ARE PARENTS TOO CRITICAL OF THEIR SONS’ BASKETBALL PERFORMANCE?

Are parents of student athletes to critical of their sons’ performance on the basketball court? I ask that question to myself sometimes when I walk into a gym and find myself hearing parents shouting instructions and coaching from the sideline.

During the summer period kids go play on the AAU circuit for different reasons. Athletes want to get the best out of the AAU season while trying to get better for the high school or in some cases it is a time for kids to get recognized by college coaches.

I do truly believe that parents play a HUGE role in a player’s life on and off the basketball court. The thing that seems to bother me while I attend games and cover different games are the parents that think that they have to scream and yell and try to coach their own kid while on the sideline.

I have no problem with parents cheering for their kid on their team but what I have a problem with is when parents take it too far.

MND1 SUMMER BASKETBALL CLASSIC THURSDAY NIGHT

The MND1 (Formerly Minnesota Pump N Run) Summer Classic took place in Bloomington, Minn on July 10. On the first night of action it was all younger teams, as 14u and 15u games were played at Bloomington Jefferson High School. This year’s tournament was held Bloomington Jefferson High School.

Teams from across the country converged on the Twin Cities metro area to play in a four day tournament. Teams in every division play in a round robin tournament and then be placed in brackets based on their win-loss record. Then based on how teams do throughout the tournament they keep advancing through their bracket. Teams play their way to a championship or if they lose they are placed on the other side of the bracket and play out the consolation round.

At Jefferson in a very warm gym across three courts teams squared off in the younger divisions.

15U MINNESOTA PHENOM VS MINNESOTA WARRIORS

In a 15u division game Minnesota Phenom went up against Minnesota Warriors. The Warriors started out hot as they built a 5-2 lead with fourteen minutes left in the first half.

The Warriors sped up and down the floor as they were able to make fast break baskets. Phenom was not able get back on defense.

It took a while for Phenom to get into a shooting rhythm. Phenom looked out of sync offensively early.

Warriors played both man-to-man and zone defense. The defensive pressure made it difficult for Phenom to hit mid-range jump shots.

Phenom couldn’t get their shots to fall throughout the game.

Warriors came away with the 70-36 victory over Phenom.

Overall it is a great way to see a lot of talent of ball players on every age level.

2014 MAJOR LEAGUE ALL STAR BASEBALL WEEKEND-FAN FEST AND CONCERT

With the All Star game comes a weekend of fun activities for fans to do. On Saturday, July 12, I went and checked out Fanfest and a concert.

I didn’t know what to think about the Fan Fest when I started thinking of the events around the All Star game.

The Minneapolis Convention Center was turned into a huge baseball museum of sorts. There were pictures explaining the history of the league.

Each part of the history of the game was broken down into different parts of the Convention Center.

They started with the Negro League and you could read history about that area of baseball.

They had a different section on the World Baseball Classic. They had old highlight videos of real game footage on that area of time.  

One of the most areas that got a lot of attention by the fans was the Baseball Hall Of Fame. They had artifacts from different players who are part of the Baseball Hall Of Fame.

If you are a gamer they had different baseball video games with contests that fans could play.

Local media stations along with national media outlets were on hand broadcasting from the Fan Fest.

Throughout the event former current and future players showed up throughout the day to sign autographs. There were also sessions where fans could have a question and answer sessions with different players. There were also many chances to take photos and autographs with players, both past, current and future.

There was also a large section for silent and live auctions going on. Articles that were available for the auction were old game-used uniforms, lineup cards, gloves, bats, balls, etc.

In the middle of the Convention Center a huge makeshift field was set up. There was always action going on, on the field. Weather it was a t-ball game or a clinic the big field was a big hit for fans.

If you were looking to buy any All Star official shirts and apparel there was lots of chances to do that as all the teams were represented.

Overall I really enjoyed my time at the Fan Fest. You do truly need to spend a lot of time to get

through everything and bring your billfold and be prepared to shell out a lot of money for that All Star apparel.

Saturday night there was also free huge concert at TCF Bank Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota. There were multiple ways fans could win free tickets to the show. The show featuring the Imagine Dragons with Atmosphere as the leadoff group.

I thought that the concert was very good and entertaining.

LEBRON JAMES IS HEADED BACK TO THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

NBA basketball player LeBron James is headed back to the Cleveland Cavaliers. According to multiple sources on June 11, James has decided to come back home as he decided to come back to Cleveland.

James played his first seven years in Cleveland and then he became a free agent after the 2009-2010 season. James made an announcement on during a TV special on ESPN that he would be signing with the Miami Heat.

As soon as he made that announcement that he would be going to Miami there was outrage by fans in Cleveland as fans got upset with James with his decision to move. Some fans were so distraught that they took to the streets to protest, burning James jerseys and starting fights in the streets.

While with Miami, James took them to the playoffs four years in a row. The Heat won back-to-back titles in 2012-2013. In the 2014 finals the San Antonio Spurs beat the Heat 4-1 in the best of 7 series.

2014 MINNESOTA FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION ALL STAR FOOTBALL GAME

Clemens Stadium on the campus of St. Johns University was the site the 2014 South vs. North All Star football game. High school coaches from across the state selected players to play in this annual game. The game was played under a light mist with the sun poking through the clouds.

South kicked off to the North. North got the ball on the 20 yard line as the kicked went out of the back of the end zone.

North kept the ball on the ground on the first possession. North quarterback Keaton Studsrud knew what plays that he wanted as he kept the ball for a five yard first down. Studsrud got injured on a play and left.

North kept the ball on the ground as they looked to rush the ball. North fumbled the ball and South came up with it on the North 35 yard line.

South kept the ball on the ground as Anthony Anderson came up with a 15 yard first down rush.

South attacked the defense as they were able to move the ball down the field. South moved the ball down the field slowly as they were able to pick up short runs. On fourth-and-goal they went for it and were not able to come up with a touchdown.

The North took over on their own one yard line. North quarterback Michael Herzog came in to the game after the Studsrud injury. The defense came up big as they were able to get to Herzog and take him down. On fourth-four to go they punted the ball.

South took over on the North 49 yard line.

South’s Luke Becker came up with a 14 yard reception. Isaiah Brower came up came up with a first down run. Jamiah Newell came up with a first down on a 17 yard run. On second down and eight yards to go Anderson came up with a touchdown.

The extra point was good by Reid Taubenheium was good.

With 3:41 left in the first quarter the score was South 7, North 0.

The North got the ball back on the 18 yard line after a short kick off. North continued to push the ball down the field picking up first downs. North was intercepted by South’s Sam Fenske and they took over on their 21 yard line.

After one quarter the score was South 7, North 0.

South’s Joey Lee found Luke Becker for a huge reception but there was an offensive penalty.

Anderson kept on coming with another first down. Trevor Nissen also came up with 30-yard first down reception.

South called a timeout with 8:58 left in the second quarter. The score was South 7, North 0.

South looked to get into the end zone as they found the end zone on a Nick Rooney one yard touchdown run. The extra point attempt was good.

With 8:49 left in the second quarter the score was South 14, North 0.

South kicked off after the touchdown. North was not able to move the ball. They had to punt the ball on fourth down and 10.

South’s Luke Becker came up with a 28 yard reception. South’s Jamiah Newell came up with a few good rushes that lead to first downs. Rooney came up with a 12 yard pass to Matt Christenson.

The extra point attempt was good.

With 5:26 left in the second quarter the score was South 21, North 0.

South kicked off after the touchdown.

North got the ball back after the touchdown. They weren’t able to move the ball so they punted the ball on fourth and long.

South looked once again to move the ball down the field any way that they could. Lee found Dalton Clouse for a first down. Rooney got the ball in his hands and he picked up short runs for first downs.

At halftime the score was South 21, North 0.

North kicked off to start the third quarter. South kept the ball on the ground as they kept the ball in the hands of Anderson. Anderson kept on coming up with big plays. South wasn’t able to get a first down so they punted on fourth-and 12.

North kept the ball on the ground as they looked to pick up yards in the run game. They were not able to come up with a first down so they turned it over on downs.

The South got the ball on their own 40 yard line. South continued to move the ball down the field on the run. Luke Becker came up with a 24 yard reception. South’s Anderson came up with another touchdown run on a three yard run. The extra point attempt was good.

With 4:38 left in the third quarter the score was South 27, North 0.

South kicked off to the North after the touchdown. North fumbled the ball and South took over on the

North’s nine yard line. Rooney found Matt Christenson for an eight yard touchdown reception.

The extra point attempt was good.

With 3:37 left in the third quarter the score was South 34, North 0.

South kicked off after the touchdown. North’s Carlton Djam caught a 16 yard pass from Michael Herzog for a touchdown. The extra point attempt was not good.   

With 1:41 left in the third quarter the score was South 34, North 6.

That was the score after three quarters of play.

North’s Chad Johnson caught a 39 yard pass for a touchdown. The two point conversion was good.

With 11:01 left in the fourth quarter the score was South 34, North 14.

South got the ball back after the touchdown.  

South continued to pound the ball down the field as they looked to get the ball into the end zone.

South fumbled the ball and North took over on their 10 yard line.

North looked to the air Fourth quarter. North’s Chad Johnson caught a 39 yard pass from Herzog for a touchdown with 11:01 left in the fourth quarter. The extra point attempt was good.

Possessions switched back and forth throughout the fourth quarter. With 2:50 left to go in regulation.

South’s Reid Taubenheim nailed a 52 yard field goal which was an All Star game record.

The score with 2:50 in regulation was South 37, North 14.

North wasn’t done as they marched down the field as Herzog found Noah MacPherson for a 38 yard touchdown reception. The two point conversion was good with 53 seconds left in regulation.

That made the score South 37, North 22. That would be the final.

With the South beating the North 37-22 the All-Time North vs. South Series: South leads overall series 11-9-1.