Thursday Throw Down: Athletics

On Thursdays I will throw out a topic for debate. "I will"? Well, let me say I will try. This should be a regular thing, God willing. I think debate is healthy. It does several things, and all at the same time.
1. It fires synapses: A person will have to engage all of their mind, including memory, logic, creative, and learning.
2. It exposes: If somebody has difficulty learning new things, being exposed to new concepts will broaden their knowledge base.
3. Engages: "Opinions are like..." The problem with opinions is just that, they are baseless, for the most part. If a person is forced to find out why they believe something they may come to the conclusion they don't believe it at all. Or they find the reasons why they believe it. Take the philosophy professor who assigns new meaning to the color blue. Idiot. It is blue because society has assigned the value, if you want to change the value build a time machine and go back to the formation of languages.

Now on to the topic.

This afternoon Fox News (which I seldom watch) had a panel discussing youth athletics. The usual things came up. It is beneficial because it teaches certain traits like leadership, perseverance, and prioritization. It is not beneficial because it teaches success at all costs, glorification of one type or another, and excludes people. I won't go into it further, but it was Fox News so it wasn't too deep.

My question is this: Are organized athletics necessary?

Father Cekada on organized sports. A nice preface.

I'm going with a no. Here is why:
1. Society has functioned just fine without any form of organized athletics. In fact they prospered. The early empires that built all of those marvels did not have a professional athletic class. The Cherokee, Sioux, and all the rest of the people that populated this continent did not have a professional athletic class. In fact, just off the top of my head, I don't think we had a professional athletic class until some years had passed in the 20th century. Even then they were not wealthy. They had other jobs (Rocky worked in a meat packing plant, thanks 80s reference).
2. They are not necessary for our survival. If an alien race showed up outside the perimeter of our atmosphere and somehow abducted the entire NFL we would not be any worse. BTW I am going to write about that, so no stealing. However if that same alien race managed to get our trash men and plumbers we would be screwed. Cholera and Typhus outbreaks, rodent infestations, you name it would be an apocalyptic nightmare (BTW I am going to write that one as well).

So here is my point: If the manner in which you make money offers less to society than the people who deal with our filth, you are probably not necessary. You are not worth glorification. And you are certainly not worth multi-million dollar contracts. I understand the free market thing with NFL/NBA/MLB salaries, so don't go there. But do go to the necessary/unnecessary argument. We could apply the same to any celebrity or faux celebrity (Kardashian is thy name). If anybody can do it, and trust me anybody can run, punt, sprint, hit, it is not necessary as a social class. Maybe they cannot do it as well as the one who was abducted by those aliens, but they can still accomplish the task without any special training.

The reason I wanted to work through this is football. The boy plays it. He has decided not to play it this coming season due to the time it will take away from his academics. Remember, if he does not finish we don't thru-hike the AT. Some of our relatives (grandparents, go figure) are a little perturbed by this. They bring up the usual benefits of organized athletics, but I am dubious.

Can a twelve-year-old learn leadership without being on a football team?

Not everybody on the team is a leader. From what I have seen very few players are leaders, it is normally the coach. If one were to look at the crop of players in college football that are becoming household names I am certain they would not want their son to emulate that kind of leadership. Sexual assault, theft, DUI, drug possession, and just plain stupid (North Carolina anybody?) seem to be some of the problems. Did those men learn leadership and morals through organized athletics? I am going to say they did not. Now I will admit athletics does instill the values I like in some people, however it does not have any influence over others. It actually has a negative influence. They are groomed to believe they are exceptional without producing any evidence other than athletic prowess. This is a free country and you can believe whatever you wish, but is it wise to reward athletic prowess despite poor character? No. Jameis Winston is a perfect example. The institutions associated with his poor character covered for him. The school? Probably. The criminal justice system? It seems that way. NCAA? They bestowed an honor on him. What happened next? He steals food, which he can pay for. Not all people involved in organized athletics act like fools. There are plenty who do good things for society. But is that a product of their involvement or the character traits already instilled in them? Would they not be the same way if they were suffering from an affliction that kept them from being athletes?

Organized athletics have value, but not enough to warrant them as being popular as they are. The Boy Scouts have turned out leaders, and it is (or was) a requirement for participation. The military demands it (JROTC and its associated groups are another post altogether). Teamwork can be taught in a myriad of ways (most of which do not involve a ball). Many proponents of organized athletics get carried away by the assumption it is the only way, or even the best way. It is neither. Plenty of people get through life without engaging in organized athletics. Plenty of people go on to be valued members of society without participating in organized athletics.

I am a little shocked by my opinion. I loved watching my son play. I like watching college and professional football. I have tempered my enjoyment of it over the years. Especially after watching, and listening to some parents. Am I sad my son does not want to play this year. No. What about the following season? I don't care. I have come to the realization it is not necessary. It is not important, it is not the best method, or even a favored method, for rearing your children.

Tuesday Trip Time

As stated, the boy and I are going to thru hike the AT. The biggest logistical issue is school. Now I know what you're thinking.
"Isn't he home schooled? One of those wall lickers that turns out socially indifferent? Why would that be a problem?"
Yes, he is, but... We use the state's approved alternative to stepping inside a brick and mortar structure. Georgia Cyber Academy. If you live in Georgia, and you are looking for an alternative to traditional schooling, I can recommend it without reservation (as long as you know what you are doing). The boy still has to take state mandated tests. In our case the CRCT.
This is the test by which a student's intellect and academic abilities are measured. Never mind that over 60% of our legislators could not make a decent score on it if they were given it, or that they never took state mandated tests while in school and they decry the state of education and moan for it to return to the way it was when they were in school. I digress.
This test is given in April or May, depending on when your school is scheduled. GCA seems to be late April. So we will have to be in town for the test.
"But what about his actual school work?"
That's a good question. With a very good answer. GCA allows for self paced progress. Which means he does have assignments that must be completed as part of the online learning system. Fortunately these assignments are put out there at the beginning of the school year.

This problem falls squarely on his shoulders. He is tasked with completing EVERYTHING before we hit the trailhead on top of Springer Mountain. He will have to schedule his time, all by his lonesome. We discussed this at length, and I pointed out my concerns at his frequent attempts to procrastinate. He countered with the "I'm at the top of the curve. I score mastery on everything, Dad. Even when I had to sit in a classroom."
Touché.
He did, and still does. For a twelve year old he is a little remarkable. I know most parents say that about their kids, but he has evidence. He read Tolkien, Tolstoy, and a few obscure books I had on my bookshelf. He grappled with Latin and Spanish. He can do statistical formulas and geometry at a college freshman level, which I cannot (and refuse to do, another day has passed and I still haven't used any algebra). He played center, left tackle, and guard, so the physical stuff is not an issue (his current plan is to work up to a decent squat, press, and deadlift). He is as tall as I am (which means he will be well over six feet by the time he exits high school, I'm only average height). He involves himself in learning and discovering on his own, outside of an established curriculum. All of this adds up to a youngin' that can probably complete a state curriculum in swift fashion.
We decided, tentatively on the last week of February, 2015. Maybe even the last day.
"What does that mean? Big deal."

It is important to schedule your thru hike according to probable weather patterns. Now, it is still cold in Georgia during February, and on into March, however it is tolerable. Starting out at this time we should hit Damascus, Virginia at just the right time. The right time being when my wife will pick us up and bring us back so he can take the CRCT. She will then drive us back to where she found us (unwashed, unfed, and with a few hundred miles on us), put us out, and we will continue on until we summit Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Hopefully she will pick us up there as well.

I considered other things regarding schooling, and how we will be disconnected from "society" for months at a time, at least March, April, and May as far as school goes. This is where technology steps in. The iPhone and a Surface RT. Connect to the internet when we set up camp, and if he needs to do anything it gets done. I know it is taboo. We should be moving away from technology during this time, connecting to nature and "finding ourselves". But let's face it. We aren't hippies. I'm not saying it is written in stone either, it is just an option. I like having some sort of backup plan, just in case. It probably will not be necessary.

For those dads out there that are contemplating something like this I offer you Sunshine and Balls. Mr. Reed took his daughter out for a walk. All three of the longest walks (the Triple Crown, AT, PCT, and CDT). She became the youngest person to bag all three.

Now for gear talk with the Dad:

The big three are your pack, sleep, and shelter system. When undertaking a thru hike weight and efficiency are paramount. You will find all kinds of websites devoted to thru hiking and the gear it involves. You will also find people on those websites that recommend something, either a pack or sleeping bag, which you find to be just too expensive. I'm with ya'.
The one thing we learned, after weeks of research and countless youtube videos, is it all comes down to personal preference.

The item I will address in this post is the pack. I know how to rig an ALICE pack, but man is that going to be heavy. You could probably get away with carrying one on a thru hike of the AT, and people have done it. But why would you? The first consideration is the volume and weight of your gear.

We decided to keep it light. Not super-ultra-light, just light. The base weight for "Light" is considered between 10 and 20 pounds. That is a lot of wiggle room if you know how to do it. Base weight is all your gear, not food and water. On a thru hike of the AT you will only need one change of clothes, if that. In fact if you are carrying more than one of anything it should be socks. The start of the trail on a thru hike is normally cold and wet (it starts in Georgia, we get rain here like just about everywhere else). Your shelter doesn't need to be a tent, and it probably shouldn't be. You need a tarp, it's lighter and you have more options about setting it up. Your sleeping bag? It should be the best you can afford and keep you warm down to 20F. Down or synthetic? Doesn't matter. If it gets wet it will not keep you warm, even if it is synthetic. Wet is wet. So don't let it get wet. Down is lighter, but also more expensive.

The boy and I decided on using Hennessy Hammocks for our shelter set up. I don't want to sleep on the ground like an animal, and rodents scurrying over me in one of the shelters gives me the heebie-jeebies. Those run about a pound and a half (give or take). A decent backpacking quilt will run about a pound or so, and the insulation for the bottom of the hammock will be less than that (I get hot easily). The problem will be storing the gear because it takes up space and is fairly light.

We went with GoLite. I have a Pinnacle (the large) which is no longer in their product line. It was replaced with the Jam, which the boy went with. The Pinnacle has the volume to handle large loads, but it still demands I keep things light. I do not plan on going over fifteen pounds. That leaves more than enough room for ten pounds of food and water, while still being a comfortable carry. The GoLite Jam seems a little smaller, but not by much, and it can still hold around thirty pounds comfortably.

Other makes and models that have been popular on AT thru hikes are Z-pack, Osprey, and even some REI store brand packs. The big picture is to consider what your skills are and how comfortable you want to be. If you have some miles under your feet, know how to use an alcohol stove, don't mind eating the same thing over and over, and are organized, you can get to Maine with thirty pounds, and probably a lot less, on your back. If you absolutely must have an internal frame pack, loaded up with a stove (which you will not find fuel for) and two backups, five changes of clothes, a coffee press, a tent, a bear canister, bear spray, a pair of camp shoes, and the heaviest most wind resistant rain gear you can find, be prepared to only make about five miles a day and for your thru hike to be about a year long. Also you will be so tired you won't even use the gear because you will be staying in motels each time you make it to a town. So bring some money, and lots of it.

Thru hikes are labor intensive, not financial undertakings. Choose multi-function gear, light weight, and reasonable. And then figure out how much space you will need to carry it. Simple.

I think the biggest problem our family has regarding the adventure is they are too connected to convenience. If you cut out what you do not need, and look at what is necessary, and only that which is necessary, you find you can use a lightweight pack. A good idea is to check out some of the VLogs on youtube (I like Will Wood, aka Redbeard). You will get an idea as to what you will need, what they discarded, and what they wished they had thought of.

The Why

After some funding cuts and disagreements (along with a healthy dose of "stoppedgivin'-a-syndrome) I decided to leave the traditional field of work.

What?

In this economy?

Have you lost all sense of reason?

Well it was sort of forced upon me (funding), but I could have argued about it a little. It was in the weeks that followed where I had one of those epiphanies. You see, I had always been something of a minor writer. I had some screed published back in the early 90s while in college. It wasn't anything spectacular, just a short story. It wasn't even in anything noticeable, a defunct literary magazine out of New Orleans or Mobile. But it did buy some beer, and who can argue with that kind of success? I now had an opportunity dropped into my lap by the Almighty to do what I had originally intended to do all along. Write. 

In the months sans-traditional work my wife and I decided I should have some company, and it came in the form of our twelve year old son, Bailey. So I joined the masses of homeschooling parents. I found it to be strange that I was the one doing it, because, well because I'm the dad. Aren't moms the one who do all the homeschooling/government is destroying my child/paranoid exercises? As it turns out, that is the correct assumption. So we went with a curriculum and hit the ground running. Now this "Why" (and what has turned into a brief "How") did not find me unprepared. This begs for a timeline of skills and experiences, so here it is:

1. Military: In my younger days I was somewhat on edge and so I joined up. Went away, and then came back. That simple.

2. Police: Yes, I am not just a man, I was "The Man". I worked the street as a patrol officer, shaking doors and answering calls. On occasion I pulled over a car and wrote tickets. For several years I worked on a narcotics task force, and was on a tactical team. I learned to shoot and fight in a controlled setting, and then did it for real at 3:00 a.m. I also became an investigator focusing on sex crimes and crimes against children. In total, about 15 years of my life spent dealing with all the bad stuff that happens. Between the military and policing it made about 20 years. 

3. University educated (and a teacher!): True, very true. I did obtain a liberal arts degree, and a teaching certification for English (lil' childrens and high school). I taught for a little while, and cut backs ended it. So I do know a thing or two (possibly three) about teaching a "tween" and smart ass teen agers. 

So now we sit. He does a few lessons, and assessments, writes, and then when he finishes with his "cipherin' and figurin'" we go for walks. He, being Bailey. I have an office downstairs and he does venture into it while I am writing. Sometimes he offers pointed observations about what I'm working on (he insists the "Damn Truckers" needs to be made into a comic book and then a movie). He isn't so interested in the literary or southern fiction. Not his cup of tea? Pepsi. 

A few weeks ago Bailey came up with what I consider a brilliant plan. We can hike the Appalachian Trail. 

"We start here in Georgia, and then make it all the way to Maine. Some mountain up there."

Are you kidding me??? I've been wanting to do that since...since...Hell yes! Let's do it!

This brings me to the "Why".

I hate to break it to everybody, but you will die. One day your heart muscles will fail to contract, and the nerve endings will stop firing to make those involuntary contractions. Your lungs will also give up on the whole inhale exhale thing (it does get boring after a while). After that you will cease to be part of this mortal realm. I will not go into the philosophical and theological, but you, me, Bailey, my wife, my dogs, everybody, will die. When you die I am not sure if that cliche about your life flashing before your eyes is true, but just in case wouldn't you rather have something decent to watch? Instead of paying bills, worrying about money, looking for the damned remote in the sofa cushions, eating a box of Little Debbie snack cakes, and all the meaningless crap that makes up humanity, wouldn't you prefer to see flashes of memories that matter?

The YOLO thing has run its course and become anathema. But its sentiment is almost correct. If you have kids, and you are a dad, figure out a way. It may not be for every dad out there, but you could probably come up with a plan to implement something meaningful. Why?

1. It's effin' dangerous to be a boy today: A review of some statistical data (I know, I took it in college too, but sometimes they get it right. Just watch the news) shows how fathers not involved in their kid's life end up creating way more problems than those who are. The CDC conducted a study and found boys to be more at risk than girls. They become violent, susceptible to multiple health risks, suicide, and psychological issues. The bottom line is fathers are not being dads. Some are, but think about it for a minute. If you are a father what kind of interaction do you have with your kids? When I was a police I worked nights. I loathed the day shift. I woke up when my wife and son came home, ate, and then S-3 (shit, shower, shave). After that it was off to see all the strangers that called 911. I didn't help with homework, and I was off two weekends a month. Plenty of time for family days? Sure. But did I do it? Nope. I was wiped out after dealing with drug addicts, drunken domestics, and whatever else was thrown at me. I changed careers, but found myself getting wrapped up in that as well. Other people's children were a priority as well. I'm a type-A personality, so I tried to juggle it. It did not work out well. If you find it is not working out well for you, don't feel guilty (maybe just a little), start coming up with a plan. If you like what you are doing to make money, and that is all it is, get a calendar and start penciling in those hours and days you will spend connecting with your offspring and family. If you like what you are doing to make money, and it is how you identify yourself as a man, get a journal and do some soul searching, because you probably suck as a father. I did. 

2. Your daughter got a tattoo and is going to be a stripper: Positive family experiences have long term effects. If you show your kids how a man is supposed to act they will expect all men to behave that way. If you are raising a son, he will emulate you. If you are raising a daughter (sorry, don't have one, and I would be worried if I did) she will more than likely demand the males she comes in contact with to behave like you. Let's hope you are behaving appropriately. If you are, she won't bring home some d-bag who has to meet with a probation officer every Wednesday to pee in a cup. She will probably go to college, have a great deal of success, and live at a higher standard. Your son will learn to follow in your footsteps, have academic success, and have a higher standard of living. You get grand-children to buy presents for, and people that actually care when those nerves stop firing and your heart ceases to work. 

3. Socks with sandals? It's o.k. But maybe we should yearn for something more: It's easy to get caught up in the event. The event being life. You made it out of school, then got a job. Your under the assumption that you should stick with it, no matter what (401K, benefit packages, vacations, and retirement, just like your parents did). But let's be honest. Does it matter? Does it make any sense? Is it even feasible? That all demands on your situation, but let me throw some things out there. This is specifically for the Generation-X people (My people, oh how I love our 80s movies, and Molly Ringwald). Gone are the days of stagnant lifestyles. Technology, work innovations, and the world in general have created a connected society. Most of it without borders or gate keepers. When I went into the military they gave me a top secret clearance. I have no idea what that entailed, but it was a package deal. I took some tests and went to some briefings, and BAM! Top Secret! When I became a police I took a test, a physical, went to the academy, and BAM! Gun? Check. Badge? Check. Cuffs? Got 'em. Get a pen, you're going to have to write. Got it. Now go out there and lock some asses up. Will do. What about all the other cool jobs, or as I look at them now Finance Options? Here is a little perspective:

Hugh Howey: He wrote a couple of books. Wool being the most popular. He didn't go the traditional route. He published his stuff himself, as an e-book. It became popular. So popular a traditional publishing company offered him a sweet deal, which he turned down and gave a counter offer for less money but fewer publishing rights (print only, I think). He turned around and sold the idea of Wool to a movie studio, which bought it. He's rich, and he got that way because of his ideas. His earlier incarnation found him repairing computers and working as a yacht captain. Wait a minute? This guy doesn't have any formal literary training! No MFA from Iowa or a prestigious university. How did that happen? J.A. Konrath pulled it off too. If you are like me, and fancy yourself a writer of sorts, these two guys are not the only ones (in fact my research found it is mostly the ladies that pull it off with greater success). Many, many, many people (some are dads) are doing it. Not everybody is raking in million dollar deals and have Ridley Scott putting together a production of their work, but more than enough are making decent money. 

I have a friend, former police, that left the department after I did. He makes a living as an artist. He owns a gallery (that's not his gallery in the link), and he hocks his wares. He is living his dream. He's a dad, and spends a great deal of time with his kid (who is approaching full grown now). I don't think he regrets dropping out of the traditional money input method. 

If you are the creative sort, and are looking for inspiration in order to drop out and begin doing what you were born to do Brain Pickings has numerous ideas. Rather than list each and every idea a guy could have about what to do so they could live their lives in relative comfort and still have a sense a purpose let me say this: You do have value. As a man you matter. Now figure out how to make it happen. 

You will probably fail, at first. Later on you will garner some success. You might not become a household name, but the only household that matters is not outside your own. So learn to deal with a degree of anonymity. There are numerous benefits to being relatively obscure (you can get away when you want being the chief of them). 

The bottom line (isn't that what all men look for?): You are not made by money. You are made by certain types of successes. A good example? Kevin Federline. Look it up. Need another? Woody Allen. When was the last time you heard Federline rap? Did you see the last Woody Allen movie? Exactly. Think Bill Cosby vs. Jay Z. Or Jim Caviezel/ Liam Neeson/ anybody other than a drunk vs. whoever is going to play Batman again. Being a good guy pays off in the end. Jay Z won't be able to live up to the hype in 2025, and Woody Allen will die a pedophile without any offspring crying over him. Pick your measure of success carefully, and don't look at anything on TLC as being remotely real. Real men pick their kids up from school and go places with them. Consider Jason Patric and his plight. (Another 80s icon? I know.)

And you and I have our kids in the same building. Put things in perspective. Now. Before it is too late. And it will be too late, one of these days.

Pax.