I understand the sentiment for believing we're spoiling the kids a bit. I just don't agree with it. Oh sure, I would rather have been someplace else Friday and Saturday than watching 300 kids roll around in Basehor for 25 hours. And I know it seems there were an exhausting number of kids on the podium posing for their photos. I will also tell you my son was one of those gangly, get pinned as much as he pinned, lanky, slowish shooting kids we all watched and cringed at, while we wondered why he ever wanted an 8th place medal at a JV tournament as a freshman.

He stuck with it and worked his tail off and stood on the podium in 4th place at the Bobcat holding a piece of pot metal he will treasure like the Ko-E-Noor diamond all his life. What do I know?