In League with my cast, of characters - what I have, to contend with.

Character, player, development: Both being at play, here. That is, well before our first official game, before the first (coach's) pitch was "lobbed, right down the middle...of the strike zone" (elementary b-ball language that we learned early, out on the "diamond"). Well before we (two coaches, one of which doubled as a dad and other a parent of a parent of, which makes me...) had been able to fully e-valuate their prowess at the plate, or where they might otherwise be best positioned, out on the field. But after only two practice sessions, while a whole lot of player development was indicated, called for, what was also painfully obvious (as in gut busting laughter) is that these youngsters were not short on character...

Assembly required: As in "guys, come here, huddle around home plate, we're a team, you know..." many times over, to keep them...assembled. While the history of b-ball is replete with lore, legend, and monikers -- some of which came naturally ("Shoeless..."), others acquired -- "Say hey, kid...Sultan of Swat (also answered to "Babe")...Charlie Hustle" (who ran even when he walked, to first base), such an assembly of characters was years in the making whereas here comes a few kids with mitts, some of which haven't quite figured out their left from...and, speaking of shoe, laces, one that has asked for my help in, requiring me to call upon some earlier skills of my own...

Throwbacks:  One of the simplest actions in b-ball, which, after playing the most casual games of "You wanna have a catch?" (see "Field of Dreams" for fuller experience, if you wanna tear up) -- becomes part of our muscle memory. Such as strong associations...names, places, that evoke memories...Take the name "Graham" for example which, if you've seen the movie, is a reference to the character that Burt Lancaster was casted as (Dr. 'Moonlight' Graham) but, in my cast of characters, is just starting out, and generally gets called in, when the (street) lights turn on. And in walks two brothers who, as a dynamic duo both on and off the field, give me reason to believe they will eventually rival the combo of "Sweet Lou and Tram", given the back-and-forth stuff they throw at each other...for now I simply refer to them as "The brothers grin". And then, simply put, as when his dad introduced us..."Here's Johnny!" And what can be simpler, pure joy, strongly associated with this past-time as in "he goes by the initials CJ..." (as in "Cracker Jack, the original?" You've got to be kidding, was my personal reverie) Joined just a few minutes later by a boy, a "Fam favorite" needs no introduction to me off the field, but reminded, last minute instructions by his mom ("remember, out here, he's your coach") -- whose name, talk about throwbacks, as in "what's a Griffin?" brings up images of a mythical creature known for its strength and majesty...but out here, will be treated im-partially ("yeh, right!")...

B-bal: As in "Be back later" with some more Names, Images, Likenesses, as a few more "hold-outs" might still show up. Lots of potential players here, characters well under way...with Game #1 still a few hours away...