The Winning Pitch - June, 1999
Recently I heard another story of a coaching staff at a junior college
being abandoned by their administration. My investigation revealed a story
where players were warned about drinking and getting into trouble with the
law in the beginning of the year. When it occurred for a second time
several players were dismissed from the team. A meeting was held with all
concerned and the players accepted their consequences. This is the law,
isn't it? Most were under age.
Then the ugly demon raised his head. A fire breathing parent mixed his
particular form of insanity with irresponsible administrators and the
solution to the problem was attempted castration of a baseball coach and
his staff. As long as psychiatrists can promulgate, not guilty by reason
of insanity defenses on the American public, this situation will continue
to vomit itself into coaching.
The same group of scum that has aberrated the Constitution to the point
that the youth of America are being taught the lie that the Founding
Fathers wanted to outlaw God from schools, are pushing a virus on our
complacency. They convinced many people through the use of a tightly
controlled media that sex in the workplace is okay as long as your name is
Clinton, and old white men only do the devils work.
Take a look at the kind of decision makers that run the schools of
America. Too many administrators grew up in a culture that was told
only evil people succeed at anything. All business owners make profits
because they take advantage of poor people. Am I the only one that
noticed these new programs that were created in the ashes of the 1960's
came straight from Marx? Every organization that winds up controlled by
unions can only succeed by intimidation. Their service is longer
considered valuable by most people. They have become exactly what they
were created to fight.
In today's news, gun control has become a popular subject. The dope
smoking non-inhaler is championing causes that were made popular by
Hitler and Lenin. The scam is complete because history is no longer
taught to the American public. Outcome based education, death education
classes and school psychiatrist prescribed doping of pupils is the normal
order of the day.
So, why are we surprised when we hear of another coward in charge? I feel
for the coach who did the right thing. But, if he wants to huddle in the
foxhole with known cowards he needs to understand the rules of the game.
The game is rigged so the good guys will eventually give up. It takes too
much courage to stand up to the true evil that haunts us everyday. Or does
it?
What is the reward that you expect when you volunteer to teach young men
in a world dominated by cowards whose only laugh in life is the
emasculation of the father figure? Oh sure, men have become willing
participants in the sex, drugs and rock and roll culture. We have bought
into the "if it feels good it must be okay," marketing program of the
suppressive forces on this planet. As long as a man's primal urges are
his guiding force he can be suckered into the trap.
I suggest that all coaches recognize that they are not chained to this
string of events. Step back from the moment and inspect the "why" of your
coaching career. If it is about you, you will be a failure in the long
run. Your only chance of succeeding is if it is about the young men.
This doesnt mean you should follow the psycho-babble of the drug culture.
Mentoring as well as parenting is about course correction. It is about the
consequences of one's choices. If you cant stomach the work involved in
tough love, quit before you commit suicide.
Once you look at the world you have chosen to work in ,you can easily see
that the only path to success lies in your recognizing that you are a
spiritual being acting out a human existence. The evil forces on this
planet can not harm your soul without your agreement. They actually think
they are a human being, first and foremost. That makes them fodder for
your cannons.
Their games are simple and designed to work within the limits of human
existence. If you think outside the box you can overcome their insanity.
Force them to confront themselves and you will win in the long run. It is
war, and there will be casualties. One of them may be you. But it is an
honorable fight.
What do all my mystical manifestations mean in todays world? First
recognize that you volunteered and that yours is an honorable
profession. Second, know that if you surrender the future of your squad is
at stake. Third, remember that IF IT IS NOT IN WRITING IT DOESNT EXIST.
In my book, Baseball Coaches Survival Guide, I detailed how to handle this
kind of situation. Turn to page 7 and follow the instructions. The
communications form and the performance contract will put nails in the
coffin of all cowards involved. The performance contract was created by a
group of high school players. We established a list of behaviors that
they all agreed they have 100% control over at all times. The list is as
follows;
1. Be on time for all classes.
2. Keep his overall GPA above 2.0.
3. Keep his grade in very individual class at or above a C.
4. Be on time for practice.
5. Cooperate with teammates, coaches and umpires.
6. Comply with instructions from all coaches and teachers IMMEDIATELY.
7. Adhere to school policies, including those that relate to alcohol,
tobacco, or drug use.
8. Follow team policies
Any infraction may be grounds for dismissal from the team by the coach. No
appeal of the coachs decision is allowed.
A copy of each form was signed by the player, his parents and the
Athletic Director. END OF STORY.
Not so easy. Some half wit will hire the ACLU, get the liberal media to
vilify your program, and Dan Rather to investigate you.
The result will be that your school President may intervene and force you
to take the JERK back on the team. So what, you make out the line up and
the season is short. He wont play much and he wont be back next year.
Talk about the subject openly in front of all your players. Let the
dissenter know he can't be trusted because he broke his word.
The best part of the story is that your program will get national
recognition as one of integrity. Pray that every few years someone
publicizes your virtue. In the long run you will attract honorable
people and the scum will go elsewhere and complain about you.
When I spoke to one of the assistant coaches he made a statement that I
told him I was going to plagiarize and use every chance I could. He said,
"I guess the administration at Porterville College has changed the rules
of baseball. The three strikes and you're out rule doesn't apply in this
league. Now it's no balls and you get a free base."
Coach, remember that you are there for the good guys. It won't be easy,
but if you build a program based on ethics, the scum will stop coming.
They cant take the chance they will have to confront their own behavior
in front of their peers. This includes the administrators.
The Winning Pitch collumn is written by Thomas A. Alston. These
articles may not be duplicated without express permission of the author.
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