Road To VTD Nationals – Rules outside the white lines

[Joe]

[ Let's all gather somewhere in DFW have a party & call it a NATIONAL EVENT.

It is a joke...just like that Motel 6 deal in Midland. Uhmmmmm....let's see...wasn't that ASA...by a foot...in their mouth.

[men talljie aunt]

Do you want to know what is really funny about that awful Midland Nationals a few years back - they had over 80 teams competing. Do you know how many teams were from outside of TX, OK, AR and LA? 21 - by my fuzzy math that appears to be about 1/4. I dont care how you measure it, that appears to be pretty successful to me in promoting the game of softball throughout the nation. After all, isn't that what you would expect one of the criteria to be from a governing body of youth sports - promoting the sport throughout the country and not just in your local area. In my opinion, promotion of a youth sport in your local community is more of the responsibility of local youth athletic leagues and park and recreation departments.

[Joe]

Do you want to know what is really funny about that awful Midland Nationals a few years back - they had over 80 teams competing. Do you know how many teams were from outside of TX, OK, AR and LA? 21 - by my fuzzy math that appears to be about 1/4. I dont care how you measure it, that appears to be pretty successful to me in promoting the game of softball throughout the nation. After all, isn't that what you would expect one of the criteria to be from a governing body of youth sports - promoting the sport throughout the country and not just in your local area. In my opinion, promotion of a youth sport in your local community is more of the responsibility of local youth athletic leagues and park and recreation departments.

So why the disdain for what someone like Allen Richardson and VTD...whose stated objective is to promote the game? or the teams that choose to participate with VTD? Whether VTD, USFA or ASA 'B'...some teams have to travel the road to "eliteness"...and their efforts shouldn't be discounted.

[men talljie aunt]

OK Joe - here you go, your little cut and paste weenie is going to go into hyperdrive on this one...but I made a mistake! I had my figures backwards. What I meant to say was that out of the 80+ plus teams in Midland only 21 were from TX, OK, AR & LA. The other 3/4 of the teams were from across the country. So yes we are both in agreement that VTD, ASA, USFA, USSSA and everyone else should have as one of their goals the promotion of the game throughout the country. But that is not happening with VTD in my opinion. VTD is alive and well in DFW and that is it. How many VTD tournaments are there in Houston or places outside of TX? The rest of the country solely used VTD for their team registrations and insurance. Period, end of discussion. The reason why VTD is strong in DFW is because that is how 100% of teams for the past several years have signed up for ASA tournaments. Therefore, that is really the only platform most teams are familiar with and comfortable with. That is the bottom line. It has nothing to do with them not liking ASA, it is simply because VTD is the only way the vast majority of teams have known to sign up for tournaments. Since you brought up the point about Allan and VTD, how exactly are they promoting the game outside of DFW? Not discounting the efforts of those teams trying to improve, like I said those teams that have never experienced the pageantry of major tournaments should have that opportunity. But at the same time, just trying to make sure we are comparing apples to apples. In addition, try to be a voice of reason in your personal crusade against one ASA guy in Tarrant County while blindly extolling the greatness of VTD.

[Joe]

OK Joe - here you go, your little cut and paste weenie is going to go into hyperdrive on this one...but I made a mistake! I had my figures backwards. What I meant to say was that out of the 80+ plus teams in Midland only 21 were from TX, OK, AR & LA. The other 3/4 of the teams were from across the country. So yes we are both in agreement that VTD, ASA, USFA, USSSA and everyone else should have as one of their goals the promotion of the game throughout the country. But that is not happening with VTD in my opinion. VTD is alive and well in DFW and that is it. How many VTD tournaments are there in Houston or places outside of TX? The rest of the country solely used VTD for their team registrations and insurance. Period, end of discussion. The reason why VTD is strong in DFW is because that is how 100% of teams for the past several years have signed up for ASA tournaments. Therefore, that is really the only platform most teams are familiar with and comfortable with. That is the bottom line. It has nothing to do with them not liking ASA, it is simply because VTD is the only way the vast majority of teams have known to sign up for tournaments. Since you brought up the point about Allan and VTD, how exactly are they promoting the game outside of DFW? Not discounting the efforts of those teams trying to improve, like I said those teams that have never experienced the pageantry of major tournaments should have that opportunity. But at the same time, just trying to make sure we are comparing apples to apples. In addition, try to be a voice of reason in your personal crusade against one ASA guy in Tarrant County while blindly extolling the greatness of VTD.

No...nope...the little weenie doesn't do cut and paste anymore. It has more important things to do and...its sole purpose is to remain in reserve..only and unless the wife of many years decides it can come out to play.

VTD is at the ripe old age of what....6 months? Cornering the DFW market in that time...one of the top 5 in the U.S....? I think anyone starting a new venture would take that one any day, especially when going up against an old, well-established, well-finded org. like ASA. Adding Premier (see promoting the game outside of DFW) is a major step and I'll be happy to revisit the successes or failures of VTD in 3-5 years...only after Allen has had a chance to make a go of it.

Extolling the greatness of VTD? Not me! Although I do get quite a bit of personal satisfaction seeing the old guard in my neigborhood getting what is well deserved....and long overdue.

More to the point...while you have trumpeted the virtues of the "elite"...you've taken many a swipe at those teams that aspire to accomplish that same "eliteness". Why is it neccesary to poo poo those team that choose to play in NRH...while stating that only the worthy teams are in Garland the same weekend? Teams are comfortable with VTD and...so what? Why does that bother you... and if you want to invoke the word "blindly"...then you'd better stop talking about the greatness of ASA and your blind allegiance to them.

[men talljie aunt]

First, thank you Joe for the intelligent reply not laced with sixth grade mentality rebuttals. I would much prefer to discuss things with you on a more mature level. Is it just me or does anyone else think Joe might have had his hand slapped by someone? Anyway, back to the discussion.

I have to disagree with you on your claim that VTD has only been around for 6 months. Again, VTD has been around for many years now for team registrations, insurance needs, and in NTX as the sole tournament sign-up portal for ASA. I have stated before MY opinion why VTD is "cornering the DFW market" so I will not get into that again for sake of brevity. Suffice it to say, in MY opinion if there was no such thing as VTD prior to this year, I really do not believe they would be having the success they are experiencing in Tarrant County.

Adding PGF....what exactly does that mean? What exactly is VTD's relationship with PGF? Handling their team registrations; posting a qualifying tournament in Cypress for the PGF Nationals held in CA this summer? How did this relationship come about? Who paid who to basically post the PGF logo on your home page?

Once again, this is your admitted personal vendetta against one old guy in Tarrant County, not necessarily your support of VTD. That just seems to be a very narrow, close-minded approach to take towards the advancement of this great game our DD's love to play.

I honestly do not believe I have taken a swipe against teams or their players. I have voiced my opinion in regards to the different classes of play in our area. I do believe their are true A teams and then everyone else. I do believe that teams can change from one level to the next in any given year. Factors for this change include, maturation and development of the individual athletes, coaching (whether its complacency by those in the top half or development by those in the other levels) and most importantly player movement. I do strongly believe, however, the best way for a team to improve, besides those listed above, is to play better and stronger competition. It is more important to develop personal growth and character than it is to win games against competition that will not push you to be better. So while you talk about those teams trying to achieve "eliteness", my only comment is why are they not pushing themselves to play against the very best competition available - regardless of what sanctioning it is?

Finally, I will close with this whole concept of promoting the game. I did some quick research and do you know how many tournaments VTD has listed outside of TX? Answer is 87 - total in all states. Of those 87, the breakdown is as follows: 44 are IFA, 25 are ASA, 1 is PONY and 17 are VTD. Doesn't exactly defend your position of promoting the game. Now in all fairness, I did not go through and count all of the tournaments in TX. I will gladly concede it is an overwhelmingly butt whuppin in favor of VTD. What I did find somewhat amusing though is there were 5 ASA sanctioned tournaments in TX under VTD. Do you know what those 5 tournaments were? Yep you guessed it - all 5 were college showcases and are annually the biggest tournaments in the area. OUCH! And while I am being an admitted jerk here and gloating, guess what else I found in my research? The VTD World Series in late July. Once again, guess where they are being held according to the listings under VTD as of this morning? Yep you guessed it again - TARRANT COUNTY!! Damn I hate it when I am right! Per VTD here is the breakdown:

18U - Mike Lewis in Grand Prarie??? Never played there - are these fastpitch fields are men's fields with 300 ft fences
16U - Jennifer McFalls in Grand Prarie
14U - Bob Jones Southlake
12U - NRH
10U - Keller

[Joe]

OK Joe - here you go, your little cut and paste weenie is going to go into hyperdrive on this one

then this...

First, thank you Joe for the intelligent reply not laced with sixth grade mentality rebuttals. I would much prefer to discuss things with you on a more mature level.

Uhmmm....

....kettle...black...?

...alas, grasshopper...I've taught you well...

[mrs.buster]

joey the only problem you have is a big belly & a little tiny brain.we love you like a little stray puppie.

[Joe]

puppie

Bust...your IQ apparently parallels your avatar...

= 2.

[mrs.buster]

puppie

Bust...your IQ apparently parallels your avatar...

= 2.

hea puppie joey

Does being a TD & B ball coach pay so well you never leave your pc.I feel sure that the kick backs you receive must keep you in depends & diet soda.