The Abbey!

It's official, we have moved Big J into the Abbey. It was a day marked by extreme joy and extreme sadness for everybody. I guess when you are as close to your children, and they to you, it makes it hard to let go. As proud as we are about what J has accomplished, it was very hard to pack up his stuff and move him into the Abbey. It will definitely take some getting used to not having him around all the time. Football Saturdays, the daily Detroit Tiger breakdowns, and the Detroit Lions bitch sessions will now have to take place over the phone. I will really miss that part of our relationship. I guess we can't keep them little forever (as much as we'd like to). Two more years and D will be off to college also, don't even want to contemplate that right now.

GO CRUSADERS!

Back From Camp

The young one is now back from soccer camp. He is excited to play soccer again and says he learned a ton at camp. It's good to see him training hard and hitting the weights. I firmly believe that all kids need to have something, some kind of goals to keep them focused and on the right path. Devan certainly has soccer goals in mind. From talking to some of the other kids, he played very physical and was laying kids out all over the field. That's all those years of hockey coming into play.

Soccer Again!

Looks like baby huey has decided not to pursue football in the fall but rather follow the man-childs' legacy on the pitch. Devan has decided to play a bit of soccer. He should do good as he is quite fast and strong. He will need to get in a bit better shape to keep up with Coach Martin and his maniac running.

Soccer camp in July for the boy. We are excited to see how it goes. Stay tuned!

Disturbing News

For the second time this year an athletic acquaintance has been arrested. It is a very disturbing trend to say the least. Worst part about the recent indictment is we had alerted the Triangle Football Club, in the coaches review at the end of the season, that we felt there was improper conduct on the part of the coach. We did not suspect anything was going on, we just thought it improper that a coach would allow a team member to spend hours in said coaches room alone, just coach and player as well as other instances of improper conduct. To my knowledge this was never addressed as my son was promptly cut the following year(wonder why?), and coach continued to work with the kids.

I actually was good friends with Mr. Ahmed and was truly shocked when this news broke. Coach Ingram was an idiot, I knew something wasn't right with this guy.

So lets get right to it, here is both creeps who are in trouble(innocent until proven guilty):

Raleigh, N.C. — A former youth soccer coach has been indicted on charges of having child pornography on a computer.

A Durham County grand jury indicted Michael Anthony Ingram Monday on seven counts each of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor.

Ingram hadn't been arrested by Wednesday evening. He couldn't be reached for comment.

The charges stem from videos and pictures on a computer hard drive that depicted minors engaged in sexual activity.

The State Bureau of Investigation is investigating the case, but it was unclear Wednesday what prompted agents to search the computer.

Ingram was a soccer coach at Leesville High School from 2004 to 2006, when he moved to coach at East Chapel Hill High School. He also worked as a teacher's assistant at both schools.

The indictments allege that the pornographic videos and images were obtained between July 2004 and August 2007 – the period he was at the two schools.

Ingram also has coached in youth leagues across the Triangle, including working for the Triangle Futbol Club until February.

Dewan Bader, director of coaching for Triangle Futbol Club, said club officials asked East Chapel Hill High officials why Ingram resigned from the school after one year but couldn't get any details.

Ingram was let go from Triangle Futbol Club for failing to hold up his responsibilities, Bader said.

Raleigh, N.C. — A Wake County grand jury has indicted the co-owner of an Apex sports facility on charges involving sex offenses against children.

Richard James Ahmed, 47, of 210 Michelangelo Way in Cary, was indicted on indecent liberties with children, soliciting a child by computer and attempted dissemination of obscenity to minors.

Ahmed was arrested three weeks ago at a Raleigh park after a meeting had been set up with a 14-year-old girl he had met in an Internet chat room, police said. Ahmed told police he went to the park to lecture a girl about meeting people online.

He is the co-owner of Dream Sports Center in Apex, which offers facilities for basketball, roller hockey, soccer, lacrosse, baseball and other sports and hosts camps and clinics for children ages 5 and up.

The Time Is Near!

Very soon the boy will take the field for the first time since the injury. It is a time of apprehension and anticipation. He is very ready. We are too, just nervous as hell. He has put in a lot of time and effort to make it back for The Tampa Sunbowl, and I would hate for him to have any kind of setback.

We will also be partaking in a football game. The Citrus Bowl (Capital One Bowl) in Orlando Jan.1 will be a very good game. Michigan vs Florida, should be a dandy. A good reward for another trouble free year from the boys. Good grades, work hard, stay out of trouble, that's all you can ask.

The Argument

My sons have this ongoing argument that gets revisited every so often. It's not a bad thing, I actually feel very lucky that they can have this argument. It usually starts when a friend asks the hypothetical question.

Who is better? Who could beat who? The exact question the other night was: "If Jordan was healthy, who would win in a game of posts, Devan or Jordan?" Well guess who got drug into this no win situation? Yeah, me.

They both plead their case. Devan and his 7 National Championships (bad coaches decisions cost them a world championship), Jordan and his National Championship and 2 World Championships. Now pressed for an answer I always side with Devan, he is the king of posts (usually when they are actually supposed to go in the net). This usually turns the argument into a "if 14 yr old Jordan played 14 yr old Devan, who would win?'.

My answer- I don't know, but it would be a heck of a game!

College?

It looks like everything will turn out fine. Jordan is about a month away from returning to action. The college coaches seem to have a short memory regarding the ACL injury. They are lining up to take a shot at the wonder kid. It should be an interesting winter around here.

The First Game

We had the first varsity soccer game since J's injury. Let me tell you, that was a lot harder than I though it would be. It was supposed to be his year. This would have been his 4th year on varsity. It was his year.

It has been quite some time since J's name was not announced in the starting lineup. I believe that is when it hit home for both Heather and myself. I never expected it to be quite so hard.

He's now on the long road to recovery. We'll hear his name announced again, I'm positive.

On a happier note. The batting cage will be here on Wednesday. Devan is chomping at the bit to get a crack at that badboy.

Rehab

The man-child started his rehab this week. He believes he will be back by christmas. If anyone can do it, he can. He is a workout beast and is more determined than ever to play college ball.

Devan has his sites set on the Pinecrest High School Varsity Baseball Team. The batting cage will be here Monday. Let the work begin.

Baseball

Baseball! Devan has the bug. He thinks he may want to play baseball again. I am very excited about this development. We have been taking bp up at the local ballfield. He is hitting the cover of the ball. Should be good times.

Jordan is gearing up for the fall soccer season. He has received quite a bit of interest for college ball. Schools: Belmont Abbey, Lipschombe, Lander, West Virginia, Elon, Dayton, Wingate, Michigan, Virginia Tech, to name a few. He will have to start narrowing down after camp season. He will be playing in Raleigh again-Triangle Futbol Club. He will have fun.

Later

Pinehurst

Lo and behold the hockey league was a success. I do not remember exact numbers but after the initial short season, it blew up. I believe we had almost 200 players at one point. It was fantastic, and of course the Howlett boys owned it. It was only fitting that Devan scored the very first goal in the Sandhills Youth Inline Hockey League. The SYIHL was just what the doctor ordered. The boys were happy to be playing, I was happy to be coaching. We were having a blast. Jeff and I decided to form a travel team. It was comprised of the top players in the league. We were u10 team, which Devan made as a 7 year old. This meant both boys playing on the same team, life ws good. Early on we would scrimmage a team from Fayetteville, NC. They were close and they were good. I don't think we ever beat them but the boys had a blast. Things would get quite interesting in short order in the SYIHL, more on that later.

Pinehurst was treating us well on all fronts. Heather loved her job, I had found a decent job, and the boys had their sports. They were both excelling on the hockey rink (we had built a makeshift rink at the old tennis courts), kicking butt on the soccer fields, and hanging tough in the local little league. We were cruising, and it would only get better.

Amazing!

Absolutely amazing! That was the first thought that popped into my head the first time I watched Jordan play soccer. As he was racing down the field, ball glued to his foot, all I could think of was "college scholarship". It may not have been the correct thing to think of about a 1st grader, but man, he was good! Nobody could stop him. He was faster, stronger, and just plain better than anybody out there. He had barely played the game yet he looked like a pro compared to other kids his age. The whole season played out this way, nobody in the whole league was even close. I had a superstar.

As an athlete myself, I knew with hard work, this boy could use sports to make all his dreams come true. It was and is my job to guide him down the right path, to see that he makes the most out of his gift.

Devan at 4 yrs old was quite the character. He didn't have his brothers eye-popping skills (yet).
What he did have that set him apart even at that age was brains and heart to spare. He probably knew more about sports than most adults, and man did he love that little hockey set "uncle Jamie" had gotten him. He was always game to take on big brother, always thinking he would win. Can't even count how many times Devan would come in hollering "Jordan cheated, he's a cheater, I won and he cheated". Jordan right behind him screaming "you little baby, I didn't cheat, you cheated, I won fair and square". I was pretty competitive growing up but I couldn't hold a candle to these two. The two most competitive people I have ever known. They sure love each other, but give them a bat, a ball, a puck, weights, heck even darts, and it is on. So began our odyssey into youth athletics, and what a ride it has been.

The beginning!

We all know how it starts, your child picks up a bat, kicks a ball, or throws a pass. You think "he has it". We have all been there. I have been lucky enough that my first thoughts were right on the money. My boys "have it". I have been blessed. Not only are they great kids, they are phenomenal athletes.

Ever since they hit their first ball, threw their first pass, took their first slapshot, it was quite obvious to me and everyone around that my boys were special. They have not disappointed.
It has been quite the journey so far, and I expect it shall continue.

I hope to convey to everyone the trials and tribulations, the victories and defeats, the success, the failure we have endured through the years. Many points will be covered, from training tips to travel tips, I hope to help the parents of all athletes enjoy the journey just a bit more. I hope you enjoy!