"Diamond" Days

Last night was a “guys” and “girls” night respectively. My wife took our daughter to one of those “parties” where friends are enticed (or more likely obliged) to purchase something; I think last night the product du jour was food. While my wife and daughter were out I was home with my son and since we had a busy day planned today we just hung out all night long. We returned from my daughter’s softball practice and as I have mentioned in the past my son makes good use of the skate park while my daughter has practice. He is usually all sweaty after one of these sessions and yesterday was no exception.

My son took a shower and I prepared dinner while my wife and daughter departed for the evening. It was a very relaxing evening for us as we ate dinner and afterwards watched a movie. My daughter had wanted “The Bad News Bears” and we had rented. I understand this movie has been remade since the original was shown in 1976. As we searched for the movie I discovered the remake is rated PG-13 which would be off limits for both my son and daughter. However the remake is rated PG so we decided to go with the original. I had seen the original some 30 plus years ago and I was my daughter’s age. I had seen the movie in the movie theater because back “then” the only way to view a movie was in the movie theaters. Things certainly have changed in the world of technology as our “lounge” is filled with all types of electronic equipment; DVD, VCR, Wii, Playstation, etc.

Anyhow we watched “The Bad News Bears” and although the rating was PG there was some inappropriate subject matter for those under 13. Also; when I went to see this movie in the movie theater at the age of 10 I was not accompanied by an adult and the last thing I wanted was to be “accompanied by an adult”. Oh yes, the times have changed and I would have to think long and hard before I let my 10 year old daughter attend a movie with just her and a friend. Has the world become a more scary place in the last 30 years; probably but with so much information being disseminated it is probably much better to be safe than sorry.

The movie was as I remembered it and my son actually enjoyed it even though it was sans action along with slapstick comedy. The humor was more subtle and the content was much more complex than movies today. I had to laugh at the end scene where the Bears having lost the championship game were given beers by their manager (Walter Matthau). Some of the kids actually drank the beers but for the most part the beers were used to dowse each other much like baseball players dump champagne on one another after they win a championship. I wonder how “politically correct” this scene would be today, probably not so much!!

The movie was over and I put my son to bed. As I was getting ready for bed my wife and daughter came home; their evening had ended as well. Everyone needed to get to bed as well since we had a big day ahead of us today. Yes, another Saturday on the diamond for both my daughter and son. I was up very early in order to get my run in before the day’s activities commenced. I had to go to an alternative workout this morning because after 5 miles of a 16 mile run my shins were hurting much too much in order for me to continue. Instead of completing the next 11 miles I got on the cycle and rode for the next hour and 20 minutes which adds up to the same amount of time it would have taken me to run the 11 miles. This was my first “deviation” in my current training program and I did feel a little guilty but my legs did thank me.

I returned home where my wife would take our daughter to her game and I would take my son to his game. Yes, they were having games at the same time but I would be able to see my daughter later this morning as she was playing “two” games today a doubleheader in baseball parlance. My son’s game went well and he reached base twice driving in one run and scoring another. He made a very nice play at shortstop for the last out in the game and had a very good game, and so did his team. His team is filled with kids who can hit and even though no score was allegedly taken they won the game again 12 to 10.

After my son’s game we got in the car and headed over to my daughter’s game. Thankfully I arrived just in time to witness my daughter throwing the first pitch of the game. Yes, that is right my daughter was taking her turn at pitching and I was informed she pitched in the first inning of the first game. I think my wife was more nervous than my daughter because my wife wanted my daughter to do well. My daughter did do very well only giving up three runs and striking out three batters in the inning. My daughter is just learning how to pitch and she does need a great deal of practice but she has such a great coach who cares more about teaching the girls the game of softball than actually winning the game. Her coach has provided my daughter the opportunity to gain some experience pitching and we are very grateful.

My daughter’s game went very well and she faced a very seasoned pitcher who threw the softball rather fast. I could see my daughter was very nervous as a fast pitch came on the inside of the plate. My daughter did walk twice and had a good time. I think playing two games was a little too much for the girls because they were dragging in the second game but that is a part of the game. Next week they have the same schedule playing two games in the morning. Her team did not win the game but I think the girls have more fun cheering for their teammates rather than winning the game. It is so nice to see the kids having fun and this is all thanks to my daughter’s coach. The morning on the diamond had ended and we returned home a very tired family which is why we didn’t do much the rest of the day.