High School Football Is Back!

Whether you like rapper Eminem or not, I think we're all familiar with one of his most famous hits. Lose Yourself, from the sound track of his semi-autobiographical movie 8-Mile. When you hear the faint scratch of one pick rip across the strings of a guitar, you instantly know what's coming. You can feel it in every fiber of your being. It starts to build up inside, slowly at first, but then the momentum builds and your heart rate increases. Eminem definitely has a flair for the dramatic. There's a raw, inexplicable gut feeling that something big is about to happen. Something very special.

One rip is all it takes, to raise the level of suspense, and make goosebumps pop on your arms. A shiver runs down the back of your neck, and before you know it, a sense of urgency surrounds you. The moment you have worked and prepared for, even dreamed about, has finally arrived. Whatever it is, a huge moment is happening right now, and there's no looking back. Nothing can stop it. It's "Go time." Next, you hear what I feel are some of the most poignant words ever spoken:

"Look, if you had, one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted - one moment
Would you capture it? Or just let it slip?

Yo..."

There is no time for excuses. It's time to show the world what you're made of, and you've got to fight through the fear and uncertainty, if you're going to have success. You've spent your whole life wondering if you've got what it takes to be the best, and finally it's your time to shine in the spotlight. "Will you capture it? Or just let it slip?"

That is the essence of opening night in high school football. It all boils down to one incredible moment in time. Every player has something to prove to his coaches and teammates. Seniors will begin to feel a sense of finality, as they step out onto the field for the last few times, as leaders of men. Juniors know they have to make things happen, or risk letting down the upper class-men who are counting on them to help make their final season, their best season. Sophomores & freshmen who are lucky enough, or gifted enough, to get playing time on Friday nights, know they are one mistake away from being back on the sidelines watching, and possibly waiting another year for their next shot.

Every player has something to prove. Perhaps to his parents, or even an older brother that he watched on Fridays when he was younger. It could be an aunt, uncle, a cousin, or a grandparent sitting in the stands beaming, as the team rushes onto the field to the roars of the crowd. Maybe it's a buddy on the other team, who grew up on the same block, but went to the rival high school. There could be a loved one who can't be there to see this moment happen, but their love and memory lives and flows within. Maybe it's just the school they get the privilege to represent, when they pull that jersey over those pads, and strap on the helmet that bears their school logo. It doesn't matter who or what it is, every player has something to prove when that clock starts ticking, and the game begins.

Ultimately, each player has the most to prove, to the guy looking back at him in the mirror. He will soon learn if all the blood, sweat, and tears were worth the effort. If the countless hours in the weight room, and on the practice field running sprints and conditioning, are going to pay off. If he learned anything from those extra workouts with Dad in the back yard.

A new chapter will be written on Friday Aug. 30, 2013 in St. Louis Mo, as the high school football season kicks off across the area. Mother Nature will have her say, as she brings the kind of heat that has compelled some high school officials to delay start times, only adding to the butterflies flapping in the bellies of these young athletes who simply want to get it on. Patience gentlemen, patience. It's going to happen, and if you've earned it, you're going to have your chance. Only one question remains unanswered, "Will you capture it? Or just let it slip?"

Good luck and God's speed to every high school athlete living out this sheer excitement today, including one very special young man who I love with all my heart. I know without a doubt, his heart is pounding out of his chest today, and his feet are barely touching the ground. I know this because I'm feeling it too. That young man is my son, #79 Connor Eldridge. He will get his chance to experience every ounce of high school football tonight. He takes the field with the weight of defending a 5A State Championship on his shoulders, and on those of his teammates. I have tried to explain it to him, but there are really no words to prepare him for it. He has to live it for himself. I would give anything to share every second inside the helmet with him, but I know my time has passed. This is his shot, and his opportunity, to seize everything he's ever wanted. Capture it son! I Love You, and I love high school football. Now Go Hit Somebody!!

SPz Y

No Excuses Just a Bad Day.

Before all the baseball "talk" gets started in the STL today, I'm going to let Cardinal Nation in on the truth about what happened last night at Busch Stadium. Adam Wainwright just didn't have it. He left a lot of pitches up in the strike zone, and he got lit up by Major League hitters, who get paid a lot of money to smash mistakes. Add the fact that the Reds had simply played embarrassing baseball the two previous games, it was inevitable that somebody had to pay. That somebody turned out to be Waino. He threw a ton of pitches in his last start, well over 100, and maybe his arm was still a bit fatigued. Maybe he didn't warm up properly last night. It's unclear why he didn't have his best stuff last night, but one thing is certain. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that Yadi wasn't catching for one night.

Yadi is GREAT. He's the best catcher in baseball right now, without question. That said, Waino is also a Major League pitcher. Heck, he's an Ace these days. He should be able to pitch to Ham Porter, if he's back there in the gear. It really shouldn't matter who is catching him. It's not as if he's a knuckleballer like R.A. Dickie. There are only a hand full of catchers out there who can catch a guy like that, which is why those pitchers typically pitch to one catcher every outing. Not to mention, Rob Johnson is a Major League catcher too. No, he's not Yadi, but he wouldn't be in the Major Leagues, if he couldn't catch good pitchers, and if he hadn't earned the position. There is too much money involved.

So as you listen to the talk shows today, and as you listen to the excuses for Waino's implosion, just understand that the guy had a bad night. We have all had a bad day at work. We don't blame our bad day on the fact that a co-worker called in sick. It had nothing to do with Yadi getting a day off. Mike Matheny played that card very well in fact, giving him 2 days rest with Thursday being a travel date. At some point, you may hear someone imply that Matheny just gave that game away, because he didn't play Yadi. Please understand that Major League Managers do not give games away. Every day they make a lineup, and they believe those 9 guys can go out there and win the game. People seem to think there are games that don't matter in a 162 game season. While there is no way to win all 162, fans need to understand that they are trying to win them all. There are no throw away games.

Don't believe the hype, and don't buy the excuses. Just accept it for what it was. Simply a bad day for Adam Wainwright. Enjoy your day off Cardinal Nation. The biggest test of the season begins Friday night in Pittsburgh, and we can only hope the Cardinals bats stay as hot as this St. Louis weather.

SPz Y

When will the Rams compete

I would like to say that I understand what the Rams are working toward, as we move into the 2013 football season. They seemed to have drafted well. In Jeff Fisher's second year at the helm, expectations are high following the Rams 7-8-1 record a year ago. Unfortunately, I've seen them play twice this preseason, and I just don't get it. Yes, there is new personnel, but it really doesn't look any different on the field so far. SJ39 left town for younger, faster backs, but the production is no different. At least we could count on Steven Jackson not to fumble the football.

Football analysts and experts keep saying, "They're not going to open up the playbook in preseason." Coach Fisher himself has said he would not show them everything. Okay, that's fine. They're still getting embarrassed, on the field, and they're still playing undisciplined football. I have to believe that Fisher's "vanilla" approach is not unique. All the other NFL coaches aren't just throwing the kitchen sink at the Rams in the preseason either. Yet it still looks like the Rams are completely over-matched.

So, when can we as Rams fans, expect some improvement? When can we as Rams fans expect to see fewer mindless pre-snap penalties? When can we as Rams fans expect to see some plays that actually make sense in 3rd & long situations? Yes, they moved the ball fairly well in the middle of the field against the Packers, but in the Red Zone, the Rams are atrocious, and have been for several seasons. When can Rams fans expect this team to COMPETE?

Baseball has a saying, "You can't walk off the island." Meaning, you need to swing the bat to get hits, and drive in runs. There are times when taking a walk is prudent, but hitting is the biggest key to scoring runs. The Rams settle for 3 points far too often, and have been for years. You can't kick your way off the island either. Scoring touchdowns is how you win football games, especially in the NFL. The Rams cannot score touchdowns in the Red Zone, and frankly, they look confused when they get close to the goal line. They appear to be afraid to run the football, which is what good teams do, when they're close to the goal line. The play calling is poor at best. Preseason or not, bad football is just that, bad football. Call it "vanilla" all you want, at least vanilla ice cream tastes good. I don't think anyone who watched the Rams last night, could have possibly been left with a good taste in their mouth this morning.

I was very happy when the Rams went out and got Jeff Fisher. Clearly, the atmosphere in the organization has changed. I think it's much more positive now, and I think there's a collective goal to return the franchise to being a winner. They're inviting past greats back into the fold, to work with young players. I guess I'm just wondering when all those changes are going to translate into better play on the field? Losing begets losing. Anyone who has ever played a sport knows that. Losing becomes the norm. It spreads through a locker room like a fungus, and even when you disinfect one spot, it's still festering in others.

I wonder if I'm being too critical of the Rams. After all, it is only preseason. My question again, when can we expect to see something different? Week 13? I know these games mean nothing. But it would be very nice to have SOMETHING to look forward to. Someone mentioned that the preseason can be misleading. Teams can look very good when it means nothing, and fall apart when the games count. Even our Rams went 4-0 in the 2011 preseason, and everyone thought it was a new day in St. Louis. They ended 2011 with a 2-14 record.

Maybe it's all a trick. Maybe the switch will flip over to "ON" in week one. Rams fans can only hope so. I wouldn't mind if they lost all 4 preseason games, if there was some kind of fiber to chew on. If there was something pointing towards improvement. Only time will tell, but after 2 preseason games, it's already looking like it could be a very long football season in St. Louis.

SPz Y