Began's Perseverance Helping In Life And Basketball

Jack Began handles the ball at the top of the key (SS Photo)

Perseverance. Survivor.

Those are two words to describe Jack Began, but he is so much more than that. He is hardworking, caring, honest and so much more. The junior on the Fairfield Ludlowe boy's basketball team has fought through a lot of adversity in his life.

Jack grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin (30 miles south of Green Bay) with his parents, Sandra and Patrick, and brother Charlie.

In September of 2012, Patrick died by suicide.  In July of 2014, Jack, his mother and brother moved from Wisconsin to Fairfield, Connecticut.

Jack and his mother have both written about their experiences and I will let them tell the story. This is a focus on Jack as a basketball player and a person.

Jack played freshman basketball during the 2014-2015 for Ludlowe. His sophomore year, he made a decision to not play that year and was a student manager. He put in the work as a manager, while continuing to keep his basketball skills strong. As a manager, Jack worked with the other managers and did what was asked of him. Anytime there were people needed for a drill, Jack would jump in and play hard. He watched intently as the team practiced so he could learn the plays and terminology used by coaches John Dailey and Lawrence Richardson.

Jack could have just sat there and said, I'm not playing so I won't help any more than I have to, but that's not him. He wanted to help, he wanted to get better, he wanted to learn.

This season, Jack is back on the court and has a positive impact on his team. He is starting on junior varsity and playing as a role player off the bench for the varsity team. Even as a junior, he is showing great leadership qualities. Jack pushes everyone to work hard and makes sure people know what they are supposed to do.

The sharp shooter, Began hit a big three-pointer late in the Falcons loss against Bassick on December 21.  He is a very smart player on the court, knowing what to do and where to be on the court in certain situations.

Jack is working hard every day in practice to not only be a sharp shooter, but the best all-around player he can be so he can help the Falcons as much as possible.

Jack is also a writer and a big time sports fan. Jack has written articles on many different topics, including his father. You can check out his writing here. He roots for the Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Milwaukee Brewers, and the University of Wisconsin.

Jack will look to be a key piece for the Falcons this season. 
 

Managing High School Sports

Score book at St. Joseph for basketball (Mary Albl Photo)

(This is a piece I have wanted to write for a while and now have a platform. More may be added at a later date.)  

As many of you know, I was the student manager of the Ludlowe High School baseball and boys basketball teams (and am still always around).

I loved managing. I managed baseball all four years and basketball three years. I got involved with baseball first and after managing freshman baseball, the freshman head coach, Josh Marko, who was then the varsity basketball head coach asked me about managing basketball.

Managing baseball and basketball were very different but I loved both. Baseball involved running around more and was a lot more hands on, where basketball was much more of an administrative role. One thing that was the same, my job was to do whatever the coaches asked and needed me to do.

For baseball, I was in charge of getting the field set up for practice and games. During practices, I might assist a coach with a drill and just make sure equipment is where is should be. If a coach or player needs something, they would ask me. During games I would do the score book. I was always known for being a tough scorekeeper and the players always tried to argue with me about my scoring decisions. There were also times when I ran the scoreboard during games.

One of my pre-game duties was to put the flag up on the flag pole out in left-center field. When I started doing it my junior year (first year as varsity manager), I had a ton of trouble. I could not get it to go up all the way so we always had a laugh about that.

As I said above, managing basketball was much different. For basketball, I did a lot of behind-the-scenes work such as sending emails, creating game statistics sheets and then compiling the statistics, helping to create game programs and more. I used my email more those three years than I had in my life prior. I looked forward to duties and projects that would need my assistance.

My sophomore and junior year (did not manage basketball freshman year) I filmed the games. I was not very good as I would get some into the game that I would forget to move the camera and the play would be happening at one end of the court with the camera pointed at the opposite end. We always joked about it when we went to watch film, but in reality, it wasn't good as it hurt the ability to break down the game and help improve the team. Thankfully, for everyone involved, especially the players and coaches, the athletic department hired a professional service to film the games my senior year and since then. Certain games, especially on the road my senior year, I did the score book. During practice, I ran the clock for drills, got equipment needed and set up the gym for practice, and got thing ready if we have games the next day. 

During baseball and basketball, I got to interact with many different people, both at Ludlowe and other schools. At Ludlowe I dealt with the Ludlowe coaching staff, the varsity coaches and sub-varsity coaches, including but not limited to Keith O'Rourke, Mike Francese, the aforementioned Marko, Brian Silvestro, John Dailey and Lawrence Richardson.

 I also dealt with Athletic Director Dave Schulz, scorekeeper/PA announcer Art Cockerham, and many others. In terms of other schools, I dealt with coaches, both in person and over email, athletic directors, in-person, over email, and even over the phone (and I hate talking on the phone). I also sometimes dealt with other student managers so It was interesting to see the way they did things compared to the way I did things. Still being around I have dealt with the Ludlowe managers since me and managers at other schools, like Warde basketball's Tommy Smalley, who is now managing at Siena College.

I also dealt with members of the media such as Pat Pickens, Mary Albl, Rich Pittera, Bill Bloxsom (featured in picture above) and many more. Pat was the one who gave me the opportunity to blog for Hearst/The Fairfield Citizen, and is probably a big reason I am interested in sports media. so I can't thank him enough for that.

Overall, managing high school sports was one of the best things I have done. One thing to know: Do whatever is needed and you are asked. (And yes, I am still way too invested and too involved).

Remembering Sandy Hook Four Years Later (And Dates)

"We remember. We honor. We never forget."

That is what I Tweeted this morning on the fourth anniversary of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

We remember the 20 children and six adults who were killed that day. We honor them in various ways. We try to make the world a better place. We will never forget Dec. 14, 2012. It made an impact on everyone around the country, but especially those of us in CT.

We all have dates that bring up memories.

Both good and bad.

There are national, or public dates, like today, Sept. 11, and many more.

 There are also dates that matter to each person. We have many different reasons for certain dates. I know I have a few (which may be written about here).

We all talk about remembering where we were when these events happen. That may be important to us, but not to the bigger picture.

Packers Playoff Push?

Packers 2010 Super Bowl Trophy (Photo: Shawn Sailer)

Big win for the Packers today against the Seahawks. Green Bay has won three in a row and now sit at 7-6. If they win out and finish 10-6 they would not be guaranteed a playoff spot. If the Packers do indeed win out and  Lions lose once before Week 17, the match-up with Detroit will be for the division (Go Giants, next week).The Packers could also make the playoffs by getting a wild card spot. The currently are in ninth place in the NFC. The Vikings are in eighth, the Redskins in seventh, with the Buccaneers currently holding onto the sixth and final playoff spot. 

Aaron Rodgers, who had a hamstring injury earlier in the season, reportedly suffered a calf injury early in the game. Rodgers still played very well, however, his inability to scramble and run was evident. The Packers will need him healthy if they want to make the playoffs, or more importantly, make a Super Bowl run.

Despite the fact that the Packers haven't missed the playoffs since 2008, (Aaron Rodgers first year as a starter), there have been many disappointing playoff loses since the 2010 Super Bowl victory over the Steelers. Just like with the Yankees, nothing short of a championship is considered a successful season.

The game today was the best game the Packers have played all year, as they played well offensively and defensively. The special teams was pretty good, as well, despite Mason Crosby missing a field goal.

This has been an interesting season. Rodgers has not been as great as he has been in previous seasons, although injuries have made a difference. The running game has been poor, as both Eddie Lacy and James Starks have suffered injuries. Wide receiver Ty Montgomery has been pretty good as a running back. Despite a good performance today, the defense has struggled mightily.

The Packers final three games are all against NFC North teams. They are at Chicago, home against the Vikings and as I said earlier, at Detroit. 

The Packers have been on TV in Connecticut a lot this season. I don't know why but I love it. It's also always fun interacting on Twitter with great friends and fellow Packer fans like AJ Szymanowski and Jack Began, among others (You should follow them, for more than just Packers Tweets).

So You Want To Be In Media (Exhibit One)

Rob Adams (left) and Chris Erway (right) call the game

So last night the Greenwich Cardinals fell to the Darien Blue Wave in the Class LL State Football Quarterfinals at Boyle Stadium in Stamford. The game is not what I'm going to talk about here.

First off, a big thank you to Rob Adams for having me part of the WGCH Radio crew this season. I am thankful that when Rob came back to call Greenwich Football on WGCH this fall, he wanted me to be around helping out. (Even if I don't think I am a big help. Rob will tell you he likes me being around.)

Now to yesterday. I arrive at Boyle around 4pm. After figuring out the best spot to park at Boyle, as there are many lots and it is raining, I walk up to the press and find Rob already setting up the equipment for a 6:30 kick-off. The way the press box and Boyle Stadium is set up is there is a big middle section (although the middle section has two parts) with two sections offset of the main section. We (the WGCH crew) is given the left section.

A little while later, Chris Erway, Rob's "A-Team" broadcast partner shows up. The three of us (well mostly, Rob and Chris) check to make sure the wireless mics work down on the field for the third member of the broadcast team, Ian Barto, can be the sideline reporter.

While  Rob and I are on the field testing the wireless microphone, a representative from the Stamford High Athletic Department asks Rob where we are set up. Rob points and shows the booth we are set up in. Rob is told that the Darien coaches may be using that booth (realize, we are already set up and it takes time to make sure everything is connected properly). We wait but prepare as though we are going to move.

Fast forward to 5:30, half and hour before we are supposed to go on for the pre-game show and an hour before game-time. The Stamford administration tells us that in fact the Darien coaching staff will be using that booth so we have to move. Oh and by the way, it rained all day and was still raining off and on so we were not going to be set up outside.

The Stamford administration found us a spot in the main part of the press box. We quickly moved all of the equipment from the room we were to the new spot and then Rob went ahead and re-plugged everything in. Due to the space change, there was no room for the transmitter for Ian to be a sideline reporter. To Ian's credit he still went down to the field and fed Rob information the entire game through text message.

Due to the weather, the press box area was full. Besides Rob, Chris, and I, others in the section of the press box were the scoreboard operator, the public address announcer and a spotter. Also in the box at times were other media including Dave Ruden of The Ruden Report, Dave Fierro of The Greenwich Time, Paul Siverfarb from the Greenwich Sentinel and a camera operator from The HAN Network was just to the right of Chris Erway's right shoulder (The rest of The HAN Network was off to the right in the other part of the booth)

Due to the move, we didn't get on as early as planned but Sean Kilkelly did a great job back in the studio to bridge the gap and set up the broadcast. Once Rob and Chris went on the air, the broadcast went well and despite the outcome for the Cardinals it was a pleasure to be a part of.

As always, we made it work. Rob and Chris have been doing this for a long time and are always prepared for whatever obstacles get thrown their way.

Boyle Stadium around 4:15 yesterday

Sticks For Soldiers 2016

Sticks For Soldiers was held in Fairfield on Saturday, Nov. 26. Teams from all over Connecticut came out to play lacrosse and more importantly raise money and awareness for those wounded in war. This years honoree was United States Army Corporal Vincent Mannion-Brodeur. Sergeant Ryan Scott Fleming was the 2016 Distinguished Veteran. The proceeds of this years event go directly to these two men. For more information on Sticks for Soldiers and the two distinguished guests, visit sticksforsoldiers.org

The Color Guard presenting the colors prior to the ceremony

Below is a video I took from the ceremony.

Welcome to Shawn's Blog

As many of you know, I'm a writer. I write a lot about sports and sports related happenings.

With that being said, I decided to create a blog. It will probably be mainly sports but it may be other items as well. I will probably talk broadcasting and media and probably just random things I want to and feel the need to write about. (And by the way, this blog is called "Sailing with Sailer" and will have lots of sports talk but will have zero to do with sailing)

I have done some formal writing, including being the Sports Editor of the Sacred Heart Newspaper, The Spectrum, among other publications, but this will allow me the freedom to write about what I want, when I want. I hope I do a lot with this.

Thanks to many who have blogs and have inspired me to create this blog. Among those are Rob Adams, Susan Shultz and Sandra Began. There are many others as well. Each of these three people have very different blogs/websites to get many different purposes across. One thing they all have in common is that they are excellent writers.

As always, any suggestions on topics, feel free to let me know. You can find me on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.