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	<title>WIRL Project &#187; News/Sports</title>
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	<description>What It&#039;s Really Like.</description>
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		<title>Q: Quality &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/q-quality-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/q-quality-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2015 09:00:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food/Drink]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conversation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Genuine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Handwriting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Morris the Cat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Old School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quality of Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Race to Nowhere]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sterling Silver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Spend]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tupperware]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=9765</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like… Traditionally when facing a major upcoming purchase I try to settle on a selection where performance meets value.  Usually there comes a point when I determine whether or not the price justifies the quality of the item.  “Quality” items generally harbor fine qualities, but not the finest.  For most, quality generally floats somewhere between the best and good enough. To me it’s more than that. My grandmother used to have a clear drinking glass that had Morris the Cat embossed on the side of it.  (For those of you not familiar with Morris the Cat, he was the mascot for 9lives cat food back in the 1970s.)  There was an illustrated thought bubble that was pointing from Morris’ head that said, “Morris on glass is like Sterling on silver.”  Apparently, Morris felt that the quality of his drinking glass was pretty damn good.  There were three things that my grandmother was fond of: sterling silver, genuine leather (she liked to pronounce it gen-U-whiiine leather) and Tupperware.  None of which boasted the finest qualities, but quality nonetheless.   “It is better to have second hand diamonds than not at all”, she used to tell me.  I suppose those are quality words to live by. Quality comes from the old school.  Literally.  Craftsmanship is a lost ability, even sometimes on me.  Many people do not know how to use it let alone spot it.  I occasionally tell my dad that I am disappointed in myself for not learning to be more handy and technically skilled with my hands like he is.  He has told me several times that my handy skills will be there when I need it.  I was proud of myself recently for selecting a beautiful solid oak desk from a local second hand store to replace our wobbly “L-shaped” corner desk we purchased from Staples for $75 several years ago as newlyweds.  I know that this is a quality item because the craftsmanship, detail and finish are a thing of beauty.  Plus, the thing weighs about 1,000 lbs. so there is no doubt that it was made well.  There is no substitute for quality.  They definitely don’t make them like they used to. Speaking of the old school…as a teacher I have discovered a lost academic art is in handwriting and conversation.  The handwriting of today’s teenagers is absolutely atrocious.  Carrying on a conversation can be even worse.  So many quality learning experiences are lost to the quantity of information attempted to be absorbed by an insatiable need of a smart device.  Take a walk down any high school hallway during a class change and you will see it firsthand.  Count how many students have their heads down while they walk, glued to their cell phones with ear buds in their ears.  It’s no wonder why this new upcoming generation has been said to be on the “race to nowhere”.   It is probably no coincidence that a capital cursive ‘Q’ appears to be shaped like the number ‘2’ and that it takes two people to carry on a quality conversation. In the baseball vernacular, when a starting pitcher completes 6 innings while allowing less than 3 runs it is known as a quality start.  As a parent, my QS% is quite low when my wife and I struggle to get our two boys out of the house each morning.   A parenting quality start should be a combination of no tears, fights (between parents or children), forgotten daily items, and making it to work on time. Lately I have found myself asking myself about quality quite frequently.  I often wonder where I spend quality time vs. where my time is most spent.  Within that poses the question of quality of life.  Personally, where does performance meet value?  It is why some of us opt for the car wash over spending time washing by hand or why some of us choose to put a loaf of bread in the refrigerator.  The tradeoff is time spent vs. quality of life.  I guess that is why my wife and I have decided we prefer quality of life by relocating back to our hometown to be near our families.  It may also be why we likely continue to keep putting the loaf of bread in the refrigerator.  It’s all about preserving the quality of life.]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>P: Poise &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/p-poise-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/p-poise-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Oct 2015 03:57:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health/Fitness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Home/Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Collapsing Pocket]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conversions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fall]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Football]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opposition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Optimism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Panic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Possession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pressure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quarterback]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=9575</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like…  Poise – verb &#8211; to hold (something) in a balanced and steady position The season of fall features a great dose of excitement for sports fans.  Playoff baseball, college/professional football, hockey and basketball all joust for the spotlight in the late months of the year in America.  As the days grow shorter, so do the sleep patterns of most sports enthusiasts attempting to absorb as much of the action as possible while still being able to have the strength to function on a day-to-day basis. I have always been able to sit down and immerse myself in an athletic contest even without knowing anything about either team playing.  The art of competition is fascinating.  As in most sports, skill, will and a bit of luck all play a role in determining factors in the eventual outcome of a game.  A man I used to coach with used to tell our players the competition was about weathering the storm.  Players should anticipate a violent storm during the contest.  It would be inevitable.  Would they allow the storm to disrupt the game plan and their top goal or would they hold steady during inclement conditions?  Most times, but not always, the team that does the best job at balancing the highs and lows emerge victorious. Saturdays and Sundays in the fall place a popular focus on the football gridiron.  Each game a significant amount of attention is paid to the quarterback position.  This is understandable for the large number of responsibilities the signal caller holds on each play.  Having played the position before I have an insurmountable respect for each player that gets under center.  Beyond ball handling and arm strength the quarterback position requires many intangible skills; most of which cannot be taught: composure, leadership, decision making, instinct, adaptability, internal clock and moxie.   Aside from athletic talent, all of those skills can be boiled down into one classification: poise. Great poise is undeniable.  Coach K writes in his book (Beyond Basketball) “…poise is the opposite of panic…it (poise) requires maturity.  It’s about remaining mentally and emotionally balanced all the time, no matter what is taking place around you.”  I obviously no longer play football, but that does not mean that I have stopped trying to sidestep the oncoming rush of the opposition.  One of the first cardinal rules to follow as a quarterback is to take care of the football and maintain a possession.  Many aspire to be placed in a position to call the shots having no idea what it takes to stand in the pocket and play the game.  When faced with pressure are you converting or turning it over?  When the rush is on and the pocket is collapsing how do you protect what is important and maintain possession of something you have worked so hard to claim?  Poise or panic?  We all play our own game.  We all face a different opponent.  Only you can answer that question. &#8220;Clear the mechanism&#8221; -Billy Chapel &#8220;Ease the pounding of your heart by quieting your mind&#8221; -GMa &#8220;Keep calm and carry on&#8221; -WWII Brits Evidence and reminders of poise are all around.  Face each day possessed with optimism, meet your opposition with poise and keep on converting. ]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>J: Judgment &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/j-judgment-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/j-judgment-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2015 04:28:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Headlines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hospitality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Inner Voice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Judgment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Know When To Fold Em]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Know When To Hold Em]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Labels]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Race]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Right-of-Way]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southern]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stereotypes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Gambler]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=8569</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like…  Judgment &#8211; some have more of it than others. Some good, some bad. Its juxtaposition has its dilemmas: When to advance/when to withdraw When to have one more/when to close the tab When to take a risk/when to take a conservative route When to adjust course and audible/when to stick to the game plan The ultimate lesson in judgment comes from the sage lyrics of Kenny Rogers’ – “The Gambler”: You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em Know when to fold ‘em Know when to walk away Know when to run You never count your money When you’re sittin’ at the table There’ll be time enough for countin’ When the dealin’s done I remember as a boy playing this album on my parents’ 78 RPM record player and singing the lyrics at the top of my lungs. At the time, I really had no idea what the lyrics meant. All I could picture was a bunch of cowboys sitting around a table playing cards; which could not have been any more badass to a young boy. This song pops into my head or plays on the radio every so often. Each time it plays the lyrics seem to ring a bit less hollow as I age. In addition, the older I get the more I understand and realize a high percentage of most people do not possess the capacity of judgment, let along good judgment. You are always told, “use your best judgment” when tasked with non-critical decision making. I think some aspects of judgment are hereditary and others are learned behavior.  Some are just plain stupid. I am convinced that there are people whose inner voice screams much louder when it comes to identifying what is right and wrong. An example of this lack of the inner voice is when someone would risk pleasing another while jeopardizing the well-being of themselves and others. The situation I am about to describe is likely not what you are thinking. It is a classic case of Southern hospitality gone bad. Since moving to the northern suburbs of Atlanta I have discovered an epidemic of questionable judgment while driving. In South Georgia it was more common to not use your turn signal that it was to use it. While the majority of ATLians signal to turn and switch lanes, several of its rural suburban drivers possess a habit to yield the right away.  Never in my life have I have seen so many people willing to completely stop their car, at the risk of being rear-ended, to allow a person stopped at a stop sign to advance in front of them. Recently, I was a waiting to turn left at a ‘T’ stop sign. When I looked to my right I saw an oncoming car approaching at the rate of approximately 45mph. I patiently waited for the car to pass by before executing my left hand turn. As I looked right to check the opposite direction and look left again I noticed that the car I was waiting for to pass by was at a complete stop in the road at the 2 o’clock position in front of me. I figured they were making a cautious, un-signaled turn left in front of me. Instead I became shocked when I noticed the driver gesturing for me to turn left in front of her. My jaw about hit the floorboard of my truck. Only two days before I saw a similar scenario play out in front of me that nearly became a horrific 5-6 car crash. With precious cargo in my vehicle (my son) I decided that I would stay put. The driver refused to take no for an answer as she denied my waves for her to continue. I became angry towards her for putting me and my son at risk and substituted the wave gesture to an emphatic slow 180-degree shake of my head while screaming, “NO!  NO! NO!  YOU GO!” The standoff seemed to have lasted five minutes, but was probably 20-30 seconds total. By the end of the confrontation the line of traffic waiting to advance to the stop sign began honking their horns at me to move and there was a line of right-of-way traffic mounting behind the overly generous female driver that I am now convinced was trying to get me killed. I finally checked one last time to my left and floored it out of there. If I were to have got into an accident there who would have been at fault? Me.  Just follow the rules of the road! This is one example of EXTREMELY POOR JUDGMENT. A few days ago I was scanning through news headlines online. I read a title that alarmed me. The headline previewed a story that highlighted a police officer that should have discharged his weapon in the line of duty for the protection of himself and the welfare of the community but feared doing so because the criminal suspect was an armed African-American teenager. In the middle of an armed altercation the officer cited that for a split second he actually considered not returning fire with the armed suspect out of fear of becoming the country’s next Darren Wilson (the officer who shot Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri over one year ago). Lapse in judgment and lack of clarity can be catastrophic in life or death situations. In this instance, it prevented this officer from properly doing his job. Passing judgment is the worst kind of judgment. It can be difficult to rid your mind of stereotypes, labels and pre-conceived thoughts toward individuals you do not know. Even if you think you know someone it can still occur. Many of my male colleagues have wives that do not work. There are times after my wife and I have had a long week of work I find myself building up resentment toward some of those families. The feeling gets stronger each time I pay the bill to my son’s daycare. Part of me feels robbed not only economically for the deep financial commitment for preschool, but to the time that my wife and I lose with our sons because we both choose to work. Passing judgment just as yielding the right-of-way may not be in the best interests or the well-being of you and those around you. Truth be told, when it comes to the assessment of your judging others you’ll probably be the judge of that.]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>D: Dreams &#8211; What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/d-dreams-what-its-really-like/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/d-dreams-what-its-really-like/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Jul 2015 07:30:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love/Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Work/Money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ABCs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Big Shot]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dreams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Game Winner]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Goals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hero]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[My Team]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WE WIN]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=7551</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This post is part of a series titled, “A-B-Cs – What It’s Really Like”. Each week a new letter and its word will be revealed. Each word’s explanation will illustrate significant personal meaning, application and ultimately demonstrate, What It’s Really Like…  “Most of us spend a lot of time dreaming of the future, never realizing a little arrives each day.” We’ve all played out the hero scenario in the driveway, at the gym, or in the office cubicle: You’re down one with the ball in your hand. The countdown begins…3…step back…2…turn…1…fire…BUZZER…bottom of the cylinder…GAME WINNER. When I was growing up, I played out this exact same scenario well over 10,000 times shooting hoops in my driveway or at a plastic hoop hanging off of my bedroom door. Multiply that by the countless number of times I fictitiously led a game-winning drive with 2:00 minutes to go in a football game or hit a walk-off homerun with a full-count and two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning.  Back in those days dreams were big and confidence was immeasurable. In those pressure packed situations I was undefeated and always the hero. Earlier this year I hit a milestone birthday. For the life of me, I cannot remember the last time I hit a wastebasket jumper to win the game. Athletics has not been the central focus of my life for some time. After high school, sports quickly evolved into “desk sports” (sports fandom, fantasy leagues and wastebasket hoops). Eventually even these acts become downgraded priorities to other responsibilities. Soon you begin losing track of your dreams and the last time you took a big shot. Did time run out? Did I pass? Did I just stop shooting? Or on the flip-side, did all of my dreams come true? One difficulty in life is dealing with and realizing when dreams change. An extremely difficult lesson for me to learn as a boyfriend turned newlywed was dealing with changing dreams. Instead of individually striving and stopping at nothing to achieve personal life goals I had to learn how to help lift up my wife to reach hers. I will admit that both of our independent mindsets drove us apart a few times before we were married. What took me so long to realize was that my family was my new team.  When we dream together WE WIN. We root for each other. We support each other. We live through each other. When you fall asleep at night, where do you go? Where does your mind take you? Are you alone or are you with your team? I’m at home, surrounded by my family and friends in a familiar environment. I am free of the burdens of finances, geographical distance and work. My team is smiling and I am happy. When I take a moment to think about how my dreams have changed I do not believe that I have stopped shooting, I am just letting some of my other teammates take a few of the final shots.]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>The REAL Reason American&#8217;s Celebrate the 4th of July</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-real-reason-americans-celebrate-the-4th-of-july/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-real-reason-americans-celebrate-the-4th-of-july/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Jul 2015 07:30:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[WIRL Project]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[4th of July]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cookout]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fireworks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flag]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fourth of July]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independence Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[July]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Summer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIRL]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=7426</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you know the REAL reason that American&#8217;s celebrate the 4th of July? We&#8217;re willing to bet that you don&#8217;t (see video below). So, before you embark on your Independence Day celebrations, you may want to freshen up on your US History and remember what the decorations, cookouts, and fireworks are all about. But don&#8217;t rush off to Google, WIRL Project has you covered! Here is an excerpt from ILoveLibraries.org to make you sound like the smartest guy (or girl) at the party: &#8230; July 4th is so special is because it’s Independence Day, a holiday celebrating the anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. In 1776, founding father and soon-to-be president, Thomas Jefferson wrote what is now the United States’ most famous and cherished document to give a list of grievances against King George III of England. It was written to justify the colonies breaking away from the mother country and becoming an independent nation. Revised by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, the Declaration of Independence was signed by our founding fathers and accepted by Congress on July 4,1776. But the spirit of Independence Day is not only about the United States officially becoming a country. It’s about celebrating the values that the country was founded upon&#8230; Independence Day celebrates those very ideals of democracy, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and is for anyone who finds faith in the words “all men are created equal.” But &#8230; it is also a holiday to remember and honor those first Americans who made sacrifices to create the Republic and then defend it over the years. Oh, and here&#8217;s a video to prove that American&#8217;s really don&#8217;t have any idea why they&#8217;re celebrating. Don&#8217;t let this be you! &#160; &#160; Enjoy and Happy 4th!  &#160;]]></description>
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		</item>
		<item>
		<title>An Open Letter To The Parents Of My Players</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/an-open-letter-to-the-parents-of-my-players/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/an-open-letter-to-the-parents-of-my-players/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Jul 2015 08:30:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Brody]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Athletic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baseball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boys]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diamond]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Letter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Son]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sports]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5378</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Parents, Let me begin by first thanking you for the opportunity to coach your son. It is an honor and a privilege to have the ability to work daily with young men, helping mold them into upstanding citizens through the game of baseball. It is a tremendous responsibility that I take very seriously. Baseball has the ability to teach young men a lot about life. Humility, respect, and accountability are just a a few characteristics and traits that can be developed from this great game. Players build confidence by encountering adversity through competition &#8211; a distinguished environment that teenagers need to be exposed to as early and as often as possible in order learn from and manage its outcomes. Lessons learned on the baseball diamond are vital to understand that in life, success is earned and not easily obtained. Baseball offers players the chance to learn the difference between entitlement and earning it. Too often we are societal victims of instant gratification and front-running with the winners until they are no longer winning. Players build confidence by encountering adversity through competition &#8211; a distinguished environment that teenagers need to be exposed to as early and as often as possible in order learn from and manage its outcomes. The unfortunate side of the great responsibility as your son&#8217;s coach are the many difficult decisions I am faced with each season regarding the 18 players on the roster, as well as the rest of the entire baseball program. The biggest decision of each season occurs well before we step foot on the field. Each season I decide to volunteer my time to coach your sons and teach this great game. Although I receive a coaching stipend, by the end of the season it calculates to pennies per hour for the amount of time my fellow coaches and I spend with your son. I assure you, I am not in it for the money. The season is roughly October -July. Over that time period I spend, on average, approximately 20+ hours per week with your son (excluding Sundays). This is nearly four times the amount of time that I get to spend with my own son. During the season, I get to see my son during waking hours for a maximum for 45 minutes per day, in the morning before I leave for work. I rarely get to see him in the evening because I arrive home from practice, or a game, well after he has gone to bed. This decision also impacts the relationship I have with my wife. Six days a week she is left handling all of the household responsibilities as virtually a single parent. I am fully aware of sacrifices that all parties endure when it comes to my annual decision to return to coaching baseball. I know what I am getting myself into and so does my family. I have one of the most understanding, loving families anyone could ask for. The season is roughly October -July. Over that time period I spend, on average, approximately 20+ hours per week with your son (excluding Sundays). This is nearly four times the amount of time that I get to spend with my own son. Some of the other major decisions I have to make revolve around managing playing time during the season. There are many things in this life that I am, and things that I am not. I am a man. I am a husband. I am a father. I am a professional. I am in my 13th season of coaching high school baseball. I have coached several players that have gone on to play at the collegiate level and professionally. I have evaluated and coached hundreds of players with more than enough experience to know how to coach the game and what it takes to win. At this level the game is a results driven business. Playing time is and always will be non-negotiable. Playing time may be discussed in the proper forum, in a professional manner with your son, and one of my assistant coaches present. Politicking, bullying or personal attacks over playing time in person, by email, text/phone will not be tolerated. There is nothing worse for a coach than to be confronted in the parking lot post-game or to get home after a long road game and to receive a blistering parent email right before going to bed. A coach experiences many sleepless nights, not out of concern over a reactionary parent email, but for the welfare and safety of his 18 sons. If an issue does arise, I ask that you carefully consider and reconsider your position AFTER discussing it with your son, before orderly asking for a meeting. I will be glad to address your rational questions and concerns. Baseball is one of the most difficult sports to coach because, at one time, the general population of young boys grew up playing Little League. Therefore, there is a large percentage of fathers who believe they have the ability to coach the sport because, at one time, they played and/or because they still watch it religiously on TV. Please do not be this father. Monday Morning Quarterbacking at home after the game, coaching from the stands, or giving your son in-game adjustments contradicts all that my staff and I have worked so hard to develop with your son. It also completely undermines the coaching staff and our philosophy. More times than I am willing to admit, I have been coaching during a close game and a boisterous father will scream directions to his son, from the stands, that directly involve in the play. The player immediately reacts to the sound of his father&#8217;s voice, makes a poor in-game decision, and it inevitably costs our team the game. Some of my favorite parents of all-time are those that were seen and not heard, allowing the coaches to do their job and coach. Baseball is one of the most difficult sports to coach because, at one time, the general population of young boys grew up playing Little League. Therefore, there is a large percentage of fathers who believe they have the ability to coach the sport because, at one time, they played and/or because they still watch it religiously on TV. Please do not be this father. If you see me off the field and I appear to be standoffish, I apologize. It is not that I want to avoid you. I simply do not have anything to talk about. I have nothing left to give you after I have left it all out on the field. This is how I coach. I bring nothing home at night after a game because I bring everything home. The short-lived wins, the long-lingering losses.  Your son&#8217;s individual successes and defeats. I will always give my best to your son and I am asking for you to return the same towards our coaching staff and our program. Thank you again for allowing me to teach your son the greatest game ever played. Sincerely, Coach]]></description>
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		<title>&#8220;Give Peace A Chance&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/give-peace-a-chance/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/give-peace-a-chance/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 29 Apr 2015 09:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Kaitlyn Slomski]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[America]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Equality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peace]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5700</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Dear Citizens of the United States of America, In the wake of the rioting in Baltimore, I felt compelled to remind us that our nation was built on these words: &#8220;We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness….” Those words do not specify race, sexual preference, education level, or affluence. Those words simply say that ALL men (and we&#8217;ll throw in women) are created equal. All lives matter. Enough with &#8220;black lives matter,&#8221; or &#8220;gay lives matter,&#8221; because of course they do! They matter just as much as white lives matter or straight lives matter or Irish American lives matter&#8230;they are human lives. It is shameful that the National Guard is now protecting one of the Eastern Seaboard&#8217;s largest cities &#8211; not from a foreign invader, but from its own citizens. It&#8217;s shameful that the media continues to throw gas on the fire of an issue that it could be using its resources to help mend. And it&#8217;s shameful that people are violently turning against their neighbors because they&#8217;re different from one another. If we don&#8217;t stop segregating ourselves, we will create a nation, and a world, of harsh judgement, hate, and even more violence. America has always held itself to a higher standard&#8230;as a leader and as a safe haven. Individuality and the freedom to express it is what made this country strong. Tonight, I pray that we can come together to accept one another &#8211; gay, straight, white, black, man, or woman &#8211; and to give peace a chance.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>The Harsh Reality of Going Home: Michael Carter-Williams&#8217; Story of Life On and Off the Court</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-harsh-reality-of-going-home-michael-carter-williams-story-of-life-on-and-off-the-court/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/the-harsh-reality-of-going-home-michael-carter-williams-story-of-life-on-and-off-the-court/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Apr 2015 19:00:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[WIRL Project]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basketball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Michael Carter-Williams]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA Tournament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On The Road]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reality]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Syracuse]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=4897</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The NCAA tournamet brings a flood of emotions to all of those who follow the action, let alone those who are actually playing in the game. Shrieks, stomping, yelling, and even tears can be normal, but in this case, something seemed really wrong when Michael Carter-Williams looked up and saw his mother distraught and crying. At The Player&#8217;s Tribune, he shares his story of why he wanted his team to continue on to the next round of the playoffs so that he could keep his family away from the harsh reality of going &#8220;home&#8221;. During the second half of the Cal game in the Round of 32, I looked up into the stands and saw that my mom was crying. I was so confused. She gets stressed during games, but we were in control. Clearly something really bad had happened. I didn’t know what to do — I mean, I’m in the middle of a game. It almost didn’t feel real. Like a bad dream or something. So during whistles I kept looking at her like, “What’s going on?” She mouthed that everything was fine, but I knew it wasn’t. Visit The Player&#8217;s Tribune for the whole story&#8230;]]></description>
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		<title>NCAA&#8217;s Best Cinderella Stories: Keep The Underdog In Mind While Filling Out Your Brackets!</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/ncaas-best-cinderlla-stories-keep-the-underdog-in-mind-while-filling-out-your-brackets/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/ncaas-best-cinderlla-stories-keep-the-underdog-in-mind-while-filling-out-your-brackets/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Mar 2015 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[WIRL Project]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Basketball]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bracket]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Buzzer Beater]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cinderella Story]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[March Madness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NCAA Tournament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Overtime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pool]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Selection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Team]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Underdog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=4292</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Who doesn&#8217;t love an underdog? Well, the NCAA tournament is usually full of incredible cinderella stories, buzzer beaters, close games, and suspense, but it&#8217;s kinda nice to see an occasional upset throw everyone&#8217;s bracket for a major loop, right? Some people select their brackets based on studying statistics, some base their picks off of  the team color, and some base their selections out of spite for their spouse, sibling, colleague, etc. &#8211; nonetheless, it&#8217;s always fun to be &#8220;in the game&#8221;. So, if you haven&#8217;t made your bracket&#8217;s yet, you are running out of time! Ask a friend which pool they are in, and if they&#8217;re not in one, start one of your own. If you have already made your selections, we&#8217;re sure you&#8217;re very anxious for the madness to begin! To help put you in the mood, we&#8217;ve linked this post to the 5 NCAA Tournament Cinderella Stories to Remember Before March Madness Begins from BostInno. The stories mentioned in this post are classics &#8211; like, you&#8217;ll remember-where-you-were-when-you-watched-it kind of classic. We hope it inspires you and gets you excited about the upcoming tournament! Good luck to all and may the best team win!]]></description>
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		<title>A New Team, A New Start: NFL star, Julius Thomas, Shares What It&#8217;s Really Like</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/julius-thomas-heads-to-jacksonville/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/julius-thomas-heads-to-jacksonville/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 13 Mar 2015 10:00:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Adam A.]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News/Sports]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Denver Broncos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jacksonville Jaguars]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Julius Thomas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NFL]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=4065</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are a Denver Broncos fan, you are probably pretty upset with Julius Thomas heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But Thomas wants all of his fans to know, it is nothing personal. It&#8217;s the teams decision to not commit to a long term contract with him, and he is fine with that. Thomas mentions that playing with the Broncos was a true blessing. He was the young guy on the roster, so he had all the veterans, such as Payton Manning, helping him out with routes. Now that he is heading to Jacksonville, who had the youngest team in the league last season, he is excited to pass his knowledge he has gained onto a younger squad. Jacksonville is in need of a winning team, and Thomas plans on helping to achieve that goal. For his personal take on this move, and to find out what it&#8217;s really like to be in his shoes, visit http://www.theplayerstribune.com/julius-thomas-free-agency-letter/]]></description>
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