ESPN's Jon Miller has been my favorite baseball announcer for years, dating back to his time as the voice of the Baltimore Orioles before joining ESPN.

Miller is also calling the World Series on ESPN Radio, and he's reason enough for me to listen to the games. Miller is one of the rare announcers who makes the game come to life, and he sets the scene so well that it almost feels as though you are there.

Baseball, with its slow pace and plenty of time between pitches, is a sport that lends itself very well to radio, and for my money, no one is more fun to listen to than Miller.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

When playing sports with my kids, I find myself often trying to teach them the fundamentals so that they can improve their skill level. I've learned over time that they are not always receptive to this, and that I need to pick my spots, and be careful not to dwell on a particular point.

I've also recently learned another way to make my kids more willing to listen to and try my advice -- by having them teach me to do something.

My son is very into a two-wheeled skateboard called a RipStik. He mastered it right away, and can make it do pretty much whatever he wants. I, however, have not had much success with it at all. I decided I needed my son's help and advice, and he was very willing to teach me. He's been surprisingly patient, and has done a good job of teaching me the basics. I'm still no master, but I've gotten a lot better, thanks to him.

I've mentioned to him how helpful his teaching has been to me, and made the larger point that knowing how to do something right can improve your skill level and enjoyment as well. Since our RipStik lessons he's been more receptive to my teaching, and I'm looking for more situations for him to teach me to do something. 

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 08:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As a parent of two children interested in sports, so much of what we sports parents do is centered around our children and their activities. This is as it should be, but it's also important to attend to your sporting interests.

Most Wednesdays during the school year I play basketball with a group of similarly aged men, which is one of the high points of my week. I have always loved playing basketball, and have played on and off since middle school.

Wednesday night hoops is about me. It's very competitive, and a chance for me to test my skills against others. I often head home thinking about what I can work on to improve my game, and I'm just glad to have the opportunity to play on a regular basis.

I think it makes me a better sports parent, but more importantly, it fills my need for competition, and to be a part of a team.  I can't wait for next Wednesday.

Posted by Chris Lindsley at 09:25 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)