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Online now: 2 members: Chief144, RRG; 8 anonymousDetails for Sparky.1
Real name:
Dr. Gregg Mann
Location:
Angola, IN
Division:
Men's 75
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| July 23, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Results from Shawnee Just how long with today's technology does it take to put up the tournament's results throughout the bracket? |
| July 20, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Results from Shawnee From an earlier posting: Why the problem of posting current results of the SSUSA's Midwest Championships 2015 being played in Shawnee, KS? and still no scores................ |
| July 19, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Why the problem of Yes Vito, was interested in the 55's. The bracket use to be up and now that's even gone. Unbelievable that a Director or someone on the staff could not post results with today's technology but that's the sad state of Slow-pitch Softball in today's world wither Senior or not. |
| July 19, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: Tournaments Discussion: Why the problem of posting current results of the SSUSA's Midwest Championships 2015 being played in Shawnee, KS? |
| July 13, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: SSUSA Needs to review bat rule If Senior Ball (all Associations) would ever take my suggestion and use today's technology by using something call "YouTube", they could get ALL UMPIRES on the same page for: 1. Correct Arc Heights, Limits and Calls 2. Correct Field Positioning 3. Correct Field Mechanics 4. Rule Interpretation 5. Dress Code 6. Correct Vocal Mechanics 7. Update availability on New Rules Have suggested this to each Association's Regional UICs and National UICs including SSUSA for going on 3-years and still no response. |
| July 2, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Which Sports Do More Americans Participate In? Hombre: I just cleaned it up........Here's your plagiarism statement.......I never claimed any author status......To sooth your nerves, the author is: Med, who wrote the article on Thursday, 21 June 2012 |
| July 2, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Which Sports Do More Americans Participate In? The greatest era of Slow-pitch Softball players in history reflects the greatest golden age of Slow-pitch Softball, which was the mid-late 1970's and early-mid 1980's. These prolific players and teams who were the bulk of the 50 greatest teams of all time, will never be repeated. These teams and players set the all time standards for excellence and power. Jacking home runs over 400 ft, much less 500 ft., was virtually limited to less than a hundred players. Only 4 players in verified recorded history, hit the ball over 500'. All of the new high-tech bats and balls have destroyed the game and there's no coming back. Now almost anyone regardless of age, can hit the ball over the 300 ft. fence. The 'awe' of the home run is destroyed and that is part of what Slow-pitch Softball was all about. The home runs hit with these newer bats are superficial. These hitters really think they're 'King Kong', which is the joke. It really was an honor and a privilege to have been a part of the game back in its hey-day. Look what they had to do with the instituting of the 1-1 starting count and home run limits with this new equipment. They 'ruined' the game. They allowed the vast majority to live the lie that they are like Bruce Meade, Mike Macenko and the other power-men of the golden age of Slow-Pitch Softball. The ages after this golden era, have progressively gotten more uninteresting and very superfluous. |
| July 2, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Which Sports Do More Americans Participate In? BruceinGa: Must be a "southern-thing" because I have never heard of any type of Slow-Pitch Softball" program/league/etc. to ever be part of a High School athletic program whether male or female. Fast-pitch however was a staple for the girls athletic programs in every High School. Like to know what school districts in the south participate in Slow-Pitch. Believe you will find only Fast-Pitch which in today's world, is almost completely extinct for Men's play. |
| July 1, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Which Sports Do More Americans Participate In? The Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association has put out its list of sport by sport participation in the United States. This is one of these lists that each year I'm completely fascinated with. So here is the best of the best from 2014: • Bird-watching is among the top 10 activities Americans aged 55-64 would like to do. • More than 49 million people now run, up 12.6% in 2014 and up 57.4% over the last decade. • An amazing 1.9 million people participated in triathlons in 2014, up 63.7% from the year before. • The Treadmill is being used by 42.5% more Americans than it was in 2000, while the amount of people that use the Cross Country Ski Machine is down 52.9%. • The fastest rising piece of gym equipment is the Elliptical Trainer, which was used by 29.1 million people in 2014, up from 7.3 million in 2000. • Between 2008 and 2010, Yoga participation increased by 23%. • Water sports are suffering. Over the last decade, Jet Skiing (down 18.2%), Scuba Diving (down 26.8%) and Water Skiing (down 44.8%) have all been affected. The only water sport on the rise? Surfing (Aloha, Fabe ), up 26.3% in the last 10 years. • Despite the growth of the NFL, Tackle Football participation is down 16.1% over the last decade. • The fastest growing sport over the last decade is Lacrosse (up 218%), even though the numbers are small. For example, nine times more people participate in Baseball than Lacrosse. • In the oddball category, there are 3.2 million Cheerleaders in this country, up 22.7% since 2000 and 19.4 million people now play Ping Pong, up a whopping 53% in the last decade. • Things aren't good if it has wheels. All down over the last decade? Roller Skating (down 63.6%), Roller Hockey (down 65.3%) and Skateboarding (down 30.9%). • Other sports that are on a huge decline over the last decade include Wrestling (down 44.2%) and Slow-Pitch Softball (down 42.9%). • The saddest number in the report? 36% of all inactive Americans are under 34 years old. |
| June 30, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Remember When........... Fred S: Any of those Harwoods in their original box? I'd be interested if they came with their original packaging. Contact me at: grm.phd@gmail.com |
| June 30, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Remember When........... Fred S: The Harwood's at the time, were the "best" ball in town. If you were going to launch one however, you had better do it within the first 3-innings. After that, they were mush and you had better be able to hit to all fields because they were not going to "fly". |
| June 29, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Remember When........... Give me an old Bombat and the Harwood Softball and use the "Rover" position and let's go play some Softball. Also need those sweet Sturups also. |
| June 29, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Remember When........... In the Mid-Michigan region as I would guess was the case for every place else, you had to drive to the Parks & Rec to obtain a "permit" just to "practice" and when your time was up, there was also the next group waiting. Today, those same fields for the most part, are just growing weeds. Benefit of being an Umpire as well allowed me to open the barrels and put out the game bases......Was great for my squads but really ticked-off the next set waiting to get on the field when we pulled them up and put them back......lolololol |
| June 29, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Remember When........... We were so very fortunate to have been involved with the Great Game of Slow-Pitch Softball in its hay-day and unfortunately, it is looking like we are also the "breed of extinction" with the Great Game of Slow-Pitch Softball as well! |
| June 28, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Remember When........... Saw this article in my old hometown newspaper, the Lansing State Journal and thought it would take everyone back to the good 'ol days. Although this article is directed to the decline of Slow-Pitch Softball in Lansing, MI and the overall Mid-Michigan region, I am sure it will relate to most everyone's remembrance of the days when "Slow-Pitch Softball" ruled and was "life living on the diamond" in his/her specific region and how it is today. Thanks for allowing this opportunity! Sparky --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Graham Couch, gcouch@lsj.com Lansing State Journal 9:23 p.m. EDT June 27, 2015 Article title: Recreational softball decline driven by kids, costs and a cultural shift Perhaps good parenting is behind the decline of slow-pitch softball. Or maybe it's overzealous parenting. Modern parenting, we'll call it. For better or worse, organized children's activities often take priority nowadays over adult recreation. This cultural shift — colliding with economic hardship and endless opportunities for entertainment — is eating at a sport that once dominated parks everywhere, every night, all summer long. "You don't see the kids watching dad anymore," Delta Township recreation director Marcus Kirkpatrick said. "Dad's lucky to even get there himself. He's usually taking the kids to different places." The "Me generation," as the baby boomers have been called, are no longer in their prime athletic years, as they were when softball flourished in the late 1980s. Then, the city of Lansing alone had 270 teams one year. It has about one-third as many teams now. "Those guys who used to play in three leagues during the summer and would just basically tell their families, 'Hey, I'm playing softball on Monday, Wednesday, Friday — Good luck, family,' are now only playing once a week, " DeWitt Area Recreation Authority executive director Chad Stevens said. "I think people are spending more time with their families, which is great, which we need to recognize." This is only a predicament if, like Stevens and Kirkpatrick, you make your living in parks and recreation. Or, if like many others, you derive pleasure from the camaraderie and competition of softball and the natural intoxication that comes from perfectly connecting with a pitch and rounding first base. Lansing, Delta Township and Meridian Township are among those that held steady this summer in terms of overall participation — but only as others again lost teams or, in the case of the coed leagues in DeWitt and St. Johns, didn't even have enough interest to have a season. This isn't just a Mid-Michigan issue. Or a Michigan issue. Nationally, slow-pitch softball is tailing off. The numbers in this state fall in line. Last year, 3,400 teams registered in leagues across Michigan, down 300 from two years earlier. Only 282 of them participated in American Softball Association (ASA) events or tournaments at varying levels, down about 50 percent from a decade ago, according to Michigan ASA President Troy Stowell. In District 11, which includes all of Ingham and Eaton Counties, the declines began in earnest during this country's economic collapse seven years ago. Mid-Michigan had been losing 10 to 12 teams per year early in the 2000s, Stowell said. That jumped to 30 to 40 teams annually after 2008. As sponsors cut back, so did players. As players tightened their belts, softball leagues felt the pinch. "A lot of teams started paying out of pocket for everything," said Stowell, who also directs Eaton Rapids parks and recreation. "You saw guys who were playing three, four nights a week only afford to play maybe one night a week. "When the economy took a hit, people's recreation for themselves took hit, too." Uneasiness in State and district numbers, however, don't always correspond with individual municipalities. The big blow can come anytime. "This year was my sharp decline," East Lansing athletics and aquatics coordinator Jim Jennings said. Jennings is down 18 teams from last year, falling from 66 to 48. DeWitt's coed league was nixed for this summer after only one team registered, seven fewer than two years ago. The men's league there has five teams, about half of what it's often been. St. John's first attempt at a coed division failed, and its two men's leagues have eight teams combined, down from 18 three years ago. Portland has 11 coed teams and eight men's teams — each league about half of what it was in 2009, when programmer Neil Brown began there. "It's been fairly steady last few years. Steady is not necessarily the most comfortable word, just because those numbers have been down," Brown said. "We've had a gradual decline, and we've kind of plateaued. There's some uncertainty and uncomfortableness every time we enter a new season, not knowing what you're going to end up with and even if you'll have enough for a league." The uneasiness is justified. Softball is big business to parks and recreation departments, big and small. Team and player fees usually add up to between $550 and $700 per team. An 18-team loss in East Lansing is at least $10,000. A league folding in DeWitt is painful. "Thanks for reminding me," Stevens said. "I've been keeping my eye on it for probably six years now and just almost waiting for that other shoe to fall off. And this year is the year that the shoe did fall unfortunately." "From a revenue standpoint, it's significant," said Kirkpatrick, whose Delta Township leagues bring in 75 to 80 teams annually. "Quite honestly, from an administration standpoint, to be up (teams) is huge, even though it's only a couple (teams). To be even is good, based on the market for softball." Twenty years ago, there were plenty of teams to fill every league and the coffers of every parks and rec department. Now, it's competitive. Field quality, rules, level of play, having scorekeepers, whether alcohol is allowed, how the cost is packaged — all are factors. And not every team wants the same thing. Delta surveyed its team managers last year and then took the findings to a staff retreat. "You have to know the climate," Kirkpatrick said. Delta and Meridian townships allow consumption of alcohol in their parks. East Lansing, Lansing and DeWitt are among those that don't. "It can be an attraction," Kirkpatrick said. No going back. Slow-pitch softball's trajectory doesn't appear to be reversing itself anytime soon, even if the decline in some places has leveled off. "As many people as you're losing on the older end, you just aren't replacing them with that 18- to 25-year old group as fast," Brown said. The growth opportunities in softball, despite the recent travails of DeWitt and St. Johns, appear to be in coed — where couples and families are more able to play together. In Meridian Township, for example, three of the four softball nights are reserved for coed leagues. Friday night is kickball instead — one of many newer sport offerings that have taken a bite out of softball. "Years ago, everybody played softball, that's just what you did," Lansing Parks and Recreation director Brett Kaschinske said. "It was the only option." The biggest hurdle, though, by most accounts, is kids — and the modern obsession with placing them in competitive organized sports, on travel teams and even making sure 5-year-olds are in uniform at tee-ball, when they'd rather be playing in the dirt. "I remember watching my dad play recreational sports," Kaschinke said. "That was just part of the culture. Well, there's been a little shift with that." "We've got to try to program more family activities," Stevens said. "And that's one thing we hear from our community is, 'You have all these sports, but what can my family do together?' And I think that's changed in parks and recreation over the past 20 years." |
| June 20, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: Rules of the game Discussion: ARC OF THE PITCHED BALL Garyheifner: I'll take that bet on the calling of a 12' arc. Pitched it, Umpired it, Managed it, etc. I am retired from the game but I will take you on that I could and I know some other Umpires that could call the 12' arc in their sleep. (by the way, am a former ASA & USSSA State & National Certified Umpire as well as the former Eaton Rapids Softball Assciation's UIC) If Senior Ball (all Associations) would ever take my suggestion and use today's technology by using something call "YouTube", they could get ALL UMPIRES on the same page for: 1. Correct Arc Heights, Limits and Calls 2. Correct Field Positioning 3. Correct Field Mechanics 4. Rule Interpretation 5. Dress Code 6. Correct Vocal Mechanics 7. Update availability on New Rules Have suggested this to Regional UICs and National UICs for going on 3-years and still no response. |
| June 11, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Smoky Mtn. Grimmie: And that is one of the 'big" problems with a vast majority of Umpires within the senior softball. To become a "quality" Umpire, you "never" to quote you Grimmie "have a chance to please everyone". You learn the "rules", "positioning" and "mechanics" and do the best job possible. Looking over your shoulder to see if you "pleased" anyone is absolute suicide as an umpire regardless what level of ball. |
| June 11, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Smoky Mtn. Back the truck up Grimmie........Although I am retired, I am a former A.S.A. State & National certified Umpire, a former U.S.S.S.A. State & National certified Umpire and former U.I.C. for 13-years for the Eaton Rapids Softball Association. Those statements made were from experience and not that of a player. |
| June 11, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: Smoky Mtn. Excellent viewpoint Grayhitter59. I have made the suggestion for the past 3-years to most of the SSUSA State & Regional U.I.C.s of using available technology such as “YouTube” to get “all” Umpires working Senior Ball onto the same page. To-date however, all you hear is their typical excuses and that is if you hear anything from them at all. When you go to some of these tourneys and see the umpire staff working, its almost like the TD or Tourney UIC pulled a Van up to a “retirement home” and grabbed anyone not using a “walker” or “cane” to work the weekend! |
| May 10, 2015 Sparky.1 | Topic: General and miscellaneous Discussion: USSSA STYLE PITCHING IN SENIOR SOFTBALL Well said JDub, well said! |
