300lb 7th grader wants to play peewee football

I caught wind of this last week but it seems like its picking up some momentum and wanted to share my thoughts for a minute. If you have yet to hear about this situation check it out-
Texas Pee Wee Football Player

This is stupid.

Most organizations have set rules in place and typically follows those. Right? So why is this kid even an issue? He's close to 3 bills on the scale yet wants to play ball with kids that realistically are ONE THIRD his size! The worst is the comments and feedback this story is receiving. But I'll get to that in a second.

First off, I need to bring up both sides here. I'd like to say I am not just talking out of my ass on this one but I've been through both ends of this argument already. Growing up I was already 5'8" 180lbs in 7th grade. I was pretty damn fat but also a LOT bigger than many kids my age. You think my peewee league was going to let me in? Forget about it. I never played football before than either. So it wasn't until freshman year I decided to play. Turns out I just wasn't any good at it nor liked football that much to begin with. Hindsight really wish we had a rugby club back then...anyways.

Fast forward about 6 or 7 years and there I was coaching a peewee league. I may not have been a very good player (I sucked) but I could coach pretty well. Now because of this I have perspective on the entire situation not just the tear jerker story this kids mother is trying to spin. People need to understand peewee is a developmental league but realistically its a d-league for those kids whose bodies forget to hit their growth spurt until they turn 16. We had kids that were 12 years old but only 5' and 115lbs. We had a few close to the league weight limits of 125 to run the ball, 135 to play anywhere, or even 150 to play offensive line but those were rare since the big boys went to play for the school. Where they don't have weight limits.

So lets paint a picture. There's 22 kids on the field. Combined weight barely over a ton. Roughly the total weight of a high school side or a college front line. They run around and make plays and awkwardly tackle each other while screaming in their high pitched kids voices. Parents cheer and coaches are calling plays. Now lets screw that situation up and throw a 6'2" 300lb grown man in there. Only he's not a man but a shy 7th grader. At least I'm going to guess he's shy. Can't imagine a outspoken young man willing to play beginner league with midgets. Regardless lets say he's on the defensive line because, well, obviously that's where he's going to be. The ball is snapped and he stands up, most beginning big lineman do that, and just walks through the center straight into the backfield. Maybe he makes a tackle. Maybe he puts his hands up essentially creating a 8' roadblock for passes. Or the team makes the dumb idea to run up the middle with him standing in the way and then the 120lb ball runner gets a concussion from running into the Fiat someone parked in the middle of the field.

Maybe a little overexagerrated but lets be realistic. He's big for high school and maybe small college standards and he wants to play with kids. I am not sure how many of my readers have ever made contact with someone who weighs 300lbs but its a odd experience. To hit, block, tackle, etc. a human being that weighs as much as a bear is a task. Even if they are standing still, fat, and nonathletic there is still the issue that you moving a dead weight object of 300 POUNDS. Once again assuming my readers are typically teenagers or adults, now imagine a scared shitless 12 year old that weighs about the same as Snookie being told that behemoth is his assignment.

So what are some viable solutions? Send the kid to a trainer or coach or camp to figure out how to play. If she can't afford a good one then simply set up a donation account and start raking money from sympathizers since Im sure there are plenty. Plus it only costs a few hundred to receive the type of training he needs so it won't take long. Bottom line the boy needs some confidence and hitting the gym and field are the only two ways thats going to happen.

There is a reason, once again, there are weight restrictions in peewee leagues. So this DOES NOT HAPPEN. It is legitimately comparable to a heavyweight wrestler demanding to go 135lbs or lighter because he is 'inexperienced and wants to wrestle with his friends'. Can you imagine what kind of crap that would stir up?

Which then brings up the next point. The flood of ignorant comments under every article that I can find. Its also one way or the other. Parents are crying that the kid should play. Others agree with me and say he needs to learn how to play ball at the school. What blows my mind is how those can say he should be allowed to play with the little kids but have absolutely no way to justify their logic. Mostly it just sounds like they feel bad because there is a sob story involved and 'Baby Huey' can't hang out with his buddies. That's life. Get used to it. Sure he is only in 7th grade but kids seriously need to stop being babied and coddled all the time and get used to life.

Pine Tar - 'eff this...'

So did you know theres a difference in Pine Tars?

Yea, me neither.

Apparently when shopping for tacky to stick on your atlas stones/ hands its best to make sure you get heavy or thick pine tar. NOT Light Pine Tar. That stuff is like oil

Better yet don't bother with pine tar at all. It's sloppy and stinks to all holy hell. EVERYTHING smells like tar right now. Whether it actually has tar on it or not.

So now Im hoping a scalding hot shower and some bleach will do the trick since everything else hasn't .

***EDIT***
Apparently some Isopropyl Alchohol works alright. Still have a hint of pine but its more of a faint scent now not the overwhelming disgusting that it once was.

My misadventures with McMaster Carr

Well if you read my previous blog http://danprater.blogspot.com/2012/05/chain-lifting-accomodating-resistence.html Part 1 then you would have taken in the fun mishaps I had to deal with just buy some chains. It gets better.

First lets recap;
-I drove out there to order 6 chains at 5 feet in length to save on shipping.
-After stating I wanted to pick them up I was told an hour without actually receiving a billing statement or even so much as a "cost is..."
-I arrive an hour later to be told order was shipped.
-I am then charged for another set to be picked up in "15 minutes" which turned into waiting an hour and a half and having to cancel practice.
-Also, I am told I would need to send the other order back. Yep, because shipping 120lbs of chain is as easy as stopping by your local post office...
-I finally get my 2nd order only to find out after I already got back to the gym that I am missing a chain!
-Even better, NONE are the same length...
-So after emailing stating my frustrations I am told to keep one chain from the mailed order and send the other 5 back.

Which brings us to this week.

Monday rolls around and still no refund. I email. Suddenly I have a refund issued. Except its about 2/3 of what is owed to me. WTF?!? They refunded me for 5 chains despite me paying for 6 AND the shipping charge that I didnt want. So after I spent about 333 they only gave me back 225. Few days later I get another refund except this time its only 57 bucks. So it looks like Im not getting the shipping charge back.

Bottom line is Im already done with this company. Its a big place. Couple regional suppliers. But wow can they fuck up a simple order. It really felt like they were trying to screw it up repeatedly.

And just a little salt to be thrown on the wound- I looked at Slaters Hardware prices for complete chain sets....it would have cost me exactly the same and so far I have no gripes with Slaters. I could have ordered full sets of chains (I originally bought just the heavy chains then went to Home Depot to buy the attaching chains and clips) and then driven down there to pick them up.Plus they have a nice clear coat finish to them. These damn things I got were covered in oil and already look like they are going to rust.

By the way since I like Slaters Hardware I'd recomend them. Go check those guys out- http://www.slatershardware.com/
Im planning on buying a log or two and some more stone molds in the near future from those guys.

Well Im off to drain my finger (story for another day) and play some damn rugby. It is Saturday after all....

***BONUS***
So today, about a week later, they called me to ask about a shipping bill they received to their account for product they have not received. I am actually at a loss for words on this one. They already refunded my order, minus shipping, and now are asking why they were charged for the shipping?

Believe me when I say Im not trying to be TOO vulgar on this blog but ya know what?

Fuck these guys.