[Kevin T.]

I played only rec sports growing up. A couple seasons of basketball, Little League and rec soccer. I saw my other friends play traveling and yeah, i knew i could compete at that level and probably be better than some of them in any of the sports. But, even though i was mad at my parents for not letting me at the time, looking back on it now, its the best thing they could've done for me. It also helps i think that my parents weren't athletes and never coached any of my teams. Yea, they've come to almost every game and offered positive encouragement, but, them both being music people, they never pressured me or tried to live out their dreams through me.

I look at some kids my age. One kid screwed up his knees back in middle school and can't run normal. The others are the ones dropping like flies with injuries. The only things i've have problems with are sprained and twisted ankles here and there, some weird knee things, and now the other day, i strained my hip flexor. Other than that, i've been fine. Nothing that i couldn't play through.

I find it ridiculous thought, that now, in my town, even the rec league is getting ugly. The league isn't allowing teenagers to umpire the major division games (5&6 grades) because it's gotten that bad. I have to say that i've been blessed. Got in with a really good class in all 3 of my schools, played with a good group of kids growing up, gotten the good teachers, gotten outta schools as they start to go a little downhill, etc. I find it shocking that noone in the area realizes that we don't live in a big recruiting area for colleges. I think the last kid who made it pro in football around here was the guy who made the tackle that hurt Bo Jackson. That guy went to HS with my dad! That's over 20 years now. Around me, there's only a couple schools, all parochial or private, that produce the athletes that get scholarships. The Delbartons, Don Boscos, St. Josephs, etc. I find it hard to believe that, even though the coaches remind the players constantly of it, the parents are too stubborn to realize that their kid isnt playing against good enough kids to prove they've got anything to colleges