Entry #61 - 12/29/06

The last eight months (since my last journal entry) have flown by. A lot has happened and there has been a lot on my mind. I have continued to write in my journal but over this time period I have been contemplating whether to continue the Baseball Digest. Writing in my journal is a great release for me. It forces me to take time to be quiet. This is something that we don't do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. I recently listened to a CD in my car in which the author explained, "The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams!" The author encouraged everyone to schedule some quiet "dream time". No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts. No matter what time of day it is I always look forward to writing in my journal, even if it is only for a few minutes.

During the summer I had pretty much made up my mind to discontinue the Baseball Digest. Many of my peers in the coaching profession think I'm an idiot for putting my thoughts and ideas on record for all to see. In some ways I can definitely see their point of view. In our profession we have to be very guarded. Coaches shouldn't "put themselves out there". With the growth of college athletics and the growth of all the media outlets, everyone always has an opinion on every decision a coach makes. It seems far safer for a coach to keep his thoughts and ideas in house or to himself, rather then on display for the entire world to see.

The culture of the world of athletics is so much different now then it was when I was playing or for anyone who participated in athletics before the 1980's. Growing up, if I ever once complained to my parents about a teacher or coach, I knew that argument had a snowballs chance in you know where of being won. The teacher/coach was in charge and their word or decision was final. If I wasn't playing or I was struggling in the classroom, my parents stressed to me that it was up to me to stand on my own two feet and change my situation in order to excel. It certainly wasn't the teacher or the coach's responsibility to change in order to adjust to me.

In the world of sports today it is amazing how many experts there are concerning athletics. All that you have to do is turn on your television, read the newspaper or listen to a radio talk show and you will get bombarded with people who have all the answers. Now don't get me wrong, this is what being a sport's fan is about. I am as big a sport's fan as there is and I watch some sort of sporting event every night. I will be glad to give you my opinion on all the incorrect moves Bill Parcells made with The Cowboys this past season or even the bonehead moves Coach K is making with his Duke Blue Devils this season. I remember during the last winter Olympics, I found myself questioning one of our country's finest short track speed skaters. Jody just laughed at me and mumbled something about my own personal skills on the ice. I may be the worst ice skater in the universe.

Although I have an opinion, I still have never once seen the Dallas Cowboys or Duke Blue Devils practice. I don't even know the rules of short track speed skating. I have never seen or broke down any film of their teams or their opponents. I have never prepared a scouting report or studied any tendencies for either of their teams or opponents. I have no knowledge of their players' attitudes, body language or performance in practice. Yet I still feel like I have the answers for these coaches. I must be crazy.

So be the world of athletics we now live in. Sports is always changing and evolving. Some changes are for the good and some are probably for the worse, but that's the way it is. So after much deliberation I have decided to go ahead and continue the Baseball Digest for at least one more season. What really swayed my decision were the calls, emails and conversations from our baseball alumni who said they looked forward to reading about what was going on in the program. I appreciate their interest and I so much appreciate what they all have done for ETSU Baseball.

Happy New Year! Only 40 days until Opening Day! I can't wait.

Until Next Time...

Coach Skole