On occasion, my eight-year-old son Jalen is too intensefor his good.
Board games, for example, are an especially painfulchore. Beginning with "CandyLand" and "Chutes & Ladders" up through "Sorry!" and"Monopoly"; I've begun to wonder if we shouldn't confine "familygame night" to Jalen's room since that's where he invariably ends up. Although, that would rob my wife and I of thesight of our son trudging upstairs -- in tears -- while belching out, "Idon't wanna be bank-roop!"
He brings the same "bank-roop"-averse mood tosports. His basketball career unceremoniouslyended after he was, uh...asked to leave the court for playing defense like this. Jhas similarly struggled in soccer. Helikes it just fine, but his kicking skills are commercial worthy -- right down to the guttural"Arrgh!" Anyways, after aminute or two of running, J puts his hands on his hips and expendsjust enough energy to remain mostly upright.
* -- I cannot BELIEVE I never wrote aboutthis. I'll be generous and say Jalen wassimply attempting to set an illegal moving screen. Next thing I knew, one childwas flat on his back and J was being escorted off the court by the referee. He did get back into the game as everyoneknew he certainly wasn't trying to hurt the other player. J spent the rest of that game pleading withthe referee to call a foul on any player who came within 10 feet of HIM,because...of course he did.
In baseball, Jalen's gotten a bit better at managing hisemotions.
He's no longer kicking over ice chests -- as he didduring an extended hitless stretch to begin his first fall season in 2010. He's much more encouraging and doesn'tcriticize teammates -- as he did during a game that eliminated us from thepostseason playoffs in 2011. And, hetakes the occasional in-game struggle in stride -- wait, no...we're stillworking on this one.
Jalen WILL be ejected from a Little League game at somepoint. It almost happened in our next tolast game of this fall season. (But,we'll get into that in the next "LL Chronicles".) He wants to do well. He wants to win. And, there simply aren't enough italics toarticulate his intensity in this regard. But, again, he's now TRYING to channel those feelings in a moreconstructive and positive spirit.
After our initial set of bullpen sessions, J was ready toscrap the fastball idea and rely solely on his 35 MPH appetizer. He stuck with it, though, and for the firsttime I can remember, he directed his intensity into trying to succeed, insteadof running from failure. His earlyresults with the four-seamer were mixed. He threw it almost exclusively in our firsttwo fall games, giving up a run in two innings. He then got clobbered in the next game to the tune of five runs.
The old, uh, young Jalen would've been inconsolable. Now, he couldn't wait until our next game. J got the start and gave up just a run in twoinnings. The following game was ourfifth of the season. It coincided withthe improbable run to the postseason by our beloved Oakland Athletics. One of Jalen's favorite A's players is closerGrant Balfour -- a tightly-wound Aussie whoseover-the-top mound demeanor includes bulging neck veins, one-man motivationalscreaming and random broadcasted expletives capable of shattering the soundbarrier. (Guess which part Jalen enjoysmost.) Collectively, A's fans refer toit as "Balfour Rage".
But, there are some things not even "J Rage"can conquer.
Down to 8 kids for Little League game tomorrow.Now, my son has 101 degree fever. "I wanna play. Don't tell mom", hesaid. Inspiring. RIGHT? -- from my Twitter feed, October 12
We were playing the 9:00AM game and things didn't lookpromising that morning.
Son's temperature is up to 102. He *might* notbe able to make his 900AM Little League game. (Hoping THAT explains the icebath to my wife.) -- from Twitter, October 13
When I left the house -- about an hour before game timeso that I could help set up the field -- Jalen was curled up on the couch. He still wanted to play, but it wasn'tlooking good. As his father, Iknew what I had to do: leave the final decision in hismother's hands and let HER be the one to emotionally eviscerate him.
So, my son DID make it to his baseball game. 101fever. Went 1 for 2. In his words: "I didn't wanna end my consecutivegames played streak." -- from Twitter, October 13
Mrs. Bootleg is a wonderful mother. She'd never risk the health of ourchild. But, she also knows what the gamemeans to Jalen. And, she knowsI'd never risk the health of our child. He jogged onto the field about 10 minutesbefore first pitch. When I told him hewouldn't be pitching, he didn't put up a fight. THAT'S when I knew how bad he must've felt.
We played a much more experienced team from a neighboringcommunity and lost 7-5. My players wereundeniably intimidated early -- digging a 4-0 deficit after the top of thefirst -- but, we battled back. Unfortunately, we simply ran out of innings. Jalen was absolutely on fumes by the end, buthe played the whole game. I'm not naiveenough to think my son inspired his teammates since no one knew the context ofhis participation that day.
But, there was someone in the dugoutwho continues to be inspired by the child who came into this world nine weeksearly with that same fighting spirit. And, let's be honest...I'm just glad he got through it.
Urgent care w/8-year-old son. Wife ignoringdoctor's take that playing baseball w/101 fever had nothing to do w/his currentcondition. -- from Twitter, October 14
But, he's fine! Now!
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