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Saturday, May 10, 2008
Matthew gets pic on the web
West's Hyatt deserves a big salute
BlueRidgeNow.com
May 10, 2008
West's Hyatt deserves a big salute
In Henderson County sports lore, names like Tom Pryor, Jim Pardue, Jan Stanley and Rick Wood are synonymous with sustained athletic excellence. After securing his 400th career coaching victory on May 2, while simultaneously clinching his team's seventh consecutive conference championship, West Henderson's veteran head baseball coach, Jim Hyatt, is beyond worthy of having his name etched alongside these individuals.
John Fields
Be Our Guest
In Henderson County sports lore, names like Tom Pryor, Jim Pardue, Jan Stanley and Rick Wood are synonymous with sustained athletic excellence. After securing his 400th career coaching victory on May 2, while simultaneously clinching his team's seventh consecutive conference championship, West Henderson's veteran head baseball coach, Jim Hyatt, is beyond worthy of having his name etched alongside these individuals.As Times-News sportswriters will attest, try talking to the man about such notable professional accomplishments and you will be met by the old coach with resounding alacrity that these accomplishments are the result of players, assistant coaches, community support and school administrators and due not so much to his own contributions. Perhaps, but only to a certain extent.Having been closely associated with the Hyatt family for the better part of two decades, I can unequivocally affirm that more credit is due to the man at the top of West Henderson's baseball helm than he is willing to bestow upon himself publicly.Hyatt has won numerous conference championships as well as a state championship during his tenure at West. He has won with great players; he has won with average players. He has won despite the occasional problem parent; he has won despite losing the previous season's "star" players. He has won while he and his family have had to deal with gut wrenching personal adversity and he has won when all indications were he shouldn't have been able to win. Simply stated, he has won -- 400 games in 17 plus seasons.Consider the following: since taking over the varsity baseball program in 1991, Hyatt's teams have never had a losing season -- never. They have never had a "tailing off" period as so may other successful sports teams have eventually encountered. The most losses a Jim Hyatt West Henderson baseball team has had in a season is seven.Consider, for example, another perspective. For ever 100 games a Hyatt-lead West Henderson baseball team has taken the field since the inaugural season, the Falcons have walk off the diamond victorious, on average, 85 times.The late Hendersonville High coaching legend, Jim Pardue, told me one time years ago while we were discussing Hyatt's then-notable accomplishments, "I don't know him well, but I'll tell you one thing, I'll always root for a coach like that because he's like I was in a lot of ways. The main thing is he's in this thing we call 'coaching' with both feet; not just a couple of toes like so many others I've known." To be in coaching "with both feet," as Coach Pardue stated, hit the proverbial nail squarely on the head when referring to Coach Hyatt.In addition to the scores of coaching accolades Hyatt has enjoyed, he has taken extraordinary pride in ensuring that the West Henderson baseball facility has become -- and remains -- one of the finest complexes in the state. This has been accomplished by countless hours of dedicated work before and after school, as well as on weekends -- twelve months out of the year. Maintenance at the West Henderson baseball field does not cease with the season's final out.There is no question that Henderson County has other talented coaches but no coach in Henderson County works as diligently as Hyatt from both the coaching and facilities maintenance aspects of his job, period.Admittedly, many others have been instrumental in the continued success of West Henderson Baseball during the Hyatt era. The one individual, however, who has without question complimented Hyatt's career more than any player or assistant coach has been his charming wife of more than twenty years, Charlotte. She is the quintessential "coach's wife."Well, the Falcons, as usual, will be continuing their season as they enter the state playoffs this week and Jim Hyatt will be vying for yet another victory. Past history suggests he just might get it.In closing, sincere congratulations to you, Coach Hyatt, on your 400th career win. The dozens of current and former players you have directed during your distinguished career are fortunate to have been able to call you "Coach;" I'm more fortunate, though, because I get to call you "Friend."
Copyright © 2008 BlueRidgeNow.com
Friday, May 9, 2008
Sports Cliches Translated ... Funny Article by Jeremy Trantham
BlueRidgeNow.com
May 9, 2008
Time to translate the clichés
A significant portion of a sports writer's job is to ask obvious, boring questions. Coaches and players, in turn, give obvious and boring responses. Rare is the coach not well versed in the language of cliché.
Prep Notebook
By Jeremy Trantham
A significant portion of a sports writer's job is to ask obvious, boring questions. Coaches and players, in turn, give obvious and boring responses. Rare is the coach not well versed in the language of cliché.This dance isn't bad -- usually. It's just the way these things work.With the spring season prep playoffs upon us, you, dear readers, are about to swim in a sea of coach-speak.
Lest you drown, here's a handy translation guide.
*What is said: "We didn't execute very well today."
What is meant: The mind of a 15-, 16-, 17-, 18-year old is too cluttered to get a bunt down.
What is said: "We came out flat today."
What is meant: It was mystery-meat Tuesday in the cafeteria. You do the math.
What is said: "If I could figure that one out I could retire a rich man."
What is meant: I wish I could figure that one out. The 'fulfillment' from shaping young minds isn't worth the long hours and low pay. I mean, would you rather have a villa in Tuscany or spend all day with teenagers?
WIS: "That one call didn't decide the game."
WIM: That one call decided the game. If I say otherwise I'll be fined and we already had to pay those blind fools to officiate the game. No way am I letting them cost me any more money.
WIS: "That's a good team we beat."
WIM: Even though its record says otherwise.
WIS: "We lost to the better team."
WIM: It's a shame coaches aren't allowed to recruit in high school.
WIS: "You know in (baseball, basketball, football, bocce ball) things like that happen. Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn't."
WIM: It didn't bounce our way. We're ordering new balls tomorrow. Also, the refs were terrible.
WIS: "We have some talent this year, but all the talent in the world doesn't matter if you don't work hard."
WIM: So, yeah, we should win a state title.
WIS: "We've had a good year, but the playoffs are a whole new season. You've got to play well every game from here on out or you're going home."
WIM: We have a chance to advance really far and I'm not going to jinx it.
WIS: "We didn't get the conference title we wanted, but we're really playing well going into the playoffs. We can make some noise."
WIM: We can win some games depending on how things shake out. A state title would be a miracle equal to the 1980 USA hockey team winning the gold. Some good officiating would help.
WIS: "It is what it is."
WIM: The terrible officiating didn't help.
WIS: "He knows what he did was wrong and why it can't happen again. We're handling the matter internally."
WIM: That kid is running until he collapses. Or the world ends. Whichever comes first.
What is said: "We've just got to take things one day at a time and keep improving."
What is meant: The next day's time is going to be spent in intense practice.
What is said: "We've got to get back to basics and work on the fundamentals."
What is meant: This season is going nowhere fast.
What is said: "We're just happy to be in the playoffs."
What is meant: Ever notice how the only people who say 'It's a honor just to be nominated' actually won. We aren't just happy to be here.
WIS: "You have to adjust to how the game is being called."
WIM: Really, those guys in the striped shirts are morons. I really wish I could say something on the record.Don't worry coach, you already did.
*All translations were totally fabricated.
Copyright © 2008 BlueRidgeNow.com
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