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	<title>WIRL Project &#187; Letter</title>
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	<link>http://www.wirlproject.com</link>
	<description>What It&#039;s Really Like.</description>
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		<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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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dear Motorcyclists: You Look Stupid When You Don&#8217;t Wear A Helmet</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/dear-motorcyclists-you-look-stupid-when-you-dont-wear-a-helmet/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/dear-motorcyclists-you-look-stupid-when-you-dont-wear-a-helmet/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Apr 2015 18:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anonymous WIRL]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Driver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Drivers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Helmet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Letter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motorcycle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Motorcycle Driver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Road]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Safe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Safety]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spring]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Summer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=5568</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Dear Motorcycle Drivers, This is the time of year that you start getting your prized bikes out from the garage and clean them up for a great season of adventure. It is also the time that many people start preaching about safety and being aware of you and your bikes on the road. We hear things like, Watch for motorcycles in the blind spot of your rearview mirror! or, When pulling out at a stop sign&#8230; look twice!! I have to agree that the advice we get is fine and expected. We should be careful and mindful of motorcyclists on the road, I am all for being cautious and keeping everyone safe. But here&#8217;s where I get a bit perturbed with all of this. Here&#8217;s a few questions for you: How about you do your part to keep safe and not weave in and around traffic so that we don&#8217;t unexpectedly hit you, because in normal circumstances, a vehicle wouldn&#8217;t be able to do what you just did? Why do you feel the need for speed when you&#8217;re on one of the most dangerous motor vehicles allowed on the road? And, here&#8217;s a good one, how about you put a freaking helmet on your head to save your life, just incase there is an accident?! Did you ever think of that?! &#160; I know somehow you&#8217;ve managed to get a few legislators in your pocket to pass laws that do not REQUIRE you to wear a helmet (in some states), but &#8230;really, if you&#8217;re not doing your part to be extra cautious and if you&#8217;re not using common sense to protect yourself, why the hell should everyone else have to go out of their way to make sure YOU are safe? Seriously! You actually look stupid when you&#8217;re flying down the road with your gross gorgeous locks flowing in the wind. Newsflash! When you fall off that thing, for whatever reason, you are probably going to smash your head on the ground and it&#8217;s going to be a massive tragedy to you, your family, and friends. I know this because I&#8217;ve been through it &#8211; someone I know and love fell off of their motorcycle and was killed because of a head injury 100% due to the fact that they were NOT wearing a helmet! Don&#8217;t force me to have to go to your bedside at the hospital, or worse, your funeral. I&#8217;m angry and annoyed that I am sad and crying because I can&#8217;t see or talk to you ever again because you made the stupid decision to get on that motorcycle without a helmet. My sadness and your death could have been prevented with one little choice. If you were to ride a go-cart, a bicycle, or even go down hill skiing, you&#8217;re expected, or at least suggested, to have a helmet on. But, somehow you get behind a 100 HP engine and leave it up to fate! WHAT? That&#8217;s STUPID! Believe me, you&#8217;re not THAT cool. And believe me, you REALLY won&#8217;t be very cool when you&#8217;re dead or braindead from not protecting yourself. You have the choice, use your brain (or lack thereof) to make a wise decision and put a helmet on! You can wear all your gear, get your tattoos, buff and shine the chrome on your bike, even buy a flashing headlight that helps cares to see you more easily&#8230;do whatever you like! But please, buy a helmet and wear it! I&#8217;ve already seen and heard of too many fatalities this year, and it&#8217;s only April. To your credit, in some cases a helmet might not save your life, but I think it&#8217;s common sense to have one on. Every time I drive my car I don&#8217;t have an option to wear my seatbelt, I HAVE to do it. Do I look &#8220;cool&#8221; doing it? Not really. But, it shows that I know and understand the law and, more importantly, the consequences of what would happen if I chose not to buckle my seatbelt. I think the least you can do, for safety sake, is to put your helmet on! All of you diehard freedom riders may disagree with me, but I&#8217;m sick and tired of seeing one after another of your brothers or sisters (who was not wearing a helmet) not surviving these accidents and it being blamed on everything BUT not wearing a helmet! So, how about I&#8217;ll buckle-up and you&#8217;ll helmet-up and we&#8217;ll look out for each other and stop this ridiculous nonsense. If I need to do my part to keep you safe by being extra cautious in my car, then you need to drive that thing like a responsible, somewhat intelligent human being and be extra cautious as well. Here&#8217;s my last big of advice: Wear a helmet, follow the rules, listen to my advice, and no one gets hurt. Bottom line: If you chose to not wear a helmet, you are choosing to look like an idiot. Sincerely, A Very Annoyed Angry Frustrated Patient Driver &#160;]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Dear US Airways</title>
		<link>http://www.wirlproject.com/dear-us-airways/</link>
		<comments>http://www.wirlproject.com/dear-us-airways/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Mar 2015 09:00:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Anonymous WIRL]]></dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Entertainment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life/Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Airline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Book Trip]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Complaint]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Customer Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Frustrated]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Letter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[On Hold]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Phone Call]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[US Airways]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.wirlproject.com/?p=4608</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Dear US Airways, Your customer service stinks, bad. You definitely need to work on your automated man who answers the phone when you call your 1-800 number because he stinks too. I called to book my flight using a reward travel certificate (that you can only use by booking over the phone &#8211; which is ridiculous) and was asked to &#8220;call back&#8221; at least 20 times, due to bad weather. Seriously? It&#8217;s March, the weather isn&#8217;t THAT bad. You seriously can&#8217;t answer the phone because you&#8217;re swamped re-booking flights due to bad weather for three straight weeks? I called around the clock and it was the same story every SINGLE time. Honestly, I called at least 50+ times trying to book this trip and waited for 2+ hours on hold several times. I wasted at least a full 24 hours of my life sitting on the phone waiting for you to answer the call that is &#8220;very important to you&#8221;. I even called the special number on the back of my preferred US Airways MasterCard, finally got someone to answer the phone, and they told me they&#8217;d give me an &#8220;insider&#8221; number to use to call and get a human being. I was satisfied with this, until I found this exact number is listed on the website &#8211; it&#8217;s the number you call to book a reservation by phone! Thanks for the &#8220;insider tip&#8221;&#8230;what a joke! Anyway, I finally get through to someone at your company and they tell me I can&#8217;t use the reward certificate for this trip, due to &#8220;blackout dates&#8221;. Are you KIDDING me? I explain that I&#8217;ve waited (literally) three weeks to book this flight and now you&#8217;re telling me I can&#8217;t? So, they asked me to call back another time, with different dates, to book my trip. At the end of the day, after about 4 weeks of this mess, I ended up successfully booking a flight, but I have to say it was the most ridiculous, stressful way to have to do it. So, my advice to you, US Airways, would be: Stop telling me my call is important to you; it&#8217;s not. Seriously, get a new recording for us to listen to while you have us on hold for 2+ hours Get RID of blackout dates &#8211; it&#8217;s a scam Answer the phone Prepare for bad weather in the winter, duh! &#160; That&#8217;s all. &#160;]]></description>
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