What if I mentioned the "twinge" I've been feeling in the back of my throwing shoulder? The pull on my forearm while warming up in the bullpen for the 3rd time this week....would that get them off my back? Could I go to that concert and feel like I'm existing for reasons other than have already been laid out for me and "paid for"?
All legitimate questions as Billy questions this maniacal schedule that seems to be hurting him rather than helping him enjoy the game he loves; When is the last time I had a whole day to myself - no interruptions from a constant barrage of "updates" and "breaking news" and the occasional inquiry from Mom inquisitively asking " how are you doing?"
In fact, I wish that she would take a day off from her busy schedule to hang with me like we used to do years ago, and laugh in the faint sunshine as the fog drapes heavy over the bridge and grab an ice cream........any flavor.
The question of this "being busy" has been infiltrating Billy's mind for some time and understandably so.
As he prepares for another mundane weekend clear across the state, he can't help but think about what his buddies are doing today, what misadventures are they going to get into as the summer wind has kicked up an air of confidence and rejoice here in the city, one in which smiling faces dot his neighborhood and shorter skirts tend to the boardwalk. Billy is too busy.
"Damn my arm hurts"....he says to himself in a hushed voice as he sets the stage for letting his "coach" know that he couldn't possibly throw today, but probably will, after getting talked into it by with such phrases as " that college coach is here " and " this is the #1 rated Travel team, we need you", coming out of the mouth of a broken down/has been of a former Ballplayer who doesn't have half of Billy's ability, enjoys living through his past exploits and has a mortgage here in the city that he can't afford and a wife and kids that never see him......probably to their liking.
These are the kind of coaches that flock to $Travelball$, like moth to flame.
I ( the author ) can go to a game, sit in the stands, and pick apart the coaches moves with simplicity, these guys are all the same - they "teach" in a cookie cutter way, don't promote individualism, try to mold all the kids whose parents could afford to play on this "team" into the same clay, and concentrate on winning to the detriment of development, just so they can hopefully move up the ladder to the next paying gig - it's a dam shame.....and guess who's eyes are opening up to this...
Billy's.
If it wasn't for Billy's natural ability to "whistle the bat" along with the pronounced way he can "travel a baseball" on the mound he could probably get a day or even a tournament off.......but that is not the way of these $$ hungry and Kool-Aid drinking "coaches" - more is better and more tournaments and more kids = more $$ - that is the true ethos of Travelball.
But Billy will fight back..........
STAY TUNED for Part TRE coming soon and Thank You for your "look-see".........
This is fun :) CHOOCH
Natural ability to whistle the bat