I've been enjoying summer ball overall, and mostly I've been getting better games, but tonight -- yech!

It wasn't girls, either. The girls games have been more fun this year, since I am assigning, I picked out the best ones for myself, and also have had great partners.

But tonight was boys, with attitude. Not the sort of attitude that is well coached, but the attitude that is out of control. We managed it, but just barely.

The sad part is that with any coaching at all, these guys could all be great players, lots of speed and grace and great shooting, when they weren't busy proving what victims they were.

And it wasn't just the inner city kids that were victims. Everyone on the floor was. Black, white, rich, poor, skilled and green. They all had a chip on their shoulder.

Sheesh, what an evening!

Momma said there would be days like this.
 

I think we have all been there one time or another.

Saw this same thing last night in the game before mine. HS varsity, 3 minutes into the first half (20 min. running clock), and there are punches thrown -- 2 kids ejected and have to miss the next game also. Total of 6 T's for the game. This was also a game where there was a lot of talent, but even more out of control testosterone!

If I did that, I would not say I did it.

Some of the ugliness that I see with Summer ball is that indivdual fouls are not kept, only team fouls. Around here we have 20 minute running halfs, team fouls kept only, no consequence for individual fouls.

The kids know this and the coaches are telling them to be agressive, attack the ball etc... I think we see some of this over agression, just because fouls are not kept.

I have told coaches to replace a player if they are playing too rough or over agressive, to try to stop any future fights.

You are, of course, absolutely right. We sat down a couple of kids from both teams. One kid was a problem in both the JV and the varsity, when he wasn't playing things weren't quite so bad. The worst problem with one team was the coach. He got T'ed early for basically being an @$$. Once he settled down, things got a little better, but he did a lousy job of helping the kids with their attitudes.

Juulie - don't tell me you're surprised to see this attitude from players in a city where their role model is Rasheed Wallace.

At least the girls have Tonya Harding to look up to. :p

HS varsity summer league game Tuesday - running 10 minute quarters. With about 3 minutes to go in the 1st half, the opponent had 8 fouls, we had 0 (zero!). I jokingly told the guy next to me, our goal should be to have the other team in the double bonus, and us with no fouls, at the end of the half. With a minute to go, the opponent got their 10th foul. We still had zero. I hollered - "No fouls, no fouls". Sure enough, within 15 seconds, one of our players committed not one, but two fouls. Some people really know how to spoil a good time. I can only imagine the comments the other coach was making.

And, to the point of no one fouling out, one of the opponents must've had at least 10 fouls by the end of the game. In one series, he fouled a player who was shooting, then fouled another player on the free throw attempt. It was ridiculous.

Ah...so she's one of those! :p

At least I admit it...

At most, ....

Don't be mean. . .

Hey, Chuck, Toss it Straight this weekend!

ChuckieChuckieChuckieChuckieChuckieChuckieChuckie. ....

Me,too. Go get 'em!

No hokey-pokey while you're there,though.

Good point, JR! Guess I should have been more specific...