An Owed to Dear John, who could really tie one on.

Managing householders, bawlers: Whether you find your-self in such a position, whether by election, post-interview, or just through a natural succession -- there are a few major and many 'minor' virtues that will be called on -- early and often in some cases. Some that one can actually practice and rehearse on one's own, while others can be called into action at the least desirable, otherwise referred to as "inopportune time" -- the latter almost becoming a law under the name of Murphy...

Fun-a-mentals: When I stepped up to the plate (in more ways than one) to manage some youngsters, some of which came from a class titled "Young Fives" (thus, allowing me to classify them as such), otherwise called by the local Little League board "T-bawlers" (at least that's what it sounded like) I was moved to attend a "coaches clinic" which seemed a bit odd for someone listed as a "manager" but I attended just to see if I could get a few tips, even though I had played this game in both hard and soft times (get the base-ball reference?) and saw it from both on, off the field perspective. That is, as a player, coach, and fan. So "hooting and hollering" were already accounted for. But what caught (subtle eh?) me by surprise, one of the first tips for keeping my charges safe, if not happy (the latter being the so-called "healthy snack" these bawlers feel entitled to, as if they already have an agent), was some fundamentals of bat safety, as in making sure these little cubs don't club each other, prematurely. As in holding the bat by the barrel with the handle on the ground "as if it were a cane" -- which I, as the one that stood out as the veteran among "you rookies!", took as an affront, as in the kind of base-ball bashing, trashing that is usually limited to, at least at this entry level, pre/post game. After swallowing my pride, and with the support of my assistant coach, we implemented this, along with some other fundamentals of throwing, catching, and what's still practiced up through the "World Series" held each August in Williamsport, PA, where there are always a few MLB onlookers, who are visibly moved, by such good "sportsmanship", which to many b-ball vets is a lost virtue...

Tying my patience: All well and good, so far, as into the second practice, before the official "opening day" which in our hometown is replete with parade marching orders, as in "bring plenty of candy, to throw...out". As I said all-ready, even when at the ready, after bringing extra balls, bats, even one extra mitt (it's also OK to call it a glove, which become more specialized by time and position, both on and off the field of play)...what I had not prepped for, nor practiced..."Coach, my shoe's untied, can you please...?" So, even prior to the first scheduled contest, I found myself going down to da feet! Talk about pressure...as this took place adjacent to what's also called "home plate" and in the line of on-lookers, one of which happened to be this cub's "mother bear". Instead of asking who didn't teach him such a fundamental, the risk being a finger pointing exercise, I was reminded of one virtue taught and modeled by John Wooden, the highly acclaimed basketball coach of UCLA, as in calmly showing his already experienced players, the correct way to put on their shoes and socks, before the game took off at a blistering pace ("I don't care what your mother taught you; I'm going to show you the correct way") Which, in my case, called for asking permission to double knot. Hope his mom appreciated it. And that John was looking on with approval.

Speaking of "All Tied Up", as I will be, in next post here, so be sure to touch base soon (it's a virtue).