Avondale

To think we were so discouraged when we moved to this school district 11 years ago....as it turns out I got a great education and accomplished any and all goals I set for myself.  I had to include some pictures from playing at my old high school.  No I didn't score 4 touch downs in one football game (a la Al Bundy), but playing football remains one of the best disciplinary experiences I have ever encountered...going in line with my family and religion.  Anyway, here are some fun shots of playing Football and Baseball, as well as coaching little league baseball.  Lookout for shots of me when I played in little league too. 

  I can honestly say it was my buddy Benji and his dad Frank that taught me how to play baseball.  We played for hours and hours in the backyard, then the field, and then the Plymouth Canton Junior Baseball League.  I played a few years of organized Little League before I moved and I took some time off in between sports.  It was time for a change, so I decided to join the Middle School Football team...I weighed 116 pounds, thank gooness I weighed enough to make the heavy weight team (by 1 pound).  The lightweight team never won!  Here's my Bo Jackson pose from Middle School.

    Can you see the resemblance?:   

I went from Middle School Heavyweight Football to Junior Varsity and then to the Varsity Squad.  Here's a  shot of me before the season with the folks:

You gotta order pictures too!

There was nothing better than working hard and on occasion messing around in the gym:

This was definitely my favorite shot of me in the papers...wait, as I recall it was the only picture ever printed of me in the paper:-)

I guess we lost some phenomenal athletes and some injuries to some key players killed our playoff hopes.  I was nice to be able to play my last game in the dome. 

  If you look in the stands, you'll see Muneeb, Saleem, and one of their buddies in the stands.  Muneeb's easy to find...he's the one in the big yellow jacket...as usual.

Here's a few post-game shots celebrating our victory.

I guess I had a lot going on through my head, but the thing that stood out the most is I got through 6 years of football without any serious injuries and I had the opportunity to get significant playing time and become an impact player on my team.  I remember tears coming down my eyes cause I knew it was officially over...the team, camaraderie, practice, tackling drills, gassers, and that desire to go out every Friday night with the intention to pummel the opposition into oblivion.  All I could do is thank AllahSWT for all that I was able to do and accomplish in what may very well be the greatest sport known to man.

  Alhumduillah

I had one more season left in me, so I tried out for and made the Varsity Baseball Team.  Another important lesson learned in life that season is you train for the sport you play...injuries kept me on the DL for most of the year.

Knowing my playing days were over I felt I had way too much in my head to go to waste.  I decided to share some of my knowledge and experience I picked up over the years with some kids who I hoped would share the same love for athletic competition as I did.  I tried to coach with even more passion than when I played. 

  The 1999 Rochester Hills Little League Cubs

  The 2000 Rochester Hills Little League Rangers

I tried to instill qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, discipline, and I did my best to make sure the boyz had one hell of a time.  In 99 we won our division and lost in the second round of the playoffs.  Being in first place, I got the honor of coaching the All-Star Team as well.  I learned the importance of making sure everyone feels a part of the team, and in doing so no one will do anything to let the team down.  I found this philosophy to work not only in sports, but in real life.  In 2000 I had a talented group of boys in a little older league and we made some noise in the regular season, but again we were left hanging in the playoffs.  I decided to officially retire from coaching until it's my own kids up there on the mound or on the football field.

I was also happy to pass on the torch to Esa, who continued to play for Avondale and eventually got to sport the great Number 56  as well.