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Message
re: Theo Vonn’s recent podcast about boys and men
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:13 am to Roughneck2020
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:13 am to Roughneck2020
quote:
There have been a lot of threads on here where people criticize travel ball, one just a week ago. I said in the thread last week that the best thing I ever did for my son was build a batting cage and threw batting practice to him after work. The criticizers of travel ball are missing the point. It’s not about Braxton getting a scholarship. It’s about throwing BP to your child in the backyard or catching him pitching when no one else is around. It doesn’t have to be baseball. It can be anything your child is good at and likes.
You can do all of this and not travel all over the country.
Buts it your prerogative anyway, no one is telling you you can't. It just will likely be detrimental long term for your child.
0
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:20 am to Roughneck2020
Back when actual rec sports existed, it was easy enough to find outlets for your kids. Travel ball didn't even exist when I was a kid. We had an "all star" team after the league season was over, but that was it.
And then we played football. And basketball. And ran track. And played golf. And tennis. Kids these days hyper-focus on one sport all too often, and their parents fill them with the belief that they are SO AWESOME at that sport, the kid is delusional.
How about a happy medium? Travel ball teams should be relegated to travel ball parks, and tax payers should have access to rec parks to let normal kids enjoy sports a couple times per week at normal hours.
And then we played football. And basketball. And ran track. And played golf. And tennis. Kids these days hyper-focus on one sport all too often, and their parents fill them with the belief that they are SO AWESOME at that sport, the kid is delusional.
How about a happy medium? Travel ball teams should be relegated to travel ball parks, and tax payers should have access to rec parks to let normal kids enjoy sports a couple times per week at normal hours.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:22 am to Roughneck2020
quote:My son doesn't play travel ball, but I do this. Nothing to do with travel ball.
It’s not about Braxton getting a scholarship. It’s about throwing BP to your child in the backyard or catching him pitching when no one else is around.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:24 am to Roughneck2020
quote:
Not true about dream being dead. My son played college ball and majored in engineering. He’s got a great job now and seems like he’s on a path to success.
Engineering is the quintessential “used to be a good job”, now it’s a “roommates at 30” job
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:24 am to Roughneck2020
I would bet that about as many boys kill themselves who are very involved, to the point of obsession, in sports as boys who aren't involved in anything. There is a heaping pile of pressure on some kids whose parents have them involved in highly competitive activities. I played sports through high school and it was a blast and I learned a lot from doing so....but none of the teams I ever played on were very competitive....we weren't very good. There wasn't a lot of pressure to do anything more than simply play the game as well as you could and have some fun. We kept score and winning was highly important but we lost about as often as we won and there was usually more to take away from a loss than a win. Keep in mind we weren't playing because we thought it was going to be a job....everyone of us was going to be a professional but it was just a given, we didn't have to work at it LOL.
In the 7th and 8th grade I played on 4 different football teams simultaneously. One youth league team, one youth league allstar team (that would have amounted to travel ball in the 70s) my middle school team and our high school varsity team. Played games Thursday, Friday and Saturday, often twice on Saturdays. Practiced Monday - Thursday. I started on both sides of the ball on 3 of those 4 teams....I almost never left the sideline on Friday nights during this period LOL. It never seemed like a lot because it was FUN. None of the coaches were overly concerned about anything other than us learning the game and having fun. in the 9th grade we moved back to metro Atlanta and I only played for my high school...which was highly competitive....lots of pressure to win....it soon became waaaaayyyyyyy toooo much. I started on the Freshman team, both sides of the ball, and played some on the JV and Varsity games as a freshman. I started on both sides of the ball on the varsity team in 10th grade and only on the O line in the 11th and 12th. Had some VERY minor interest from small schools....but I was DONE. It was too much. They had taken all the fun out of it for me.
The only suicide I ever knew about related to this was the mother of the QB on the youth allstar team. When his team lost to their cross town rival in his senior year she went home and blew her brains out in their bath tub. When we played on that youth team she was the one parent in the bunch who would raise all manner of hell with the coaches and stopped a game once to check birth certificates of opposing players. I have always envisioned this woman being the typical modern day travel ball parent. If so its no wonder kids off themselves...
In the 7th and 8th grade I played on 4 different football teams simultaneously. One youth league team, one youth league allstar team (that would have amounted to travel ball in the 70s) my middle school team and our high school varsity team. Played games Thursday, Friday and Saturday, often twice on Saturdays. Practiced Monday - Thursday. I started on both sides of the ball on 3 of those 4 teams....I almost never left the sideline on Friday nights during this period LOL. It never seemed like a lot because it was FUN. None of the coaches were overly concerned about anything other than us learning the game and having fun. in the 9th grade we moved back to metro Atlanta and I only played for my high school...which was highly competitive....lots of pressure to win....it soon became waaaaayyyyyyy toooo much. I started on the Freshman team, both sides of the ball, and played some on the JV and Varsity games as a freshman. I started on both sides of the ball on the varsity team in 10th grade and only on the O line in the 11th and 12th. Had some VERY minor interest from small schools....but I was DONE. It was too much. They had taken all the fun out of it for me.
The only suicide I ever knew about related to this was the mother of the QB on the youth allstar team. When his team lost to their cross town rival in his senior year she went home and blew her brains out in their bath tub. When we played on that youth team she was the one parent in the bunch who would raise all manner of hell with the coaches and stopped a game once to check birth certificates of opposing players. I have always envisioned this woman being the typical modern day travel ball parent. If so its no wonder kids off themselves...
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:25 am to Roughneck2020
You left out fishing. It’s a relatively inexpensive hobby for everyone, and is good for both boys and girls (at least in LA). All you really need is any old fishing pole, some shiners, and a good shoreline or rented boat.
I’ll never forget the time dad took just me fishing in Venice when I was a senior in high school. It was a perfect day. Every kid should have days like that with their dad.
I’ll never forget the time dad took just me fishing in Venice when I was a senior in high school. It was a perfect day. Every kid should have days like that with their dad.
This post was edited on 2/27/25 at 9:33 am
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:27 am to Roughneck2020
There's a war for the hearts and souls of young men. For some reason, a large portion of society wants them weak and full of nihilism. That's dangerous, as it leads to suicides and mass shootings/carnage.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:29 am to hometownhero89
Spending time with your children investing in what they want and like to do is vital for their growth and for their self-worth. I agree 100% on that.
I know travel ball is being used as a loose example here, and I don't mean to get on a travel ball or youth sports kick but from my perspective as a father of a 20 year old, a 14 year old, and an 8 year old is that much of this "travel" stuff be it baseball, basketball, Xtreme cheer, etc. is for the parents to have social lives and make friends with other parents.
I've never seen an elementary age boy or girl jonesing to do one specific thing all the time year over year. They may enjoy it, but they want to do other kids' stuff too. As they get older that changes and shifts on both sides (parent and child) regarding the why. But, for the most part, these kids get signed up for this stuff at 7 or 8 years old because mom and dad do nothing but work, homework, birthday parties, car pool, etc. and want other grown ups to socialize with.
Same for why every 30+ year old suddenly starts going to church and retreats and all that (ducks....) but I feel it's mostly true. Not that they don't "believe" or that it can't yield positive results in their lives. But the origin of that is often socially motivated.
I know travel ball is being used as a loose example here, and I don't mean to get on a travel ball or youth sports kick but from my perspective as a father of a 20 year old, a 14 year old, and an 8 year old is that much of this "travel" stuff be it baseball, basketball, Xtreme cheer, etc. is for the parents to have social lives and make friends with other parents.
I've never seen an elementary age boy or girl jonesing to do one specific thing all the time year over year. They may enjoy it, but they want to do other kids' stuff too. As they get older that changes and shifts on both sides (parent and child) regarding the why. But, for the most part, these kids get signed up for this stuff at 7 or 8 years old because mom and dad do nothing but work, homework, birthday parties, car pool, etc. and want other grown ups to socialize with.
Same for why every 30+ year old suddenly starts going to church and retreats and all that (ducks....) but I feel it's mostly true. Not that they don't "believe" or that it can't yield positive results in their lives. But the origin of that is often socially motivated.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:47 am to Roughneck2020
quote:
Theo Vonn
Heard him tell a story about college…and the other podcaster asked him where he went…he said Louisiana State.
I’ve never heard someone not say LSU. Made me question that fella.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 8:49 am to Oilfieldbiology
quote:
or go hunting and fishing with buddies The majority of men I know that do this have always taken their sons with them
Outside of Louisiana (or southeast) it’s not common. When hunting west of Louisiana people have commented to me how unique we are in including our children in hunting and fishing.
Not engaging in the travel ball discussion. If your kid wants to play and you want to allow them to play…..play. If not then shutup and sit down. You’re a tiresome whiny bitch if you keep crying about someone else spending weekends at a ballpark.
This post was edited on 2/27/25 at 8:50 am
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:03 am to Diseasefreeforall
quote:
Suicide rates for girls have been rising as well so it's not specific to boys.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:05 am to soccerfüt
quote:
I’d be despondent if I had to read all that, no matter what age I was
Holy shite dude, that wasnt long at all. You just outed yourself as a reeree.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:05 am to Roughneck2020
The same thing can be accomplished with a fishing pole or a shotgun. All you have to do is spend time with your kid on a regular basis.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:15 am to Roughneck2020
quote:
The criticizers of travel ball are missing the point. It’s not about Braxton getting a scholarship. It’s about throwing BP to your child in the backyard or catching him pitching when no one else is around.
You can do this without participating in Travel Ball. Know how I know? Because I throw the ball with my son every afternoon after work as well. No Travel Ball needed. And when I go fishing on the weekends he comes with me. We are now working on him learning to drive the boat. Being a present parent isn't rocket science and it sure as hell doesn't have to include Travel Ball.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:16 am to willymeaux
quote:
yard where Braxton can practice his nukes
Braxxtynn
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:20 am to Roughneck2020
quote:
The criticizers of travel ball are missing the point. It’s not about Braxton getting a scholarship.
Truth. I know so few people that think their kid is playing college ball. Most hope they make a high school team these days honestly.
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:21 am to NewIberiaHaircut
quote:
You can do this without participating in Travel Ball. Know how I know? Because I throw the ball with my son every afternoon after work as well. No Travel Ball needed. And when I go fishing on the weekends he comes with me. We are now working on him learning to drive the boat. Being a present parent isn't rocket science and it sure as hell doesn't have to include Travel Ball.
Why can't both of y'all be correct?
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:21 am to lsu13lsu
quote:
I know so few people that think their kid is playing college ball. Most hope they make a high school team these days honestly.
That’s because their kids aren’t very good, yet they still lug them all over the southeast for years
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:22 am to Diseasefreeforall
quote:
Diseasefreeforall
Suicide rates for girls have been rising as well so it's not specific to boys.
One of Reeves's points is that it's not a zero sum game. Boys are seeing dramatic decreases in their quality of life, and we can quantify these changes across the board. We should be addressing these issues as a society instead of demonizing any approaches due to "toxic masculinity."
Posted on 2/27/25 at 9:22 am to AcadieAnne
quote:
You left out fishing. It’s a relatively inexpensive hobby for everyone
I’ve never heard of fishing as an inexpensive hobby
quote:
I’ll never forget the time my dad hauled down his big boat from TB to take just him & me fishing in Venice when I was a senior in high school.
Real cheap
Eta
Now that I’m done being a smart arse to you, I agree. Fishing is something that can be enjoyed by everyone.
This post was edited on 2/27/25 at 9:26 am
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