John R. Cain

Retired band director; sports lover; proud father and husband

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

This week’s rankings are out, and your jags are checking in!

#EEA

[John R. Cain @JohnRCain24]

It’s Gameday in Tallahassee!! #RollJags

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

2 WEEKS AWAY!! Scan the QR Code to secure your spot in our golf tournament! Our program appreciates your support!! #EEA

[John R. Cain @JohnRCain24]

Congrats Kate Thom!!! @nhs_jaguars @TCSBoardofEd

[Alabama High School Athletic Association @AHSAAnow]

The 2025 Tennis All-Star match MVPs

Girls
North: Katie Thom (@NHSJagAthletics)
South: Naomi Hanks (@ACSAthleticDept)

Boys
North: Andrew Pipkin (@VestaviaHillsHS)
South: Jackson Brown (@MAEagles)

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

The Jaguar Thanksgiving Jam is looking for 1 team to complete an 8 team bracket play. The tournament will be held at Northridge High School November 24-26. 3 games guaranteed. There will be a JV bracket as well.
[email protected]

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

Members of the staff had a great weekend in Nashville for the annual NABC clinic. Finished the weekend off by hearing from Coach Sampson! #EEA

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

Really proud of the defensive efforts our squad displayed all year long. This is a really cool accomplishment that reflects their commitment to the defensive side of the ball. They are only going to get better!! 🔒 #EEA #DefenseWINS

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

So proud of this group of girls! Resiliency & determination got them to this point! 💙 We love these kids!! #EEA

[John R. Cain @JohnRCain24]

This is the most resilient group that I have ever been around!

[Anna Snyder @annaesnydr]

Even with 3 starters out, Northridge girls basketball aiming for area crown

⁦@nhsladyjagsbb⁩

https://t.co/lMw3Nq0CSI

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

Area play resumes tomorrow night at Northridge! We can’t wait to see you there!! #EEA

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

FUN FACT: In Fridays area win, SO PG Taylor Ivory logged 13 steals. This stat is a program record for NHS Girls Basketball & landed Taylor in the Top 10 all time in the state of AL for most steals in a single game.

[Greg Byrne @Greg_Byrne]

Here's a good look at the numbers/rankings for @AlabamaFTBL. Recognize there’s lots of chatter out there about 2 vs. 3 loss teams, however that is just one factor. When you look at the @CFBPlayoff Principles for its Selection Committee, the first bullet point on the list of considerations is strength of schedule. Not all schedules and conferences are created equal.

We’ve worked diligently to add more challenging non-conference home-and-homes, which is good for college football, not to mention the week-in and week-out of the SEC and it being the toughest in the country.

#RollTide 🏈

[Roger Federer @rogerfederer]

Vamos, @RafaelNadal!

As you get ready to graduate from tennis, I’ve got a few things to share before I maybe get emotional.

Let’s start with the obvious: you beat me—a lot. More than I managed to beat you. You challenged me in ways no one else could. On clay, it felt like I was stepping into your backyard, and you made me work harder than I ever thought I could just to hold my ground. You made me reimagine my game—even going so far as to change the size of my racquet head, hoping for any edge.

I’m not a very superstitious person, but you took it to the next level. Your whole process. All those rituals. Assembling your water bottles like toy soldiers in formation, fixing your hair, adjusting your underwear... All of it with the highest intensity. Secretly, I kind of loved the whole thing. Because it was so unique—it was so you.

And you know what, Rafa, you made me enjoy the game even more. 

OK, maybe not at first. After the 2004 Australian Open, I achieved the #1 ranking for the first time. I thought I was on top of the world. And I was—until two months later, when you walked on the court in Miami in your red sleeveless shirt, showing off those biceps, and you beat me convincingly. All that buzz I’d been hearing about you—about this amazing young player from Mallorca, a generational talent, probably going to win a major someday—it wasn’t just hype.

We were both at the start of our journey and it’s one we ended up taking together. Twenty years later, Rafa, I have to say: What an incredible run you’ve had. Including 14 French Opens—historic! You made Spain proud... you made the whole tennis world proud.

I keep thinking about the memories we’ve shared. Promoting the sport together. Playing that match on half-grass, half-clay. Breaking the all-time attendance record by playing in front of more than 50,000 fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Always cracking each other up. Wearing each other out on the court and then, sometimes, almost literally having to hold each other up during trophy ceremonies.

I’m still grateful you invited me to Mallorca to help launch the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016. Actually, I kind of invited myself. I knew you were too polite to insist on me being there, but I didn’t want to miss it. You have always been a role model for kids around the world, and Mirka and I are so glad that our children have all trained at your academies. They had a blast and learned so much—like thousands of other young players. Although I always worried my kids would come home playing tennis as lefties.

And then there was London—the Laver Cup in 2022. My final match. It meant everything to me that you were there by my side—not as my rival but as my doubles partner. Sharing the court with you that night, and sharing those tears, will forever be one of the most special moments of my career.

Rafa, I know you’re focused on the last stretch of your epic career. We will talk when it’s done. For now, I just want to congratulate your family and team, who all played a massive role in your success. And I want you to know that your old friend is always cheering for you, and will be cheering just as loud for everything you do next.

Rafa that!

Best always, your fan, 

Roger

[The Winning Difference @thewinningdiff1]

As adults, we need to stop 'stealing the struggle' from our kids.

When we 'steal the struggle', we steal their opportunity for growth & learning.

We need to prepare them for the path (teach resilience, reflection, and self-respect), but we can't prepare the path for them.

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

Each day has its own opportunity. Each day has its own lesson. Regardless, every day is a BLESSING. It’s all apart of the journey! Let’s embrace it, and go to work! #EEA #SmallWins

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

It’s here! #EEA

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

Get ready for Northridge Athletics with some of the latest gear from Nike! Scan the QR code to submit your order today!! Orders will run until Friday, October 18th! GO JAGS!!

[Northridge Girls Basketball @nhsladyjagsbb]

Mark your calendars! 1 week from today!! TUSCNY will be hosting a spirit night to support our program! Please stop by anytime between 11:00AM-8:00PM on Tuesday, October 1 and grab some awesome food! A percentage of all proceeds from that day will go back to benefit our program!

[John R. Cain @JohnRCain24]

Looking forward to another great year!!!

[Northridge Tennis @nhsjagtennis]

It’s that time again already @nhs_jaguars @NHSJagAthletics @DrJWilliams1 @jagsyearbook