Overtime

(This is the first in a series of entries by guest bloggers throughout the high school spring sports season. Mike Nemchek and his daughter Sammi, who is entering her fourth year as a starter on Trinity Catholic’s softball team, explore the topical nature of the parent-athlete dynamic.  Mike coached many of the city’s top players in youth leagues, including Sammi).

By Mike Nemchek

I was recently watching the Country Music Television channel (yes in addition to other types of music I admit to enjoying country) and a video by Kenny Chesney called “Don’t Blink” was playing.

To me, the main point of the song is that life goes faster than you think, so don’t blink. As the video continued, my mind shifted to how appropriate the song is for the current events in my life. One is joyful and one is at the exact opposite end of the spectrum.

Unfortunately, last week one of my sister-in-laws passed away, leaving my oldest brother to bury his wife of 32 years. Both the song and the unexpected passing remind me that life is truly short and honestly goes faster than you think.

On a much more positive note, the song also had me reflecting on my children and then it hit me that the third of my four, Sammi, is about to begin her final season of high school softball. It seems like just yesterday she was learning the fundamentals in the Mini Division of Stamford Babe Ruth softball.

I coached Sammi for almost seven years (although she may say it felt more like 17) and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it and wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.

Sammi, of course, was not the only player on her various teams, which means many of her wonderful teammates she has had over the years are now currently spread out at four schools in Stamford (topics for future entries).

My involvement these days is as a fan, and to be perfectly honest I’m not quite sure how I’m going to handle it when this current season comes to an end. I might very well be spotted in gymnasiums and softball fields throughout Stamford next year, even though Sammi will be a freshman in college.

Speaking of involvement and fans, my sister-in-law’s death also made me think of reaching out to whoever might be reading this blog. Simply put, if you don’t already, please don’t miss an inning of your son’s or daughter’s games if your schedule permits.

Although they will never admit it, I truly believe children appreciate and look forward to the support your attendance provides. Parents of freshmen, sophomores and juniors, I’m envious of you because you have more time to show your love and support. Fellow parents of seniors, we are all in this together and the season will go by faster than you think.

Don’t blink.

Jim Nantz might call it a tradition almost unlike any other.

Unbeknownst to many, there has been a long-standing connection between Westport and the Final Four. Bill Mitchell of Mitchells of Westport has made a habit of providing Nantz and his broadcast partner two ties for the Final Four: one to wear during the national semifinals and another for the championship game.

And Nantz has a custom of giving the tie he wears for the title game to someone on the winning team. Usually there is some emotional component to Nantz’s selection. Last year the tie went to Mario Chalmers, who hit the game-tying shot at the end of regulation that helped Kansas win the national title.

Who is this year’s recipient? Nantz said in an email this morning that he is giving it to North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough.

So the Mitchells-Westport-Final Four connection continues.

The FCIAC spring sports season begins on Wednesday, and so will the contributions of the guest bloggers for Overtime. As previously announced, we have put together a strong lineup to help take you deeper inside the world of high school athletics over the next two months and complement my own postings.

Starting on Wednesday, you can look forward to:

Power Play: Stamford High senior Emily Powers, a two-time starter for the school’s two-time state championship field hockey team, is playing lacrosse this spring though she has never played the sport before and the program is still competing on the JV level. She will tell you why and document the experience.

View From The Hill: What are the pressures of trying to defend a state title? Bobby Horn and Steve Rivera, who played a key role in Westhill’s magical run to the CIAC Class LL crown last year, will take you along for the ride as the Vikings attempt to repeat.

First Knight: Fred Kelley was an assistant for Stamford High’s baseball team the last 20 years. Now, with the retirement of Bobby Augustyn, Kelley is taking over one of the city’s most storied programs. Kelley will share the ups and downs of being a first-year coach.

Double Chek: Sammi Nemchek is entering her fourth-year as a starter on Trinity Catholic’s softball team. Her father, Mike, coached many of the city’s top players in youth leagues, including his daughter. Sammi and Mike will explore the topical nature of the parent-athlete dynamic.

I have spoken with all the writers several times the past two weeks setting this up and I am certain you will find their insights compelling and interesting. Start looking for their posts beginning Wednesday.

As expected, Stamford High School’s Chris Evans announced today that he is headed to The Taft School in Watertown next year, where he will play both football and basketball.

Evans broke all of the Black Knights’ receiving records in the fall, and last month helped the basketball team to a school-record 24 wins, the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference championship and to the semifinal round of the CIAC Class LL Tournament.

The last thing I want to do in these economic times is hurt the sports bar business. But if you have an interest in Craig and Vince Austrie, you may want to consider watching Saturday’s game at a place where you will be able to focus on the broadcast.

I had lunch Tuesday with Jim Nantz of CBS Sports, who has been a longtime friend and was recently named the National Sportscaster of the Year. He will be calling the Final Four games Saturday and Monday.

I told him how Vince drives up to Storrs three to four times a week, sometimes just for 15 minutes, to spend time with Craig. I thought it would make one of those great stories Jim likes to tell during stoppages in play, where they sometimes then cut away and show the person he is talking about in the stands.

Jim agreed it would make for a terrific piece and asked a lot of questions about both of them.

There’s no guarantee this will make it on the air, but my sense is there is a decent chance the story will get told and we could end up seeing a shot of Vince sitting in the stands.

If I get any more definitive news from Jim I will pass it along.

I spoke to Craig Austrie last night for a column that will appear in Friday’s paper, and his father, Vince, this morning.

Since it will be a portion but not an overwhelming part of the story, it is worth mentioning the unique bond between father and son. Though it has been fairly well documented over the years, Vince makes the two-hour drive from Stamford to Storrs three to four days a week, sometimes staying for as little as 15 minutes.

During some of the visits, Vince will go into the gym and shag balls for Craig, working on his shooting and keeping his confidence up. Other times they will just sit and talk.

“Not all 21-year-olds want to have their parents around,” Vince told me. “I’m pretty lucky.”

Asked why he has done all this traveling, Vince said, “This lasts only so long and it is pretty special.”

Vince said a lot of times Craig will call to make sure his father is coming up. “It means a lot to me,” Craig said.

Anyone who knows the Austries from the Trinity Catholic days understand the nature of their relationship. At a time when any sports story involving parents is almost always negative, the Austries are a breath of fresh air.

Craig has turned out to become the quality person he is — not the basketball player — both because of who he is, and because he has had a great role model.