Squirrels in the Attic?
I remember back in Vienna, VA, at my Mother-in-law’s house they had a squirrel that lived in their attic. At first they thought it was cute, but after a while he caused quite a bit of trouble. I was never really excited about the thing being up there in the first place, we had dogs, they had dogs, and squirrels can carry ticks and all sorts of other diseases.
But they allowed him to live up there. A few thousand dollars in repairs later, they got rid of him and fixed all the damage he did. Don’t get me wrong, I am an animal lover as well, but squirrels need to stay outside where they belong.
-Have you ever had a squirrel stuck in your chimney?
-Have you ever had a squirrel crawl under your crawl space and pass away? Phewwww, talk about stinky!
-Have you ever had a squirrel get into your attic or rafters and cause all sorts of trouble chewing up your insulation and electrical wiring?
Those things can do some serious damage!
This is where Havahart squirrel repellents come in. They have concentrates, motion activated water repellents, granular repellents, every kind of repellent you would need to make the squirrel vanish w/o harming him, because who wants to hurt a cute, fuzzy little squirrel?
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1e9c3a94-56a9-4b95-a1b1-e081b6d649b3)
Paying Umpires is Wrong
In our area an umpire’s “association” has popped to serve the local Little Leagues in the area. Now if this association were formed with the kids in mind, as Little League is, then they would simply organize the best staffs, perform the proper background checks, provide training and equipment, and distribute the talent where needed. Unfortunately, this is not the case. As with any organization, profit is the motive.
The Little League guidelines specifically prohibit paying umpires. Umpires that want to get paid can join associations that provide officials to high schools, travel programs, and various leagues that are not volunteer community based. Or basically, anything that isn’t Little League!
Of course, where does this association go to get their officials? They dip into and steal the local umpires that are so generously volunteering their time for their community. The kicker is the small stipend they pay for a game. Yet, umpires are shunning their local league and entering other league’s boundaries just for a few dollars. Have we forgotten that every $1 we give, we receive $10 in return? This is truly the case.
I am the first to admit that I accept every paying umpiring job offered to me that is NOT Little League. I have no problem w/ that, those organizations have no desire to be volunteer organizations, nor do they pretend to be. I have umpired USSSA and AAU, but have not had time for High School. This association tried to recruit me as well, I told them, “I will never accept pay for umpiring a Little League game”. It is wrong on so many levels.
Not only is it wrong, I have a couple of issues that must be addressed by the association, though I know they won’t reply in public.
1. If Little League’s are boundary specific, how can umpires cross those boundaries?
2. Every volunteer “in regular contact” with the children MUST have completed a volunteer application. How does the association accomplish this since the local league performs the checks?
3. Am I being asked to put my children on fields w/ umpires who have not been properly screened when we visit other locations? This troubles me as the parent of teenage girls and young boys. Is there any proof of this documentation?
How can I know that my children are safe on the fields, in the parking lots, and in the bathrooms of Little League facilities if proper due diligence is not the norm? Are you as a Board of Directors that pays an association to provide you with umpires willing to accept the personal liability that comes with an incident God forbid? It would be “easy pickin’s” for even the least experienced of attorneys.
What we must do:
1. Terminate any league membership of any umpire that gets paid to umpire a Little League game.
2. Not allow any umpire that gets paid to umpire a Little League game to umpire ANY all-star or special privilege games.
3. Terminate all relationships with any associations as Little Leagues.
4. Recruit and train volunteers within our organizations to be the best they can be. You will be surprised who will say yes if you simply ask them.
5. Inform existing umpires if they leave for pay, their membership in the league will be terminated. This means they will never be able to coach, manage, serve on the board, umpire, vote, or volunteer in any way, shape or form, within the organization.
6. Recognize and embrace those willing to volunteer. Award them, provide them gear, drinks, and a pat on the back.
7. Do not antagonize or constantly criticize their work. They are doing the best they can.
Hey, don’t get me wrong. One of my best friends is our Umpire in Chief, and I hear every day about the struggles he goes through to get our games umpired. I don’t envy his position. But paying umpires is NOT the solution. Besides, we are a small league, but we play more than 10 games a week or so at home. That means $350/week for umps or about $3,500!!! How can you say you are being a proper steward of the people’s money if you are simply taking the easy road?
How do you feel about paid umpires in Little League?
This post sponsored through the pepperjamNETWORK by:
Not sure of what Life Insurance you need? Get free customized quotes in minutes!
Related articles by Zemanta
- Men in Blue (nytimes.com)
- Boys and baseball (via Daily thoughts from life!) (stonyeagle.com)
- The Eternal Little League Debate (thelittleleaguecoach.com)
- Who Watches The Umpires? [Mlb] (deadspin.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=47c620bb-ac25-4c7d-821f-4da8343bd6c7)
And you thought the Triple Play was the best play in baseball!
OK rules nerds, here we go! Let me go down into the basement put on my bifocals, pull my shorts up over my belly, and demonstrate my nerdness. Every year I read both the softball and the baseball rulebook cover to cover. And there is a phrase that is used in the rulebook about the potential for umpires needing to “recognize an apparent 4th out” in order to enforce one rule or another.
Sunday night in Dodgers and Diamondbacks game, were I the manager, I would have looked like a genius! (I already do look like a genius in my bifoculs, in the basement, w/ my shorts above my belly, but sometimes genius’ rule! Just look at Bill Gates!) Anyway, I would like to think I would have caught this and would have gotten the apparent 4th out.
Check it out, good reading:
Pretty cool huh? Anyone actually seen 4 outs in a Little League game for real? I never have in 20 years.
This post sponsored through the pepperjamNETWORK by:
POTTY TRAIN YOUR BABY BEFORE 2!
NursesDirect.com – Save $10.00 On Orders Over $75.00. Use Promo Code NW118D10.
Related articles by Zemanta
- Diamondbacks awarded 2011 MLB all-star game (cbc.ca)
- Dodgers hurler Kuroda put on DL (cbc.ca)
- The Man Who Warned Baseball About Steroids (time.com)
- 2009 National League preview (cbc.ca)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e636d62e-c30d-4876-989c-8d46b5fca121)
Ladies, Men Love Boots!
Hey ladies, men are suckers for boots. You know it, we know it, women look good in boots. Nancy Sinatra immortalized boots in her hit single “boots are made for walking” and of course, Dave Mustaine introduced my generation to the song remixing it with Megadeth. My wife used to wear the little high healed short elf boots, she had 4 or 5 pairs all different colors and styles!
Thank goodness there was no zappos.com women’s boots back then! I would have gone broke! She certainly would have been shopping there every day.
Zappos has the finest selection in women’s boots available. Casual boots, dress boots, above the ankle, bootie, rain, high heel, you name it, they sell it!
If you are looking for women’s boots, or if you are looking to surprise your wife or girlfriend, zappos is the place to go!
DialMyCalls.com is one of my favorite programs for Little League
Ever get tired of making calls to your team? Those days are over! Now w/ dialmycalls.com you can quickly set up a small broadcast list, make one simple call, and have it delivered to all of them! It’s just that simple! And it’s free for coaches to use!
We use it for the following:
-Call our league to remind them about registration
-Call our league when we have major changes or rainouts
-Call our league to remind them about all-stars and update them on how our teams are doing
-Final registration notice
Since we have started using dialmycalls.com we have virtually eliminated late registrations. Everyone knows when registrations are so they come, they no longer forget.
Last fall during tropical storm Faye our fields were out of commission during tryouts. We have to move them to a secondary location. We used DialMyCalls.com to let them know about the new location and it worked perfectly! I love this program!
Have friends that could benefit from this? Businesses? teams? other sports? Sign up to be a dialmycalls.com affiliate and earn 15% of every $$$ they spend!
This is a great product that I truly believe in. Go to dialmycalls.com right now and sign up for free.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9687bb6e-645f-487a-8ee8-02a0d35dc321)
Little League Bulletin: Bat Markings
Little League sent me the following bulletin regarding bat markings. This will be a big issue come all-star time.
NOTICE TO PARENTS, PLAYERS AND LEAGUES: IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE OF A NEW COMPOSITE METAL BAT FOR USE IN LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL (Major Division and below), BE SURE THAT THE BAT YOU ARE PURCHASING HAS THIS MARKING: BPF 1.15 ON THE BARREL OR HANDLE OF THE BAT. IF NOT, IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED FOR PLAY IN LITTLE LEAGUE GAMES.
Little League officials are aware that there are bats for sale in stores, online or that may have already been purchased that are Little League approved, but do not have the required bat performance standard (BPF) markings. In fact, some of the bats on the Little League approved bat list may not carry the required BPF 1.15 marking on the bat, depending on when they were manufactured and licensed. Currently manufacturers are conducting an inventory and re-testing of all approved bats. The results of this study / retesting is to be finished by March 31, 2009. We are building a list of certain bats that are approved, but do not have the BPF marking due to special circumstances. For these bats, we are extending eligibility for play until December 31, 2009. As we are made aware of bats that meet our criteria for this extension, we will add them to the list. Please check this list regularly for updates. HOWEVER, ONLY BATS WITH THE BPF 1.15 MARKING AND THE BATS ON THIS LIST WILL BE ALLOWED FOR PLAY IN 2009.
Bats with the special exception include the following:
Adidas Vanquish Blue design (There is a newer model of this bat, also named the Vanquish and it has copper and black markings. It contains the proper labeling and therefore is not subject to the one-year rule).
DeMarini - Black Coyote, Rogue, Distance, Rumble, Tengu, Mach 10, Patriot
Easton - LZ-810, LZ-800, Stealth Optiflex LST 1,
Louisville Slugger - YB31
NIKE - Areo
This post sponsored through the pepperjamNETWORK by:
Huge Savings On Weight Loss Items at Nutrahut.com!
NEW Mountainsmith luggage for 2009 at Backcountry Edge
Related articles by Zemanta
- Preventing Little League Pitching Injuries (mikereinold.com)
- How parents have taken the fun out of games (boston.com)
- Boy went for bubble gum, met a killer (cnn.com)
- Girls Must Be Social (thelittleleaguecoach.com)
- The Eternal Little League Debate (thelittleleaguecoach.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=49cb0802-b5e7-42c9-9262-cb5475eaf509)
Just because someone criticizes you doesn’t mean they hate you.
I am a controversial figure. My entire life has been spent in controversy. I don’t know why, maybe because I speak my mind? Maybe because I think I know everything? Maybe because I can quote the entire rulebook word for word? Maybe because I demand respect from my players and they know it from the glare I give them when they lack it? Maybe because I don’t tolerate mental errors, not paying attention when a coach is talking, or missing signals? Maybe I am really just an ass, that’s entirely possible, but just because someone criticizes you doesn’t mean they hate you.
Those who serve on Little League boards, or any boards for that matter, soon come to understand that anything anyone thinks is wrong w/ the organization quickly becomes your fault. You get blamed for everything. As the information officer of my league, and therefor the public face of the league, I receive and inordinate amount of the criticism for things in disarray, controversial decisions, or accusations from the rumor mill.
But lately I have noticed a trend that I find upsetting. My theory on this is we all communicate way too much. In the good ole days (feeling like grandpa now), you used to go to work, go to a game, and go home. You saw people along the way, said hi, were cordial, but went on about your life. Of course there was plenty of gossip, but it was contained to face-to-face discussions and the occasional telephone conversation. Which included talking to ONLY one person at a time. Everyone else got a busy tone when they tried to call if you were talking to someone else.
Therefore, if you said something like, “I don’t like the way Rick spoke to my daughter tonight”, the other person said what they had to say, and then went home. Well, in today’s world, little comments like that are exaggerated big time!
How many times have you heard a parent talk about all the “drama” going on w/ their kid at school, on the field, or in the local play? It is like gossip on steroids these days. The ability to say something, instantly text it to thousands of people, or post on your facebook account for the world to see is mind boggling! I really don’t know how the teenagers of today cope w/ it. We had it much easier than they do.
That said, just because someone doesn’t agree with you, says something derogatory about you, or gossips about you, doesn’t mean they hate you. Everyone seems to focus on the negative statements because they are more flamboyant. How boring is it to tell your friend that “jane said you are a good coach”. It is much more sensational to say, “Jane said you yell too much, she hates you”. How do those two statements coexist?
Let’s assume that the first part of the comment is correct. “Jane said you yell too much”. Maybe you do yell too much, I think my wife yells too much, does that mean I hate her? Of course not! I love my wife dearly, she is the finest piece of booty on the planet! That doesn’t mean I have to approve of everything she does. So how do we make the connection from the criticism of yelling too much, to the part where hate comes in? There is none to be made.
So, I choose to believe everyone loves me, because deep down inside, how could you not? I am good looking, personable, funny, witty, and a fantastic friend! At least that’s the way I see it!…lol. So no matter how much you criticize, how many stones you throw my way, how much aspersion you cast, you can’t break me down, I am stronger than that, and once you get to know me, you love me unconditionally. I feel the same about you, no matter who you are, I will find good in you.
Roger Waters of Pink Floyd said it best, “all it all it’s just another brick in the wall”.
What keeps you positive in the face of adversity? How do you stay focused?
This post sponsored through the pepperjamNETWORK by:
Buy now and pay later. Get $10 off on orders worth $50 at Auto Parts Warehouse (offer valid for new Bill Me Later Customers).
Take $10 off A Milk & Dark Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Order with Code: STRAW10SAV
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e44a8a7f-9e57-4c48-bd8b-a5c4f6516964)
The Kids Don’t Care
If you only read this headline, you would think I was about to write an article about how the kids don’t care any more, they are selfish spoiled brats, they only want to play video games, and don’t care about quality or performance or anything. But those of you that read this regularly know that isn’t my view of today’s youth. The parents, however, are a completely different story.
This weekend our league hosted the First Annual Spring Break Slam softball tournament using the new modified Little League Special Games Rules. The rules allow teams to play up to three games a day and relax pitching restrictions so you can stay competitive. Their are also other minor rules changes, but that is not important at this point.
My seniors team was eliminated in the first round of the elimination brackets so this afforded me the luxury of being able to sit back and watch games from an unbiased perspective. One I am rarely afforded. One thing stuck out to me more than anything else, the kids don’t care about anything except the game! The parents on the other hand.
For the most part, everything ran smoothly. All in all, the tournament was a huge success. But there were a couple of games where the coaches began arguing with each other, umpires, and spectators. While all this was occurring, I decided to focus on the field and watch the kid’s reactions. Guess what? They couldn’t have cared less.
The kids had no idea what the adults were arguing about, didn’t even care what they were arguing about, and at one point one of the older girls said to her dad, “Be quiet and just let us play the game”. Wow, amazing! And profound.
Meanwhile, while the coaches from one team were arguing with each other, the players were picking each other up, politely handing bats to one another, and showing professional courtesy across the board. Don’t get me wrong, they were playing hard and out to win, but they did it with dignity and a level or respect for each other that can only be learned through years of spirited competition.
Bottom line, the kids had no idea, nor did they care, what was happening outside of the lines, all they wanted to do was have fun, compete, and win or lose, they weren’t going to let it impact their lives.
I ask this to all the coaches out there, Does it really matter if you win the game tonight or the tournament next weekend? Will the sun still come up tomorrow? Will anything in your life be dramatically effected because the team of kids you coach aren’t champions? Of course not, so why do we act as if our lives depend on victory? Ironically, it is when you focus on fundamentals, sportsmanship, and teamwork, that victory soon follows.
Quit arguing, sit back, enjoy the action, provide guidance when needed, and focus when lost. There is no place for bickering on the field, it simply isn’t worth it.
This post sponsored through the pepperjamNETWORK by:
Design Guru Bags – As Seen on Heidi Klum. Start Designing!
LucysDogHouse.net Is The Place To Shop For All Dog Needs And Get Free Shipping On Orders Over $100!
Related articles by Zemanta
- Rulebooks for Everyone! (thelittleleaguecoach.com)
- How parents have taken the fun out of games (boston.com)
- Girls Must Be Social (thelittleleaguecoach.com)
- Product Review: 7 Minute Dynamic Baseball Warm-up (thelittleleaguecoach.com)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=32278150-d723-4212-b6b5-11d2ecea4324)
What our Readers are Saying