Bobref

I think the only solution, albeit an imperfect one, is to convince coaches, players and parents of the virtues of playing multiple sports, through education.

I didn’t intend to suggest that consolidation, resulting in decreased athletic opportunities, was the only reason for the increase in ever-younger single sport specialization. But as you pointed out, there are other factors as well. That makes it extremely unlikely that any studies of the effects of school consolidation on specialization could be properly designed.

Word!

One unintended consequence is increasing single sport specialization, which studies have shown increases the probability of both injury and burnout.

Success and improvement are functions of expectations. For probably 75% of the schools in the state, a state championship is an unrealistic expectation. Part of strategic improvement is setting realistic interim goals and checking them off one by one. A winning season, a conference championship, sectional titles, etc. There are many measuring sticks for improvement. We “fans” may not be interested in anything but rings, but that doesn’t mean the coaches or kids feel the same way. So, they’re not “sunk” by any realistic measuring stick.

I suppose that is technically true. But the stimulus or motivation for that improvement can be external. Development of new rivalries with good teams can stimulate the drive to improve. How many times have we heard of a school playing an unfamiliar, difficult opponent in the playoffs, getting thumped, and then they they say something like, “it was a valuable experience because now we understand what it takes to get to the next level.” It’s true. New competition can drive improvement.

That’s a little circular, wouldn’t you say? “There is hardly any political question in the United States that sooner or later does not turn into a judicial question.” — Alexis de Tocqueville We’ll never know for sure, since the vote was an acquittal. But if there were ever a conviction of a President after leaving office, my money is on SCOTUS having the last word on the constitutionality of such a “conviction.”

I don’t believe that case applies to this situation.

Big surprise, Congress decided it had jurisdiction. The Congress is not the final arbiter, however.

OK, 2nd verse, same as the first.... Can Congress now get back to screwing up the country in more traditional ways?

I have to admit, I have been in this area for a long time. Lived in Valpo for 10 years. Even taught at Valpo U for 5 years. I have never heard a whisper of controversy about the nickname or mascot.

Another domino falls as the Texans release JJ Watt. https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/30886997/houston-texans-part-ways-jj-watt-asks-release

Thanks, but hard pass.

Todd McShay’s initial draft board has the Lions at #7 selecting ... a wide receiver! Davonta Smith from Bama. You can’t make this stuff up. https://thespun.com/nfl/todd-mcshay-new-mock-draft-qb-wilson-fields-top-10

January 20, 2025?

Please set the parameters for “soon enough,” keeping in mind that a proposal for a friendly wager will shortly follow.

The biggest story of the NFL off season is going to be the continuing implosion of the Texans franchise. Watt publicly wants out. Their franchise QB who they just signed to a massive extension has requested a trade. They totally botched the process of their recent GM search, although they somehow ended up with a qualified guy. Now, their President of 20 yrs. suddenly resigns effective immediately. There are rumors of some very strange goings on involving the new owner, who inherited the team when Bob McNair died. Stay tuned. There’s going to be a lot more uncovered, and it is going to be ugly.

This is Indiana. I can actually visualize people’s heads exploding!

One of the things included in last year’s legislation responding to the pandemic was a provision that rolled back the age for required minimum distributions from a retirement account from 70 1/2 to 72. In the rush to attempt to undo every piece of Trump legislation, is Biden going to reverse that change?

You get to pick and choose. Organized religion has a God for every occasion.

That’s what the Crusaders said. And during the Inquisition. There’s never any shortage of those willing to wrap intolerance in the cloak of religion.

The NBA’s decision was driven by their business strategy. This is news?

It’s great we have someone on here with a direct pipeline to the divine mindset. That’s not conviction. That’s arrogance.

We have only scratched the surface of this issue. There is little understanding by the public at large about what drives transgender issues. The idea that someone, especially a child, would go through all this entails just so at some point he/she can win a sectional championship in track is ridiculous. The transgender movement is going to spark a lot of debate and controversy in our society. Understanding will lag behind — it always does. But this is so much more than a sports issue. That’s just the tip of the iceberg.