The Little League Coach

(Originally Posted Summer 2007)

OK, for the 2 of you that have read this blog, you will find this entertaining.

Last Saturday at my daughters 9/10 YO all-star practice her coach brought out a slip-n-slide to teach the girls how to slide. Great idea! It was hot, they had fun and they learned how to slide. This is where the tragedy began.

I, of course, enjoyed watching the fun. Boy did it look fun! One problem, I now carry an extra 50lbs. It is called a slip-n-slide, but it my case it was a flop-n-drop.

I knew something was wrong the instant I hit the ground. I chose the head first method, a choice I soon learned to regret. Witnesses say that I did not so much dive as I went airborne and crashed to the ground. Thud, I think was the sound they used to describe it.

Instantly, the breath was knocked out of me. Of course, I could not show a bunch of 9/10 YO girls that I was in pain, but it hurt really, really, really bad as they would say.

The same witness asked if maybe I needed 911. I, of course, thought I would be over it in a couple of minutes. It is now four days later and it hurts more than ever! My entire left side is bruised (SNEEZE!!!!!! OWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!! That hurt! Four minutes later I am writing again) in a pattern that shows my rib’s outline. I most certainly have broken it.

The coach , who also was my assistant coach for the regular season, said "you can ride upside down at 70mph and not get a scratch, but you take one turn on a slip-n-slide and you break a rib???" Ironic, but not really funny at this moment. I am sure it will be one day, just not now.

In the end though, the respect I earned from those girls and my daughter especially is worth every bit of pain I am enduring. She said "at least you did it; all of the other’s were wimps".

Wimpyness is something I am rarely accused of. Stupidity? Lack of proper judgment? Insanity? Those are different issues.