It’s no secret that “Gee” has been dilly-dallying around with this blog for the last couple of years. Gee caught fire in the months leading up to The Verdugo Reunion Bash, posting over 130 stories. But then it all came to a screeching halt. I’ve been putting in a few posts here and there, but I’ve really been unable to get any momentum going since “The Bash.”
I asked myself “why” and really couldn’t come up with any reasons. I had plenty of excuses, but no real reasons. Until I got to thinking the other day.
I don’t know if I’ve ever explained this to everyone, but I’ll try to do it now.
I have told many people through the years that “I don’t miss coaching one iota.” That has pretty much been my stock answer when I’m asked why I no longer do it. That statement really isn’t the truth….
I have to admit I was pretty devastated when Verdugo disbanded. All that we had accomplished in such a short time was incredible. By our third season we broke through, and by our fourth (and final season) it was “More of the same.” We had pretty much established ourselves as “The Most Feared Team in 20th District Play.” I was very proud of what we had accomplished, and looked forward to what we might do in the future.
Things were changing though at Crescenta Valley High. The coaching staff there was starting to realize that the kids there looked forward to playing in the summer for Verdugo as much if not more than playing for The High School. I could see the writing on the wall. And I could hear it, too. Alot of things were said by members of the Coaching Staff at that High School and were making their way back to me. It wasn’t pretty.
And in a lot of cases, I didn’t think it was right. But it was what it was….
So I wasn’t sure how long we were really going to even be able to pull players from CV. I figured at some point, the Coaches up there would pull the plug on Verdugo, and communicate to their players that they were not going to be playing for us in the summer anymore.
Initially, when we started Verdugo, I had the blessings of the High School. I was even hired to coach there after out first season with Verdugo. And I was even asked to return and politely declined. I found it was interesting how the blessings we originally had turned into curses as we climbed the ladder in 20th District play and started to totally DOMINATE.
But I figured we might get another couple of seasons after the ’93 Season…..Maybe.
We had built quite a monster at this point. Players were getting a lot of ink and guys were being projected as very high draft picks. Hell, in’94….Haggs, Vo, And Garret Lee all got drafted. If we had played the ’94 season, I don’t know if Garrett or Haggs would have even been able to join us. I know those two wanted to be there for us if they could, and Vo had already quit. So I pulled the plug in ’94.
It was a gut-wrenching thing for me. I was devastated. I have to admit it. It really did hurt to let this thing go. I had been coaching for 10 consecutive summers at this point in my life. What is even more interesting is how THAT came about. I will share that with all of you in the final post on this blog.
Verdugo was so very important to me, and it went away.
Do you see what I’m getting at here? This is what I’ve been thinking about recently….
You see, it is going to be hard for me to finish this Blog. But I promise I will.
If I finish this Blog, I’m going to have to go through all the agony of losing Verdugo again. Losing the Team we built that we loved. I’m going to have to relive that pain as I write about it all. And Honestly, I’m not looking forward to going through that again.
That’s the “reason” gentlemen. That’s been the “Hold-Up” with this Blog. I figured this out just in the last couple of weeks….
I’ve also figured out something else recently. Everything in this world we lose is always REPLACED by something. Something will be provided to fill the void. We may not see it at first, but it IS there. You’ll see what I’m talking about on the final post in this Blog and you all will see the role that each and every one of you has played in my life.
So as I go through the final chapters of Verdugo here at this Blog….please just hang with me.
I’m glad I pieced all of this together. I feel better. We’ll get it done….
verdugo288 