With stitches, broken noses and facemasks, the NBA playoffs are looking more like pro wrestling gone bad.

1) Go to the dump. Sounds exciting ha? Don’t want the aroma from the refuse cans to spoil the taste of my barbeque.
2) Mow the lawn. Another thrilling adventure, but something that’s gotta get done.
3) Grill out on the patio. Yum, yum!
4) Get a burning permit. No, not needed for my grill, but will be [...]

A couple years ago I stumbled across a list, created by Jon Unger, of over 400 one-liners that include inspirations, reminders, and reality checks for athlete’s both young and old. These phrases bring wisdom regardless of the chosen sport.

If your son comes home from baseball practice and says he wants a “drop three,” don’t panic. He’s not a born loser or a gambler - just a baseball player wanting a new bat.

The phrase “Take one for the team” is true! Yup, it will hurt. But, every baserunner is a potential run. If the ball is coming at you between your shoulders and knees, stay in the batters’ box, and take it like a man!

For many years my one child has always loved PB&J, minus the crusts, while the other won’t get near the classic. It’s always been a tactile thing and mixing foods together just doesn’t work for this kids taste buds.

Interested in playing a high school sport this spring in New Hampshire? Chances are you tryouts will begin today after school.

So what is this “Raising Athletes” blog all about? A recent comment on a blog entry questioned why this blog has several entries about Manchester Memorial sports, and fewer Nashua postings. The answer pure and simple - the internet audience is not just Nashua.

The slam-dunk is a dream of every young basketball player. So the next time your toddler dunks his diaper in your garbage can, it may be a sign of his athletic future.

No, I didn’t grow up in the “Wild, wild west,” or a third world nation - just a small town in Wisconsin, where nobody thought twice when seeing a teenager carrying a cased rifle to school. I will always be an athlete of the woods, weather carrying a gun, or a camera.