Schoonz during the Blazers Championship Season with Lucas, Lionel “the Train” Hollins, Dr Jack, that got this studious kid into sports. Helped that Seahawks became a pro team then too so had racing in summer, the now two-time SB Champs in Fall and Blazers in winter. Can’t play but able to coach and officiate for awhile.
I had to take on playing sports on my own, in my younger days. I wasn’t into motorsports (auto racing) like my dad, and I wanted to play team sports, growing up. Didn’t really hit the playing bug (though) until high school and college, and wish I had a mentor, to lead the way, during my elementary years. I knew deep down my lack of size and ability was never going to translate to big time success. Becoming a fan in adulthood was all I could ever dream of, though, and I am just fine with that.
Once again John, another very enjoyable piece.
Assuming a parent is interested in a particular sport, I think they typically talk and encourage their child to try some things relevant to that sport, i.e., Can they dribble/bounce a ball? Can they hit a plastic ball when tossed? Can they catch/throw a ball? etc.
IF the child shows some "natural" eye/hand coordination, and IF they show some personal interest in trying to become better, then encourage them and assist them... but don't force and continuously try to correct them.
Help them, yes. Encourage them, yes. Inform them of your history/experiences, yes.
BUT if they are not interested now, maybe try later (months/years) to see if they are then interested.
Basically, the parents and the child's friends direct their motivation. But without good coordination and natural technique (swimming? tennis? golf?), let THEM tell YOU what they want to do. I can play a good game of Chess with 1 hand!!!
My parents were huge baseball fans, so it got passed down to me. Pre-Internet era, read the box scores in the paper every morning, and then again every night (2 newspaper town, we got both). Played Little League, high school, town league, county league ball until I was 22.
Watched the Saturday GOTW, Dizzy and Pee Wee on the mic. We'd go to Cleveland for one series a year. Also was able to go to original Yankee Stadium, Tiger Stadium and DC Stadium to see games. We'd go to Florida in the spring, games were $2 or $3 at the most. Went to countless triple-A games before the Expos pulled the franchise in 1970.
Still a fan, but I can tell you the starting lineup for the 1966 Cleveland Indians before I can tell you the starting lineup for the 2026 Cleveland Guardians, other than Kwan and Bazzana.
That (Phoenix Municipal) is a nice old ballpark here in Arizona, now the home of Sun Devil baseball (after they tore down their old on-campus ballpark). It was already here when I was at ASU in the late 70s (built in 1964). The Giants have used that as their AAA ballpark and spring training park over the years. Now they play spring training in downtown Scottsdale where the A's used to play (where the PAC12 had its tournament). I remember watching Chili Davis play there back in 1981. You knew he was going to make the bigs with that swing!
Chili!
I got to personally experience the results of my prediction of Chili's future success when he played for the Twins for a couple years and batted 3rd on the 1991 WS Championship team, while I was still in Minnesota. Chili always had a huge smile. :-)
I like how you intertwine life and sports, preserving the innocence of a bygone era.
Thanks Clyde.
Great story. The kid is an old school baseball fan which I love. Reminds me of my two best friends in high school who are baseball fanatics, collected Sports Illustrated posters, baseball cards and played tabletop baseball all the time. I was more into basketball but I admired their devotion. Also, I like the Mark Apell story a lot, very encouraging. I wish he would have lengthened his major league career, but he did make it and pitched well. Kudos to him for hanging in there, sports at that level is not easy.
IMO humans are wired to have "addictive" behavior. We usually think of an "addiction" as bad but that just is not the case for most of us. It's that drive to figure out what we like and be good at it. It's what gets us up and out the door to go to work or handle things we might need to do but not be so good at it. So we can come back home and have money to do those fun things or enjoy those who we love to be around. We are lucky if we find something that we truly enjoy and are able to make a career of it. Not unlike your storytelling John.
Great story I loved it!
This is just an awesome story, John. My obsession was basketball, and I can identify with this boy's love of all things baseball in that I never trolled for autographs or stuff. I was too shy. I just loved my team (Celtics) and spent many nights with my ear to the 6 transistor radio listening to every play. It does my heart good that there are kids out there right now doing the same thing with their sport. It's one of the best things about sports!
I have loved watching my grandkids since they were old enough to be on the tiny league teams, first in multiple sports, then narrowing it down to the one or two they loved in H.S.
Now, I still have two that play at college level and travel to as many games as possible. I did the same thing for their dads (my 4 sons) while they were growing up. Sports at any level is one of the most rewarding things a family can invest their time in, both as coaches and fans. It not only keeps kids out of trouble, it teaches them vital lessons & habits that last a lifetime!
Good for you supporting your kids as well as your grandkids.
My wife and I figured we already have sat on the pine cheering at over a thousand games!🤣 Not to mention coaching little league. We have 14 grandkids and ALL of them as well as our 5 kids have played multiple sports.
In my own personal experience, I think it's both Nature and Nurture, but Nature is usually the most dominant factor in a kid's interest in a sport and success with it. For whatever reason (Nature), I absolutely loved basketball at a very early age. My dad loved sports, especially football and basketball, so I certainly had that influence on me growing up. But out of the three siblings in my family, I was the only one who gravitated toward sports in a big way. My dad encouraged me but never forced me to play. I played basketball in my driveway hoop before I was even strong enough to really shoot it the normal way. Two-handed underhand is all I could do at that point. Then when strong enough I played for hours almost every day across the street at the outdoor church basketball court. I couldn't get enough of it. Some of the local kids my age played with me some, but none of them had the drive and interest in it to play constantly like me. It was just "in my blood." I don't really fully know why. I simply loved it. This carried on throughout my childhood years. It is my most cherished memories as a kid. The success certainly helped keep me motivated as I grew older. My high school basketball period of life was amazing and I often wish I could do it all over again. I ultimately wasn't able to reach my goal of getting a Division I basketball scholarship because of two very important physical traits you are either born with or not: speed and jumping ability. I was not! (I blame my parents! Haha...kidding). So, I ended up playing small college basketball and it was great! Most importantly, I was able to keep playing the game I loved for four more years. This ended up being a long story! Moral of my story: Nature is the most critical component and Nurture is an important secondary component. In my life experience anyway.
What I so enjoy of JC’s random hits in my inbox are just his thoughts on whatever, sports flavored, that happens to cross his mind. Won’t get those rando writings in the daily newspaper tying people, history and sports into a nugget for my day. Sometimes twice! So reminds me of me, posting my applesauce canning adventures on Facebook. My people, like JC’s, are interested/entertained and might learn something. And the comments allow any so inclined to offer their tips, memories, and optimism for the future of canning and sports! I look forward to whatever topic comes along.
A great Sunday read. Takes me back to wearing my baseball uniform my mother made for my 10th birthday as I recall.
Thanks John