One of these days, they’re gonna have to grow up,
Gonna get real jobs & be adults,
Have to worry about things out of their control,
Like kids of their own, and getting’ old.
Yeah, one of these days…
Just not today…

(stolen & re-rhymed from Just Not Today)

And so ends another season of coaching little (and not so little) kids through the trials & tribulations of a sports campaign.  This was my first go-round with a Little League team.  Yeah, last year I managed a “Rookies” team in Fletcher Hills Little League, but moving up to the competitive “CAPS” division was a stretch that I hadn’t planned.  The “Rookies” level baseball I’d managed was entirely developmental; the kids’ games had almost no rules and it was a terrific learning environment.  Everyone was friendly and the spirit was one of mutual learning and building of skills for the kids.

And then came the CAPS division!  Holy guacamole!  Was I in for a shock! 

I thought negotiating the minefield of whining and crying and spoiled-rotten adolescent behavior was behind me.  Little did I know that the childish, self-serving antics were not outgrown with the step up in divisions, and we’d be forced to deal with tantrums and fits of rage so unbecoming that true adults could only shake their heads in wonder & disbelief as the paroxysms took place.  Those involved should have been ashamed of their pubescent conduct, but when improper behavior patterns have been allowed to develop, unabated and without consequence, for long periods of time these breaches in social etiquette and basic manners must be expected.  If allowed, bad boys will always be bad boys, and their behavior will worsen if unchecked.

Oh, wait - I hope you don’t think I was talking about the kids on the team!  No!  They were, save a few moments of true boyish impishness and frolicking, perfect gentlemen.  No – I was referring to the conduct of a few other managers – BOTH ON and OFF the field.  Horrifying! 

But this is about the boys, so I won’t digress (too much). 

As manager & coach, I'm proud to bring you the 2010 Rangers!

So, here I was, thrust into a managerial position, riding herd over 11 boys who I was certain, when I met them for the first time, God had sent to me as retribution for all my past and future sins.  I didn’t volunteer for the position - not because I was unwilling to donate my time or energy – the truth was that I didn’t know a lick about baseball and really didn’t think I could help the boys improve.  I’d coached a number of girls’ soccer teams to highly successful and even undefeated seasons, but I’d learned the year before in my outing as a Rookies’ manager that boys are NOT girls.  The maxim “boys will be boys…” was not unjustly coined.  So when the League came to me and asked me to take over a team I politely said “No.”  A week or two later they came again and this time, in a weakened state from rigorous soccer all-star practices, I buckled and said, “Maybe, but I’d rather not.” 

A day later I received was an e-mail noting that they’d assigned me a team.  No discussion.  No option.  Drafted to serve.

By my time of conscription the tryouts had passed.  I hadn’t seen any of the kids catch, throw, hit, or run and I had to make picks to fill a roster based on the limited information I had from memories of T-ball and Rookies.  The league required the other managers to provide me with their draft analysis sheets, which they did - on the faxes & e-mails the eraser and white-out marks showed clearly.  Some had players completely removed from consideration.  Later I’d realize those blanks said more in themselves than the names of the boys who’d been scratched.  Game on, 1^st time manager… 

So the draft came, and the draft was indeed the defining event of the season.  Instead of allowing any one team to be stacked unevenly there were 6 teams of nearly equal strength created.  To the discontent of certain managers, a reasonable level of parody was achieved. 

And out we came!  To the practice field, All!  The Rangers were here!

The anticipation brimmed as the boys arrived.  I knew we had a winning bunch – there would be kids who threw laser-like pitches straight, hard and true.  Boys who crushed homers at will, speed on the basepaths and cat-like play in the infield.  Oh, it was going to be marvelous!  I somehow had built a vision in my mind that we had the 2009 Yankees roster.  We’d win the division hands-down, and we’d go down in the annals of FHLL as the greatest CAPS team to ever take the field.

Five minutes into our first practice reality set in.  Balls flew wildly past mitts that hadn’t been broken in.  Boys panicked and dove out of the way of slow grounders.  Pop flies landed on the grass with soft thuds at the feet of our players.  Massive bats bigger than Adrian Gonzales would ever swing came out of bags and found their way into the hands of 55 lb players.  My hopes and dreams were dashed!  We didn’t have a squad who’d win an effortless championship!  We had a group of 8-10 year old boys who needed work on their game.

When the practice schedule came out I remember thinking – ‘We don’t need all these days…’ but after our first practice outing I was convinced we’d never have enough practice time.  The dreams of hoisting the championship trophy quickly evaporated into a dream that we might develop the skills of these boys to the point that we’d score a few runs.  Winning was out of the question; survival of the season for the players and the coaches became the objective.  It came as a shock, but I realized we had work to do.

Really, it wasn’t as bad as I’d thought it to be.  This is where the thanks begin.  The gratitude for all the help cannot ever be completely relayed or adequately doled out; I’ll just throw it up where I can.  If I leave anyone out, please accept my apologies in advance. 

So thanks first to John Rodinec who stopped me from jumping to my death more than once this past season.  He’d been there before, and he assured me that it wasn’t as bad as I was imagining it to be.  His calm was the anchor that held the Rangers steady throughout the season.  John was steadfast that we had a strong core and the boys would learn as the season progressed.  Much of the Rangers’ success this season can be attributed to John and his imparting of wisdom upon this novice coach.

As this tale unfolds, please remember that I knew nothing of baseball.  Didn’t play it as a kid, and didn’t watch it as an adult.  So I most certainly didn’t know how to coach it.  I could teach kids 30 different wrestling takedown techniques or how to run a Wing-T or Power-I offense, but the basics of the Diamond were a mystery to me.  I could get the boys in shape and assert the semblance of discipline necessary to form the cohesiveness of a team, but conducting drills that would keep 11 boys focused was a mystery.  Baseball is NOT soccer, nor is it football.  There is not 100% player involvement on every play.  Keeping the boys attentive was a challenge.

John & Ron Teschler were instrumental in working with me on the setting up of practice stations and conducting drills for the proper amount of time to keep the boys interested.  The RANGERS were a … (how do I put this delicately?)… spirited group and keeping their attention was challenging.  John & Ron were both godsends to the boys.  I cannot thank them both enough. 

And thanks are in order to all who contributed.  Cori & Ilene did a marvelous job of coordination of off the field activities & duties.  Julio worked tirelessly in the scorebooth.  Harlan, Patrick, Robert, Alex, and Jason all contributed when called upon to help with warm ups & coaching.  Barbara and Liz and Rebecca and Angelica helped too with organizing the boys and the activities.  This was truly a team effort!  (remember too that Rebecca ran the snack bar all year – props to her!)  And let’s not forget Isidoro – a huge contributor until a flood at his home forced him to temporarily move & he couldn’t make practices. 

Thanks too to all for putting up with a 1^st year manager.  If you saw the first practice, you know how far our boys came this season.  I’m far too humble to profess great feats of managerial prowess or terrific leadership or baseball knowledge – the Rangers got better because we practiced more often and longer than the other teams – it had very little to do with me.  So, thanks to all for bringing your boys out and dedicating the time and energy necessary to help the team as a whole.  If I knew more about baseball at the start of the season, our improvement would have transpired more rapidly.  Thanks to all for the commitment and patience.  The Rangers’ success was a result of our parent's involvement. 

Let’s get back to the boys now… 

We were a spirited bunch; full of energy, but, frankly, didn’t look so good as a team to start.  Yet, as John pointed out, we had a good core.  Hours were spent on catching & throwing, and the boys got better.  We had to restock the first aid kit, but the boys got better still.  After the throwing and catching reached a reasonable level we worked on ground ball & fly ball drills (and the first aid kit was again depleted), and we improved.  When our fielding was tolerable we went to the bats – it was tough on some of the boys that we never hit at a few practices, but we needed the work elsewhere – when we were ready we started hitting, and discovered our hitting wasn’t too bad! 

Preseason practice games started and, save a few bright moments, the boys were generally trounced.  But we were getting better.  We crammed practices in between the games and took all the batting cage time we could get.  Hats off to the Rangers’ boys for their hard work! 

Then it was upon us – the regular season!  The Rangers came out swinging!  The boys won the opener, and took 3 of the first 4.  Then the other teams realized the Rangers were for real.  The doormats of the preseason were implementing learned skills and winning games.  We started to see the best pitching the other CAPS Teams could bring out, and time and again the Rangers rose to the challenge put forth.  The boys came back from huge deficits to win, and even in the few losses they suffered they played exciting baseball.  The regular season ended with the Rangers snagging the #3 seed in the playoffs, and missing the #2 seed by 1 run scored!  

Heading into the playoffs, the Rangers were a team to be reckoned with!  And the other teams knew it… 

In our first playoff game we faced a player who emerged as arguably the league’s most consistent pitcher.  As an older player he was allowed to throw 75 pitches, and our boys saw every one of them.  But our pitchers matched him pitch-for-pitch, and when his pitch-count was up, the hit parade began.  The boys fielded well, hit the ball and walked away with an exciting first round win! 

The next game was to be one where our boys played tremendous baseball – maybe the best of the season.  We out-hit, out-hustled, and outplayed the competition.  The only thing we didn’t do was pitch.  The Rangers’ pitchers, so strong all year and the backbone of the team’s success, gave up 9 runs on walks or hit batters.  Our pitchers just had ‘one of those days’ as a group, and we fell.  No one was at fault; the pitching melt-down was a group effort and even with what had become a patented “Rangers’ Rally” we fell short.  The boys had too big a hole to climb out of, and despite a valiant effort, came out on the losing end. 

In the double-elimination format, it was now a ‘win or go home’ scenario for the boys.  It was also to be a ‘David vs. Goliath’ match-up.  The Rangers were to face the league’s biggest player and hardest thrower.  Some of our boys don’t weigh in at 50 lbs and the pitcher we faced was much larger - a terrific young man, and this year found the throwing motion that he’d lacked in prior seasons.  Inconsistent at times, this game proved to be one of his best efforts, and our boys were overpowered for 4 solid innings by a player 3 times the size of most of them.  But still they stood their ground courageously, and when Goliath ran out of pitches again the Rangers stormed back from a 10 run deficit to tie the game in the 6^th.  Eventually our boys succumbed, but they provided us all with an extremely exciting game, and season. 

In the end our boys grew to be one of the top teams in the league.  We were 2^nd in the regular season in scoring by 2 scant runs, and 2^nd in scoring defense.  When our pitching was “on” we were unbeatable.  We turned double plays and made plays at the plate and on the basepaths.  The bottom line is that the job was done – we’ve got about ½ the team ready to move up to the Minors division next year, and the other ½ playing CAPS level baseball.  Our boys practiced the highest level of sportsmanship – we had numerous compliments from parents on other teams on the boys’ behavior and demeanor.  My apologies to our parents for the long & more frequent practices - if I'd known anything about baseball to start the season we could have advanced more rapidly.  It took longer, but we got 'er done. 

Lastly, my deepest gratitude goes out to my wife Suzy who waited patiently on many an eve' as I closed down the field and arrived home in the dark.  She gave me support at all times.  I love her very much and am grateful to have her as my wife. 

Thanks to all our parents for the opportunity to work with your kids.  I’ve ridden 25’ waves, paddled Class 5 whitewater, caught fish bigger than me, and skied perfect powder alone in the back bowls of the Bugaboos and more still, and nothing was as much fun as watching these boys grow and learn.  I rode the highs with them, and felt the pains of their lows.  It was an honor to be the manager of the Rangers.  I didn’t ask to do it, but now that I’ve done it, I wouldn’t trade the experience. 

Again, it was a pleasure and an honor to be a part of it all.  Hopefully memories were etched into the minds of the boys and lessons on sportsmanship were taught that will last a lifetime.  I wish each and every one of these fine boys the best in the future, as I wish the same for their parents.   

Rangers forever!  The games are over until next year, but the faces & fun will never be forgotten.

Best Wishes to all,

Rob Northrup

      They

            Are!

The 2010 Our Lady of Grace 3rd & 4th Grade Girls' soccer team! (minus Helena who couldn't be here)

So another season comes to an end. 

Another Undefeated Season I might add...

Coach Scott & I yesterday remembered back to a string of interesting e-mails from some over-bearing dads who notified us that anything less than an undefeated season for their girls' school soccer team was unacceptable.

You asked (truth-be-told demanded) - we delivered!

Now, really Coach Scott & I had very little to do with the outcome.  These girls probably could have done this without us, but someone has to go out there & yell at them for 3 hours a week at practice and then figure out where to put them on the field.  With the talent we had the toughest part of our job was to align the players in formations that might keep the score down in games.

It was fun, but going to the field knowing that we were a lock to win week-in and week-out took a bit of the drama off the season.  Coaches of other teams were amazed at our girls - we ran into 3 who came into the game undefeated and expected a walk-over.  Instead they witnessed a demonstration of speed, skills, and teamwork seldom seen in Parochial league soccer.

Our only true test was in the final game of the season when 2 of our most experienced players decided that a weekend skiing was more important than school soccer.  Unbelievable!  What could be more important than soccer?!?!?!?!

So our remaining girls took the field (while their go-to comrades were 'wushing & shussing' somewhere) on the final day of the season against a very powerful (and very large) team.  Our undersized squad used superior skills and exceptional toughness in wearing down their bigger (did they really need doughnuts as a halftime snack?) opponents to a level where they had no answer but to push, grab, bang, and knock down our fine young ladies.  Finally, after a few subtle reminders from the coaching staff as to the questionable play of the opposing team, the refereecalled a penalty and we were able to preserve a win with a free kick by Helena after a brutal knock-down in the box. 

1-0, and an undefeated season.

While the rest of the contests were never in doubt, this final game showed the true colors of our team.  Indeed it was Helena who scored, yet each & every player contributed to the outcome.  Ashley & Catherine fought the opponents at midfield, Halle and Hailey controlled the defensive end and did a wonderful job of pushing the ball upfield, the speedy Gianna made a stop from across the field on a breakaway by the opposing side and played through a brutal kick over the shinguard, and Megan and Ava were stellar in getting to the ball and pressing forward.  With injury & other commitments we were only able to field 8 players, but 8 was enough in this one.  It was hard fought soccer in a David vs. Goliath game!

Many thanks to all the players who contributed this season - not just those mentioned above.  Olivia, Katelyn, Kelsey, Ashlin, and Erin, while not able to attend the final game, were all an integral part of the season.  I must add, our competitive players were true ambassadors of the game through this campaign.  Many of the practices were remedial to the skills they've learned & what they're doing, yet they were gracious and helpful at all times. 

 Next year the 4th grade girls will move up to the Junior Varsity level and the 3rd graders will be back for another of these Pee-Wee campaigns.

Many thanks to the parents involved too (even those who put forth such lofty pre-season demands) - your support of your kids means the world to them.  We appreciate, as always, the honor of you entrusting your girls to us.

And finally, I wish to thank Coach Scott for allowing me to work alongside him over these years, both in our school and recreational campaigns.  We've fielded some great teams, enjoyed tremendous successes, and had a few heartbreaks.  I look forward to working together for years to come, and I'm already feeling the foreboding sting of the time when our girls will no longer care to take the field and allow us the joy of making this sort of difference in their lives.

As I always do in these posts - I'll remind all parents that these times are flying by us.  Enjoy them!

Off to the baseball diamond for me.  We hope to be back at this next year - see y'all then.

Yep - we've all completed another trip around the sun.  Hard to believe, but we've spun around in a circle almost 365 times and taken another lap though the oval of our solar system.  Feeling dizzy?  You have a right to be disoriented!

Yesterday morning before work I was fortunate enough to witness the blood flowing from the wound in my shin, inflicted when the idiot-assed mesh that was on the Christmas Tree broke as I carried the Noble Fir into the house.  The obligatory 'fresh cut' at the base of the tree created a neat, sharp edge that cleanly sliced the skin and allowed my red blood to seep out onto the green of the needles.

How festive!  I'd created my own Christmas collage!  Red & Green together!  Ahhh, the joy of Christmas!

My wife gives me subtle hints that it's time to decorate: just before thanksgiving I find the outdoor lights placed where my surfboard once was.  Is this a hint?  Or an ultimatum?  "No surfing for you until the house is decorated..."  So it's out to the garage for the ladder and out the upstairs window to hang those pesky strings in my preset hooks.  I've got it down to a science; the lights go up in less than an hour.  Then, it takes 2 to 3 hours to get the buggers working.  (I'm looking forward to meeting the inventor of the 'icicle' lights, where one is out and an entire section goes dark - he'll be right there with the "Can you hear me now?" Verizon dork.  I've yet to commit a homicide, but meeting either of those two might put put me over the edge...)  The lighted lawn Reindeer rusted out last year and were sent to the big North Pole in the sky, but the snap-together snowman has survived to make it this season.

By the time the tree is up and the lights are on and my chores are complete I'm truly in the mood to watch some Holiday movies.  It's time to relax and enjoy such classics as 'A Christmas Carol', or 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas', or even 'It's a Wonderful Life'.  I settle into the couch after I've electrocuted myself, pinched fingers, and bandaged wounds, with the urge to play the stories backward so they have a happy ending.  You get it?  Scrooge stays Scrooge, the Grinch gets away with stealing Christmas, and Mr. Potter owns Bedford Falls.

Ahhh, the joy of Christmas!

But, in retrospect every year it's worth it.  I know that for every single hour I put in making the Holiday special for the kids and friends and family, my wife puts in four.  I appreciate her so much.  For the kids, this is a special time, and she makes it wonderful for them.  I try too, but can't hold a Christmas candle to her efforts.

I could go on with more drivel, but really I just wanted to say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, or just plain Happy Holidays to everyone who is not too busy to take a moment & read this.

Happy New Year too!  Hang on tight & get ready for another trip around the sun!

Best to you all,

Clark Griswold

This was our 4^th trip out to try to train girls in a sport that I knew so little about prior to having children.  In the what now seem to be ancient BK (Before Kids) days I’d always imagined the day when I’d coach my son’s football team to the league championship game or stand by the mat as my son pinned his opponent in the State championship meet.  I’d never imagined that my focus might be on my daughter and her cronies doing battle with another group of talented girls on a soccer field.  Yet here I find myself coaching a bunch of little girls to go out every weekend and give their all.

As we took the field in early August coach Scott & I were ecstatic about the prospects of another season.  Those of you who aren’t acquainted with me couldn’t know of my history; a broken back nearly 20 years ago and a hip degenerating from the resulting sciatica have left me somewhat immobile.  With better than a half-century of hard miles on this body my days in the spotlight are done.  I’ll never walk off the wrestling mat as a champion again.  No more interceptions or touchdowns to be scored on the gridiron.  I no longer yearn to surf the biggest waves Mother Nature has to offer.  Those things are for the young Turks – I’ve been there, done-that, and I walk with a limp and a stoop at too young an age because of the fun I had in my younger days.

I’m done – that’s a cold hard fact of growing older.  Yet perhaps with these young ladies I cannot only capture the feeling I once owned, but at the same time instill in them a sense of commitment that will allow them to achieve more than they ever thought they were capable of.  I had coaches who did it for me, so my goal now is to be ‘that’ coach these kids remember.  Achieving more; obtaining greater results than we ever thought possible – it goes beyond the soccer field.  It can become the fabric of life. 

Sure, it sounds corny as hell, but I know that today at least an iota of my resolve comes from my coaches in the past that inspired me to play through pain and fatigue.  Working harder and not accepting mediocrity is not an option for me; it is a mandate, infused in my identity primarily from my parents to be certain, but also from those crazed coaches who made me run the extra windsprints or work the takedown to perfection.

Well, when Scott & I walked onto the practice field for the initial time this season we found a team made up of about ½ of our past players and the other ½ new faces.  We’d lost a player who was probably the top scorer in the division the prior year, and also players who were lightning fast and had the tough-as-nails attitude that is so hard to find in 9 year old girls.  The new players were fine young ladies; just not as experienced as our departed kids.  When we instructed a player to play “left mid” and someone responded by asking “Coach, which side is left?” we realized the magnitude of the task that lay ahead for us.

That’s what makes all this fun - the opportunity to help these girls improve.  Sure, it was work, and we made them work hard.  I think two girls told their mothers after the first practice that they didn’t want to come back.  That’s my measure of a good start to the season.  Our girls will not be outrun.  So we ran to start the season.  A summer of relaxation was suddenly replaced with windsprints and tough one-on-one drills.  It was hot then, but we practiced.  Through moans and cries for mercy, we practiced on.  “My last coach never made us do this…” was heard often and fell on deaf ears.  Heck, I lost 8 pounds myself!  We were working hard!

As it goes with all teams, a personality starts to form as a unit.  To be certain, this team was not as experienced as our prior squads at the start of the season.  What Coach Scott and I noticed as the rust of summer was polished off the girls was that despite the lack of know-how with the ball or understanding of positions, we had a VERY fast group of young ladies.  We entered the season using that superior speed as our primary weapon.  The Cherry Bombs were fast!  Speed often overcomes lack of experience, and our early season success was a result of our girls capitalizing on their greater quickness.

After a first game heartbreaker of a loss by one on a penalty kick (and poor coaching choices), the Cherry Bombs rolled off four straight wins, outscoring opponents 17-1 over that span.  The girls in red played loose, fun soccer.  It was entertaining for all; parents were exuberant and the coaches felt pretty good too.  We were floating on a high induced by thoughts of soccer immortality.

Then, gravity took hold.  The flu hit us.  We had less than half the players at practices.  Our girls played a heroic game with numerous players out and others not even fully recovered from their illness.  Four parents came to me after the game and informed me that their daughters had fevers in excess of 100 degrees at kickoff.  Had I known, I wouldn’t have let them play.  Yet they gave it their all, losing a squeaker in a hard fought battle not only to their opponent, but also to illness.

Something changed in the team’s personality at the midseason point.  The young ladies that had outscored their opponents an average of 4 to .5 goals (that’s point 5, not 5) per game in the first half of the season inexplicably lost their ability to find the net!  The ‘Bombs went on a 4 game stretch where they scored only one goal.  Coach Scott and I conversed about this relentlessly.  How could the top scoring team in the division suddenly go so flat?  The girls were playing great defense, but they couldn’t score.

It was in the review of the video of the games I found the answer.  The old Japanese proverb states, “When the fish stinks, it stinks from the head.”  The Cherry Bombs’ problem was not with the players entirely, but rather with the coach.  Partially the players to be certain, but the inability to score was induced by coaching.  This may sound odd, but I think the girls began doing what the coaches asked of them at the midseason mark.  It has become shockingly clear – our girls started listening to us!

They started looking for the pass more often.  They started working on their cutting in the games.  Protecting the ball in the box was coached in practice and accomplished on the field of play.  The Cherry Bombs were doing what they’d been coached to do!  The heavens opened and the light shone upon them!  They were turning into soccer players!

There is a teaching that to be truly successful one must accomplish their tasks unconsciously.  The steps of learning go (1) Consciousness that one does not know how to accomplish the task (2) Consciousness of learning the task, and (3) Unconsciousness implementation of the skills to accomplish the task.  At the season’s start, our girls, as a team, didn’t know they didn’t know, so they just outran everyone and found the net.  But, with the coaches’ intervention and guidance we got them so trained that they worked too hard at implementation of what we asked that they lost that ‘unconscious’ ability to play.  That’s OK with me.  Winning on ability can only go so far.  Sooner or later skills must come into play, and if our girls’ working on skills caused a few lost games, so be it.  There was never selfishness to their play, but we could see the calculation of the moves in them.  In fact, they weren’t hogging the ball; they were over-passing.  Or working too long on their moves or positions.  The Cherry Bombs were stuck on step 2 above for a period of 4 games.

That’s why we’re here – to learn.  Step 2 is our purpose in this.  If we reach step 3 by season’s end, the campaign was a winner.  Our girls learned.  I think they learned more this season than in any season prior.  The girl I noted above who walked onto the field not knowing her left from her right walked off with one of the best outside cuts on the team.  In the first game of the season she was all over the field; by season’s end she played her positions perfectly.  She scored and played excellent defense.  Now she, and so many of our players, are turning heads at the All Star practices and games.

The final two games of the year showed we coaches just how far our girls had come.  We held our opponents scoreless and left the field demonstrating that we had achieved the final step.  The entire team played at a higher level, implementing skills unconsciously, thereby becoming not just a group of fast girls playing soccer, but rather a group of fast soccer players.

At the season’s end, we’d developed into a fearsome soccer team.  I wouldn’t have wanted to play a team like us in the season final…

Initially coach Scott & I had our doubts.  Between the early season flower fights and the announcements of Santa Claus flying overhead near the end of the season at practice we wondered if any of them listened.  One particular day when I was delivering one of my patented tongue-lashings about focus and effort the unabashed goofiness of this group as a whole came out.  One player started laughing, and the entire team ended up busting out in hysterics.  Scott & I couldn’t help snickering too, and the practice fell apart into a comical scrimmage with more jokes told and played that any focus on soccer.

That’s what I loved about this group this season – win or lose we had a ton of fun.  That’s why we’re out here; for the fun of it all.

So in my book it was mission accomplished.  The girls learned and we all had a real good time.  (I know, the grammar isn’t correct there, but I like the way it sounds)  We posted a 7 & 4 record, losing 3 of the 4 games by 1 goal.  The most amazing statistic of the season – we gave up only 3 goals in play all year.  3 in play goals surrendered in 11 games – WOW!  Unbelievable defense! Unfortunately we also coughed up 4 on penalties – something to work on next year.  I’m currently proud of the way all our girls are playing in the All-Star games.  The coach there has been impressed by our young ladies and noted it on numerous occasions.

We should all be proud of our ‘Bombs, individually and as a team.

In closing, I want to thank all the parents of the Cherry Bombs.  Your sideline demeanor was above & beyond expectations even through some unexpected situations, and your support of the girls made this a memorable season.  Each and every Cherry Bomb player gave it their all, and I hope we can all do it again next year.  Sooner than we think, the carousel of time will wind past this stage of our lives.  Most of these girls will grow up & out of this, so I cherish these moments.

Happy Holidays!

Coach Rob

Spring is in the air!!!  And Best Homes was called on once again by one of our local schools to send the Easter Bunny in to put smiles on the faces of the kids.

The Bunny was, as usual, a big hit in leading the egg hunt on the soccer field.  The kids were thrilled with the celebrity appearance!

It has always been the pleasure of Best Homes to help where possible!  We wish you a safe, happy, and joyous holiday.  May the Bunny smile on you too!

OK - I've heard your displeasure with my frequency (actually lack thereof) of new posts.  Hey - we're busy.  We've got 5 escrows open right now, offers going on 4 other homes, and a myriad of other things going on.  I'm coaching soccer, coaching little league, we've been doing numerous of open houses, showing property...  yeah - we're busy here!

But to let you know that all of you who've been bugging me about a blog post have been heard, here's a quick one.  I'll do more next week.

This picture ws sent in by a past client, with the caption below it.  This is it for now - more next week...

So now, it’s on to baseball. We’ll see what the Diamond holds in store…

Recently we took on the project of selling 1913 Estela Drive, a unique home with both upgrades & views located in a great neighborhood.  While Estela Drive was gorgeous as is, it was not quite market ready.  In this case the seller's had done a remarkable job with upgrading & decorating the home so we suggested a few adjustments that were well-received & then it was "sale ready." 

We suggested that they de-clutter, so they rented a POD.  Into the POD went the extra memorabilia that is great while living & entertaining in a home, but can distract a buyer who is trying to potentially visualize their life in a home. 

They had gorgeous views, a definite hallmark selling point for the home, but the trees needed some trimming to really showcase the views from all angles of the backyard & through the windows.  The owners saw the validity in our suggestion to trim, so they hired someone to trim the trees to enhance the views.

 See, wouldn't you want to FEATURE these SPRAWLING VIEWS?!?

What did these “small” changes accompanied by our aggressive initial push of marketing accomplish?  Estela went into escrow within a week of going on the market with multiple offers—4 OFFERS. 

Although the quickness is somewhat uncommon the techniques & strategies are full-proof when selling a home.  Let the 2007 staging info below make you a believer how these "nit picky" suggestions can turn into $$$$$$ ...

1.)  Interest Rates are DOWN --The Fannie Mae 30 Day Yield (basically an overall average of interest rates offered) had the interest rate on a 30 Year Fixed at 5.67% or about 5.79 APR for January 2008 which is actually lower than the awesome rates offered back at the peak of the market in January of 2006.  January of 2006 had interest rates at 6.11% or about 6.29 APR--nearly .5% higher than today.  At $0 down & a purchase price of $417K your payments on a 30 year fixed would only be about $2,400 per month, versus $2,525 per month in 2006. 

Taking into consideration the price drop of roughly 17% according to Case-Schiller & DataQuick indexes (See #3) the same home that cost $417,000 in 2006 will likely cost $346,000 today.  So, the cost of ownership for the same house at the current price & interest rate is actually 20% lower overall than 2006!              

(Loan Information courtesy of Tom Weikel of San Diego Mortgage Network #858-569-3200 x 227)                   

2.)  Inventory of Property is UP --As of today there are a whopping 18,205 homes available on the market in San Diego.

3.)  Prices of Property are DOWN --According to reputable reports including the Case-Shiller & DataQuick Indexes home prices are down 16-17% over the peak back in 2006.

4.)  Length of Time a Property Sits on the Market is UP--Homes are currently taking an average of 3-4 months to sell.  Homes are selling though, currently 3,125 homes are in escrow.

All of these factors come together to make it a great  time to buy whether as an investment or purchase of your own home.  Think about it, as the prices have "corrected" & come down from the peak astronomic gains made in late 2005 homes are becoming more affordable to buyers--that can mean YOU!  It's time to think smart & take advantage of the fear being created by the media & consumed by the masses.

Although it is sad for the people who are facing foreclosures, the reality is it can be a good thing for home buyers.  Both from the glut of foreclosures spurred by consumers getting in over their head with the dreaded & much talked about "sub-prime loans" & homes taking longer to sell there are TONS of properties to choose from with many sellers desperate to sell.  This puts the buyer in the driver's seat when it comes to negotiating offers with sellers. 

Within the first week of 2008 we have closed our first sale of the year--9554 Alto Drive--for a whopping $1,140,000 within 5 days of coming onto the market!  No small feat in this market!! This home is a beauty--a stunning Spanish hacienda with endless views, great floorplan with all the contemporary custom upgrades that are in style right now & much more!  Unfortunately with it being harder for buyers to secure a loan & the glut of inventory on the market being a great home just isn't enough to make a sale anymore; especially for higher end--read: expensive--homes (Alto was listed $1,050,000 to $1,150,000). 

So, how did we sell Alto Drive?  FIRST, the home was staged.  Although it seems impersonal, when you put a home on the market it becomes a commodity for sale as opposed to the place where you raised your children or planted the herb garden. Staging focuses on improving a property to make it appeal to the largest number of buyers by transforming it into a welcoming, appealing, and attractive product for sale--depersonalizing, decluttering, cleaning, landscaping, etc. In this case the seller's had done a remarkable job with the home so we made a few adjustments & it was "sale ready." 

The pics above show the difference staging can make!

SECOND, we took time to make the photographs "pop."  This meant having an aerial photographer come out to capture the great architecture & expanse of the property.  We came out at different times of the day from morning to night to capture the home's many facets & the best light for the photos.  We didn't rest on good photos of a really special home we went the distance to really capture this home--to call on some time honored cliches a picture is worth 1,000 words & a first impression is a lasting impression!

We take the time to set-up creative photographs to really "WOW" & intrigue buyers!!

THIRD, we marketed the heck out of this home from the start!  This meant that within 24 hours of this home going into the MLS we had sent out a global e-mail letting agents & prospective buyers know about the home, it was upgraded on REALTOR.com & our own website, high quality fliers were on the property, front page ad in the Union Tribune advertising the premiere Open House & 100s of postcards mailed out advertising the Open House. 

SO, HERE'S THE STORY OF HOW 9554 ALTO DRIVE SOLD...  All 3 of these steps lead to the sale of this home, the staging, pictures & marketing drew out buyers in hoards.  We received a call from an agent wanting to take her buyers out to see the property within 1 hour after hitting the MLS based on the photographs & description.  We had an offer within 2 days of Alto coming onto the market with a Counter Offer already sent out in response.  By the Open House 24 hours later we had a signed Counter Offer & the home was set to go into escrow the following business day! 

Tropical storm Olga is now well west of us.  It is extremely sad that as I wrote of weathering her fury, she was leaving devastation and death on the islands to the west.  10 dead last time I checked.  We really don't feel the carnage of things back home, but as we're in the midst of it the world's disasters feel more real.

The islanders here have been asking about our terrible fires that they'd heard so much about...  Just another reminder that no matter where you are, mother nature is waiting to let us know how little control we actually have over everything.

Suzy is sitting next to me, talking continually of Jake, Ashley, and Blazer.  A sure sign that she's getting homesick.

The beauty of where we are has resurfaced after Olga cut her path through with unseasonable wind and rain.  Yesterday we sailed to Jost Van Dyke and spent the day in White Bay at the Soggy Dollar Beach & Bar (it's called the Soggy Dollar because there is no dock - you must swim to shore from the anchorage).  Perfect weather - 20 knots of wind made a glorious downwind sail.

We're sitting at Myett's Beach in Cane Garden Bay  - here's my workstation!

The tourists are being herded onto the beach from the cruise ships like cattle going to the feeding trough.  Not for me!  They leave at about 3 PM to be herded back aboard, and processed.  That's when our beach gets nice again.

Nothing of significance to report now that the storm is gone.  Just the usual - sun, sand, sailing the occasional mild squall, snorkeling, and relaxation.  Here are the highlights from yesterday.

Captain Suzy at the helm.

A basic Caribbean sunset.

Just another white sand beach with no one there.  We thought about stopping and dropping anchor, but it would have been redundant.  Great times.  We're sitting a few feet from a steel drummer who just started playing "Kingston Town" 8' from me.  There is an 80 year woman dancing to the music in front of us.  The rum is flowing freely and the Island vibe is on for the day.

Playing Jingle Bells - Christmas in the Caribbean!

We're off to Norman Island (Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island) or Soper's Hole in about 30 minutes.  No blog for a day or two - no internet there.

Thanks to Sasha & Paris for keeping me informed & keeping the office running.  It's just business as usual beneath the tropic sun & stars!

Why were the knuckles holding so tightly on the wheel?  It turns out we were unknowingly sailing through a tropical storm!

After the official end of the Hurricane season, a tropical depression formed to the east of the Virgin Islands and blew through, smack-dab in the center of our sailing route.  Just more to add to our experiences on this trip - sailing through Tropical Storm Olga.  Below is a tracking of her route.  We are sitting under the 8 AM Tuesday location.

Off to Jost Van Dyke today!  Still raining as I sit in the beach bar at 6 AM local time - me and the dogs again!

The words of immortal Jimmy Buffett, from the tune Manana.

Those words have never felt more true than yesterday, as Suzy and I steered the "Chablis" into the harbor at Cane Garden Bay on the north side of Tortola.

For those of you who've traveled with me, you know that I enjoy an element of adventure in my vacations and pastimes.  Exploring new spots, braving the elements, and even taking some risk in relation to reward is mandatory for my pastimes.

If a destination can be reached on a major commercial airliner with jet engines, it is not likely a place I'd prefer to go.  A walk across an open air tarmac with a small propeller-driven plane sitting on a short runway behind me stimulates the senses like nothing else.  Pre-processed fun is not for me.  The thought of sitting in a Hawaiian Hotel, with a poolside waitress handing me Pina-Coladas with 10,000 other tourists turns my stomach.  I need a bit more interaction with nature and the elements.

When Suzy and I got married 10 years ago I suggested a honeymoon on a chartered yacht in the Virgin Islands of the mystic Caribbean.  It turned out to be the perfect mix of fun and adventure.  The tradewinds were light, the seas were calm-to-moderate, and the weather was beautiful with the occasional tropical rainshower to cool us and wash away the salt.  It was the honeymoon of dreams.  Perfect in every way.

So, when our 10th anniversary came up, we said "Why not do it all over again?"

We found a reasonably priced charter yacht and had it provisioned for a week of sailing in one of the most beautiful destinations in the world, hoping to recreate the state of bliss that was attained 10 years ago.

It is now the morning of day 4 of the trip, and we're waiting for the bliss to surface. Or simply peek out from behind the clouds, tropical squalls, or the lengendary howling of the Christmas Winds.

I'm blogging from a deserted beach bar at 5 AM, with torrential rains falling so heavily I've had to relocate to avoid the airborn mist bourne by the 40 knot winds.  Thunder is clapping around me and all the local beach dogs are huddled at my feet for warmth and shelter.  One of the anniversary gifts I gave to Suzy was a light waterproof jacket to keep her dry on the short dinghy rides from the boat to the beaches.

That foul weather gear has been the most worn piece of clothing on the trip.

The weather-proof smock has protected Suzy from not only the regular rains, but also the spray from the massive ocean waves we've braved in our crossings from island to island.  The waves have been driven by the constant 30+ knot winds (10-15 knots is ideal for sailing).  Each day the ocean has become a more harrowing place, and yesterday's downwind crossing from Monkey Point to Cane Garden Bay in incessant rain was the end of our braving the elements.

We've abandoned ship for the comforts of a beach hotel for a day or two.  As the winds whipped to over 40 knots last night, the rain pounded our roof in sheets, and the lighting flashed and thunder roared the prudence of our decision was evident.

Thus far, our 10 year trip has had only minor resemblance to our honeymoon.  There have been magical moments when in the secluded bays and ports where we celebrated our nuptials so many (but at the same time it seems so few) years ago we've found the paradise we sought.  Suzy has been a trooper, braving the rough seas and inclement conditions with a smile on her face and love in her heart.  Below are some photos taken when we weren't hiding from the squalls or holding the wheel of the boat with white-knuckles.

We'll post more later!  Today we're going to make a crossing to Jost Van Dyke and sip firewater-rum with Foxy!  Or we may just paddle our kayak here at Cane Garden, snorkeling and sitting on the beach.  Who knows - maybe I'll even have a Pina Colada and sit in a beach chair!  IF the weather lets up....

Here is our boat, the "Chablis" as we left the dock.  Jimmy Buffett was on the stereo, but somehow the tune in my head was the opening theme to "Gilligan's Island".

Here's Suzy at The Baths - a group of granite boulders arranged miraculously forming caves, pools, and crevices.  This crack opens out to a pool between more boulders.

Us enjoying a moment of sunshine at The Baths

The rocks at The Baths - absolutely fascinating - a must see if you come here.  You can spend hours hiking through these & snorkeling in the pools.

A rainbow over the reef at our anchorage - we hope to see a few less of these.

Monkey Point - great snorkeling!  First time I've ever snorkeled with huge Tarpon - nearly as big as us!

As many of you know, we are celebrating our 10th Anniversary.  We left San Diego in pouring rain yesterday morning, flew ALL day - 12+ hours in airports & on planes - to reach the British Virgin Islands at 10:30 PM.

Our cab driver, Godfrey, delivered us safely to the Hummingbird House where we felt more at home than anywhere we've ever stopped.  We sat under the stars by the pool until 1 AM, our travel-weary bodies caressed by the tropical breezes as we enjoyed a few cold drinks poured at the owner - Yvonne's - honor bar.

I strongly recommend the Hummingbird House to anyone traveling to Tortola - it is lovely.  Here's the view from our room.

We pick up our boat for 7 days of sailing at the dock below us in 1.5 hours.  Weather - 81 degrees, moderate tropical breezes, intermittent squalls, and fun in the forecast.  Here's the dock:

We'll keep you posted on things as we have service or the time.  If you wish to see any of our current listings call Shawn Fleming at (619)857-3303.  I'll be returning calls daily or when we have service.

Suzy says "Hi" to all!

Rob