Pudding or AL.COM?

I know I have not blogged lately but I have been real busy with this thing called life.

But I have a bit of a reason to blog today. I am concerned with the personal attacks by those who represent softball organizations in our state. Since when does it matter what association you play to help develop your child’s softball skills? I did not realize that if you play ASA over NSA your child gets better simply by showing up. For some reason I was under the impression improving ones skills started with hard work and dedication not the name on your jersey or softball sanctioning body.

I have been coaching softball for nearly 15 years which if you know your history is about the time when fast pitch softball came into mainstream in Alabama. So I have seen this great sport growth since birth and what I am witnessing these last couple of years is an embarrassment for true softball enthusiasts. Anyone who goes on AL.COM is bombarded with most of what’s wrong in softball in Alabama. It reminds when I was a young lad when General Hospital, a prime time SOAP opera in the 80’s, was in it is glory days. You could miss Monday thru Thursday’s episodes but when you watched Friday’s show you got all caught up for the week. AL.COM seems to have become today’s General Hospital. The gossip is out of control, personal attacks and character assignations are posted on a daily basis.

But lately the news seems to be which softball association is the best one. My feelings are to start at the top. Look at the people running them and read or listen to what comes out of their mouth. I have noticed that no one representing USFA, Dixie, USSSA or NSA get on AL.COM in a posting frenzy; however, on any given week you will find something being posted by those who appear to represent ASA. Does this reflect the character or leadership of ASA…no not really but in my opinion it does make me wonder why so much is being posted on AL.COM with regards to ASA. Is their truth that where there is smokes theres fire? There seems to be a lot of smoke swirling around ASA these days.

I know historically ASA has been the top softball association in the state and nationally. If you want to be seen then playing ASA was a safe bet. But in today’s world does ASA still have a strangled hold on that claim? I think a lot depends on those representing ASA in an official capacity and how they conduct themselves and by what I read on AL.COM what was once a clear cut picture has started to become cloudy.

So what association should you play or support? I say play them all and support them all. This way you can find out for yourself who provides you that which you desire to develop the next “Cat Osterman” or “Jenny Finch”. If your association or team is the best then I say show it in your actions and comments with class and dignity and let others talk about you and stop talking about yourself! Proof is in the pudding, not AL.COM!