Home

I got to go home this past weekend and it reminded me of a lot of things.

I should first clarify "home" for me has several meanings.  Since moving to Chicago with Anna, it's home.  We've been here about 5 years and I consider my house, my life, my new friends, my comfort here in the south suburbs of Chicago...home.  However, I also consider my first 23 years of my life in Michigan home.  The only other house I've ever lived in, the neighborhood I grew up in, the schools I attended, the church I went to, the friends I've made.  All of that is "home" too.

I'm not sure what brought on this stroll down memory lane or what caused me to start thinking about what "home" means, but it started with my cousin Ross and I traveling up to Michigan this past weekend to visit our Grandpa.  We don't get to see him very often in the first place, but he was recently in the hospital and is slowing down a bit, so we thought we should pay him and my Grandma a visit.  My grandparents are not the subject of this post, however, it should not diminish the fact my Grandpa could use some prayer for strength.

In addition to seeing my grandparents, I was also able to see my family, stay up in my old bedroom, be with my mom on Mother's Day, see my siblings and my nephew, go to the church I grew up in, and watch a James Bond movie like the good ol' days.  Like I mentioned earlier, I'm not sure why this particular weekend triggered all these thoughts.  I've made several, if not hundreds, of trips up to Michigan since moving down to Chicago.  Maybe it was because I wasn't with Anna.  Maybe it was because I've realized life has continued to move on while I've been living in Chicago.  Maybe it's because I'm realizing my Grandpa is not who he once was, and will never be the Grandpa I remember while growing up.  I don't know.

Just visiting my old church I realized people I knew when I was a kid and teenager are significantly older now.  Those who could walk on their own are now using walkers.  There are more grey hairs on people's heads.  Those who were infants or young kids are now young adults.  It was a bizarre feeling to see and relive some of those memories.

At home it was nice to sit around the table I ate 98% of my meals at (2% of dinners were on tv trays on Sundays when we got Hungry Howie's pizza and watched America's Funniest Home Videos).  It was great to sit and watch James Bond with my dad and Ross, something we've been doing together since I was a little kid...except Ross.  He lived in Minnesota growing up so he didn't have James Bond.  They watched cheesy cartoons of Paul Bunyan or something.  We reminisced how we would always listen to Adventures in Odyssey while falling asleep.  I looked for them but couldn't find them.  I was assured they're probably around somewhere, but they were probably sold at the annual garage sale along with the rest of my belongings.

Going up to Michigan has a whole new meaning now that I have a nephew.  My brother John and sister-in-law Heather have a son who just might be too cute and awesome for their own good.  I offer evidence below:

This little guy is a ham.  Going up to Michigan is no longer about just coming up to visit, or going to my in-law's cottage in Holland.  Seeing this tank of a boy (he's 7 months by the way) is almost a necessity on our to-do list when we visit.

But all of the above is just one aspect of what I consider "home".  Anna and I have established "home".  We have our own house, our own neighborhood, or own church, we'll have our own kid (in about 3 months), we've set-up shop so to speak.  I don't want to sound like I would move back to Michigan without thinking about it.  What I...what we have going on here in Chicago would be very difficult to give up.  Yes it's great to think about all the stuff I did and saw in the past.  But Chicago is our home.  We have our friends and relationships, and it's not a focus on what I'm missing or those I don't get to see, but it's a reflection on what I still have and what is yet to come.  It makes reliving those memories and spending time with friends and family that much more special.

If you come across my Adventures in Odyssey cassette tapes I'd like them back please.

Tiger's Baseball: A Short Tale

"It's hard not to be romantic about baseball".  -Billie Beane, as portrayed by Brad Pitt

Sunday, April 15, 2012 marked not only my first Major League Baseball game of the 2012 season, but it was my first Tigers' game on the year as well.  I try to make a point of seeing them play live whenever they come through Chicago.  It's actually really nice because they have at least two or three series against the White Sox every year down here on the South side.  This year is a bonus year because the Tigers are playing the Cubs at Wrigley as well.  As I said before, I try to get to at least one game of every series.  And that's exactly what I did this past weekend.

We had pretty nice seats for my season opener.  Thank you Stub Hub for selling tickets at ridiculously low prices less than 12 hours before a game.

It was almost magical.  Sitting there taking in the sights and sounds, listening to Thunderstruck being played over the loud speaker.  It almost moved me to tears.  Baseball is at its finest when you go see a game live, and I don't care who is playing.  But it's even more special when it's the Detroit Tigers...and even more special when your spouse puts up with it.

So, we progress into the pre-game festivities...Elmo threw out the first pitch.

Morel and Ramirez are so terrible they found a couple of local boys to fill in for the day.

I should also mention at this point it was Jackie Robinson Day, so everyone wore #42 in honor of his greatness and achievements in the game of baseball.  They honored Minnie Minoso before the game.  He was Chicago's first African-American Major League Baseball player.  He's the older one on the left in the #42 jersey.

Here's Gene Lemont being a boss.

Overall it was a fun afternoon.  The weather was perfect.  Cabrera and Fielder are just too awesome.  It was fun to be that close to the action.

Here is a cool shot of Justin Verland and Alex Avila discussing their next start together.  

"Hey Justin."  

"Yeah, Alex"

"You should throw a no-hitter your next start."

"Ok"

You heard it hear first.

Final score Tigers 5, White Sox 2.  

Umpires

I know umpires aren't perfect, but sometimes they are just terrible.

I've had the opportunity to coach freshman baseball this spring and it's been an absolute blast.  Naturally, when working with freshmen it comes with its own set of issues.  Immaturity, silliness, and not quite getting what you want them to get are all just part of the gig.  But for the most part, they are a lot of fun.

As of this publication our team is 4-6.  We've played some close games, we've lost some bad games, and we've won some great games.  Today was no exception.  Today was an epic disappointment is what it was.  Let me set the scene.  The score is 2-1 going into the bottom of the 7th inning (we only play 7 innings in high school), two outs, man on 3rd, we are losing.

*Flashback to 3rd inning*  One of our guys hits a ground ball, close play at first.  Bang, bang, we beat the play.  "Out!", calls the umpire in the field.

*Fast forward to the 4th inning*  Same thing, hard ground ball, third baseman can't handle the ball, bang, bang play.  We beat the throw by a step.  "Out!", calls the umpire.

"What!?  NO!  He was safe!  Sir, this is two plays now where we have beaten the play."

*Fast forward to the bottom of the ninth* Let me remind you there are two outs, we have a runner on third.  Our guy steps into the batter's box.  Ball one.  Next pitch is fouled off.  The next pitch is hit hard to the shortstop.  He bobbles the hard ground ball.  He bobbles it again!  The throw to first....our batter steps on first, takes a step after the bag THEN the ball comes into the glove of the first basemen.  I at this point am holding my arms out indicating "safe" and clapping my hands in excitement.

In that split second I look at the umpire.  He looks back at me.  Raises his fist.  "Out!"

Game over.

I immediately run over to him.  "You've got to be kidding me!  There hasn't been a more obvious call all day!  Our guy should be standing on first in a tie ballgame right now and you know it!

The umpire looks at me and says in a quiet, I-told-you-so, attitude, "out".  "What!?!?", I respond.  "Maybe if you haven't been yelling at me all afternoon", he replies.

At this point in time my head coach has run from the third base line and has begun to intercede, pushing me away.  I don't know what they said to each other.  It doesn't matter.

I need to clarify that I was in the umpire's ear in the 3rd and 4th inning.  I was not yelling, I didn't speak in a condescending tone, I only spoke loud enough for him to hear me. For him to use that against our batter in a close game, where he just hit the game-tying RBI, is sickening.  I was so mad at this umpire for deciding a close game based on his resentment towards me.  I was merely trying to defend my players because we told them never to argue with an official.

Judge me how you will, but as a coach, I'm going to defend my players.  I'm not the kind of coach who argues with an umpire for the sake of arguing.  If it's a close call but I think he made the right call, so be it, I'll keep my mouth shut.  But in today's game something had to be said because this umpire was giving the other team free outs.  So for him to do that at the end of the game set me off.  That's wrong.

If I run into this umpire again I will of course shake his hand and apologize.  It's probably the right thing to do.  I just don't want him to continue ruining games for us if he thinks I have a grudge.

I know umpires aren't perfect, but umpires or any official should never use their feelings toward a coach and have that affect the result of the game.  It's not fair to the athletes, it's not fair to the parents.

Thanks for letting me vent.

New Beginnings

Blogging apparently takes a back seat when life gets busy.

Since my last entry the high school basketball season has come to an end, thus ending my announcing for the season.  The team in which I announce for went down to state and ended up getting 3rd.  They had the talent to win it all.  Sad to see them lose.

Also since my last entry I have begun coaching baseball at the freshman level.  It's pretty much what you imagine, except probably more stupid issues to deal with.  It actually wouldn't be that bad if half our team was borderline ineligible.  Seriously!  10 out of 21 guys have at least a D or F if not multiple Ds or Fs.  It could get ugly really fast if they don't get their act together.  Other than that, I love it.  Coaching baseball is a lot of fun.  Our first game is next week Tuesday.  We look to have a lot of promise this year.  For freshmen, they're pretty good.

Another knew beginning since my last update is there is now a baby being formed in my wife's womb.  I'm pretty sure it's mine.  Kidding.  It's mine.  Ours.

All kidding aside, we are very excited about being future parents.  Personally, it hasn't really sunk in yet that I'm going to be a dad.  Everyone I've talked to says it's the best thing to ever happen to them.  I guess it will become very real soon enough.  Anna is due mid-August.  I hope for her that it is a cooler summer (I also hope so for the sake of our A/C bill).

I am going to do my best to continue blogging more regularly.  I know this post is a little scatter-brained, but that's ok.  I'm writing this and watching the latest episode of Psych at the same time, so whatever.

I foresee my blog shifting and changing shapes over the course of the next several months.  I think in the long-run I'd like to see this become my humorous observations of being a dad.  Not necessarily a "hey-look-how-cute-my-kid-is" blog (although, it will probably happen, so I apologize in advance), but a "hey-my-kid-did-this-really-funny-thing", or "I-made-this-quirky-observation-about-fatherhood" blog.  We'll see.  It's way to early to tell.

I leave you with this:

Tebow

The title of this post alone might make some cringe or think, "Oh, here we go again."  I assure you this will not be the typical Tebow banter we've grown accustomed to over the past several months.

Whether you like him or not, the name 'Tebow' has entered our households and our vocabulary since his debut in the NFL with the Denver Broncos.  Not necessarily for his raw talent and ability at the quarterback position, but more so for his faith.  It happened one fateful afternoon when Tim Tebow took a knee to celebrate and to thank God for his success in the game.  "Tebowing" was born.  In fact, students have gotten suspended because of it.  It's become a national sensation.  Even the sports guys on CBS are doing it.

I don't know Tebow's true intentions.  Based upon his character and the way he's carried himself through this media blitz, I have to believe Tim Tebow is a sincere Christian who took a knee to thank God and the media has blown it way out of control (I know it's hard to believe the media can do something like that).

Again, Tim Tebow is not that great of a quarterback (yet).  His arm is certainly not the subject of all the attention.  It's his bravery to share his faith.  Is there a place in pro sports for an outspoken faith?  Maybe.  The mostly, if not all, secular media eats this stuff for lunch.  They find a guy like Tim Tebow who says he's a Christian, a guy who gives God all the glory due to his success, and the media crucifies him.

I think Tim Tebow is a great role model for young athletes, or for anyone really.  What he's doing takes guts.  As I mentioned earlier, I don't know his intentions.  Is he doing it for the attention?  Is he really an honest, humble man of God?  I don't know.  But what I do know is (from what we see on TV) Tim Tebow is a great guy.

Some might say all this Tim Tebow talk puts a bad light on Christianity.  Pray to God about anything and you'll get it, is what we hear on TV.  Be an outspoken Christian who plays sports and you'll lead your team right to the Superbowl (read "The Big Game", for legal reasons).  Was there an Angels in the Outfield thing going on in Sunday's game against Pittsburgh?  Maybe.  Did God have a hand in the game-winning play in overtime?  Maybe.  Do I believe in coincidences?  Sometimes.  Yes, it was absolutely crazy Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards Sunday night (John 3:16).  It was even crazier his average yards per throw was 31.6.  Coincidence or God saying he's a Broncos fan?

I'm a Christian myself and I don't know what to make of all this.  I was raised to give God the glory, especially when things were going well.  I get where Tim Tebow is coming from.  I get he's on a national stage and he has the opportunity to spread the fact he has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  I get it.  Part of me applauds him for his convictions.  Part of me thinks there are other strong, passionate Christian athletes who we don't hear about, and that's maybe the way it should be.  I don't know.  I wish I had the answer.

Maybe it's because we haven't seen a professional athlete like this before.  I can't remember, in my lifetime, an athlete who has been this open with their faith.  I'm having an even harder time thinking of an athlete who was open with their faith who received this much attention from the media.  The only one I can think of is Kurt Warner.  However, I don't ever remember the attention Tebow is getting.

Someday it will die down.  Who knows?  Maybe Tim Tebow will show other Christian athletes it's ok to be open with their faith.  I think that would be awesome.

I'm not really sure how to wrap this all up, but I do know one thing.  If I were in Denver, I would be the biggest Tebow fan there is.  Heck, I'm a fan now.  What a great example he is and I hope he continues to be.

What are your thoughts on all of this Tebow stuff?