Wednesday, July 6, 2011

TOP 9: Kids on every High School sports team

Chances are, if you’ve ever played a High School sport, you’ve come in contact with a fellow athlete who you REALLY wanted to punch in the face. Well, with that thought in mind, I decided to profile each personality you can find on a typical High School sports team. Enjoy.

9. The Workout Freak

Appearance: Wife-beater tank top; buzzed haircut; muscles disproportionate to body; jacked

“Auuuugh!! I just LOVE getting jacked wit’ my homies! Gimmie somma dat pwotin shake dog!”

The Workout freak looks as if he’s good at football. I mean, how could you not if you have the ability to bench two Jose Lopez’s and tiger squat a Walter Jones?

But then practice starts and you realize having Workout Freak as your middle linebacker is a mistake. Thanks to all the various hormones and pills he consumes, WF isn’t right in the head and it seems his only goal is to take anybody’s head off, regardless of what team they are on.

Midway through the season, WF realizes that football requires hitting, which in turn implements bruises on his recently tanned, luxurious biceps. We wouldn’t want that now, would we? This, along with his extremely low attention span, forces WF to return to the weight room and hang up his cleats.

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8. The Suck Up

Appearance: Overly perky; very short shorts; headband; wristbands; always 30 water bottles for his coaches; 4.0 student;

“HI COACH! Gee wiz, amazing seeing you here today. Me? Well, I’m just here 90 minutes early to get some extra work in and run laps around the field while smiling.”

Not talented enough to get a starting spot solely because of his athleticism, the Suck Up resorts to what his name implies.

Sucking up to the coaches.

Equipped with knowledge of his coaches' likes and dislikes by stalking them on Facebook, the SU has a plan. Coach Billy likes getting up early, so get to practice early. Coach Tommy loves the Boston Red Sox, so buy as much Boston work out gear as possible. Coach Gary hates little kids, so bring your brother to practice and kick him in the shins. Little things like that (along with Suck Up's parents being the no. 1 boosters of the school) eventually earn Suck Up a starting spot.

Unfortunately for SU, kissing up to the coaches only goes so far, as Suck Up's suckitude eventually is shown on the field. His teammates never pass the ball to him, his own goalie drop kicks the ball at the back of his head, and eventually he falls out of favor with his coach. At this point, Suck Up quits sports and goes back to what he does best: Sucking up to his teachers.


7. The Blame Shifter

Appearance: Fairly athletic; very cocky; insecure; baggy jeans; slightly tipped Yankees cap;

"WHA? Wait, what? My elbow did NOT just clock that guy's face."..."Agh WHAT? A technical? It's his fault for having his face in the way!"

No one likes the Blame Shifter.

He shoots an airball three? Blame it on the lights. He forgets a play? Blame it on that play even being called. He trips? Blame it on even being asked to run.

The Blame Shifter is never wrong, never makes a bad decision. It’s always his teammate’s fault, regardless of the situation.

You can see why no one would like the BS. Why would you? The coaches don’t even like him, but due to his above average athletic ability and decent ball handling skills, his coaches have no choice but to hand him a starting spot.

Doing this brings disaster on the team, as BS doesn’t know what the word “pass” means and wastes a solid three hours of combined time just arguing with the referee on virtually every foul call. Eventually it gets so bad that one of BS’s teammates decides to take matters into his own hands by breaking the Blame Shifter’s ankles, effecting ending his High School sports career. Boom. Roasted.


6. The Over Encouraging kid

Appearance: Chubby; not athletic; usually female; overly perky; very social

“Let’s go ladies! Who cares if we’re down 7-0!! Just try your hardest and have fun!” or “LOVE YOU GURL!”

Whereas some kids play sports to get fit or acquire a college scholarship, the sole reason Over Encouraging Kid is even on the Girl’s Junior Varsity soccer team is to have a fun, social time with her friends.

Whenever a teammate scores an own goal, OEK goes into action. The following scenarios can happen: a) OEK walks over and gives an awkward hug to the down individual and tells them how special they are, b) OEK screams across the soccer field how much she loves them, or c) OEK walks over to give the down individual an awkward hug, but the down individual does not return the hug, rather kick OEK in the knees.

I’ve always hoped c) would somehow happen (on tape preferably), but alas, we don’t live in a perfect world.


5. “I know it all from playing video games” kid

Appearance: Bloodshot eyes; not much else

“Well, clearly from playing ___, I know that you throw to ____ in this situation”

After years of playing Madden NFL, Uncoordinated kid is ready for the big time. Studying the playbook, listening to John Madden’s in-game tips and winning the Super Bowl in Franchise mode have prepared him for this moment.

Trying out for Quarterback.

“Alright guys we’re running HB slash. Wait, what? That’s not a play? Then how about Slants? That’s not one either? 34 sweep waggle right on two? That’s not in Pete Carroll’s playbook! AAAA!”

No matter. The most important part is performing in the game, not before it.

“DANG IT! I’m pressing “X” and this center won’t hike the stupid ball!”… “I see a receiver over the middle, but he doesn’t have a button icon over him! What button do I press?”

Unfortunately for “IKNIAFPVG”K, bringing his PlayStation controller out on the field doesn’t go well with his teammates and coaches, so predictably, he doesn’t make the team. With his confidence crushed, our video game friend goes home and throws out his game system, claiming it doesn’t help him achieve his ultimate goal of becoming an NFL quarterback. Reality bites.

Stare of death
4. The Senior Jerk

Appearance: Taller than you; bigger than you; intimidating; acts like a G;

*intimidating stare*

You don’t talk to Senior Jerk. You don’t look at Senior Jerk. You don’t even breathe in Senior Jerk’s direction. You do, and you’re dead.

Actually, it’s dangerous to even write about Senior Jerk, so I’m just going to stop. Wouldn’t want to anger the fire deep within his merciless soul.

3. The Uncoordinated kid who wants to play quarterback, point guard, or shortstop

Appearance: White; 100 -110 lbs; 5-4; extreme acne; super high shorts; eternal optimist

“Put me in coach. I won’t mess up next time.”

Ah, the Uncoordinated kid who wants to play quarterback, point guard, shortstop, or whatever the most important position on the field is.

Fed garbage like “You’re the best” or “Coach doesn’t know what he’s missing by benching you” by his ear tickling parents all of his life, UKWWTPQPGOS has been led to believe he’s the best athlete in the world. This in turn causes him to have the desire to play the most important position on the field, much to the dismay of his teammates and coaches.

No matter how many times our unsuspecting fellow fails, his spirit is not crushed; because he knows in the back of his mind that he IS the greatest athlete in the world and cannot be defeated. If he’s sent to be a backup punter, then, backup punter is where all the talented players go. Because, y’now, maybe the punter will break his leg, and well, maybe the backup will be needed.

As long as Mom keeps giving UKWWTPQPGOS Capri Sun and orange slices at halftime, his fighting soul cannot be vanquished.

2. The Nudist

Appearance: Naked; always seems to be in the locker room; always takes the best shower head; very outgoing

“Gentlemen, in this locker room, we are one.”

After everyone is finished working out, practicing, etc. and it’s time to head to the locker room, it becomes the Nudist’s time to shine. The locker room is his home, what he loves the most in life. No one outside the team can intrude on him here.

When the Nudist steps in the locker room, he feels as though it’s his duty to lead everyone. And by that, I mean stripping down and proclaiming “to the showers boys!” No one actually has the guts to follow this overzealous lad, but a few have no choice but to take a shower.

In the shower, the Nudist tries to strike up conversations with his fellow teammates. But much to the Nudist’s disappointment, no one seems to be that outgoing, rather it seems as though people are trying to hide or conceal something. Hm. Interesting.

1.The G

Appearance: Nike shoes; Nike headband; Nike shorts; Nike socks; gold necklace; not athletic; cocky

“Duuuuude… CHECK IT. My Nikes are as sick as Bron Bron’s.”

The G has swag. The G has aura. The G has…

No talent.

Yes, we have all been on a team where there’s a kid who has all the right clothes, has the biggest biceps, talks the right talk, and walks a certain way giving off signals he has athletic ability. But when it comes time for the game, he’s as bad as the uncoordinated white guy.

All the G really is a mix of the Senior Jerk, Workout Freak, and the Blame Shifter.

If you suck, don’t act as if you are a talented, athletic superhuman who can dunk on fools. If you want to act like a G, play like a G.


Reach Nathan Parsons at nathanparsons98@yahoo.com
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Sunday, July 3, 2011

MARINERS: Felix Hernandez and Brandon League get selected to the All-Star game and the East Coast Bias’ curse on Michael Pineda

So, if you haven’t heard by now, Mariners starting pitcher Felix Hernandez and closer Brandon League have been selected to play in the 2011 MLB All-Star game. King Felix has been invited one other time in 2009, while this is League’s first trip.

Both of these guys deserve to represent the Mariners in Phoenix on July 11. Hernandez made it largely because he’s fourth in the American League with 129 innings pitched and third in strikeouts (124), but there was a chance of him NOT making it with Felix being ranked 22nd in ERA (3.35), 19th in WHIP (1.19) and only having eight wins. His reputation likely helped out a bit.

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Unlike the King, Brandon League couldn’t rely on his reputation to be named an All-Star.... he had to earn it. League leads the American League in saves with 22, even having more at this point than the great Mariano Rivera (21 saves). The former Toronto Blue Jay has only blown 3 saves all year, with all of those within days of each other back in June.

While it’s not shock to see the 2010 AL Cy Young winner and the AL leader in saves be a part of the All-Star team, there is a man that shocked me (and many other Mariners fans) by not being voted on.

Michael Pineda.

The rookie sensation is sixth in the American League in ERA (2.65), seventh in WHIP (1.03), 11th in strikeouts (99), and fourth in opponent AVG (.198). Overall, his numbers are better than Felix’s, but he’s somehow not in the All-Star game. We can only assume Pineda isn’t going to Phoenix, because, well, his name isn’t that well known on the East Coast yet. If Pineda was playing in Boston, all of baseball would be bowing down at his feet shooing him into the All-Star game. So in three words, he got robbed.

Reach Nathan Parsons at nathanparsons98@yahoo.com
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Saturday, July 2, 2011

The Power of Role Models

What a G
Typically, role models for young people in the 21st century are athletes who excel in their respective sports. Guys like Peyton Manning, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Albert Pujols and Landon Donavan are hailed by kids everywhere as people who they want to be like someday.

Quotes like “Duuuuude, check it! My jumper is as sick as Kobe’s!” or “Look at my swing! It’s as smooth as Albert’s!” is what I usually hear in my High School gym and baseball field. I even find myself saying this sometimes, even if it’s jokingly (Because a 5’ 11’’ white freshman guy that lives in Woodinville has a 0% chance of doing anything as an athlete in professional sports).

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We can all understand why aspiring High school athletes would say this, because, well, who wouldn’t want to possess the talents of some of the most well-known people in the world?

But there is a major downside to having the person you look up to be a famous athlete. Chances are very, very slim that the so called “ballers” at school (If you can even call a kid being a basketball star at a 1A school in Bellevue a baller) will ever meet LeBron or Kobe. These NBA superstars don’t have to time (or more likely, don’t care enough) to sit down with a kid at his house and discuss how they got to be where they are. It just doesn’t happen. Sorry, “baller”.

But when you meet your role models, and when they actually talk to you and seem to care about you, everything changes.

Sure, I look up to athletes because of their god given abilities. But I have other role models who I aspire to be not solely because of their athletic abilities, but even more so because of their character.

If you were wondering why nothing has been posted on the blog since June 20, it’s because I was down in California staying in houseboats on Lake Shasta with my church youth group. There was no cell coverage; otherwise I would’ve posted a couple things.

Anyway, there are these two guys. Senior guys to be exact.

Wait, hold the phone. Think back to when you were a freshman in high school. Regardless of what social status you had, and unless every senior in your school was/is a total jerk and were/are midgets, you looked up to them, figuratively and literally. It’s just the way High School works… Alright, so we have that established.

One of the things that happened on this retreat into the California sun was a lot of just hanging out on the top of the houseboats. And when you combine 85-degree weather and two genders, there is a lot of “Hey gurl, wanna hang out with my G’s on top of our houseboat and get yo’ tan on?” It wasn’t always like that, but you get the picture.

But let’s get back to those two senior guys. I had always looked up to them, and have even talked to them a bit over the last 9 months. And after just merely spending a couple minutes with these guys, I knew I wanted to be just like them. They’re confident, welcoming, realists, and just plain chill. These two future college basketball athletes aren’t consumed with the insignificant things in High School that will fade away over time, but see the big picture and seem to know what lies ahead for them in their lives.

So in four words, they’re my role models.

Instead of hanging out with girls 24/7 (not saying that’s a bad thing, or they didn’t do it at all), they asked me, a freshman, to hang out on their boat consistently. “Holy crap” I thought in disbelief. “Why the heck would they hang out with me?” Not only did they ask me to come over and be in their presence, but actually talked to me.

That simple, unpretentious act meant the world to me. The egos of most athletes were absent in Josh Jordan and Tanner Mahler (pictured at the top acting like a G), which made it possible to “accept” me.

Unlike kids who look to guys like Peyton Manning or Kobe Bryant for inspiration (not saying that’s a bad thing AT ALL) and have no hope of ever having a relationship with them that doesn’t involve fan letters, I find myself lucky to be able to call myself friends with two guys who I look up to.

So, the moral of the story is this: If you’re in any position of power, such as an athlete, being a senior, or whatever, know that even the most subtle act can mean the world to someone. It did for me when Tanner shouted across to my boat asking if I wanted to join his dance party (which consisted of us dancing like idiots to “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus), and it could mean the same to someone else.

And if you look up to someone that you have access to talking to, go out on a limb and take a chance to get to know him or her. It’ll tell you a lot about the person if they’re nice to you or shrug you off as an insignificant fool.

WORD, yo.

Follow Josh or Tanner on Twitter, and look out for Josh at Seattle Pacific University in the coming years, as the power forward will likely be red shirting this fall for his freshman year.

Reach Nathan Parsons at nathanparsons98@yahoo.com
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