POP SQUAD NOTES
January 15
I am so hyped. Four of my six little angels have been drafted to take on the Texans. It is glaringly obvious that POP squad is simply THE BEST squad that has ever graced the beams of Topopolilly. Here's a secret that, if interrogated, I did not tell you: all four of you chosen were among the first people we decided on, easy choices, you're all stunningly fabulous in nearly every respect. Now Tiger squad is sending four of its six athletes too, but the very last athlete we tacked on was from Tiger. Only because Dan threatened to pull of Lois' limbs one by one and eat them is that last Tigette going to Texas. This is the truth.
But I digress. Jennie, Sarah, Ash, Sam, and I are going to Texas, along with a couple other Pop-Squad wannabes, Lois, and Dan. Marie and Brooke: you two will train with Mike and Opilly while I'm gone. I know Mike has nothing on my stunning good looks and charming wit, but just be glad you don't have to spend the weekend in a hotel with Brinkie, which is where I'll be.
- Nick
January 11
Ladies, welcome to Pop Squad. I'm Coach Nick, for those of you who are new or have been denying my existence for the past year and a half. I've never coached the Pop Squad before, so this is a new and slightly disturbing experience for me. I'm still adjusting. Please excuse me if I say something mean or nasty about the Pop squad, forgetting that we are the Pop squad. Old habits die hard.
Lois ordered us to tell "what we expect from you" and apparently I'm not exempt from the order, so let's see...We'll have a lot of fun, I promise; I'm really not into all the screaming and death threats like ol' Brinkie, so I promise not to scream at you for missing a skill or something, although I do reserve the right to crack bad jokes at your expense if it's something you shouldn't be missing.
So I'm a flexible guy and all, but I've got to balance that with making sure you guys actually learn something. This means there are going to be rough days, days when you're hurting, and there are going to be days when you really hate me. So it's important that you communicate with me. If you're hurt, I need to know. Tell me if your ankle feels funny, if your wrist feels a little funny, tell me if you have a little headache or something. I might tell you to suck it up and get back to work, but I really do want you to tell me these things.
And when you're hating me, just tell me, just come out and say, "Nick, man, you are driving me nuts and I'm going to strangle you if you make me do this routine one more time." (This way I can shield myself behind a chalk bowl or something before I tell you to do the routine again, and I can avoid death.) Seriously, though, feel free to tell me how it is, because I'm going to tell you how it is. Let's agree right now that everyone understands any harsh words stem from love and admiration, going both ways, ok? This is a rough sport, and everyone has to be pretty tough at times if you guys are gonna go anywhere.
We're going to have an awesome time, though, ladies. Lois handed me this paper with all your names on it, and I was like, "What's this? Why did you make a list of all the most talented and gorgeous girls in the gym? Are we having some sort of pageant?" She gave me that 'you are such an idiot' look and told me you were my squad, and I've just been on Cloud Nine ever since. We are by far the best-looking gymnastics squad in the world, wouldn't you agree? We are going to have an awesome season!
- Nick
Individual Comments Regarding Intersquad and General Progress:
Sarah:
13th at the intersquad, ouch. I'm not sure where that came from either since you've been doing well in training. Stop worrying about it, though, that meet meant nothing in the whole scheme of things.
You're still a junior this year, so we have time to make sure all your basics are solid, technique is sound, yadda yadda. Most of your mistakes seem to come from mind games; we'll work on that, too. At this point missing skills isn't a problem, but I do think it's important that you learn to take everything you're doing in training and throw it in a meet with just as much confidence. I think we need to make you a little meaner.
Overall, though, I think it'll be a great season for you. You're going to be one of the top juniors in the nation, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if your scores challenge the top seniors. We've just got to keep the mental game under control, because it'll only get tougher from here on out.
