Brock Burgess

London Minor Football, MTS high school OC, U14 LJM head coach
I drink and I know things.

[New York Magazine @NYMag]

‘Travel sports,’ a term that has come to encompass all sorts of private teams, leagues, and clubs, used to be for the truly exceptional young athlete. Now, they’re for anyone willing to pay — an expensive, exhausting commitment that has become popular not necessarily because millions of parents want them for their children but because it can feel like there’s no other choice. Rec programs are underfunded and struggle to compete with for-profit leagues for prime field, rink, and court times. And the level of play is diluted, often very early, as travel teams are incentivized to enroll children at young ages.

Around 5 million children in the U.S. now compete on travel teams. Parents find themselves trapped. They know the benefits of sports and want that for their children, yet giving it to them often means buying into a sports ecosystem that’s inherently flawed. As the pay-to-play model increasingly takes hold, so does the idea that kids should start competing at younger and younger ages, risking their sense of self along with their shoulders and ACLs.

“I never want my kids to look back and say I didn’t do everything I could to help them live their dreams,” a mother of three soccer players said. She’s hired professional photographers to take action shots for her 12- and 13-year-olds’ Instagram accounts — the platform has become a recruiting tool — and they’ve both asked her to pay for personal trainers.

“I think the word isn’t ‘specialize’; you are ‘professionalizing’ your kid early. You are exposing them to everything professionals have to deal with — I’m talking injury, time, schedule, everything,” said John Van Benschoten, a former MLB player and travel-baseball coach.

It makes one ask: All this for what? And for whom? Read Caitlin Moscatello’s cover story on how travel leagues have made youth sports more expensive, hypercompetitive, and all-consuming — and the investors who are making a killing: https://t.co/zHcKsPYfeC

[Coach Vint @coachvint]

If you need a good laugh! This is what I loved about Cheers. The impeccable timing. Watch to the end. You’re welcome.

[Coach Dan Casey @CoachDanCasey]

An Offensive Coordinator’s Punt Return Philosophy:

- I want the ball
- Don’t rough the Punter
- Don’t muff the Punt
- when in doubt… don’t even touch the ball
- I want the ball

[Benjamin Solak @BenjaminSolak]

Man, those two timeouts the Packers spent in the last four minutes sure do feel important now!!!!!1

[Geoff Schwartz @geoffschwartz]

I once again will mention that college football halftime is too long

[Isiah Whitlock Jr. @IsiahWhitlockJr]

S
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[Simon Clancy @SiClancy]

I wrote this about @EHeidenreich44 of @NavyFB & his dad @HeidenreichLive. It’s a story about fathers & sons; about how you’d do anything for those you love; mortality; what happens when someone dies; and the biggest moments in life. Please give it a read

https://t.co/8NXvWgMBJ3

[Albert Breer @AlbertBreer]

This is some column ...

https://t.co/DKEmIGl6OT

[Herb Zurkowsky @HerbZurkowsky1]

I hope everyone who criticizes the CFL - and there are scores - is watching MNF

[Stan Bedwell @stanbedwell]

"6" is the most versatile concept in the Air Raid Offense! We have built-in route conversions off man/zone turns on the outside & safety rotation on the inside. In addition, our QB can signal a multitude of individual routes to attack leverage or counter a blitz. Endless options!

[Alain Poupart @PoupartNFL]

(A lot of) Dolphins fans get their wish: Chris Grier out as GM.

[TSN @TSN_Sports]

OH. MY. GOODNESS. WHAT AN INCREDIBLE CATCH BY ROBERT CARTER JR. FOR THE INTERCEPTION 🤯🔥

#CFL

[Jason Cole @JasonCole62]

Just an educated guess, but I’d bet a decent amount of money the interviews NFL people did with Shedeur Sanders’ TEAMMATES were really negative. Forget the interviews with the coaches. You don’t fall this much as a talented QB unless you’re a complete a-hole to your teammates

[Always College Football @AlwaysCFB]

Weekly Ashton Jeanty highlight 💨

[Sickos Committee @SickosCommittee]

Team total rushing yards vs. passing yards through Week 10.

Below the line - more rushing yards
Above the line - more passing yards

[Pace N Space @PaceNSpace2]

Reminder that Candy Corn is an Abomination