The Score

by Bill Dunn

A while back I received a letter disagreeing with something I had written, what a shock. In that letter to the editor I was accused of “pushing my own agenda.” Considering I am the one who is writing this column and putting my name on it week after week my response to that criticism is “well whose agenda should I be pushing, yours?” 

Most of the time I really don’t have an agenda to push, I’m just pointing out things that are either bugging me or that I find humorous or bizarre. This week, however, I have an agenda and damn it I’m going to push it!

As most of you who read this column on a weekly basis know my kids have been in little league for many years now. I have documented both the highs and lows of participating in the organization as well as the people, both good and bad, who have made it an experience that, well, I will never forget. And while my son, Alex, still has two more glorious years in the top notch Junior League at Temple City National my little girl Rachel has made the transition to high school and is now a proud member of The Temple City High School Softball Team.

It’s a whole different world than what I was used to and as Coach Penny Saunders put it at our parent meeting “this isn’t little league or ASA.”

By that she means that bullying parents need not apply. While a squeaky wheel in little league will usually get greased, in high school it means it will still squeak but nobody, especially the coaches, want to hear it. That, I like.

I am one of those dads who likes going early to pick up his kids and check out as much of the practices as I can, especially with a new team. I still don’t know all of the girls by name yet but I will soon. And if their practices are any indication, we are in for a great season with a great group of girls.

I don’t know how many of you have ever attended a fast pitch softball game, but don’t let the name fool you, there is nothing soft about it. Take it from somebody who made the mistake of trying to catch for a pitcher without the proper equipment on. I’m sure it’s how Yosemite Sam felt when getting hit by a cannonball. The games are always fast paced and are exciting to watch.

But during this year, as you have all been reading and hearing about, the school district has been going through many budget cuts and money is tight. As all parents who have school age children know, there have even been letters sent out asking for donations to help in taking up the slack.

So, if the schools are having a problem, you’ve got to know that the sports programs are suffering as well. When cutbacks come, the extra curricular activities and sports are usually the first to feel the pinch. Such is the case with our softball program. They definitely could use funds for equipment and a new scoreboard.

Our Varsity baseball team this year were the beneficiaries of the generosity of many parents and citizens who, through fundraisers and grants, spearheaded by Kristen Dearth and Barry Bacon, got them a new scoreboard and much needed equipment. What needs to happen now is the same thing for the Lady’s.

At the aforementioned parent meeting, Couch Saunders offered Rams Softball car decals that are available for $10.00 a piece through her as one way to make some money. She also offered a letter for a fundraiser that I viewed as a way, if enough private parties and business’ participated, they could possibly achieve their equipment/scoreboard goal. It was for signs and banners to line the field either advertising businesses or for people wanting to wish the team good luck.

I don’t know why, but my focus was on the businesses that I deal with on a regular basis, most of whom aren’t based in this area. But I figured it was worth a shot. I rewrote the letter and sent it out to everybody that I thought could remotely be interested. I gave it the old shotgun approach. If I even got a couple of takers, I would be happy and felt like I had helped.

Much to my delight, the first day of sending it I got two commitments for the largest sign the team is offering plus a couple of maybes. Where my epiphany happened was with one of the people who stepped up. In my friends’ list was none other that Dr. “Happy” Jack Von Bulow and he was the first to step up. Again, thanks Jack.

And that’s when it hit me. “Bill, you dope, you write for the local paper, who better to approach than the people whose team this is? Which businesses would benefit the most from advertising at the local high school?” The answer to both of those questions is you, the people who read this column every week here in Temple City and the neighboring communities. God, I hate it when part of my brain goes dead. I should have thought of this in the first place.

So dear readers, this is where you come in, especially if you live in the City of Temple. If you have a business here locally or even if you live here and work for a company that would be up for it, let’s give it a shot. In the advertising scheme of things it is a good deal and the pay off for the team would be immense. 

Here’s how it breaks down. There are two types of signs to choose from: metal signs or a vinyl banner. Once you have placed your order, your sign will be up for an entire year. If you want the sign to remain up after that year is up, you can renew it for an additional year at a reduced cost.
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To order is simple. All you need to do is send a business card, letterhead, or the slogan you would like on the sign like “Go Lady Rams- The Dunn Family” along with your check made payable to TCHS Softball Trust Fund to Bill Dunn, PO Box 1541, Temple City, CA 91780 and I will take care of the rest. This donation is tax deductible and a tax deductible receipt will be issued to all participants. If you can’t swing with the sign, any donation will be gladly accepted and very much appreciated.

I know these days there are many people with their hand out asking for help and I hate to sound cliché about it, but it’s for the kids and to help them feel better about the field where they play. And if you can’t help out the team financially, then come by and show your support by seeing a game. The schedule is on the front page of this paper every week.

But you need to bring your own scorebook, because we don’t have a scoreboard…yet.

The Shrub Speaks: These stories are being written every day in America. Every, single day this is happening. We never hear half of them or any -- I never, but, you know -- I barely hear any of them, but I just know they're happening. Los Angeles, California, Mar. 3, 2004
B.D.’s Response: That’s O.K. Dubya, we never understand half (or in this case any) of what you are trying to say.

Bill Dunn can be contacted at info@sgvweekly
Some of his previous articles can be found here.