The One Where Shank Gives Out Some Advice

Shank has a small quota of 'I'm not a completely negative trolling asshole' columns to fill every now and then. We get one such column here, where Shank takes issue with asshole sports parents, giving the column a perfect thematic symmetry between author and subject. It's not clear that some recent event compelled Shank to tackle this subject, but here you have it.

This one is for the parents.

Our local high school sports season is winding down. Most scholastic teams are done for another year. Only the very best are still playing, and most state championships will be decided in the upcoming week.

If you have a child who is still playing high school sports, your son or daughter must be playing at a very high level. Every spring we see kids who’ve already picked up their diplomas still reporting for practice, eagerly awaiting championship games.

Maybe your child is one of those lucky and gifted competitors. Or maybe they are done for the spring season and already involved in summer ball, AAU, Little League, Babe Ruth, Legion, or that wonderful thing we have come to know as summer hockey.

Whatever. It matters not whether we’re talking 18-year-old high school graduates or 8-year-old hockey mites.

The thing parents need to remember is that it’s about the kids. It’s not about the parents.

In brief: Try not to care about the game(s) more than your child cares.

All well and fine, but his conclusion could use some self-examination:

Embrace the spirit of sportsmanship and competition.

Except when you shouldn't!