Since he started The Sports Scoop, I've asked Kugie to let me be a guest writer. He finally said yes so for what it's worth here is my opinion of sports today. Thanks, brother Kugie.

I have been a Waseca resident all of my life. I love sports and have been an official, a player, fan, coach and parent (sort of). I have followed my nephew Justin and niece Hailey. I write this article for the athletes, the parents and the fans.

I have listened to parents and fans complain about playing time, or rather the lack of it. Complaints about so and so playing because he/she has a "name" and others don't.

As a former coach, I don't believe someone less skilled plays because they have a "name." Were you at practice to see how hard your child works and what kind of an attitude he/she has? How the other players, playing before your child, work and their attitudes? Probably not, but the coach was.

As a coach, many things come into play. Ability, work ethic, attitude. In some cases a senior may play before a junior if their skill level is similar. Or just the opposite, if the junior has a better work ethic and attitude, they may play before the senior. It's the coach's job to make that decision.

I know with my "kids", I'd like to see them play all the time, just like other families. Does that happen? No. I have to remind myself that I wasn't at practice. I also need to realize that other players are better than they are. No one wants to admit that someone is a better player than they are, but that's the reality of it.

You've heard it before but I'll say it again; attitude of both parents and players makes a difference. I have heard both parents and players say, "Coach _____ stinks." Did the coach have three errors in the game or miss 70 percent of the shots taken in the game? I don't think so. Could it be that maybe the players need more practice? Need to work harder? Maybe even consider that they just are not very good. What a novel idea!

Don't get me wrong. I know there can be unethical coaches out there; the ones who do play the ones with the "name." Shame on them! In that case, you have a legitimate complaint, but unfortunately life is not always fair. Accept that and get over it. Three years from now it won't matter. Enjoy the game, try to be positive with the players and the coaches and make the game more enjoyable for everyone.

I quit playing softball about five years ago. I started playing at the age of 12 because my dad "Shyde" Krause was the coach. I learned many things from him. To get better you have to practice and be willing to work at it. I learned how to win and how to lose. And I learned not to complain; he was the coach and in charge of the game.

I grew up next to Southside School. At some point just about every day we'd meet over at the school and play a game we called "rubber ball."

A rubber ball is about the size of a baseball but it didn't break windows or hurt too much if you got hit with it. The gang included Craig Youngberg, Brian and Mike Grunwald, Jeff Monahan, Layne Brase, "Tuffy" Christenson, John Hurliman, Brad Ewest, Rick Mullen, Tom Teske, Larry Krause and me.

Some nights we'd play after supper and the game would be held up until the Krause kids finished the dishes. No playing was allowed until chores were done. The rest of the kids would be outside our kitchen window telling us to hurry. Of course, none of them had to do the dishes before they could play, just us. Oh well, there is that "life is not fair" thing again.

We'd pick teams every game and winning was never that important because there was always another game the next day. One of my fondest memories of those days was a game in which John Hurliman got a hold of a super ball. Why we were playing with that I don't know, but he hit it over the fence across the street and over to what we called the cement factory on the next block. It took us awhile to find that ball.

My point is that while playing softball and rubber ball all those years, I don't remember a score or a win or a loss. I do remember the fun we had, and the friends I made. I learned how to lose graciously and win graciously. I knew some were better players than me, and I was a better player than some others. The coach was in charge and you did what he or she said. If I went home and complained, I was told to work harder. Softball was my passion in those days. There were not many sports for girls at that time. I lived for summer and those games. I would not change a thing about those days. Good team or bad team, it was still fun.

What has happened to that attitude? Fun seems to be missing from the game. It is much more fun to win and do well, but you have to be realistic and realize that you won't always get a hit or make a basket when you need it. You will error or make a mistake and you may lose the game. Don't dwell on it. Move on and remember that in three years it won't matter.

Enjoy the moments and the memories. Remember the teammates and the laughs in the dugout and on the bench. How about the antics on the bus? Which reminds me of my favorite bus/track memory that really has nothing to do with the bus or the sport except that when we played at Hutchinson, Fairmont or any town more than one hour away, we would get to stop at McDonalds. Wow! It was the early 70s, I was only a seventh-grader, but it was a 7-12 school at the time and no one wanted to throw the shot or discus. The track team was not combined then. It was just the girls and Mrs. Schallert was the coach. We'd pull into McDonalds and Mrs. Schallert would stand in front of the bus with a wad of dollar bills and give each of us money to eat ($4 I think). Yes, in those days the school district paid for our meal. When I talk about that now, people look at me with a look of horror. I thought it was great. Things were simple back then. Boy, how things have changed.

Now is the time to make memories with our youth. Parents, think back to your days of sports play; high school, college or just pick-up games. Remember the fun, the anticipation? Let your child have some memories. Not the memory of hearing you complain about coaching or other players getting more playing time. Support the team. Support your child. Remind them to have fun. Give them great memories, that's what my parents did. Thanks, mom and dad.

In closing, I'd like to thank Kugie for The Sports Scoop. No one in the area writes sports as well as Kugie. His coverage of all area sports is superb. When you see him, please thank him. He puts in many hours so we are able to keep up with the area teams. I, for one, am proud of you brother Kugie. Thanks!