Fighting Back

 

 

 

RIC FLAIR: BEATEN....But NOT Out!  

 

You did not think I was getting away from Ric Flair did you?  LOL.  Will never happen!  Here is a classic photograph showing a bloodied and beaten Ric Flair after a sneak attack.  Flair was one of the original Crinsom wrestlers in the business.  He would 'gig' himself with razor blades on the forehead or above his eyes to draw blood.  The fans loved for Flair to bleed.  Everyone hated Ric Flair at the time, which is exactly why I idolized him so much. WHOOOOOOO!

 

 



 We are like the walking wounded with our coaching staff right now.  Coach Jefferson is out, Coach Washington is out, Coach Wilson is out, and Coach Matthews is out.  We are spread pretty thin right now, but we are all stepping up to cover our bases.  Nothing is being overlooked.  We had another awesome (and focused) practice today.  The tempo was great.  We got in a lot of work before the worst storm of the year hit our practice area.  For the first time all year, the temperature dropped and the severe weather moved in very quickly.  The sky was BLACK and the wind swirled like mini tornadoes over the practice field.  The lightning meters were going crazy and we rushed off the field as quickly as we could.  Without question, the safety of the players comes first at SRHS. 

 

Before loading the bus on Friday Night. 

 

It has not always been like that though.  In 1996, Coach Bethel and I spent quite a bit of time on the practice field together learning and teaching the offense to the players.  Since we both taught /coached the skill players, we worked together quite a bit.  Back in those days, the weather was not taken too seriously in determining our practice plans.  We did not have "Lightning Meters" or Severe Weather Sirens to help us decide whether we practiced or not.  Truthfully, as long as we had the nerve to stand out there during a storm, we were going to practice.  One time, we were practicing on the Eastern practice field (closest to the school) and it was pouring down rain.  It was raining so hard that we could not even see the goal posts 20 yards away.  I looked at Randy, and he said something like: "We are going Baby!"   About that time, a huge bolt of lightning struck the goal post upright.  The sound of the CRACK was tremendous.  I looked up and Bethel was GONE!  He was SPRINTING to the locker room along with the rest of us.  LOL.  I still remind him of that one. 

 

I have another Bethel practice story.  I swear this is true.  Again, we were practicing on the Eastern practice field.  When we started, it was nice and sunny.  Then, it turned cloudy and threatened to pour down rain....again.  I said the Bethel: "Coach, can't you do something about these rain clouds?"  He said sure, and looked to the sky and said: "Lord, please clear these skies and give us a pretty day!"  (Now, I am not an overly religious man to say the least.  However, I know what I saw.  Have you ever been looking over an open field and see like a wave of sunshine rolling over the field?) Almost on cue, a huge wave of sunshine came rolling over the field and dominated the sky for the rest of the practice.  Unreal.  Bethel looked at me and just smiled.  I never questioned him much about the weather after that. 

 

It's been weird lately.  Last year, it was bone dry for most of the year, almost no rain at all. However, this year it has been very wet with afternoon thunder showers almost every day.  Truthfully, this is the typical Florida Summer weather pattern.  Sure makes it hard to practice though.  Coach Miller wants to start practicing at 5am in the morning.  Man, I don't know about that.  I am not exactly a morning person, but I will do whatever is necessary to make the team better.  But 5am? 

 

Catch you guys later.  I appreciate you reading this blog.  Writing helps me clear my head, so it is almost therapeutic for me. 

 

GZ