Commitment vs New Pussy = Veterans vs. Young Dragons.. solves identity crisis

The Chris Rock classic stand up below helped me solve my Old School identity crisis in the Big Apple League (especially time index 1:35 - 3:16).



Great Routine as Chris explains:

New Pussy is :

• Sexy
• Clears Your Mind
• Hot

Commitment gives you:

• Headaches 
• Boring
• Predictable

But New Pussy:

• Doesn't Cook
• Take care of you when your sick
• Raise your Children

Commitment is:

• There for you
• Reliable
• Loyal

In the Long Term you need commitment and to keep things fresh you need to Recycle your relationship. Love it

In my eccentric weird demented mind I somehow instantly connected the dilemma of:

• Commitment versus New Pussy to Veteran Players versus Young Stud Softball Dragons.

In building The Old School softball team in the Big Apple League I am blessed to have plenty of Choices Parts, I uh mean choices (softball Freudian slip), many of my very best players are very young and talented



Young Players have:

• Talent
• Speed
• Power
• Energy
• Strong Arms

Veterans are :

• Older
• Slower
• Heavier
• Grayer
• Less energy

But Young Players can be ...well ...young.. that means they are

• Wild
• Erratic
• Streaky
• Egomaniacs
• Needy
• Lose Focus
• Stubborn
• Inexperienced
• Inconsistent

Veterans are :

• Confident
• Reliable
• Prepared
• High Softball IQ's
• Consistent
• Focused
• Team oriented
• Polished
• Thick skinned
• Smart
• Leaders
• Gamers

Now some of my veterans are not exactly role models

but they still can get the job done and some

and know how to Win




Still after a slow start I knew I had to start to build an identity for this team.  We had struggled with an identity from week 1 as we initially picked the corny name The Avengers. By week 3 we switched it to an oldie but a goodie team name - Old School (my favorite team name) but the team still struggled.

I looked around and saw despite our "Old School name" we were still too young.




Our name was now Old School, not New School. That means I needed

• Leadership. 
• Hard Work
• Sacrifice
• Commitment
• Positive Attitude
• Experience. 

I needed Veterans. My young guys are very important and both the future and the present

• Jr.
• Zach
• Christian
• Max
• Alex
• Albie

They all will be the Man one day, just not now. They all can play, but right now I need them to be on the bus, not driving the bus. So I decided to recycle my veterans and make them fresh again:

• Butchy
• Jimmy
• George Colon
• Trenk
• Dino
• Guby
• Gil
• Anthony
• Cabessa

to do that I put them all at the top of the lineup with a few young guys sprinkled in to keep them new. The rest of the way I am going with my Veterans b/c they:

• Adjust
• Don't Panic
• Make No excuses
• Hit situationally
• Play like there is No Next Year
• Are not Chongo (play all the time, not when they feel like it)
• Will show young guys the way

When we were struggling one of my best Vets Butchy advised me

• "Go with Your Gut"
• "Do Not Quit"

My gut tells me this:

• isn't a cross training contest
• isn't the NFL combine
• isn't a draft: 

This is softball. Physical prowess is important, but sometimes you need something more than talent.

I am not giving up - Old School babies, just a little recycled to keep to fresh.