Jeff Ward: On Youth Sports Coaches, Whitney Houston and Racism

If you use the N-word in a Facebook post, you deserve some criticism.

This doesn’t happen very often. Three of my favorite subjects in the same column? You’d think coaching youth sports, racism, and Whitney Houston wouldn’t be quite so closely connected, but as quantum physicists like to say, anything that can happen in Patchland probably will. As most of you already have guessed, we’re talking about the Oak Lawn youth baseball coach who was forced to resign over some awful terminology used in a Facebook post. Frustrated by the plethora of press coverage on Whitney Houston’s passing, he wrote, “I’m so sick of reading about this dumb stupid N-word Whitney Houston.” Of course this only proves my theory that all social media is an abomination and should be banned. Whenever a candidate comes to me on how to use …

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DGS P.E. Teacher's Book to Be Released in May

Kirk Mango's book, "Becoming a True Champion," helps teen athletes make decisions that will empower them to achieve with integrity.

For years Kirk Mango has worked diligently toward one goal, writing a book. Dedication and determination aren’t new to Mango, 54, a two-time college All-American gymnast. At the heart of his book, Becoming a True Champion, Achieving Athletic Excellence From the Inside Out, which will be published in May, are the lessons and life-skills he learned as an athlete, coach and parent. Now he hopes to share what he has learned with young athletes. Mango, a Naperville resident and physical education teacher for more than 30 years at Downers Grove South High School, said he became concerned about what he was hearing from young athletes and parents. He said the focus for many young athletes seemed to be less about learning through hard work and more…

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Bringing Up Woodridge

Why Kids Should Participate in Team Sports

Team sports offer great way to bring families together and teach kids life lessons.

This past weekend was a long holiday weekend -  which in the world of youth hockey means it’s time to travel to an out-of-town tournament. So my son’s hockey team packed up and headed to St. Louis for the weekend. These trips are the highlights of our boys’ season – it’s a chance for them to bond, hang out in a hotel and be goofy with their friends, and do what they love best – play hockey. And I firmly believe the parents enjoy these weekends as much as the kids. Prior to the trip plans were made, one dad volunteered to plan the team dinner for Saturday night, while moms surveyed the team for favorite snacks and drinks to bring. At the hotel, we had access to our own private conference room all weekend, so we'd have a common area for all …

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