Jim Johnson

over the hill sports dad

[Jacob Turner @TheJacobTurner]

A PARENT’S JOURNEY THROUGH YOUTH SPORTS:

Age 5: “He’s got a cannon.”
Age 6: “He’s the fastest kid out there. Coach said so.”
Age 7: “Rec ball isn’t challenging him anymore.”
Age 8: “We tried out for select. Obviously made it.”
Age 9: “$2,800 for the season. Plus uniforms. Plus tournaments. Plus hotels.”
Age 10: “Cooperstown is basically a family vacation, right?”
Age 11: “He needs a hitting guy. And a pitching guy. And probably a mental performance coach.”
Age 12: “I’m not a crazy sports parent. The OTHER parents are crazy.”
Age 13: “We changed schools. For academics. (And also baseball.)”
Age 14: “Showcases are a requirement at this age.”
Age 15: “Ya his ranking just ticked up. We’re cooking.”
Age 16: “He just needs to get seen by the right school.”
Age 17: “The D1 schools want him to walk on. He’ll earn a spot by sophomore year.”
Age 18: “Okay, D2 is actually really competitive.”
Age 19: “He’s redshirting. Strategic.”
Age 20: “He’s focusing on school now.”
Age 21: “You know what? He’s so much happier.”

Roughly 7% of high schoolers play in college.

About 1.5% of those get drafted.

Less than half of draftees ever play one day in the big leagues.

The odds of our kids going pro are somewhere between “struck by lightning” and “find a $100 in old shorts.”

I love youth sports (all my kids play a bunch of them) just keep a good perspective my friends. ✌️

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@real_bechambers HBD Danny! i have a Dan too!!

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@DWilliams0901 @wrldoftatum thought the same thing. cant believe no one mentioned it

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@CoachChristianL great tribute coach. but whats his name?

[Christoper Moltisanti @MetsJetsFanatic]

Giving away this Juan Soto Baseball I got signed at spring training! Just follow me and RT this tweet! Will give it away when I hit 100 followers!

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@AntarcticPasta @DavidRau101 @SeizeTheNae I disagree gents. Breen is an HoFer, calls a tremendous game and has a great personality. Ian Eagle has great potential to be on this someday soon. Another great listen

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@thesteelersnat @DavidWorlock he was outstanding. Best interview ive ever seen from a committee chair. Gave plenty of info and reasoning

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@jtalexander @TM0s41 Bishop Checcio was our bishop in NJ. He is great. Very visible and engaging at all parishes. I don't know where this tag comes from

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@wonderwhy60 @TriciaWhitaker It's not scalpers. It's the ticketholders. Regular fans are selling their tickets to fans who want to pay the price. The demand is crazy, while the supply is limited

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@mattlindner this just got you a follow. Probably many!

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@stanb93 and......Louisville loses by 1

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@nut_history Shea Stadium and Steinbrenner Field

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@MishiDawg @TheUASignGirl I remember WashSt mailing out real leaves to voters when Ryan Leaf was competing for Heisman. It happens all the time. And as many of those who commented on this point out, Pavia has been a remarkable leader of a lifeless program. He deserves the attention IMO

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@DoctorOsty @HowieRose agree with this take. I've been in all but 4 or 5 NFL stadiums, and MetLife doesn't measure up that well. It's not a dump. Just mediocre

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@TexasScott1972 @tarafaul503 Tara and @kevinvdahlgren are phenominal follows on X. I live in NJ but greatly appreciate how they cover the sad streets of Portland

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@tiff706 @BishopBarron good luck on your journey

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

@Rjb5150 @Sean_Martin77 @chrisvitali And i was in the house the night they announced he was banned from baseball. The crowd gave a standing ovation to the news

[Jim Johnson @fordhamrams1985]

This is how you go to your Senior Prom!
The Hunterdon Central softball team won the state championship on Friday, then rushed over to a heroes welcome in full uniform at the prom! @HCRHSAthletics

[Father V @father_rmv]

Father Francis L. Sampson, born on February 29, 1912, in Cherokee, Iowa, was a Roman Catholic priest and U.S. Army chaplain whose courage and dedication earned him the nickname “Paratrooper Padre.” A graduate of the University of Notre Dame (1936) and Saint Paul Seminary, he was ordained in 1941 for the Diocese of Des Moines. After briefly serving as a parish priest and teacher, Sampson joined the Army in 1942, volunteering for the elite 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division.

Sampson’s heroism shone during World War II, particularly on D-Day, June 6, 1944, when he parachuted into Normandy. Landing in the Douve River, he repeatedly dove to retrieve his Mass kit, essential for ministering to soldiers. At a makeshift aid station, he tended to the wounded under heavy fire, staying behind with those too injured to move when German forces overran the position. Captured and nearly executed, he was spared by a Catholic German noncommissioned officer. His actions earned a Distinguished Service Cross, though General Dwight D. Eisenhower recommended him for the Medal of Honor, which was denied due to his non-combatant status.

Sampson’s bravery continued in Operation Market-Garden in Holland and the Battle of the Bulge, where he was captured again and endured six months in a German POW camp, ministering to fellow prisoners. His role in rescuing Sergeant Frederick Niland, whose brothers were killed, inspired the film Saving Private Ryan. After World War II, Sampson served in Korea, parachuting again in 1950, and later in Vietnam, making annual Christmas visits to troops. Promoted to major general, he served as the U.S. Army Chief of Chaplains from 1967 to 1971, retiring after 29 years of service.

Sampson died of cancer on January 28, 1996, at age 83, and was buried in Luverne, Minnesota, with his tombstone inscribed, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” His legacy as a selfless chaplain who risked his life to serve soldiers endures through his memoir, Look Out Below!, and the countless lives he touched with his faith and courage.

Photo: POW Fr. Sampson, Stalag 11, 1945.