This morning, Edie was on fire.  A goal, 2 assists, and a bunch of ground balls.  She went into a few scrums and came out with the ball.  Just awesome.  I’m so proud of her.

Last weekend, Liz tried out for Lightning A.  She showed her stuff.  She played really well.  A goal, a pipe shot, a saved shot, a few draws and some really good plays.  Unfortunately for Liz, the “powers that be” in Catonsville had decided the A team before the tryouts.  They didn’t even watch her play.  They didn’t care.  Just so unfair and reckless.  These adults should have no business being around kids.  Just shameful.

They put Liz on a B team, which had nothing to do with her abilities.  It had to do with her father, they didn’t want me coaching.

Liz, you’re a rock star.  And your sister Edie is on your heels.

Sometimes I feel that a human beings natural desire to be liked or to be part of the in group that society says is the norm clouds their ability to make fair and rational decisions.  It is the true leaders and good men that stand up for the wronged.  True and wonderful accomplishments would never occur if hard choices weren’t made or if people just went along with the status quo.  In the end, I am a true believer, that everyone gets what they really deserve.
– Marcia Kennedy

My wife wrote something profound today.  I think she is on to something.  I hope she embraces it.  Because she is absolutely right.  And I’m inspired by my wife.

I am very torn lately.  I want to teach my kids the right lessons in sports.  And I want them to grow up and be confident in themselves, and, at the same time, exercise good sportsmanship.

Lately though some things have really puzzled me.  What is the right move?  What is the right action for me to take?

Two examples:

1 – Elizabeth tried out for Catonsville lacrosse Lightning team.  She was playing great.  One of the best through the drills.  But, when the split the teams, they said that she was a C team player.  This was not right and it was blatantly obvious.  It was also apparent that this was no accident.  There are some very mean people making the decisions that are very jealous of me.  Elizabeth was very upset, but I didn’t know what to tell her.

2 – Elizabeth and her field hockey team yesterday played in the Harvest Hockey tournament.  We had some of the best players on our team, and we could have beaten anybody.  We got stopped though in the quarterfinals.  Elizabeth Perry’s goal was not counted and we lost by one goal.  I told the kids to forget about the bad call and not complain about it.  But that is hard for kids to swallow.  Hard for me to swallow.

Chip Marshall told me recently – “God grant me the serenity to accept the things that I cannot change”

I went to Loyola.  The full quote:

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”

I struggle with the last part.