Every-Thing Sports

Teach your kids history. It's important.

Teach your kids history. It's important.
Jermaine's adult-sized kids (photo credit: Jermaine Every)

History is important. That's why we have to take it in some form all throughout grade school. We must learn our history or we're bound to repeat it. That line mainly goes for the bad stuff, but the good things in history must be learned as well. There are lessons in all of it.

Some history is more important than others. For example, crazed dictators, how they took over, abused power, and made the world a worse place is one example. Slavery and its atrocities, some of which still go on today. There are countless other examples I could rattle off here, but that's not the point, nor is it the focus of this article.

I had one of those proud dad moments last week. My son loves playing NBA 2k. Especially playing with his friends online. They often use current teams with roster updates. However on this occasion, they preferred to go with classic teams. His buddy used the 2000-01 Lakers because he said that was the most dominant team from that decade. My son went with the 1970-71 Bucks because he wanted to combat the duo of Kobe and Shaq with Oscar Robertson and Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, aka Lew Alcindor, aka Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

I asked him why he had chosen that particular Bucks team. His response was the kind of thing that makes you smile. He said Robertson was the first to average a triple double and did so without stat-padding. He also said Abdul-Jabbar is the all-time leading scorer and some say he's the G.O.A.T. Words can't express how proud I was at that moment.

I've always tried to teach my kids the history of things. When it comes to sports, it's been an uphill battle at times. I think I'm not getting through to them, and they prove me wrong. I used to think my kids would have info go through one ear and out the other when they'd like to hang with me when I'm studying sports. I'd try to teach them things by talking about what I'm reading or watching. Never did I think it would sink in. Back in the summer of 2015, the kids and the wife were in New Orleans visiting my family. They were all talking about the Saints cutting Junior Galette. My daughter asked them how would that effect the Saints cap because he had just signed a contract extension the year before. She was nine at the time.

When the Saints won their Super Bowl, my son was a ball of nerves the whole first half because they were losing. I couldn't help calm him down because I was in New Orleans watching with my grandfather because that's how we spent every major Saints game ever since I was a kid. The poor boy's nerves were so bad, they took him to the movies to get his mind off of it. He knew this was the furthest they had gotten and might never have a chance at another Super Bowl again. He needed updates on the game while at the movies and insisted on watching the end when they got home. He erupted with joy and called me. He was six at the time.

Last year, I wrote about creating lifelong memories with your kids by attending sporting events. It was centered upon the road trip my daughter and I took to WrestleMania (we watch every year if we can't take a road trip to attend). Those are memories they'll have forever. However, teaching them the history of those sports, teams, and players is another bonding experience that adds knowledge to the memories. Besides, it's really cool to hear your kids school their peers when it comes to that kind of stuff.

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The competition level is about to rise. Composite Getty Image.

The Astros closed out their latest road trip with a winning record, a feat made more impressive considering the turbulence at the back of the rotation. Brandon Walter and Ryan Gusto both endured rough outings, with Walter in particular getting tagged hard. Still, Houston salvaged the finale, thanks largely to Mauricio Dubón’s breakout performance. The utilityman launched two home runs to power an offense that’s quietly been heating up for weeks.

But even with a solid finish, not everything is trending upward.

Josh Hader, who’s been one of the game’s most reliable closers this season, has begun to show signs of vulnerability. He’s allowed a home run in three of his last six outings. While his overall numbers remain strong, the long ball—a problem that plagued him last year—is starting to creep back into the picture.

As the Astros return home, the schedule offers no breather. They’ll face the Phillies and Cubs before a brief trip to Colorado to take on the struggling Rockies. After that comes a marquee series against the defending champion Dodgers in Los Angeles. With three of their next four opponents being legitimate World Series threats, the coming stretch looms large.

Can the bats keep pace?

If the last month is any indication, the Astros have reason to feel optimistic. Christian Walker has started to show signs of life after a quiet start to the season, hitting .260 with a .762 OPS and five home runs over the past 30 days. José Altuve has been scorching with a .302 average and .901 OPS in that span, while Jeremy Peña has taken things to another level, batting .384 with a 1.009 OPS.

As a team, the Astros rank 7th in OPS, 5th in runs, 3rd in batting average, and 7th in home runs over the last 30 days. It’s a surge that’s come at the right time—and one they’ll need to sustain.

The injury picture is also starting to shift in Houston’s favor.

Joe Espada told The Athletic's Chandler Rome that Christian Javier recently threw a live batting practice session, touching 95 mph as he continues his return from Tommy John surgery. JP France has thrown multiple live BPs and could be ready to help if things continue to progress with his shoulder. Luis Garcia, however, remains further away despite undergoing surgery more than two years ago. He's expected to throw a live BP this week.

Spencer Arrighetti (thumb) should be able to return in August, and Lance McCullers has resumed throwing and is currently on the 15-day IL with a foot sprain.

The Astros are winning. The offense is rolling. The reinforcements are on the way. But with a brutal stretch looming, the team’s margin for error is about to be put to the test.

There's so much more to cover! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!

The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.

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