The next Dickens?! Cummings?!

I know, I know. What a shocker. I have posted twice in less than 24 hours. Yes, that is what happens when I can't sleep in the middle of the night. I have to find some way to occupy myself. I was reading the Amazing Ben Quinn blog and found myself in complete amazement of his ability to put feelings (if that is what you want to call them) to words. Ben, if you chance to read this, I envy...no, covet, your prowess for writing.

Part of the reason for my inability to sleep is my excitement for a playoff baseball game tomorrow down in El Toro, California. The baseball team that I am a lowly assistant coach for, well I coach the Freshman/Sophomore team, is playing a game tomorrow. I get the day off to go down and supervise the kids. I realize that with most of you, it is pointless to try to prove to you that baseball is really a game, and in my professional estimation, the greatest game ever made (yes, even topping paintball). I won't waste my time with that. The point is that I get to "ditch" school and go down to watch a game...and I get paid for it!

I noticed that in response to Ben's blog Anonymous wrote something about a teacher's pay and molding children's minds, etc. The funny thing about a slam like that is...what was that guy/girl doing that they had so much time to think of a comment like that? The irony is that they probably spend their nights at Nordstroms in the mall helping smelly old ladies find a flowery perfume for minimum wage.

I realize that this is all a little disjointed and thrown together. I can handle the criticism. The idea is that I am a teacher. I love my job. I love what I do. I spend 5 hours a day teaching Spanish to Americans and English to kids from all over the world, who speak 7 different languages between them, and work hard every day to make school work in spite of their inability to understand every word or idea. I spend my afternoons trying to help kids appreciate, just a little more, the game that I love and respect.

Sure you NBA fans can hit me with your Steriods talk and the NFL people can talk about our lack of "excitement." But when it comes down to it, you NBAers can't tell me that your officials don't bet on the games they ref and that your players don't choke their coaches and that the players don't do Drugs on the way to practice (please don't make me list all of them i.e. chris webber, lamar odom,...shoot, allen iverson is lucky to show up to practice). NFL... packman jones, mike vick, etc. Enough said. Baseball is a simple game of hit, throw, catch and field...and then you add strategy and purpose. The strategy for basketball and football will never come close in comparison to baseball. DEAL WITH IT.