Hey, I'm back... I think...

Some times I wish the average, lay individual knew how much work is involved in the pre-season of any organized sport, especially one completely governed and commissioned solely by volunteers. Many years ago, our league had adopted the Robert’s Rules of Order to keep things in check. The systems spelled out details that work extremely well and can be found in place within many organizations. The only unfortunate part is the ultimate swear word of today, volunteerism. Few people of today are willing to spend their precious time managing, or even helping without getting monetarily reimbursed. It’s a shame, considering the equipment manager and I just spent 2 hours going through 12 team equipment bags on a Sunday morning, 7 of them that are in the back of my truck as I type. But that’s just a rant like beating on a dead horse, so I’ll get to my point.

This evening, during a series of calls to coaches, I had a conversation with a young boy I will not soon forget, for I was laughing for several minutes after hanging up. The coach I had called was someone I knew well from years past. Although we went to high school together, graduated in the same class and neighbored one another for a few years, I do not know his kids, other than to see them. Keep that in mind. So, I make the call:

Kid: Hello.

Me: Hi, is Scott there?

Kid: Scott.?.

Me: Your dad, is your dad there?

Kid: Oh, he’s in the bathroom. Can he call you back?

Me: Is your mom there?

Kid: No, she’s working. I’ll tell my dad to call you back.

Me: Do you know who this is?

Kid: No.

Me: Well then, who are you going to tell your dad to call back?

Kid: You.

Me: Who am I?

Kid: I don’t know. I’ll just tell him to call you back.

Me: Well, who are you going to tell your dad to call?

Kid: You.

Me: Do you know who this is?

Kid: No.

Me: Well then, who are you going to tell him to call?

Kid: You.

Me: Well, if you don’t know who this is, who are you going to tell your dad to call?

Kid: You.

Me: Ok, what is your name?

Kid: Ryan.

Me: Ok Ryan, can you tell your dad to call Jeff.

Kid: Ok.

Me: What’s my name again?

Kid: You,….. I mean Jeff.

Me: Thanks buddy.

Kid: Ok, bye.

Scott was present for our work party down at the fields yesterday so I assumed the name of his commissioner would be fresh in his mind. As it turns out, it was and he called back. And, as it turns out, it’s just another team I have to pick up for a while. Scott is doing his part, as assistant coach, but it looks like it’s just another team I have to take on for a while. It’s no big deal, I’m used to not having a life.