Freshman Football Camp

We had about thirty kids show up to the annual football camp at Riverside this morning. Great group of kids with a whole bunch of talent. Looks like we will be throwing the ball around this year to a bunch of different receivers. Kids got after it and busted their tails through all the offensive drills. I have been blessed to get a talented group every year at Riverside. Practice officially kicks off on Monday.

Tonight we have our second to the last night of The Sorcerer's Apprentice at the El Paso Playhouse. It has been a good experience despite the small crowds. The next show is Graceland and Asleep at the Wheel at the end of August.

Jazzy has her awards ceremony for t-ball tomorrow and Stevo will be playing basketball in the morning. We are looking in to the next sport for the both of them. Thinking we might put Stevo in football and jazz in basketball. Life is good.

T-Ball is officially over.

Saturday Jazzy laced up her cleats for the last time this summer. I had a great time coaching her Tiger t-ball team this summer however, I have learned five things a parents should know before they decide to coach their kids t-ball team.

1. Patience. You need this skill more than anything . The kids will certainly test your skill in this area. You have to be ready to grant bathroom breaks during the middle on an inning, tie shoes twenty times during a two inning game, deal with a ball of energy who is hyped up on birthday candy and cake. You will be tested but the reward will be great. These little guys will look up to you like you wear a cape and leap over buildings in your spare time.

2. Bring extra equipment. A kid will always forget a glove, a hat, something. Its always good to be prepared and ready for anything.

3. Make sure the parents know when they are in charge of bringing snacks. The kids could care less if they win or lose but if you forget the snack they will go after you with a bat.

4. Remember that they are kids. Their stance may remind you of Alex Rodriguez and they may throw the ball harder than Mariano Rivera but all they are thinking about is having fun. Always encourage them even when they make a mistake. A lot of coaches can tear down a kid but few know how to build them up.

5. Be creative. Practices will be a major hurdle for a t-ball coach whether they are a novice or a battle tested veteran. Keep them fun. Remember there are a thousand different ways to fillet a trout (or teach a kid how to throw). The best thing we ever did in practice was use games like relay races to teach how to run the bases and competitions like throw the ball and hit the bucket to teach the proper way to throw to first base. being creative and prepared will make your life so much easier and will reduce the amount of white hairs that will invade your head during the season.

I was really fortunate to have a great group of kids and awesome coaching partners this season. Jess was great in handling the kids in the dugout and keeping the parents informed about everything. Proud of Jazzy for letting her Dad coach. Now it's on to basketball season.

Got a chance to watch the El Paso fighter Antonio Escalante fight on ESPN2 tonight. I had never watched in him in action and was impressed with the way he handled the veteran opponent Cornelius Locke. ESPN analyst,Teddy Atlas, made good comments about the El Paso crowd and it looks like Escalante might get a title shot in the near future. I miss yelling at the screen with my brothers and my dad after a fighter gets knocked down or is cut. I have loved boxing since I was a little kid when my dad used to take us to watch fights at Memorial Coliseum. I still remember cheering for Corpus Christi legends Frankie Panchito Warren, Roberto Elizondo, and Jesse Benavidez. My brother David is a huge boxing fan who can give you breakdown of all the divisions with the skill of an HBO analyst. Greatest fight memories: any Sugar Ray Leonard fights (cause we hated him so much), Alexis Arguello losing to Aaron Pryor (I cried when Alexis lost), Roberto Duran saying "No Mas, the Gatti-Ward fights, the rise and fall of Mike Tyson. Hope to continue the tradition my father started with my own son. Hopefully we'll be watching Escalante fight for the title soon.

Counting Sheep Ain't Working

It's 4:30 in the morning and I am wide awake. Damn. I have to be one of the world's worst insomniacs. I have watched the same ESPN highlights for three hours now and have picked up about three different books but nothing seems to work. Feel like one of those people that Benjamin Bratt tries to help in The Cleaner. I have always had this problem but summer is the worst for me. Too much time on my hands. Have a coaching clinic for basketball to go to today and rehearsal for the show at the playhouse so I'm thinking I'll stay up all day so I can be sleepy by the time 10 pm rolls around. Decided to start running again. Ankle finally feels better. Might just take off in the next couple of minutes because I am getting frustrated trying to get to sleep. See if I can at least run three miles without killing myself. Tired of the treadmill so will head over to Franklin track. Crazy how many people are out there this time of morning. Planning on going to Corpus before school starts to see everybody. My brother David just had another baby. Five boys now. Think my mom said she has 15 or 16 grand kids now. So many she can't even keep track. Read an awesome post by Priscilla on facebook about her kids. Put a lot of things into perspective. Decided on theater season for next year. Roosters, Boys Next Door, The Diviners, and one other show for one-act. Rambling cause I'm tired but not sleepy. Guess I'll lace up the shoes and head out.

The Sorcceror's Apprentice at the El Paso Playhouse

I am currently in the show The Sorcerers other Apprentice at the El Paso Playhouse. I get to play a mean old dragon that can't eat anybody because he has a nasty toothache. I have a great cast and crew to work with and the audiences seem to be enjoying the show. Leave it to El Paso to have a Mexican dragon.

Field Day for Stevo and Jazz

Steve and Jazz did well during their field day competitions at school this year. Both brought home alot of ribbons.

I Never Saw Another Butterfly at El Paso Playhouse

I did my first play at the El Paso Playhouse a few months back and was glad to be back on stage again. Jess and the kids were really good about supporting me through long rehearsals and an even longer run. The play dealt with the Holocaust and the children who lost their lives at a concentration camp in Terazin.

Summer Pictures

Fourth of July at the Diablos game

We decided to spend our Fourth of July at a Diablos baseball game. The place was packed and the game was pretty good. Stevo and Jazz handle the game real well comapred to when they were smaller. Pretty cheap entertainment that we enjoy as a family. Love the fact that they have a family section where beer drinking is not allowed.

Stevo's Summer basketball team The Celtics

I decided to coach Stevo's 8 and under YMCA basketball team this summer. the kids on his team are great and the parents have been good. Jess helps out with the snack schedules and with all the communication with the parents and i get to concentrate on coaching. The league doesnt take score and we aren't allowed to play zone on defense but the kids get a great handle on learning the fundamentals. Stevo has gotten alot better since he started out playihg a few years ago. He scored eight points a few games back and six this past Saturday.

Stevo's machine pitch team The Dodgers

Stevo finished playing in his second season at frank Manning Little League a few months ago. He played for the Dodgers this year and improved in everything but his hitting. He had trouble hitting the ball from the pitching machine and was in a slump for a few games. Think baseball will be one of his best sports once he learns the mechancis of hitting.

Jazzy's T-Ball Team

Jazz is about to finish the summer league of t-ball this week. I volunteered to coach her team this summer and got more than i bargained for. Coaching these kids was fun but took alot of patience and creativity. They are a great group of kids who mad big improvements throughout the summer. Jazz hits the ball well and is proud of her stance when she is on the bases. The pink helmet and glove is her idea. Jess has been the team mom and has helped to keep me sane jazz will be playing soccer in the fall and might try out cheerleading. El Paso has alot of youth sporting opportunities maing it a great place to raise the kids.