how is the superbowl smorgasbord coming along?

 

roger's always been a little bit of a hassle for everyone EXCEPT me. everyone i talk to says he's hell on wheels, but i never have a problem with him. anyway, he said something about joining wrestling and i thought yeah, right - whoopee-doo and all that, but i did take him down to the first practice. he really took to it and has become very dedicated and a lot more focused etc. i've learned quite a bit watching him and the other kids as well as the coaches and it makes good sense.

 

wrestling is an individual sport that really forces a kid to keep his attention focused and also to realize that when it comes to most things in life, it's up to an individual to get himself out of a jam and also not to get into a jam in the first place. no one to blame but himself if he loses, and no one to answer to but himself about how he does does in the sport, just like life.

 

roger's done really well and i've seen a lot of changes in him at home since he started. he's also doing a lot of exercise and conditioning at practice and at home and is eating a LOT less candy and crap. that's another thing - wrestlers seem to be a lot more in tune with their bodies, nutrition and wellness.

 

i took him to his first meet in colstrip (east of billings) and he did really well for a kid who had never wrestled before in his life and only had 5 practices: 2 wins and 2 losses. 4th place in his weight class out of the 700 kids who were there.

 

the coaches here in chinook are incredible. they're working with kids as young as 2 and 3 years old getting them started. what i find most interesting is how mature some of these kids seem to be. 7, 8, 9 year olds that seem really well-adjusted and have a lot of confidence because they've learned to do this and also have been to a few meets and have won a few times. also, they've lost a few times and have learned from those experiences. a real boost for the self-esteem and something that really helps them keep things in perspective so they are not all bent out of shape over little unimportant things.

 

the coaches tell them that they are special, that they are doing things that a lot of kids older than them can't do. that they are dedicated and hard-working. they really show the kids a lot of support, love and affection, too. when the kids get tired and worn down a bit, they tell them to keep pushing and never quit - that champions are made at practice. one of the head coaches was in the marines; another in the 82nd airborne - they know how to really motivate these kids to give 110%. they say that yes, it is hard, but if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. it really makes them feel special and inspires them to push harder. winners never quit, and quitters never win.

anyway, i never thought i'd be excited about something like wrestling, but there it is.