elhector1

My apologies for everyone think that I was comparing Kris' ability to Young... I was talking about his "mobility", the fact that he was a threat as a runner and a passer...and a blocker... Young was not one dimensional, and neither was Omey...but Young had stronger athletic abilities... Omey, however, took the Bears deep into the playoffs...only to run into perennial power LaMarque...and even then, we at least gave a good account of ourselves...

I don't care what daddy ball coaches say. I haven't met a coach to this day who has a child playing in a key skilled position, whether it's football or basketball. But I hear it's just as bad in baseball. Your son plays quarterback because he is the best player on your team at this position? Or because he is the best at handing the ball off to the running backs? My son PLAYED (past tense) the position because he could hand off and pitch out the ball pretty consistently...which in flag football is pretty much all of the time. He was the calmest kid in the pocket, but if you ask, did he have a rocket arm? No, and pretty much, at 5,6, and 7, it doesn't exist. Actually, with one exception...I was asked to coach a flag team after my son decided baseball was his sport...and there is a kid from WOS that played for me who was called "Q"...last name Garrett, DePauldrick's little brother. 25-30 yards, tight spiral, all at the age of 7...Coach Hooks is gonna love this kid. His favorite target...actually the only kid that could catch the ball, was Jamarcus Rhodes...Dang, it was fun coaching those kids. Anyway...if you ask if I was a coach for baseball, only in his later years in summer ball.

As far as "daddy ball" goes...sometimes, those same dads set their kids up for failure in their teenage years. They pump their kids up, and then in high school, junior goes bust, because nothing is set up for him to succeed...he has never learned failure, he has never learned "team"...now remember, I'm talking about the "daddy (or mommy)" kids... However, if a coach is worth his or her salt, they won't focus on their kid exclusively. If they do that, the team loses. Plain and simple. Parents may see their kid as the next reincarnation of a great player, but those great players will be the first ones to tell you that without the "O" line, and without the defense keeping the other team from scoring, they would be less than they have been made out to be. I have coached the little guys in flag, both here and in El Paso. My oldest was a big boy, and he played on the line, or as a center. Others carried the ball, but we had a team concept. In the Pop Warner system here, my middle son was the quarterback...but he handed the ball off a lot, a whole lot. Like 95% of the time...because he had talented RBs, and THOSE kids parents never, ever asked me to play their kids at that position...they let me decide who to play where. Additionally, the one team concept helped those talented kids understand that without the rest of the team, they couldn't get those big runs.

LC-M had a "Vince Young" type of quaterback in Omey...highly mobile, and the wishbone threat was multi pronged because of this...if there was another QB out there like him, LC-M would be a legitimate threat for playoffs in 20-4A. The thing is, I truly beleive that LC-M has the building blocks for success...but like Coach Williams said, it starts with the youth programs. I don't think those youth programs stopped putting out quality kids, I just think the talent pool was squandered. The comptetitive Frosh and JV programs, post baseball departures, give testament to the fact that the talent was there... Getting back to the youth programs, I was privledged to coach the little dudes in flag football in the Orange County Pop Warner organization. I can legitimately say I got to coach Jacoby Franks, Trey Franks, Seth Thomas, and Earl Thomas, among others. Did I get to teach them all the moves that made them stars? LOL...Oh, HECK NO!...That is natural talent, along with a high school coach who rrrreeeeaaallllyyy knows his stuff. But along with that were parents who regarded hard work as important and not the designation of their kids as "stars". I think as a coach, you have to look at the team as a whole, and not see individuals, but one unit, with one heart...even if it's only "student body left" or "student body right". Hopefully, the next coach will find the heart of the bear, strengthen it and motivate it...Coach Moody has lost his chance for that...

My apologies...I, personally, would like to see Coach Moody depart, based on the way he treated the other sports as an AD. In that capacity, he has to keep an even and fair hand, and he has not. Softball, a state championship winner, only got an upgrade to their facilities because of their former coach, after coach Bean, and not as a result of the athletic department. My reference to the "forgiveness" about other sports being shortchanged is not necessarily mine, but rather most of the fans. This is after all, Texas, and winnning football programs and coaches can pretty much do what they want. As to the "dry spell"...having a streak of losses where the game was tight, and you were in it up until the last quarter at least, that to me is a "dry spell"...having your team embarrassed in the first half is not a dry spell...it's a failure of leadership, leadership that belongs at the top, with the head coach.

You're not wanting to start a rumor.... so you decided to do so to see if it was a rumor. Uh huh. If was coach Moody I would leave after this year, take my family and leave. The only thing I ever read is finger pointing at Moody. LCM has for the most point has always lost in football. Maybe it is not just him. I can tell you this I would not take that job for 100,000 dollars. There is no support from community, parents, or the players. Maybe just maybe if the so called grown ups would not always down the coach maybe they might win. All the kids quiting is a joke, the parents sould be kicking the kids in the butt. While the Bears may not have been a football power, they weren't a doormat either. It seems that this coach has lost the one thing any coach needs to have to have a chance in any football game...confidence in him by his players. Many had already lost confidence in him as an AD, as he has treated every other sport in a shoddy way. The improvements seen in other sport facilities were due to the coaches and parents coming together and providing "sweat equity" to improve those facilities. There were roadblocks along the way from the athletic department, and the sweat equity provided by one coach in wonderfully improving his facilities just resulted in his dismissal on questionable grounds. So, now, we can somewhat forgive this if the football team is at least competetive...but it isn't. I know too many of those kids, and have seen their hard work...but I have not seen any motivation from the coaches. I have seen predictability, and an entrenched attitude, that only his view is the correct one... Maybe it is time for Coach Moody to leave...for the sake of the football team, and al other sports as well...

My apologies...I've been calling him JV for a couple of years now...yes, I meant him, Joseph Viator.

I think Jesse Riojas is a perfect fit for the Mustangs. Jesse knows how to coach, but then again, he also knows how to inspire a team. As has been seen on this thread already, there are people who are going to lay minefields for him. Jess...don't pay attention to those folks. Go out, teach and mentor those kids, like Griff taught and mentored you. I look forward to seeing the 'Stangs contending for the 21-3A title.

Congrats to both Ben and Chad. Great kids, and well deserving!

I don't think any of the people here beleive that "3rd teamers" should start simply because of hard work...the element of having your best guys out there comes into play. However, if your "best guys" have oddles of talent and no commitment, and no work ethic, then you must find a way to give them some. Look at it in your workplace...if you have a guy who is "boss' favorite" and he has no incentive to work hard, why should he? How does that affect you? Do you want to strive to do your best, if the house mouse will always get the best and you get the leftovers? It translates the same way to a team. If the starters aren't afraid of being demoted to 2nd or 3rd string, what motiviates them? If they feel there is a guarantee of a starting spot, why work hard? In football, you have to leave the field wide open for advancement. The "3rd teamer" must be almost as good as the first string. That is good coaching. Anyone can take a talented kid and let him play. It takes a heck of a coach to take a raw kid, with little talent, and create a football monster. It takes dedication on the part of the parents, the coach, and the kid. However, the opportunity to move up MUST be there. And playing lazy kids just because they have decent talent brings down a team. Now before all the first string parents jump my case, if your kid is hitting the weight room, running, and doing all the rest of the things necessary to excel, guess what? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR KID! If, however, your kid knows of a teammate that is there on talent alone, and feels they don't have to work hard, then it needs to be addressed. There was a kid on last year's team that embodied the work ethic, and it showed on the field. If you were to look at him, you wouldn't think "bad butt", but on the field, that was exactly what he was to opposing players. This year's team needs to look at JV as the example of work ethic, and copy and embody that. All of them, from 1st string to 10th string. Then, with that example in mind, they can come out and play ball like they should... both are well said....... [move]This year's team needs to look at JV as the example of work ethic, and copy and embody that.[/move] Just a little FYI...... There where some varsity players that where asked to play last Friday.... and did!!!! excellent...but, in the interest of fairness and forthrightness, my "JV" is Joseph Viator...not a snobbish or lazy bone in his body, but a football HOSS...and I saw him work to get there...so take the incentive from both JVs...

I don't think any of the people here beleive that "3rd teamers" should start simply because of hard work...the element of having your best guys out there comes into play. However, if your "best guys" have oddles of talent and no commitment, and no work ethic, then you must find a way to give them some. Look at it in your workplace...if you have a guy who is "boss' favorite" and he has no incentive to work hard, why should he? How does that affect you? Do you want to strive to do your best, if the house mouse will always get the best and you get the leftovers? It translates the same way to a team. If the starters aren't afraid of being demoted to 2nd or 3rd string, what motiviates them? If they feel there is a guarantee of a starting spot, why work hard? In football, you have to leave the field wide open for advancement. The "3rd teamer" must be almost as good as the first string. That is good coaching. Anyone can take a talented kid and let him play. It takes a hell of a coach to take a raw kid, with little talent, and create a football monster. It takes dedication on the part of the parents, the coach, and the kid. However, the opportunity to move up MUST be there. And playing lazy kids just because they have decent talent brings down a team. Now before all the first string parents jump my case, if your kid is hitting the weight room, running, and doing all the rest of the things necessary to excel, guess what? I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT YOUR KID! If, however, your kid knows of a teammate that is there on talent alone, and feels they don't have to work hard, then it needs to be addressed. There was a kid on last year's team that embodied the work ethic, and it showed on the field. If you were to look at him, you wouldn't think "bad ass", but on the field, that was exactly what he was to opposing players. This year's team needs to look at JV as the example of work ethic, and copy and embody that. All of them, from 1st string to 10th string. Then, with that example in mind, they can come out and play ball like they should...

If he really works that hard and cant start on a team that went 1-9 last year there must be something wrong with the kid grades/attitude/ lack of ability or maybe it's a coaching problem...I don't know, but your comment about the kid reflects a lack of understanding about what motivates a ball player. If we're going to go 1-9 again, to tell you the truth, I'd rather have a "less talented" kid in there fighting and scratching to win, than a prima donna starter that doesn't put in the effort. Does this mean that all starters are prima donnas? Nope...but enough are that it is affecting the team's morale. What needs to happen? 1. The dedicated, hard working starters need to step up, and get their team mates on the same page. If they refuse to do so, they need to go to the coaches and let them know; 2. After finding out about laziness and lack of dedication, the coaches need to do their job, and demote the lazy ones down.

Tribe...we feel your pain...congrats on a great season from the Bear Clan...

Indians, good luck tomorrow, win a couple for the district. The LC team looks like they are really relaxed during warm ups, and they aren't a really big team, size wise, but when they take the field, they are all business, as our LCM Bears found out. Go get 'em Indians!

I don't know how many of you saw the movie "Invincible"...there was a character on there that kept "peeing in the corn flakes" of the Vince Paple character, by telling him that he would be right back in the old neighborhood, just like he was, no job, no chance... This reminds me of all the nay sayers, all the "yeah butters", all the complainers. And for what? To tell a team that they don't have much of a chance? Or that their playing life is going to be determined by a coach who doesn't give a crap about hard work? Okay...here goes... Coach Moody, you probably read this, so that gauntlet has been thrown out...will it be the slackers who have no sense of team unity, and have no work ethic, or will it be the guys who give it their all, the guys who will leave everything on the field for you? YOUR CALL, COACH... As for the players...take responsibility for your team, find the will to play above your level...and then do it. I don't care if you have been told that you are "too small", "too slow", "too inexperienced"...whatever...blow it off, find that extra second of run time, find that extra 10 pounds when you are lifting weights, find that extra bit of learning...YOUR CALL, TEAM... In that same movie I mentioned above, there was a line that the coach of the Eagles supposedly said..." a team with character will find a way to beat a team with talent"...do it... As for us fans...let's go to the games, let's support our team, our band, our cheerleaders...all these things that are a part of "Friday Night Lights". One of the nice things about this, is that we get to look at the head coach, and if you know who was the hoss in practices, off season and pre season, and that person is not playing...you get to stare at the head coach/AD...ALL...GAME...LONG...because he will know if he's done right or wrong. Regardless, go out and support the guys who have worked to be on that field, in green and gold, representing the Bears...YOUR CALL, FANS...

Don't be shocked Coop...that team comes up and surprises people...they did it to LCM last year. We had bats, and pitchers, and all kinds of other weapons...they just played like they had nothing to lose, much as the Lamar Consolidated team did this year, when we played them. Barbers Hill found out what we found out...them guys are tough. EAGLE 07, BH FAN-1, you all were class acts...liked talking to you, and y'all stayed after the dust settled, and the season was over...that is class. Good luck next season.

Barber's Hill is no Bay City. Bay City is a very good team and also very under the radar. PNG...good luck, and wishes from an LCM fan on facing Lamar Consolidated. Don't let their relaxed demeanor fool you. They will take full advantage of every little mistake you make, so make very few, if any.

well, now it's officially over... no more baseball, at least not watching "that kid" play... Briseno, Garza, Gunn, Jones, Maldonado, Pousson, Richard, Richard and Viator...you seniors have dressed the final tine as LCM Bears...you guys gave us some great games...thank you...

My apologies...all this with the assumption that the batter make an effort to move out of the way of the pitch. My point being that a head hit would have pretty much have been outside the strike zone regardless of the batter's stance in relation to the plate. Agree that if the guy makes no attempt to avoid the pitch, no base.

The Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde saga continues...tonight, the mild mannered Dr. Jekyll showed up, with a few flashes of Hyde...Tomorrow, Mr. Hyde needs to come out, and just go crazy with the bats. Gotta give props to both the LC 1st baseman and LCM's Tim Barry for continuing to play after the big collision at 1st base...

additionally, he may have been "within the lines" of the plate, but if the ball struck him in the head, then it was more than likely outside the strike zone (high), while still being inside the plate lines. If he was trying to squat to make himself low, and the ball strikes him in the head, then it is still a ball, and base awarded, as simple physics would take the head outside the strike zone in a"squat" type of position.

thanks for the update!!

the last information we have is that Gage has a cyst behind one of his eyes in a difficult to reach place, and it was causing some concern with his eye movement. It is thought to be benign, but regardless of anything, the Bear family is praying for our coach, his family, and especially little Gage. I remember him running around at the Nederland game, holding up my "Osos" sign, yelling out "hot sauce" because that is what he thought it said. He is a strong little trouper, and will come at life with all cylinders firing. He's got a good family team in his dugout, and the rest of the Bear family as well. Get well soon, Gage! I need someone to help me with that sign!

The game of baseball is played as a team sport. I'm not sure about your experience with select baseball but mine has been very good. Maybe you have played maybe you are just throwing out something that you think and really don't have any knowledge of. Whatever the situation, you are lumping a whole group into one. What you are saying is that every kid and every select team doesn't learn the team concept. You are wrong my friend. First of all I would caution anyone from lumping any group and making an assumption on the whole group. I can promise you any kid that plays for me, league or select learns to play as a team player. There are alot of super talented kids that know how to play as a team player. The type of kid you are talking about wouldn't be a team player regardless of him playing select ball. You missed an important part of my post TD..."in the local sense". By it's nature, select ball takes talented kids and makes them more talented, but it takes them from different areas of the Golden Triangle. They are team players, they know how to play as a team, but they don't grow up together "locally" as a team. Where the league ball component comes in is where they get to play with non select kids that are going to be their teammates in high school, learning to play with players that either are pretty good, or are as talented as them but chose not to play select ball. Both components enhance the ball playing experience. I get your point a little more but I still disagree. At OYBS we have kids from WOS, LCM, Bridge City, Deweyville and Vinton. Probably some more areas that I just can't think of. These kids will not play high school ball together. I think people put too much emphasis on who they will play with in high school. Most of these kids won't even play high school baseball and who knows where they will live at that point anyway. It is my job as a parent to put my children in the best situations that I can. I take that responsibility very seriously not only with sports but life in general. I can see your point about being a parent, and wanting the best for your kid. I just beleive that exposing them to both select and league ball will give them the best possible situation. I agreed with that also. That's why both of my boys are playing both. However, I just don't see how it will be possible to continue to do both. There is not enough of me to go around. They play in two different age groups in league ball and it's too hard to coach both. I'm doing it this year but when there is a rain out it messes up the whole schedule and then you feel like you are cheating one age group or the other. Not to mention that the only way to do that is that you have to be the VP of one of the leagues so you can make sure the schedules don't conflict. Good luck doing it your way. I tried it and now I will have to do it another way. after the playoffs, I will be done. Props to you for working hard to do everything you can. I was a league official (Little League) and it got tired after a while. Too many "I'll help, but don't want responsibility" parents, or the "I paid my money, babysit my kid parents". Try to work with the oldest first, then the next one. It may seem unfair, but the younger one gets you a bit longer than the oldest one does. Good luck either way you go.

The game of baseball is played as a team sport. I'm not sure about your experience with select baseball but mine has been very good. Maybe you have played maybe you are just throwing out something that you think and really don't have any knowledge of. Whatever the situation, you are lumping a whole group into one. What you are saying is that every kid and every select team doesn't learn the team concept. You are wrong my friend. First of all I would caution anyone from lumping any group and making an assumption on the whole group. I can promise you any kid that plays for me, league or select learns to play as a team player. There are alot of super talented kids that know how to play as a team player. The type of kid you are talking about wouldn't be a team player regardless of him playing select ball. You missed an important part of my post TD..."in the local sense". By it's nature, select ball takes talented kids and makes them more talented, but it takes them from different areas of the Golden Triangle. They are team players, they know how to play as a team, but they don't grow up together "locally" as a team. Where the league ball component comes in is where they get to play with non select kids that are going to be their teammates in high school, learning to play with players that either are pretty good, or are as talented as them but chose not to play select ball. Both components enhance the ball playing experience. I get your point a little more but I still disagree. At OYBS we have kids from WOS, LCM, Bridge City, Deweyville and Vinton. Probably some more areas that I just can't think of. These kids will not play high school ball together. I think people put too much emphasis on who they will play with in high school. Most of these kids won't even play high school baseball and who knows where they will live at that point anyway. It is my job as a parent to put my children in the best situations that I can. I take that responsibility very seriously not only with sports but life in general. I can see your point about being a parent, and wanting the best for your kid. I just beleive that exposing them to both select and league ball will give them the best possible situation.