The Best Facebook Posters

Posting on Facebook is an art not a science. I have to admit that I am more of a lurker than a poster. But when I do post, I measure the success or failure of that post by it's response. If it gets no response..."crash and burn."

The blog-o-sphere is full of advice of what not to post and how not to post on FB. Too bad most posters don't read this or ignore this advice.

For the last two months I have monitored the posters on my page and I want to acknowledge three. Three people that don't seem to copy post from some comedic web site. Three people that always elicit great comments and feedback. The comments are often better than the posts. And all three get comments from their spouses. Impressive! My wife has blocked me on Facebook and doesn't read my blog. These three typically post great photos, make me laugh, make me think and still manage to let me be involved in their lives.

First is Lori Swan from Nashville, TN. Lori is a YMCA friend that even though she looks much younger than me, she actually led a training that I attended early in my career. Obviously the water is much better in Nashville! She is much better preserved. Here is an example of a post by Lori. "I want TSA to put up a sign that the Amish are not allowed in the expert travel lane. I love the Amish, but they can't be in that big of a hurry or they would lose the buggies. Move it grandpa!"


Second is Randy Rains from Atlanta, GA. Randy was a high school friend. Even though he moved away from Mauldin close to 30 years ago, we kept up with each other through college and as we both started families. All of this is prior to Internet, email and social media. Thank God for the annual Christmas card! Here is an example of a post by Randy. "Holy Crap.... Festivus is only 6 days away.... I better shine my pole and work on my feats of strength...."


And finally is Steve D'Avria. Another Y peer and a Notre Dame grad. Steve hooked me up with tickets in South Bend a few years ago so he has a head start on most people! He is also a blogger who has a much bigger following than the 8 people who read mine. Here is an example of a post by Steve. "is still getting delicious meals from friends and neighbors. I'm tempted to have another baby just for the free food."

Lets all make our 2011 New Year's resolution to acknowledge the best posters and to be more like them. Now I have to go feed the dogs and go night-night.

People I will Miss

Leslie Nielsen – His Airplane lines have become part of my basic language. I probably say, “Stop calling me Shirley” at least once a month.


Tom Bosley – The show Happy Days has to be one of the top 5 most impactful shows in my life. Mr. C was the quintessential father, always offering Joanie and Ritchie such great advice.

Barbara Billingsley – Just once in my life I want to come home and have my wife cleaning and cooking in a dress, high heels and pearls!

Dennis Hopper – Best remembered by most for his early works, but I loved him in Hoosiers. “Hey Boys, don’t get caught watching the paint dry!”

JD Salinger – Catcher in the Rye may be the only book that I ever really read in high school.

Teddy Pendergrass – While my class mates had rock and roll blasting in their cars, I had “Love TKO” in my cassette deck

John Wooden – Any man that writes his deceased wife a love letter every month on their anniversary is a saint.

I also miss Lane, Puckett, Franklin, Jim, Gina and Stacey. I think of you all often.

BAD COACHES

Working for the YMCA, I have been so blessed to witness some awesome youth sports coaches. I have been fortunate that I have only had to deal with a handful of idiots in my 25 year career.

Recently, the media has addressed coaching behavior in college football by Nebraska's Bo Pellini and also Arizona's Mike Stoops. And recently, coaching behavior has invaded the life of my own kids.

It is inevitable with every game being scrutinized by a half dozen cameras and unlimited media outlets. I am sure it won't be long into this college basketball season when the cameras catch some coach grabbing a players uniform or accidentally slobbering on some teenager as they scream unlimited profanities.

My opinion on this issue makes me feel like Canada because I am on the fence. I grew up with several face mask grabbers and shirt pullers. I can't remember being cussed, but I have been yelled at unmercifully. Coach Hopkins at Mauldin High School called me a terd maybe 6,000 times! I still liked that bald headed jerk and I don't need therapy. (My wife may debate that statement) I kind of like it when my kid's coaches "get up in the grill" ( the new term I am learning) because they don't get much of that at home. Darrell and Sandra Corder definitely knew how to get up in my grill and I was called much worse than terd.

I like to use the old joke that I thought I was a Cherokee Indian for many years and that my name was Little Bastard.

One friend told me yesterday that he didn't care if a coach yelled at his son, but don't dare yell at his daughter. Why do most parents feel that way? I am not sure but they do! When I coached the women's team at Wingate, the head coach very seldom "grilled" the team, but look at Pat Summit, she is ruthless. No coach is more ruthless than Coach K. (We like to call him Coach F) But most of his players revere him.

I think the key with Coach K, Pat Summit and my parents, is that at no time during the verbal barrage do the players feel like they are not loved. These coaches have earned respect and have a strong enough relationship that they can withstand a "GRILLING." These coaches also know and understand what buttons to push and when to push them.

The problem becomes when we encounter coaches at the YMCA, the rec league or in our school systems who are not professional coaches. They don't know how to create realtionships and don't know the psyche of the 10 year old boy or 17 year old teenage girl. They look at the unlimited images of these legendary coaches "ripping new ones" on their players and they think, I can do that.

Again I am on the fence. If they can motivate my kids to hold a block, hit the cut off man, make a layup and more importantly clean their room and pick up their dirty clothes than let it roll baby, let it roll!

Watch this clip of top coaching melt downs.