Mid-Week Grind

Lots of different characters populate these tournaments - players, parents, refs, coaches, and of course, vendors. The presence of big name coaches is what makes this one (and a handful of others) notable. At first, I was a bit mesmerized seeing top 20 coaches walking around, evaluating your kid (and of course many others). But then you see or hear about the same coaches saying or doing things, and their luster is diminished. After all, they are just people -- except that they are playing with the dreams of teenagers.

Their presence will be much more notable tonight, as the teams move into the championship rounds. Of the original 160, only 12 will now advance, so there will be far fewer to watch and evaluate. Although the Belles lost their second game yesterday, they won their first then and their first this morning, so they move on and play a 6 pm game tonight. If they win that, they'll play again at 9 pm. Losers go home, and finals tomorrow.

This is when reality sets in. Cuts, bruises, sore knees and ankles, fatigue and some hurt egos make for a war of attrition.

More later.