Monday Morning Quarterback (Night Edition)

Monday Morning Quarterback

• One who criticizes or passes judgment from a position of hindsight

Before we get into our own sports at St. Mary's this weekend, I need to talk briefly about the Raiders and 49ers. Both teams should be (2-0) but instead, both are (1-1). I won't go too much into detail because most of you out there in the St. Mary's Athletics universe, not WWE universe, don't know football very well.

But plain and simple, they failed to finish the game. You've heard it many times -- closing out games. Both had leads in the last few minutes of the game and failed to finish. You have to finish what you started or else you will be stuck answering questions the entire week on what could have been.

Now...

We'll start with the volleyball teams here at St. Mary's, who have both started the season (1-0), the first time that has happened in the modern St. Mary's Athletics era.

The formula for their wins were pretty simple, and that was not to make as many mistakes as the other team. For now, that's what the girls need to shoot for, because these are both new teams, playing with new girls. Bump, set, spike and hitting can all come later. For now, get the basics down, serving the ball over, and returning as many balls as you can.

Both teams executed this game plan and both had got victories.

Room for improvement, of course.

The girls lack volleyball swag. Yes, I said swag. Swag is a type of confidence and usually means you're kind of arrogant and cocky. But you can have swag, and have it come across as believing that you are good at something as opposed to being a show off.

Simple things like huddling together as a team after a point, running -- actually running and not walking -- when you are subbing in and out, being loud in the huddle off of a cheer. Things like that give you the volleyball look. And when you have the look, you feel like a volleyball player.

The first two games for the girls was nothing more than girls playing volleyball. They did not feel like they were volleyball players.

Awareness is also something both teams need. Knowing when they have won a set or won a match. Knowing the game. See this video to illustrate my point..



But nonetheless, the girls are doing great so far. However, please don't forget it's only one game, and as unfair as it is, you are always judged by your latest performance.

Now onto soccer, and the 5th/6th grade team.

My oh my, what a difference a year makes. I don't even remember the score from last year when the current 6th grade boys were playing, but it had to have been at least 6-0. The boys on the team were on a team that didn't register a goal until the final game of the season in the second half.

And in game number two, they have already tied and really should've and could've won the game.

The top stars on my list right now are Ryan Kwong and Jason Zhou, who have both been strong on the defense. Don't let anybody tell you being a defender means you aren't good, because without their contributions on Saturday, the team wouldn't have scored a goal, and they definitely would've given up more.

Ryan has been playing for four years and each year he has made small improvements. He stuck with it and not only does he look quicker, but stronger as well. The balls he used to whiff on, he is now connecting. He sent many balls forward to the midfielders and forwards in Saturday's effort.

Jason, in his second year, is quite small, but as tough as they come. He isn't afraid to challenge others who are bigger than him, and is fearless. You need to have that edge in order to compete in soccer. Size helps, but it isn't everything and Jason is proving just that.

It also helps that there are two player from NDV who have played soccer before, and also, the boys are now playing against players their own age as opposed to a year above.

Joseph was a beast on Saturday, scoring his first career goal, and seemingly everywhere on the field. He also played fearless and the results showed.

And finally I conclude with the not so good news about the 7th/8th grade team's forfeit.

The bottom line is I am disappointed in the numbers that we have from our 7th and 8th graders at St. Mary's. It's a shame because this could be and in my belief, will be the best soccer team we've fielded in four years. But it's not going to happen if we can't show up for a game.

I will not blame this on the players from DeMarillac because after all, this is St. Mary's Athletics and not DeMarillac Athletics. They are our friends who have contributed to the program immensely in a year's time, but by no means should they be leaned on to carry our program.

Out of the 11 players, more than half aren't even from St. Mary's.

And like I said the other day, we only need 2 players out of the 11 boys in 7th and 8th grade to join the team, and we wouldn't have forfeited.

But we can't even get that.

Sadly, times have changed, and the four classes that graduated since I have been here are a distant memory.

Each of those classes from the class of John Wang to Timmy and friends last year played every sport  offered. And it wasn't even just a handful, it was pretty much the entire class.

But those days are gone.

I am thankful for the Isabelle's (Isabella), Cynthias, Daniels, Hunters, Brendans, Brandon K.'s, Sabrinas, Belins and Hartmans of the class.

And yes folks, that's all from St. Mary's that have decided to play this fall.

So whether it's parents who think playing sports will cause their grades to drop, or just students not willing to give it a shot or to continue to keep fighting, it's upsetting.

It is what it is and there's nothing I can do but to keep pushing for them to change their minds. If not, then we'll be faced with this problem for years to come.

For those who are playing, I truly mean it, when I say, thanks for participating.

See ya pals.