Posted February 22, 200817 yr I haven't started a poll in a while....... :wink: Did you participate in a varsity sports in High School or College? If so what sport(s)? The thread about basketball leagues and my cousins' reliving their high school and college sports careers via their sons/daughters made me wonder if there are any former athletes here on UrbanOhio. Being a part of a large family (I have 31 first cousins) and all the kids, but me, were involved in sports in High School and most in College. I did get up enough nerve to play Volleyball my junior & senior year in college. It felt comfortable as all the tall dorks who didn’t play basketball played Volleyball. Back in high school, I would cringe anytime Shaker played Heights or JFK as my cousins are ultra competitive. The Shaker – Heights rivalry is on par with Michigan – Ohio St. or Browns – Steelers. On a day that we had a scheduled game against a school that relatives attended, would start off with taunting phone calls from a cousin which would lead to my brother and cousins’ at Shaker would talk "smack". Usually Shaker ended up losing. :roll: On occasion the smack got so bad, my grand parents – both sets – were often asked to "take sides" whenever two schools with kids had to compete against one another. My grandparents would often split up so that somebody was on each side….it was such a mess. :wtf: Fast forward to 2008. Now that my nephew and cousins’ sons and daughters are entering High School the sports rivalries have restarted. Several of my cousins’ kids are first year participants in the Ginn track machine, a couple are at Heights (apparently Heights and Glenville are the teams to beat in the state of Ohio for the Track championship) and one at Brush. The Brush, Glenville & Heights cousins have tried to convince my nephew to run track at Shaker, and the kids at Lincoln-West have tried to get him to play baseball, but since he's not an athlete my brother has nothing to talk about until my niece gets to high school. To make matters worse, my oldest nephew has been living with my parents the last 5 weeks while his room is being remodeled and my dad keeps pressuring him to pick a sport. My nephew made up some excuse like the uniforms are corny and my dad said to him, “Here we go again, you’re just like your uncle (me), to damn good to play a school sport ‘cause the uniform is made of a poly-blend material and don’t have a designer label.” So what’s your story?
February 22, 200817 yr I played baseball at Roger Bacon. We were terrible, but I mean, it's baseball, so I loved every minute of it. I wore 14 in honor of the Hit King. I played 3rd, Pitched and some 2nd. Also, I was able to see our Spartans beat Lebron James for the state title...
February 22, 200817 yr got to start somewhere... True, at least you were High School. As I said earlier I didn't get the balls to play a sport until my Junior year of college.
February 23, 200817 yr Sports? Me? Girfriend, you want I should break a nail? :-o I was always sports-challenged, with terrible eye-hand coordination, and my ineptitude was a source of constant humiliation because I attended a country grade school where participation was mandatory, and then a small-town high school where any boy who wasn't an athlete didn't exist. The only thing I was ever moderately successful at was fights, and that was mostly the element of suprise because nobody expected a skinny little nerd to actually throw a punch, or that it would hurt so bad. That was something my dad taught me early on because I was a bully magnet and was always getting pushed around. He discontinued the lessons the night I gave him a bloody nose. The last time I ever mixed it up in high school was my sophomore year with a guy who wouldn't quit getting in my face. Finally one afternoon between classes I'd had enough and I went for it. I had him by the throat with my left hand, bent backward over a desk and was about to administer the coup de grace with my right when a teacher intervened. Eventually, the guy and I became close friends. :? I'm too old to do that sh!t now. That's why I've decided to adopt a sweet and innocent persona, and charm my way out of hostile situations.
February 23, 200817 yr Varsity tennis 3 years at good ole' SCD. Does SCD stand for Summit Country Day?
February 23, 200817 yr Sports? Me? Girfriend, you want I should break a nail? :-o Lord! Just a high-maintenance kinda gal, aren't you! :wink2: The last time I ever mixed it up in high school was my sophomore year with a guy who wouldn't quit getting in my face. Finally one afternoon between classes I'd had enough and I went for it. I had him by the throat with my left hand, bent backward over a desk and was about to administer the coup de grace with my right when a teacher intervened. Eventually, the guy and I became close friends. :? I'm too old to do that sh!t now. That's why I've decided to adopt a sweet and innocent persona, and charm my way out of hostile situations. I think you're a mercenary! A Jason Bourne-esq killing machine pretending to be a mild manner Midwesterner. Hey, there is a guy in Los Angeles, that I would like to have tortured and elim......... :shoot:. Think you can hook me up? I feel you Rob, the last time I almost got into a fight is when this POS called me the "F" then the "N" word . When will people learn that us tall guys also have long arms and big hands and that they should keep their guard up, when I throw a jab and land a right hook upside your head! I was always sports-challenged, with terrible eye-hand coordination, and my ineptitude was a source of constant humiliation because I attended a country grade school where participation was mandatory, and then a small-town high school where any boy who wasn't an athlete didn't exist. I would only play in my backyard with cousins. I would never play in school, I wasn't trying to sweat! Group sports and the "jock" mentality annoyed me to death. I did just enough in phys. ed to pass, since it wasn't a weighted grade or counted as a requirement toward your GPA.
February 23, 200817 yr Hey, there is a guy in Los Angeles, that I would like to have tortured and elim......... :shoot:. Think you can hook me up I knew a trucking company manager who had driver who ran a conflict-resolution practice on the side. I'm pretty sure he limited his practice to attitude adjustments, though.
February 23, 200817 yr I would have played varsity football at any other high school in the state. I went to St. Ignatius when we won 3 state titles in 4 years, were named national champions by USAToday during one year, and nationally ranked two other years. We lost 3 games in 4 years. I got sick of being the 3rd string TE after my sophomore year. I've become more of an "athlete" since high school. I hope to run my third marathon in four years in October.
February 23, 200817 yr 4-year varsity tennis player (went to state) for good-ole' Chaminade-Julienne. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 23, 200817 yr Football & Basketball in HS (at awful program) Football for one year at D3 college (at what was then an awful program)
February 23, 200817 yr I'm in rob's camp (no sports for me), but I didn't get into fights. I spent most of my time in the art room, perfecting my x-acto knife talents :evil: clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
February 23, 200817 yr 4-year varsity tennis player (went to state) for good-ole' Chaminade-Julienne. Did you play Singles or Doubles? My best friend went to state three years in a row. Although playing in Eastern Cleveland is tough, because there are so many great players at Shaker not to mention, Cleveland Hts., University School, & Chardon. Also, Beachwood and Walsh Jesuit were tough although not in our division. You just jogged my memory. I forgot I tried out for tennis at Shaker in my sophomore year. The previous summer my best friend, cousin and I played tennis with kids at Shaker, Cleve hts, Univ School at Cain Park, SHCC or CCC. When I tried out they told me I couldn't play varsity tennis because I didn't play in ninth grade. I was like I'm not playing JV tennis. I was so pissed that because I didn't play in junior high I couldn't play Varsity tennis after playing all summer. Sh!t, I had my Arthur Ashe-James Blake going on and not to mention fabulous tennis whites!
February 23, 200817 yr I'm in rob's camp (no sports for me), but I didn't get into fights. I spent most of my time in the art room, perfecting my x-acto knife talents :evil: LMAO!!! So in other words...you'll cut a b!tch? :-o
February 23, 200817 yr I would have played varsity football at any other high school in the state. I went to St. Ignatius when we won 3 state titles in 4 years, were named national champions by USAToday during one year, and nationally ranked two other years. We lost 3 games in 4 years. I got sick of being the 3rd string TE after my sophomore year. I've become more of an "athlete" since high school. I hope to run my third marathon in four years in October. Some Cleveland area schools breaking into a sport is very hard. St. Ignatius recruits...yes I said that. So its hard to be a "stud" in a program. Some schools have a lock on certain sports. I don't know about now, but back in the 80s you knew certain schools were powerhouses in certain sports for at least a decade: St. Edwards had a lock on Wresting Heights (boys/girls) had a lock on Track Elyria had a lock softball Bay Village had a lock on soccer Bowling Green for Ice Hockey Magnifcat for Gymnastics
February 23, 200817 yr I'm in rob's camp (no sports for me), but I didn't get into fights. I spent most of my time in the art room, perfecting my x-acto knife talents :evil: Just happened to be in Cleveland when I got a 2am call from my daughter at Kent. Sliced her hand open with an x-acto knife working on a project. We spent the night at the emergency room, all I could think about was the future opportunities for a graphic designer with no finger!
February 23, 200817 yr I'm still in them, but Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse. Soccer team: really good... Lacrosse team: really bad...
February 23, 200817 yr 4-year varsity tennis player (went to state) for good-ole' Chaminade-Julienne. Did you play Singles or Doubles? My best friend went to state three years in a row. Although playing in Eastern Cleveland is tough, because there are so many great players at Shaker not to mention, Cleveland Hts., University School, & Chardon. Also, Beachwood and Walsh Jesuit were tough although not in our division. I played singles (first singles) yet during state, I teamed up with the #2 singles and thus, doubles. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 23, 200817 yr I played singles (first singles) yet during state, I teamed up with the #2 singles and thus, doubles. well go on with your bad self. Did you play at OSU?
February 23, 200817 yr Hell no LOL! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
February 23, 200817 yr I'm in rob's camp (no sports for me), but I didn't get into fights. I spent most of my time in the art room, perfecting my x-acto knife talents :evil: Just happened to be in Cleveland when I got a 2am call from my daughter at Kent. Sliced her hand open with an x-acto knife working on a project. We spent the night at the emergency room, all I could think about was the future opportunities for a graphic designer with no finger! We can work without one... two, it gets questionable especially if we have to do our typesetting. clevelandskyscrapers.com Cleveland Skyscrapers on Instagram
February 23, 200817 yr Varsity tennis 3 years at good ole' SCD. Does SCD stand for Summit Country Day? yep
February 23, 200817 yr I'm in rob's camp (no sports for me), but I didn't get into fights. I spent most of my time in the art room, perfecting my x-acto knife talents :evil: Just happened to be in Cleveland when I got a 2am call from my daughter at Kent. Sliced her hand open with an x-acto knife working on a project. We spent the night at the emergency room, all I could think about was the future opportunities for a graphic designer with no finger! Ouch, did this just happen? Is she OK?
February 23, 200817 yr X, this was a few years ago. A few stitches and she was fine. Thanks for your concern. She's now a successful graphic designer in Cleveland with all her fingers. Of course, as I do on UO, I spent the whole night "baiting" her about the costs of sending her to college to cut her fingers off! I got her standard answer, "Shut up Dad".
February 23, 200817 yr Dressed for 2 varsity football games at North Royalton as a sophomore. Homecoming and Parent's Night, got to walk across the field with my parents! Got in for 1 play! I was the holder in practice for the kicker, but in those days, no one kicked extra points or field goals. We didn't try one all season! Most memorable experience, summer 2-a-days with NO water allowed! Water gave you cramps! Another: blocking and tackling drills. All 145# 5'3 of me blocking for a running back against 6' 220# friend of mine. He let me block him, the runner got by, and I smiled and walked off to the side. The coach started screaming at the 2 of us to get back in there, and if he couldn't get by me, he could sit on the bench for the next game. Not sure how far I flew through the air! Coach was laughing, said it built character!
February 23, 200817 yr Please tell me you've grown! Oh yeah, I shot all the way up to 5' 7!!! The weight, now that's another matter!
February 23, 200817 yr Not varsity. After freshman year I became a major delinquent, which took up all of my free time and quite a bit of my school time as well. :)
February 23, 200817 yr varsity soccer for four years, and tennis for three. I would have never taken you for a tennis guy. You seem like a soccer, lacrosse & baseball type of dude. Oh yeah, I shot all the way up to 5' 7!!! The weight, now that's another matter! oh my. lol Not varsity. After freshman year I became a major delinquent, which took up all of my free time and quite a bit of my school time as well. :) .......thus began your career on the roller derby circuit!
February 25, 200817 yr track/cc @ b-tucky and cc @ iit and now running around oc/downtown to stay thin!
February 25, 200817 yr High school: basketball, golf, and tennis. Our basketball team (Wickliffe) was good back then (ranked 3rd in state in D4 my junior year, and somewhere in top 10 my senior year) but you sure wouldn't know it by their teams now. We always found a way to bow out early in the tournament, being in the toughest sectional in the state (Chanel and VASJ won virtually every state tournament in the 90s and we always had to play them in one of the first couple rounds, lost to VASJ by 1 my senior year). Always into golf, thought I might turn out to be very good, but proved I was too much of a head case to be consistent (by putting holes in my bag with my clubs after bad shots). This usually led to a good round being ruined by one hole (ever seen Tin Cup?) I still play very occasionally and find that I'm a lot better if I just give it up for a year and come back to it. Kinda reduces the thinking. Tennis, mostly recreational since I hurt my elbow throwing curveballs by 9th grade and although being a solid shortstop with a very good arm, I couldn't hit well enough to make up for it. My brother also played tennis recreationally, but quickly became a very good player, ended up as one of the best players our HS ever saw, set a D3 record for consecutive wins in college, and is now a teaching pro...so I guess that worked out for him a little better than me, always stuck at second singles behind my younger brother (and now extremely lucky if I don't get double-bageled by him). EDIT: Kind of wish sometimes I would have played some football (coaches wanted me to be a receiver...quick/fast with good hands) but I was afraid of being snapped in half (6', 145 lbs.) and the weight room wasn't my thing. College: Golf (and one day of basketball). My college story is pretty weak athletically...I played two years of golf (freshman and senior) and quit right before the end of the season both times...just got sick of it...too much time. Same with basketball (especially since golf was still in season when it started)...I made the team my freshman year and quit the next day when I saw the schedule. I wanted to play on my own time. I still played about 5 times a week all throughout college, just not organized...the rec center and parks were more my thing.
February 25, 200817 yr Not varsity. After freshman year I became a major delinquent, which took up all of my free time and quite a bit of my school time as well. :) .......thus began your career on the roller derby circuit! Absolutely!
February 25, 200817 yr I haven't started a poll in a while....... :wink: Did you participate in a varsity sports in High School or College? If so what sport(s)? I played football for Maple Heights, though "played" may be a relative term. My running joke is I played there so long ago my team was 90% white. It was also before my girlfriend, in her day a cheerleader for our archrival (Bedford), was born. :-o My senior year, we went 1-9, losing three one point games. Our one win: early in the year we pounded Shaker Heights pretty hard, like 24-3 or something like that. They went 9-1 and since the playoffs were much smaller then, we cost them a shot at a state title.
February 25, 200817 yr I played football for Maple Heights, though "played" may be a relative term. My running joke is I played there so long ago my team was 90% white. It was also before my girlfriend, in her day a cheerleader for our archrival (Bedford) was born. :-o My senior year, we went 1-9, losing three one point games. Our one win: early in the year we pounded Shaker Heights pretty hard, like 24-3 or something like that. They went 9-1 and since the playoffs were much smaller then, we cost them a shot at a state title. What year was this? Shakers football team was always "so-so" at best. How far apart in age are you and your "girlfriend"?
February 25, 200817 yr varsity soccer for four years, and tennis for three. I would have never taken you for a tennis guy. You seem like a soccer, lacrosse & baseball type of dude. I heart baseball, but never played organized. Lacrosse? Pshaw, that's reserved for them Northern Oakland County Rich Types.
February 25, 200817 yr varsity soccer for four years, and tennis for three. I would have never taken you for a tennis guy. You seem like a soccer, lacrosse & baseball type of dude. I heart baseball, but never played organized. Lacrosse? Pshaw, that's reserved for them Northern Oakland County Rich Types. lol he he he
February 25, 200817 yr I played football for Maple Heights, though "played" may be a relative term. My running joke is I played there so long ago my team was 90% white. It was also before my girlfriend, in her day a cheerleader for our archrival (Bedford) was born. :-o My senior year, we went 1-9, losing three one point games. Our one win: early in the year we pounded Shaker Heights pretty hard, like 24-3 or something like that. They went 9-1 and since the playoffs were much smaller then, we cost them a shot at a state title. What year was this? Shakers football team was always "so-so" at best. How far apart in age are you and your "girlfriend"? This was the 1979 season. They were pretty good during that era. They had a linebacker that ended up going to Ohio State and then the NFL (Orlando something or other) and several really good running backs. My phys ed teacher at Case found out I went to Maple and said "we had a pretty good team"...he was at that game scouting Shaker. We also used to preseason scrimmage Cleveland Heights every year. One of our WRs actually got kicked out of the scrimmage for fighting. I ran into him years later and he was a coach....at Cleveland Heights. She's 26, I'm 45. Remember, I work part time at a bar. :-D
February 25, 200817 yr This was the 1979 season. They were pretty good during that era. They had a linebacker that ended up going to Ohio State and then the NFL (Orlando something or other) and several really good running backs. My phys ed teacher at Case found out I went to Maple and said "we had a pretty good team"...he was at that game scouting Shaker. We also used to preseason scrimmage Cleveland Heights every year. One of our WRs actually got kicked out of the scrimmage for fighting. I ran into him years later and he was a coach....at Cleveland Heights. She's 26, I'm 45. Remember, I work part time at a bar. Oh OK. I was going to say it couldn't have been the 80s....we sucked! Bigtime!! The sad part about that is we had kids on the team that were sons of Browns players. My brother would come home mad after every loss. My dad would always try to cheer him up...but I was always super happy they lost! :evil: :evil: 20 year difference, between you and your girlfriend. Aiight, playa-playa :wink:
February 26, 200817 yr Varsity Tennis for 3 years (didn't tryout or play Freshman year...didn't care). I played #1 doubles and sometimes #3 singles...I was on one of the best true doubles teams in the state (meaning not the teaming up of a #1 and #2 player). My school team (Oak Hills) was ranked in the Top 10 in state just about all 3 years...but also 3rd in the GMC. Killer competition with schools like Sycamore, Princeton, and Lakota West. But we all know SW Ohio is the Tennis powerhouse...St. Xavier, Kings, Indian Hill, Sycamore, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Walnut Hills, etc... I also played some basketball in my day before I quit trying out and started playing in rec leagues only with my friends. Screw all that serious practice, running, and degredation.
February 26, 200817 yr varsity soccer for four years, and tennis for three. At Ferndale? Yes, Go Eagles.
February 26, 200817 yr 4 years of varsity football and baseball at Ashtabula St. John. (same hs as Urban Meyer, but grad 13 yrs after him) QB'd a kick-ass intramural fb team at JCU for 4 yrs.
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