Too much emphasis on Coaches?

The Orioles abysmal season of 47-115 has come to an end. With half the roster gutted during the midseason trade deadline,
Adam Jones likely playing his last game as an Oriole. Buck Showalter and Dan Duquette statuses up in the air, with one likely done or both.

  Often when teams collapse like the Orioles did, someone has to be the sacrificial lamb and that often is the manager.
Hired to lead the team managers get all the praise and all the blame depending on which way the wind blows.
When managers are released the reason often given is their “message” has gotten stale.

  While it may be true that after so many years especially on teams with veteran players, they may get tired of hearing the same thing.
The philosophy of the coach may sound like a parent repeating themselves.
Or as the generation gap widens between coaches and players, they may find they cant relate to the players.

  Now for all of the blame managers get when things go south real fast, there's one tangible managers don't do. That's play on the field and produce. At the end of the day if a team is not equipped with stars who produce, they may not get very far.      
 Coaches defined as the greatest ever often had power players on their team, that’s not to take away from their style or philosophy. At the end of the day their style and a roster of play makers made for good managers.

The Bill Belichick's of the world, Bill Parcells, Phil Jackson, Joe Torre, Pat Riley, John Madden, Vince Lombardi and so many more. Yes their great coaches but put them with a D league roster and let’s see how far their philosophy will take them.

          That raises a question, is too much emphasis placed on head coaches or not enough emphasis? Yes their paid millions of dollars to lead the team, but their also field generals. Often not having much say in decision making and one way or another being told to get it done with what they have. Come of think of it their often given directives that regular folks experience just making way less money.  Coaches can raise trophies or head home into oblivion, either way I think the amount of emphasis placed on head coaches is sometimes unfairly just right or wrong.

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Brah, WE MADE IT

  I recently read an article about a panel discussing the quality of life in Baltimore and how to turn around the misconceptions that are associated with living in Baltimore, an panel member made a statement that to a lot of city residents moving to the county is “making it”. That brings up a interesting question what is “making it”?

  Through media, music, even family and friend influences we often think we know what making it is. A college degree, good job, family, and that big house in the suburbs aka “The American Dream” is often considered making it. The ability to purchase material possessions such as jewelry, cars, luxury goods and still maintain a comfortable lifestyle is making it to others. Retiring early and enjoying your golden years with no worries is making it to others. Athletes entering the pros, aspiring actors and actresses getting cast in their first role is making it. The ability to buy the latest iPhone every time it's released is making it for some. Hell a slacker waking up everyday, doing nothing may be making it.

  These are all attributes of making it, but truth be told making it and being successful is ultimately up to the individual person. There are many ways to be successful in life and make it. It falls on what you decide is most important to you in life.

   Want a masters degree? go for it you made it. Want to visit all seven continents and numerous countries? Shoot for the moon damnit so you can make it. Want to be a public servant and help those in need? You’re making it cause your making a difference in the world. Aspire to attend a Super Bowl no matter the team? Do what you gotta do. Want to drink a bottle of henny everyday after a hard days work? Do that shit.

    The concept of “making it” is all based on what you decide you want out of life, your personal and professional goals, and doing what makes you happy. Aspiring not to get sucked in the rat race of life of doing the same thing over and over. If you can identify everything you wish to do in life and accomplishment a majority of it or hopefully ALL of it, you’ve made it. Pay society's definition of the "dream" no mind. Hold your head high and let everyone know your living the dream. You define what "making it" is, not society.

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ALL IN Experience

This past weekend was the biggest independent wrestling show in history, and I was ALL IN. The brainchild of Cody Rhodes and Nick and Matt Jackson bought thousands of wrestling fans into the Chicago area for a weekend full of the culture, excitement .

   I arrived Friday morning and kicking off my experience was a trip to Pro Wrestling Tees to meet the best in the world CM Punk. The line stretched around the block and the heat was sweltering but it was worth it. Kudos to the Pro Wrestling tees staff for managing the line to meet Punk and the line to enter the store effectively and efficiently. Entering this narrow ass alley to the backroom of the store,once I met Punk he was joyful, smiling, and overall appreciative of the line of folks who wanted to meet him. After meeting Punk I ventured into the actual store which had all kinds of awesome T-shirt’s you won’t find anywhere else, other collectibles and a very important neon sign that displayed “Wrestling is an Art”. It’s tight as hell in the store and anyone who may be claustrophobic would have had serious issues with that many people in a tight space.

Courtesy: Pro Wrestling Tees

  Next up for me was Starrcast a wrestling convention for anyone who proclaims to be a wrestling fan. This time the brainchild of wrestling podcast legend Conrad Thompson, it’s full of Meet and Greets, parties, panels, memorabilia, and is a event in itself. It began Thursday and ran til Sunday, I attended The convention on Saturday and even with attending Wwe axxess and wrestlecon before, I was still pretty overwhelmed.

   The layout was not one of an traditional convention, soon as you walked into the Hyatt Regency you were greeted in the lobby by all things Starrcast related. Merch tables, podcast row, video game tournament, hell fans walking around just enjoying themselves. Some stars were hard to find as they were stationed in little nooks and crannies of the hallways. I met the goats as far as cruiserweights in Rey Mysterio Jr. and Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, and JJ Dillion of the four horsemen. Both interactions were pleasant and bucket list meet and greets. There were other meet and greets available but I didn’t take a photo with any of the other legends and stars.

     The memorabilia was awe inspiring, Ric Flairs robe you could wear, championship belts from various eras. Event posters, ring attire, all within a couple of feet of fans. Classic wrestling arcade games, too much to take in at one time. I swear there was a room or two of additional memorabilia I couldn’t find and am still annoyed about that.

 I did have some food from ODB’S food truck and damn it was good, even picked up a bottle of her whiskey sauce. One thing that was awesome is how accessible the stars were and approachable, you could literally walk by one of the greats and spark up a small conversation. Be in line behind them at the food counter, sit next to them in the lobby. Everyone was respectful for the most part and didn’t really mark out. The best part to me besides a fans wet dream of the memorabilia was talking with other wrestling themed podcasts. Networking and seeing where everyone was from and how they got their start.

   On to the main event ALL IN, which lived up to the hype. With production values that were honestly on par with Impact , and a loaded 10 match card. The card contained emotion such as when Cody won the NWA world heavyweight championship. Surprises such as when Chris Jericho appeared to attack Kenny Omega, comedy with Joey Ryan returning from the “dead” and his “dicks” carrying Adam Page away (have to know the character to get it). The Women’s fatal four way between Tessa Blanchard, Britt Baker, Chelsea Green, and Madison Rayne to show who’s really leading the women’s revolution. Black Machismo returning, Stephen Amell showing with real training he may have a future in wrestling and more. Besides a few hiccups including the abrupt ending to the main event due to time constraints, it didn’t distract from the event and the young bucks acknowledged it. The show received a “A” in my book. If anyone knows the name of Tessa Blanchards and Rey Mysterio theme please let me know.

    Cody and the Young Bucks bet on themselves and with their friends and family as support, and the fans it came out to be better than anyone imagined. They teased that their ready to go “double or nothing” and I think it’s safe to say everyone will be right along for the ride. I know I will be, when ALL IN 2 and Starrcast swings back around I’ll hop on that train. I’d definitely do more days at Starrcast strictly for networking and being with other people who love the wrestling culture. ALL IN was not only a victory for the power players involved but for the fans and the future of independent wrestling.

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