Hope springs eternal

Hope is something we all cling to for various reasons. Is it what drives us forward or just a random emotion that kicks in periodically? Is hope for you or for others? Let me tell you, it's for us all.

Tonight, a little boy with the biggest smile you ever saw did what everyone else hoped he would, hoped he could do.

Christopher; he's a little heavier than the other kids. He runs a little slower but his heart is as big as anyone's. Christopher plays little league baseball with my grandson Ragin Cage. He usually plays right field. He doesn't throw the ball very far but he's out there every practice and plays in every game. He plays football as well but his father and mother also wanted him to branch out and play other sports.

For two years now he has played baseball in the fall and in the spring. This season we are down to the last one or two games, tournament time before the boys of summer pack up their bats, stow their gloves in their packs and put them up in the garage or the basement until next year.

Every time Christopher stepped up to the plate his teammates and bystanders, coaches and former coaches held their collective breath in hopes that he would get a hit. Each time he swung and missed and each time he turned with a big smile on his face before he went to sit back down on the bench. But each time his swing got a little better. Each time his bat was a little swifter, but each time he struck out. But he kept at it, never down and never angry.

And tonight on this twenty-first day of October, this little boy of summer, this little engine with the big smile got his first hit, a rocket into the outfield that drove in two runs and pushed him all the way to second base. The diamond erupted on both sides of the field. Parents from both teams and coaches on the other side yelled and screamed and clapped for joy. His teammates stormed the field as he walked off the dirt infield and mobbed him, because they cared. They never doubted him, never doubted his heart.

In a world where we usually only hear about the negative aspects of youth sports and the stupid things their parents do, wonderful things do happen between the lines and that is what sports for little boys and girls should be.

Congratulations Christopher.

Shootout

I follow sports, multiple ones but my passion for viewing is college football. To me there is nothing like it; the rivalries, the passion, the events themselves. Although I have a favorite college team O H - I O, I can still watch games from around the country. Most hold my interest. I'd much rather watch two college teams I have no heavy connection to than most pro games.

Today, a rare Saturday off from my job and the Buckeyes having to play the notorious 'Bye' team I was able to settle in and watch the Oklahoma vs Texas Red River Shootout. The problem here is most people no longer call it that. In this world's climate of PC correctness, the RR Shootout is now called the RR Showdown. It's been call the Shootout for many years and is a fierce rivalry, so much so that before today's game even started the referees threw a penalty flag for unsportmanlike conduct on both teams...yeah, they can do that.

Somewhere in this whacked society the term shootout has become offensive to a group of people and their heightened and pathetic sensitivity has even invaded college football. I'm sorry to tell you PC people that I will never refer to it as that. Gee, you're offended...too damn bad. You have now disrespected (usually I hate that term) the life of the cowboy and the western culture. PC people want to have all cultures respected but in your zealousness to make everyone think the way you do you have now trampled on the toes of the culture that moved this country west. That's not being very inclusive, PC people. There is nothing wrong with the term shootout. It is a heritage, not something you can just wash away from history like you try to do with every other historical terms you disagree with.

College football has a history all its own, good and bad like nearly everything else. Though I root for a different team and conference, some things should be left alone. Oklahoma vs Texas football will always be the Red River Shootout.

A New Website

New website - new ideas 

robertthomasbooks.com 

Welcome to my new and redesigned website. I have recently changed hosting providers as I was unhappy with my previous company. I guess who it was doesn't really make a difference. For what I have this site for their costs were significantly higher and were increasing every year. As well, their site was constantly changing and it was difficult to navigate even for someone who has been using it for several years.

I understand they are a business and that's what they do, but they must also realize they aren't the only kids on the block. There are now many more choices than there used to be. My new hosting provider, Wix is much easier to use and for that reason alone I will likely be updating the site on a more frequent basis.

I hope you follow along on my writing journey. Drop me a note, a line or sing me a song...okay, you really don't have to sing a song but I'll take feedback on any and all my books and writings. That's how we as writers improve. Not everyone likes everything and I will take constructive criticism under consideration but I know you can't please all of the people all of the time.

Thanks for following.

Robert Thomas ... author of some note (at least to myself)