By R.Vincent Tupaz
For Variety

ATHLETES who excel are always an inspiration to us. Most persons have a sports hero or two - one that they are just in awe of when watching. Isn’t it a wonderful thing?
On Guam, current standouts include Major Leaguer J.R. Hattig and Mr. Guam Dan Munoz. As well, there’s a couple of up and comers or staples and people of Chamorro descent such as soccer standout Ryan Lujan Guy, baseball notable James Guerrero volleyball legend Aubrey Posadas and basketball sensation Jocelyn Pardilla.
These athletes and many more have brought pride to the island because of their successes. Certainly, there’s an abundance of pride in their family as well. On thing rings true when speaking with athletes from Guam, or with roots on island, the sincerity and humility they possess seems really genuine. And that’s a good thing that I hope is not soon lost.
I bring this up and will relate a perception of mine on the change in attitude that is soon to come at least as perceived by me and validated by those in my inner circle. I remember coaching the Guam Community College Tradesmen football team when the college maintained it vocational high school and I can tell you the difference between coaching there and coaching at the John F. Kennedy High School were night and day. Now I was a young coach started at the Trade at 19 in the Fall of 1993-1997 and was at Kennedy when I was 23 from 1997 -1998.
At GCC, armed with just the experience of playing the sport for the past 4 years as a high school student and a year in the island’s varsity league, the respect conveyed by the players was as expected. At Kennedy, the respect was one that I soon learned - had to be earned.
Daily I wondered what was different about these kids and that of those enrolled at GCC. Eventually, I concluded that while GCC had a diverse population, with kids from the central mixed in with those from both the island’s Southern and Northern communities. JFK students were from the cosmopolitan North. Tamuning, Tumon, Harmon and Dededo. Many wannabe gangster types emulating the latest hyped up and overrated hip-hop artist of the day. At GCC the kids were more grounded and accepting of the natural order of things. They noticed and adhered to the rule of “Me coach you player.” More of the island culture was ingrained in those students and the pecking order was understood, even amongst the players.
This inconclusive and extremely unscientific study was further adopted as dogma for me when I recalled the few and far between times any conflicts arose during practices or at games. At GCC, the kids from the north were more shall I say “competitive,” similar to the kids from JFK.
As I studied further my conclusions, I linked the familial system into the mold. I thought about the participation and attitudes of parents and family at games or towards practice and the level of support the athletes received. I knew or at least had met the parents or family members of kids from the Southern villages. Parents from the North, either at GCC and JFK, were here and there and most often would be supportive through monetary offerings, not a bad thing, just absent I guess.
So I’ve concluded as have many studies by persons greater and more learned than I have; that parent involvement and family supports is critical to a child. Whether it be at home, in school or on the field. Parents get involved! Stay involved! And cheer your son or daughter on. They’re only children for 18-years, and sadly some for less. It’s been said that kids today grow-up quicker than ever before. Enjoy them before it’s too late.
R. Vincent Tupaz, is a former beat reporter for the Variety, journalism teacher, and entrepreneur and a “has been” football player and coach. Currently he’s an all around nice guy. Feedback, comments, and or suggestions are always appreciated via email at mvsports@gmail.com <mailto:mvsports@gmail.com> . Please send angry comments as SPAM or elsewhere.