Comments for John U. Bacon http://johnubacon.com Fri, 18 May 2012 23:40:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Learning How to Lose — and Bounce Back by John Poinier http://johnubacon.com/2012/05/learning-how-to-handle-a-loss/#comment-7085 John Poinier Fri, 18 May 2012 23:27:35 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=849#comment-7085 I enjoy your commentaries and feel I must comment on this one as I too have had a similar conflict both as a parent and a coach. As a parent we went to Cleveland for a tournament (travel hockey) where my son averaged 3 minutes a game. Realizing that he wasn't the strongest member on the team, and the object in travel hockey is not for everyone to get equal ice time but to field the most competitive lines I did not comment about how he had the least amount of ice but was the most productive player. Driving back I tried to explain to him that sometimes coaches get caught up in the game and lose track of what happens on the ice but base their decisions on previous games and practices I'm not sure he bought it but he said that he thought he needed to work harder in practices and not goof around so much. Later, as a travel coach, we went to a tournament and decided to alternate our goalies. After reaching the finals, the decision was made to go with the goalie who had won the last game after a stellar performance. It was extremely hard to justify to the mother of the sitting goalie why the decision was made. Needless to say, the goalie absolutely stunk, and we ended up pulling him after the first period. In sports, be it playing, parenting, or coaching there are lessons to be learned and times when the "fairness" just isn't there. It is because of those times that life and sports imitate each other. Life is not fair but we learn this lesson, make the best of it and move on. I enjoy your commentaries and feel I must comment on this one as I too have had a similar conflict both as a parent and a coach. As a parent we went to Cleveland for a tournament (travel hockey) where my son averaged 3 minutes a game. Realizing that he wasn’t the strongest member on the team, and the object in travel hockey is not for everyone to get equal ice time but to field the most competitive lines I did not comment about how he had the least amount of ice but was the most productive player. Driving back I tried to explain to him that sometimes coaches get caught up in the game and lose track of what happens on the ice but base their decisions on previous games and practices I’m not sure he bought it but he said that he thought he needed to work harder in practices and not goof around so much.

Later, as a travel coach, we went to a tournament and decided to alternate our goalies. After reaching the finals, the decision was made to go with the goalie who had won the last game after a stellar performance. It was extremely hard to justify to the mother of the sitting goalie why the decision was made. Needless to say, the goalie absolutely stunk, and we ended up pulling him after the first period. In sports, be it playing, parenting, or coaching there are lessons to be learned and times when the “fairness” just isn’t there. It is because of those times that life and sports imitate each other. Life is not fair but we learn this lesson, make the best of it and move on.

]]> Comment on Learning How to Lose — and Bounce Back by Meredith Gremel http://johnubacon.com/2012/05/learning-how-to-handle-a-loss/#comment-7080 Meredith Gremel Fri, 18 May 2012 17:29:39 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=849#comment-7080 AMEN John! I've forwarded this to the Rockford High School Athletic Director and coaches I know. And one other thought -- parents who continually tell their kids they are great at whatever they do to build up their self confidence (or avoid conflict/reality) only rob their kids of their ability to self evaluate because their internal meter is completely out of whack. Keep up the good work! AMEN John! I’ve forwarded this to the Rockford High School Athletic Director and coaches I know. And one other thought — parents who continually tell their kids they are great at whatever they do to build up their self confidence (or avoid conflict/reality) only rob their kids of their ability to self evaluate because their internal meter is completely out of whack. Keep up the good work!

]]> Comment on Learning How to Lose — and Bounce Back by Adam http://johnubacon.com/2012/05/learning-how-to-handle-a-loss/#comment-7073 Adam Fri, 18 May 2012 13:45:21 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=849#comment-7073 I cannot thank you enough for writing this. On the last day of JV baseball tryouts in 9th grade I was the only person cut. He read off the names of everyone on the team and it took me a second to realize that I was the only person he didn't call. My parents helped me cope, but also worked to create it into a learning experience, and it only further motivated me to try out again (with better results) the next year. I cannot thank you enough for writing this. On the last day of JV baseball tryouts in 9th grade I was the only person cut. He read off the names of everyone on the team and it took me a second to realize that I was the only person he didn’t call.

My parents helped me cope, but also worked to create it into a learning experience, and it only further motivated me to try out again (with better results) the next year.

]]> Comment on The Most Powerful Sentence of the Century by robert robinson http://johnubacon.com/2012/05/the-most-powerful-sentence-of-the-century/#comment-6845 robert robinson Sat, 12 May 2012 14:36:55 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=842#comment-6845 I would not celebrate it because of the way it changed football-not the same game it was----Bo said it many times I would not celebrate it because of the way it changed football-not the same game it was—-Bo said it many times

]]> Comment on The World’s Most Important Soccer League by perry http://johnubacon.com/2012/04/the-worlds-most-important-soccer-league/#comment-6441 perry Wed, 02 May 2012 13:08:53 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=826#comment-6441 Amazing story John. I've read a bit about Mandela's time on the island. Their strength and perseverance was amazing and is now legendary. As usual, your story was poignant and honors the subject. Well done! Amazing story John. I’ve read a bit about Mandela’s time on the island. Their strength and perseverance was amazing and is now legendary. As usual, your story was poignant and honors the subject. Well done!

]]> Comment on The World’s Most Important Soccer League by Terry MacEwen http://johnubacon.com/2012/04/the-worlds-most-important-soccer-league/#comment-6307 Terry MacEwen Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:38:42 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=826#comment-6307 Hi John, The blog on soccer was moving and continues your fine writing. I am writing because we are going to Capetown in October (not missing any home games) then on to Zulu Nayala for 6 days on photo safari. In Capetown,where would you recommend staying, what would you say are things not to miss? I'd really appreciate hearing from you. Go Blue! Terry MacEwen PS.I do hope you remember me....the first time we met was at PSU. Hi John,

The blog on soccer was moving and continues your fine writing.

I am writing because we are going to Capetown in October (not missing any home games) then on to Zulu Nayala for 6 days on photo safari.

In Capetown,where would you recommend staying, what would you say are things not to miss?

I’d really appreciate hearing from you.

Go Blue!

Terry MacEwen

PS.I do hope you remember me….the first time we met was at PSU.

]]> Comment on The World’s Most Important Soccer League by andrew hulce http://johnubacon.com/2012/04/the-worlds-most-important-soccer-league/#comment-6272 andrew hulce Thu, 26 Apr 2012 23:10:21 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=826#comment-6272 I would like to forward this to a soccer fan who lived in the Cape Town area for several years (my daughter) - by I see no place to forward. ??? I would like to forward this to a soccer fan who lived in the Cape Town area for several years (my daughter) – by I see no place to forward. ???

]]> Comment on A Clean, Well-Lighted Place by Nicolle http://johnubacon.com/2012/04/a-clean-well-lit-place/#comment-6084 Nicolle Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:39:56 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=798#comment-6084 So sad to hear about the Parthenon closing. One of my roommates in college worked there. I and her other roommates would order the saganaki just so she would have to yell "opa!". Great local place. So sad to hear about the Parthenon closing. One of my roommates in college worked there. I and her other roommates would order the saganaki just so she would have to yell “opa!”. Great local place.

]]> Comment on Bad Idea — But Great Career Move by Judy Chaffee http://johnubacon.com/2012/04/bad-idea-but-great-career-move/#comment-6000 Judy Chaffee Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:41:58 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=821#comment-6000 John, truly funny stuff, the BP with the touch of your hair was masterful! Fabulous John! John, truly funny stuff, the BP with the touch of your hair was masterful! Fabulous John!

]]> Comment on Doing Good While Doing Well by jean matthews http://johnubacon.com/2012/04/doing-good-while-doing-well/#comment-5702 jean matthews Sat, 14 Apr 2012 00:15:53 +0000 http://johnubacon.com/?p=808#comment-5702 WOW!!! How good does it get, John? You write as if he were there for you throughout your remarkable climb to the top of your field. The enigmatic man we appreciated for almost rogue journalism is now a 360 overly generous Michigan man "Doing good, while doing well." Thank you for giving us Mike Wallace, the man we didn't know. I realize, now, that I hardly knew him for some 70 years. WOW!!! How good does it get, John? You write as if he were there for you throughout your remarkable climb to the top of your field. The enigmatic man we appreciated for almost rogue journalism is now a 360 overly generous Michigan man “Doing good, while doing well.” Thank you for giving us Mike Wallace, the man we didn’t know. I realize, now, that I hardly knew him for some 70 years.

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