West GA Futbol Club Cheetahs

This year I decided that Elle would switch from Upward to County soccer. Douglas County and Carroll County merged this summer to form West Georgia Futbol Club. I figured if Elle decided this is a sport she wanted to stick with and excelled in, we should leave Upward. Upward was great. Very well organized. Much more so than WGAFC, but part of it is the merger. WGAFC has Academy and Select teams (the main reason for leaving), but Elle won't be eligible until U-10.

I am coaching Elle's team again this year. I let her decide the team name - the Cheetahs. I pushed hard for the Turtles or Squirrels. There are only 5 kids on each team (9 total). Each team only has one girl. I figured that it would be difficult for Elle to run with the boys, but she has done well.

This Saturday the Cheetahs played the Thundercats. It was a humbling first 10 minutes. I think we were down 5 or 6 zip before we finally scored. The Thundercats didn't have a girl playing this weekend, which didn't help! The good news is that we played them even in the second half, the bad news is we lost 9-5. Oh wait, just like Upward, we aren't supposed to keep score! I am not a fan of that or the fact we don't use goalies at this age (Upward does). We also don't have throw in's or goal kicks. Oh well.

Here is to another great season, Elle. I am very proud of you!

What Is In A Number?

Apparently a lot this summer.

Last month, mom turned 69 on August 14th. Mom has been known to celebrate her birthday the entire month of August in past years! With that in mind, I dubbed her birthday "The Summer of 69." Oddly enough, her birthday was the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, which, as you know was during the Summer of 69.

This past week, Elle received her new soccer jersey. I think I was anticipating what number she would get more than she was. Of all numbers, she received 72. Her first game was on Saturday, September 12th which was Dad's 72nd birthday. I was born in '72.

I guess I should play the lottery.

Beautiful, Precious & Sincere

Although all apply to my daughter Elle, I am afraid that is not the purpose of this post.

Given names. First names. Forenames.

First Elle told us of a girl named Beautiful after her first day of Kindergarten. Then there was another girl - Precious. Today I found out that there is a little boy in her class named Sincere.

And to think that I thought it was vain that you named your child after yourself...

Offseason Insurance Policy

I really hate this time of year. Don't care much about baseball and NBA playoffs. NHL playoffs are better, but haven't really spent much time watching.

The Georgia Spring Football game was a bore - giving little to look forward to this fall.

Although we are a good five months away from College Basketball, I am eating, sleeping and breathing Big Blue basketball as the spring signing period winds down next week.

You see, I used to follow the Cats like a DeadHead in the mid-90's. Rick Pitino was a god. He took over for that drunk Eddie Sutton after the whole Emory package scandal and the death penalty. He recruited three in-state boys and a stud from NYC to turn the program around. Now all the Unforgettables jerseys hang from the rafters (Mashburn, Woods, Pelphrey, Farmer and Feldhaus). I can still remember that spring day in 1997 shortly after losing in the title game. I went to Ricky P's book signing at the Ansley Mall Chapter 11 store. I told coach that "no matter what you decide, I appreciate everything you have done to turn around the program." A few weeks later he left for the Celtics. The Celtics had the most ping pong balls in the lottery. They lost out to San Antonio in the Tim Duncan sweepstakes. Pitino would later say that he would have never left UK if he knew he wasn't able to draft Duncan.

What does all this mean? April Fools brought us Coach Cal. He is an absolute rockstar. He has said all the right things. Bring back former players - check, recruit the best players - check plus, plus, plus. Rivals and Scout.com rank the recruiting class number 1 and they are still in the mix for top point guard John Wall. Many believe that this class will supplant the Fab Five from Michigan. Are you friggin' kidding me? I had to be talked off the ledge this spring! For all the things Billy Clyde Gillispie did wrong (sleeping with a player's girlfriend, lack of in-game adjustments and PR skills, etc.) - all is now forgotten.

From N.I.T to the Final Four? It's possible. Maybe even probable. October can't get here fast enough...

Jesus in Prison

Elle has been learning a lot about Easter at Pre-K over the past week. As a Catholic school drop out, I am not the most informed about the story of Easter.

Elle: "Why is Jesus in prison?" Laura: "Elle, do you mean Jesus is Risen?" Elle: "Uh, huh."

Further proof kids say the funniest things!

Pro Choice At Age 5?

Each night when Elle gets in her bed to go to sleep, she will ask Laura and I questions while we lay in our bed. Usually we get things we as parents can handle. Let's just say we weren't ready for what she sprung on us a few nights ago! For whatever reason, Elle obsesses about not wanting to have a baby. Question: " What do you do if there is a baby in your tummy and you don't want it in there anymore?" Me to Laura (slightly shocked and laughing): "Oh shit, what are we going to tell her?!" Jason to Elle: "Elle you don't need to worry about those types of things." Laura to Elle: "If you don't want it, it doesn't have to happen." Elle(whining): "But, I really don't want one in there."

I have a feeling this discussion is far from over...

Why Winning Isn't Everything

I changed things up a bit this year. I joined three fantasy football leagues. In addition to Greater Atlanta Fantasy Football League (GAFFL), I jumped at the chance to compete against some guys my buddy Michael used to work with in Claims and another league with a bunch of guys I used to work with in Underwriting. I got smoked in the non-money league of Underwriters. I think I finished 3-11.

Different story in GAFFL and Claims league. I rode the arms of Kurt Warner and Jay Cutler, the legs of Marion Barber, Frank Gore, Clinton Portis, Steve Slaton and Marshawn Lynch, and the hands of Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Steve Smith.

I had never before competed in the championship game. This year two championship games. Two championships!

The excitement was short-lived, however. I remember what happened when I got paid for making the playoffs last year. No one likes to pay up. They figure "I am going to get my monies worth"! This year was no different. Can't wait to see the teller's face. See for yourself.