Post by poppaeagle on Oct 29, 2006 21:40:26 GMT -6
Outlaw85 hit on an Idea and said he had been thinking about it for the last couple of weeks. I too, have been thinking about similar ideas and didn't know if I should post it or not. Since he opened the door, I'll enter and throw some of my rambling thoughts out there for consideration.
This may take a few minutes to read........but the full gist of this message will be made more clear if you take the time to read this from start to finish.
*****************************************
When Crossett goes to an out of town football game ……look around. We have a crowd there that sometimes rivals the home town’s numbers. Some of the other towns have teams show up in Crossett and I see a only handful of people in the stands on the visitors side. Overall Crossett has a good fan base that will follow their team. Now is the time show our kids support more than ever.
A fan is someone who supports their team and comes to a sporting event to cheer their team onto victory. A fan is someone who gives a word of encouragement to a team member even when a loss occurs. A fan (an enthusiastic devotee, short for fanatic) is support for their team.
On this site, there has been talk of improvement of school spirit. But let’s stop and look. Society today has made it harder to understand this concept....especially if your team is not having a banner year. What??.....you say.
This is where PoppaEagle lays out a stream of thoughts ...
We have fast food….order it at the counter or at the drive up window…...if it takes more than 30 seconds…..that’s not fast enough. If this drive through line isn’t moving fast enough…try the new, additional drive through lane. Maybe it will be faster.
My kids don’t like it when I go into a fast food restaurant because I will actually try to carry on a conversation with the person at the counter…. and even over the the sqawk box speaker. Go into a McDonalds and ask the person at the counter… “What is your best deal today?” or “What do you have, that is low fat, nutritious, and delicious?”, or ask “What is your favorite choice off of the menu?”. The person at the counter or on the speaker box doesn’t know how to react. After all, you are only supposed to answer the yes or no questions asked….like “would you like fries with that?” Besides most people are in a hurry and don’t want to chit chat….please hurry sir, the cash register shows how many people I get (have) to serve within a certain amount of time. Next customer please…….
After a meal….go back to the counter at the Huddle House and tell the cooks “thanks, that was very, very good”, and it will take most employees by surprise.
“Have it Your way”….”You deserve a break today”…Says YOU are important and we are going to make this fast. As a freshman at college, I went to work for the Minute Man restaurant where a completely new concept of cooking was introduced for the peach and cherry cobblers. THE RADAR RANGE…which was one of the earliest versions of the microwave oven. Amazing!!
Want a meal…..the microwave oven can heat, cook, or rewarm in less than 60 seconds or this thing’s going back to Wal-Mart. This is about me…..this is about my immediate gratification. I am hungry and I am hungry now….which would be faster…..microwaving something or going to get fast food. Which one will be more immediate?
Wait …..I can’t find the TV changer. I had just soon not watch TV…if I have to get up to change the channels. Oh….there it is….only 143 channels but maybe I can find something. Flip…Flip….Flip….Flip…..Flip….Flip…ok TV channel, you have approximately .37 seconds to show me something entertaining….if not, I’m flipping to another channel. I want to be entertained and I want to be entertained now.
Deer Hunter…in the woods, in the cold, with bugs, with frost…no…we can do that on the DEER HUNTER computer game. Kill a big one too…..and put it in the “computer” trophy room. Wait this takes too long….even in the comfort of my air conditioned/heated house….hey kids, what’s the cheat code on this computer game… so that I can kill a 16 pointer to put in the “trophy room”?
Photos developed…..send them off and it takes three days….no way. I want to see the pictures now. I know the one hour service is more expensive but it is faster…. I can’t wait much longer to see the photos. Better yet, what can I do to get a digital camera. See them right now and e-mail them or put them on Face Book right now. Three days…… no thanks.
College course….sure….but I’ll do it over the internet. Who needs to converse with a professor anyway. Other students… to discuss issues…..I don’t really want to do that either. Who cares, as long as I can get a passing grade….so I can get a better job….with more money and/or a title. Again, this about me and me getting that diploma as soon as possible. If I learn something, that would be alright, but what I really want is to finish as soon as possible. Now how long will this take?
Shopping for groceries…. I will buy just what I need immediately…get in the 10 item or less line…or the self check out line….which one is faster. What I want …I want now ….and to get out of here as soon as I can. Why go to a store where they have knowledgeable people who can answer questions about the products or what I need to do to fix a leaky faucet or what I need to sew a Sunday School dress for daughter. Who has time….I want it fixed….I want something nice to wear now….I don’t want to have to sew it. …I want it now. Shopping for sports equipment, clothing, or shoes….let’s do that online….or see if there are any bargains on E-bay.
I need a new computer….. this thing is killing me…. yesterday, I bet it took 10 seconds between each screen I went to…and it took a good 30 seconds to boot up. A new cell phone would be nice too…..the one I have now only takes pictures, has a barometer, and takes 3 minute videos. I want the one that has the Ipod TV available and holds over 2000 Ipod songs. Besides, I need to be entertained when I’m not chatting with friends.
Ever seen your kids at the computer. Facebook, MySpace, ICQ, MSN, listening to music, solitaire cards, and playing a game of pool…..all at the same time….. and in a language that is modern short hand…..lol. Takes 2 lng 4 u 2 type out ful wrds. Wait….POS…..OK where were we…OMG ….lol…..this is gr8.
E-mail…..how many do you get at work in a day? At least 100 or more……me too. You mean you actually wrote a letter …on a piece of paper to someone? You didn’t call them…you didn’t e-mail them. I can see writing a thank-you note maybe…but writing a letter takes way too much time. I would rather call from my cell phone while driving. Takes up less of my time that way.
Ok, I think we made to church just in time. Got a decent parking spot too. I hate it when we have to walk across the street from the other parking lot. After all, that is another 65 feet or so. Alright…let’s see what the choir, the special music, and the preacher can do to impress me today…..
Yes doctor….it hurts. What do you mean tests and a possible hospital stay? I don’t have time for all of that. Can you just give me a pill and make me feel better now. Well, if I do have to go into the hospital….the food better be good, the TV better have at least the 143 channels, the air conditioner better work good, the nurses better be pretty, the insurance paperwork better be easy to fill out, and all staff of the hospital need to understand that I am important to me and this better not be painful to me in any way.
OK….it’s Friday Night and if I made the effort to come to this game….these Eagles better be good. I know they are a relatively young team… but isn’t there something to give them game time experience without having to do it. Is there a training video on football somewhere? OK Eagles….do something good and make this a good game so I can feel that I got my $5 worth of entertainment. If they don’t…there’s plenty of TV channel flipping I could be doing at home…….. I could microwave me some popcorn …..and read the news on the internet…..shop on e-bay for something that will entertain me.
Is PoppaEagle being a little over the top here?.......Maybe........... then again….maybe not.
In the fast moving world we exist in today…..the mind set put before us…..is not to be patient with anything that is not pleasing to our senses. If this isn’t comfortable for me to associated with…switch to something else. Face it….sometimes….to change for the better …we have to work through the uncomfortable to get to a better place. At the health club….the trainer has to say “you are fat” but we are gonna change that. At church…..you have to realize “I am a sinner”……at an AA meeting, people begin speaking by saying, “ My name is…..and I am an alcoholic.” Switching to something else does not make anything better in the long run. Hang with it....work at it….make an effort……keep a good attitude……keep a sense of team work……encourage each other….don’t start pointing figures and tearing down others efforts.
I have been there to see the times when my daughter didn’t make majorette she so desperately had worked and practiced for. She cried and cried…. we all cried. She learned from that experience, worked harder at making the Eaglette squad and later made captain major of the Eaglettes. Then there are the times….my boys did not make the baseball all-star team. Not so much crying….but frustration galore. My oldest son worked hard the next year to be a better player….and he was. Then when he made the all-star team the next year, he came to me and said “Dad, I know I made the team….but I know if I get to play, it will be in the outfield. I haven’t played outfield all year. Will you practice hitting fly balls to me in the outfield”. Not hundreds…but thousands of fly balls and staying at Tex Moore ball field until midnights. (after having all-star practice twice that day already). The next summer, we did the same thing again, played infield during the regular league and then practiced the outfield for district and state and regional play. Improved enough to play both the outfield and infield as needed. The point being, he was willing to work hard to improve. Thousands of pop-ups later, he made two outstanding catches (over the shoulder and diving catches) in the 13 y/o district tournament. When we got in the car after the game, he said “thanks dad, I wouldn’t have ever made those catches if we hadn’t practiced like we did”. Life lesson learned.
Look at it from….not the mind set that is presented daily by our fast changing world……but from the mind set that,,,,,,these are children, human beings, with feelings and emotions, that are looking for guidance and direction from adults in their life.
These are our kids,
Kids who are …..Football Players, Basketball Players, Softball Players, Tracksters, Baseball Players, Quiz Bowl Members, History Day Participants, Eaglettes, Cheerleaders, ROTC, FFA, Band members and many others who I am sure I did not mention, who have spent hours and hours working and practicing. Blood, sweat, and tears have been poured into activities that take time, effort, working with other team members, developing leadership and relationship skills, and being a part of something bigger than they could be by themselves. Working toward goals by spending the time to try and learn skills to get them there. The time and effort put forth by these team members has been to try to win the games…..not lose any games. . If anyone wants to win…it is them. Losing is not what they started these activities to do.
Remember, I am asking myself these same questions….
In a world where “ME” and immediate gratification has become so important ….Is this not just the time to just go and give support to these kids? To be a true fan is to be supportive and encouraging. To tell them….we know you have worked hard at this and we are here to give you encouragement and support. If we get entertained along the way….that’s good….if we win, that’s good…..if you don’t win, know that we support you and will be there to encourage you while you are working to win the game next week.
School spirit and being a true fan is not something that society today lends itself to….especially if that team is not having a good year. Our modern day mind set has resulted in the “immediate gratification” seen today. Not only in the students….but everyone..... yes, when I look close…that even includes me.
Today…can we just say a word of encouragement to someone else?.. On the playing field, in the band stand, on the coaching staff, cheering on the sideline, even the ones in the stands (or on the sidewalks)…..that would be a good start to get the school spirit spark glowing. When you get a soda and nachos at the concession stand, show some appreciation for the fact that these are parents who are giving up watching the ball game and the half time performance to raise monetary support for the band students. Make an effort….. to not find humor at the expense of others who are on the playing/marching field……however, make an effort to say something uplifting.
That’s where school spirit starts……..not just with the students…..but with each of us. Spark the spirit.....then fan the glow of the spirit fire.
Hang on folks…..the experience we have had this football year….can make the team better for next year. Along with the seniors this year… we have quite a number of 10th and 11th graders who have spent a lot of time on the field. Experience that can only make the team better next year. Take away two turnovers in the Crossett-Monticello game and the complexion of the game would have been totally different.
Keep your heads up …Eagles…..Keep your heads up Crossett community.
Don’t switch channels yet……don’t close the book yet, the next chapter is gonna be a good one.
This may take a few minutes to read........but the full gist of this message will be made more clear if you take the time to read this from start to finish.
*****************************************
When Crossett goes to an out of town football game ……look around. We have a crowd there that sometimes rivals the home town’s numbers. Some of the other towns have teams show up in Crossett and I see a only handful of people in the stands on the visitors side. Overall Crossett has a good fan base that will follow their team. Now is the time show our kids support more than ever.
A fan is someone who supports their team and comes to a sporting event to cheer their team onto victory. A fan is someone who gives a word of encouragement to a team member even when a loss occurs. A fan (an enthusiastic devotee, short for fanatic) is support for their team.
On this site, there has been talk of improvement of school spirit. But let’s stop and look. Society today has made it harder to understand this concept....especially if your team is not having a banner year. What??.....you say.
This is where PoppaEagle lays out a stream of thoughts ...
We have fast food….order it at the counter or at the drive up window…...if it takes more than 30 seconds…..that’s not fast enough. If this drive through line isn’t moving fast enough…try the new, additional drive through lane. Maybe it will be faster.
My kids don’t like it when I go into a fast food restaurant because I will actually try to carry on a conversation with the person at the counter…. and even over the the sqawk box speaker. Go into a McDonalds and ask the person at the counter… “What is your best deal today?” or “What do you have, that is low fat, nutritious, and delicious?”, or ask “What is your favorite choice off of the menu?”. The person at the counter or on the speaker box doesn’t know how to react. After all, you are only supposed to answer the yes or no questions asked….like “would you like fries with that?” Besides most people are in a hurry and don’t want to chit chat….please hurry sir, the cash register shows how many people I get (have) to serve within a certain amount of time. Next customer please…….
After a meal….go back to the counter at the Huddle House and tell the cooks “thanks, that was very, very good”, and it will take most employees by surprise.
“Have it Your way”….”You deserve a break today”…Says YOU are important and we are going to make this fast. As a freshman at college, I went to work for the Minute Man restaurant where a completely new concept of cooking was introduced for the peach and cherry cobblers. THE RADAR RANGE…which was one of the earliest versions of the microwave oven. Amazing!!
Want a meal…..the microwave oven can heat, cook, or rewarm in less than 60 seconds or this thing’s going back to Wal-Mart. This is about me…..this is about my immediate gratification. I am hungry and I am hungry now….which would be faster…..microwaving something or going to get fast food. Which one will be more immediate?
Wait …..I can’t find the TV changer. I had just soon not watch TV…if I have to get up to change the channels. Oh….there it is….only 143 channels but maybe I can find something. Flip…Flip….Flip….Flip…..Flip….Flip…ok TV channel, you have approximately .37 seconds to show me something entertaining….if not, I’m flipping to another channel. I want to be entertained and I want to be entertained now.
Deer Hunter…in the woods, in the cold, with bugs, with frost…no…we can do that on the DEER HUNTER computer game. Kill a big one too…..and put it in the “computer” trophy room. Wait this takes too long….even in the comfort of my air conditioned/heated house….hey kids, what’s the cheat code on this computer game… so that I can kill a 16 pointer to put in the “trophy room”?
Photos developed…..send them off and it takes three days….no way. I want to see the pictures now. I know the one hour service is more expensive but it is faster…. I can’t wait much longer to see the photos. Better yet, what can I do to get a digital camera. See them right now and e-mail them or put them on Face Book right now. Three days…… no thanks.
College course….sure….but I’ll do it over the internet. Who needs to converse with a professor anyway. Other students… to discuss issues…..I don’t really want to do that either. Who cares, as long as I can get a passing grade….so I can get a better job….with more money and/or a title. Again, this about me and me getting that diploma as soon as possible. If I learn something, that would be alright, but what I really want is to finish as soon as possible. Now how long will this take?
Shopping for groceries…. I will buy just what I need immediately…get in the 10 item or less line…or the self check out line….which one is faster. What I want …I want now ….and to get out of here as soon as I can. Why go to a store where they have knowledgeable people who can answer questions about the products or what I need to do to fix a leaky faucet or what I need to sew a Sunday School dress for daughter. Who has time….I want it fixed….I want something nice to wear now….I don’t want to have to sew it. …I want it now. Shopping for sports equipment, clothing, or shoes….let’s do that online….or see if there are any bargains on E-bay.
I need a new computer….. this thing is killing me…. yesterday, I bet it took 10 seconds between each screen I went to…and it took a good 30 seconds to boot up. A new cell phone would be nice too…..the one I have now only takes pictures, has a barometer, and takes 3 minute videos. I want the one that has the Ipod TV available and holds over 2000 Ipod songs. Besides, I need to be entertained when I’m not chatting with friends.
Ever seen your kids at the computer. Facebook, MySpace, ICQ, MSN, listening to music, solitaire cards, and playing a game of pool…..all at the same time….. and in a language that is modern short hand…..lol. Takes 2 lng 4 u 2 type out ful wrds. Wait….POS…..OK where were we…OMG ….lol…..this is gr8.
E-mail…..how many do you get at work in a day? At least 100 or more……me too. You mean you actually wrote a letter …on a piece of paper to someone? You didn’t call them…you didn’t e-mail them. I can see writing a thank-you note maybe…but writing a letter takes way too much time. I would rather call from my cell phone while driving. Takes up less of my time that way.
Ok, I think we made to church just in time. Got a decent parking spot too. I hate it when we have to walk across the street from the other parking lot. After all, that is another 65 feet or so. Alright…let’s see what the choir, the special music, and the preacher can do to impress me today…..
Yes doctor….it hurts. What do you mean tests and a possible hospital stay? I don’t have time for all of that. Can you just give me a pill and make me feel better now. Well, if I do have to go into the hospital….the food better be good, the TV better have at least the 143 channels, the air conditioner better work good, the nurses better be pretty, the insurance paperwork better be easy to fill out, and all staff of the hospital need to understand that I am important to me and this better not be painful to me in any way.
OK….it’s Friday Night and if I made the effort to come to this game….these Eagles better be good. I know they are a relatively young team… but isn’t there something to give them game time experience without having to do it. Is there a training video on football somewhere? OK Eagles….do something good and make this a good game so I can feel that I got my $5 worth of entertainment. If they don’t…there’s plenty of TV channel flipping I could be doing at home…….. I could microwave me some popcorn …..and read the news on the internet…..shop on e-bay for something that will entertain me.
Is PoppaEagle being a little over the top here?.......Maybe........... then again….maybe not.
In the fast moving world we exist in today…..the mind set put before us…..is not to be patient with anything that is not pleasing to our senses. If this isn’t comfortable for me to associated with…switch to something else. Face it….sometimes….to change for the better …we have to work through the uncomfortable to get to a better place. At the health club….the trainer has to say “you are fat” but we are gonna change that. At church…..you have to realize “I am a sinner”……at an AA meeting, people begin speaking by saying, “ My name is…..and I am an alcoholic.” Switching to something else does not make anything better in the long run. Hang with it....work at it….make an effort……keep a good attitude……keep a sense of team work……encourage each other….don’t start pointing figures and tearing down others efforts.
I have been there to see the times when my daughter didn’t make majorette she so desperately had worked and practiced for. She cried and cried…. we all cried. She learned from that experience, worked harder at making the Eaglette squad and later made captain major of the Eaglettes. Then there are the times….my boys did not make the baseball all-star team. Not so much crying….but frustration galore. My oldest son worked hard the next year to be a better player….and he was. Then when he made the all-star team the next year, he came to me and said “Dad, I know I made the team….but I know if I get to play, it will be in the outfield. I haven’t played outfield all year. Will you practice hitting fly balls to me in the outfield”. Not hundreds…but thousands of fly balls and staying at Tex Moore ball field until midnights. (after having all-star practice twice that day already). The next summer, we did the same thing again, played infield during the regular league and then practiced the outfield for district and state and regional play. Improved enough to play both the outfield and infield as needed. The point being, he was willing to work hard to improve. Thousands of pop-ups later, he made two outstanding catches (over the shoulder and diving catches) in the 13 y/o district tournament. When we got in the car after the game, he said “thanks dad, I wouldn’t have ever made those catches if we hadn’t practiced like we did”. Life lesson learned.
Look at it from….not the mind set that is presented daily by our fast changing world……but from the mind set that,,,,,,these are children, human beings, with feelings and emotions, that are looking for guidance and direction from adults in their life.
These are our kids,
Kids who are …..Football Players, Basketball Players, Softball Players, Tracksters, Baseball Players, Quiz Bowl Members, History Day Participants, Eaglettes, Cheerleaders, ROTC, FFA, Band members and many others who I am sure I did not mention, who have spent hours and hours working and practicing. Blood, sweat, and tears have been poured into activities that take time, effort, working with other team members, developing leadership and relationship skills, and being a part of something bigger than they could be by themselves. Working toward goals by spending the time to try and learn skills to get them there. The time and effort put forth by these team members has been to try to win the games…..not lose any games. . If anyone wants to win…it is them. Losing is not what they started these activities to do.
Remember, I am asking myself these same questions….
In a world where “ME” and immediate gratification has become so important ….Is this not just the time to just go and give support to these kids? To be a true fan is to be supportive and encouraging. To tell them….we know you have worked hard at this and we are here to give you encouragement and support. If we get entertained along the way….that’s good….if we win, that’s good…..if you don’t win, know that we support you and will be there to encourage you while you are working to win the game next week.
School spirit and being a true fan is not something that society today lends itself to….especially if that team is not having a good year. Our modern day mind set has resulted in the “immediate gratification” seen today. Not only in the students….but everyone..... yes, when I look close…that even includes me.
Today…can we just say a word of encouragement to someone else?.. On the playing field, in the band stand, on the coaching staff, cheering on the sideline, even the ones in the stands (or on the sidewalks)…..that would be a good start to get the school spirit spark glowing. When you get a soda and nachos at the concession stand, show some appreciation for the fact that these are parents who are giving up watching the ball game and the half time performance to raise monetary support for the band students. Make an effort….. to not find humor at the expense of others who are on the playing/marching field……however, make an effort to say something uplifting.
That’s where school spirit starts……..not just with the students…..but with each of us. Spark the spirit.....then fan the glow of the spirit fire.
Hang on folks…..the experience we have had this football year….can make the team better for next year. Along with the seniors this year… we have quite a number of 10th and 11th graders who have spent a lot of time on the field. Experience that can only make the team better next year. Take away two turnovers in the Crossett-Monticello game and the complexion of the game would have been totally different.
Keep your heads up …Eagles…..Keep your heads up Crossett community.
Don’t switch channels yet……don’t close the book yet, the next chapter is gonna be a good one.
