why might you ask? because of the coaching and the fact that it is mass maritime... that is it really...
i know i'm new to the sport, but i truly do enjoy it.
unfortunately i'm on the bill to stand watch tomorrow, and just realized it today, because first company has a way of not informing people of jack shit, and i immediately emailed my coach to let him know why i can't be at practice tomorrow afternoon.
and this is what he had to say about that whole thing...
"Are you telling me cadets are given 24 hours notice of watch duty? Do you want me to have the Athletic Director contact 1st Company commander and find out why five people have to miss practice so you can stand watch!?! What does being a member of a team mean to you, Justin? Do you have any consideration for the fact that we’re racing on Saturday? That you haven’t been in a boat but once in the past week?
What does “with regards" mean to you, Justin O’Donnell? I don’t think it means the same thing that it means to me.
With all due respect.
Alex Machi
Head Coach, Women’s & Men’s Crew
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
o no no no mister monkey man. things do not work that way with me.
Coach,
I understand that i'm new to the sport of rowing, and need as much practice as i can, however i am also a member of the regiment of cadets, and have been in enough hot water as of late concerning matters of discipline, that i've decided it's in my best interest to stay low at the academy and serve my watch duties as assigned, and not argue the fact. Standing watch is a requirement to remain in good standing within the regiment, and every member of the regiment is expected to stand their fair share of watch duty each semester. as of now i have only stood one single watch this semester, while most other cadets are on their 4th or 5th rotation.
There have been enough complaints about the crew team floating around campus as it is, about how "they get out of everything" "they never stand inspections" "they never stand watch" "and they have things so much easier than the rest of us." - getting out of watch last minute isn't worth giving the rest of the school another reason to hate the crew team, and complain about us even further, justifying their claims that we get unwarranted privileges.
i am also very aware that we have a race this weekend, and cognizant of the fact that the season is drawing to a rapid close as well.
but i feel the need to highlight that i WAS in attendance at practice on Tuesday, and WAS in a boat on the water on that day, and i DID show up to the bus today to attend practice, however come 1530 when the bus was getting ready to leave, with or without us, there was only 1 coxswain present, and 9 rowers. since the other rowers present were all in the same boats together on a regular basis, it was assumed that they would be rowing together this weekend, and it would do them good to practice together on the water, while i completed the workout in Erg Alley.
Also,
With All Due Respect,
I myself have not missed a single practice this semester for anything other than a legitimate and unavoidable Academic or Military commitment, and have always put my best effort forth to improve at every chance i have on the pond and on the ergs. And if it's a question about dedication to the team you have, with all due respect, i do not believe i am one who should be questioned. the rest of the team has shown time and time again this semester that crew is secondary in their time at MMA, and most of the time don't have the courtesy to tell anyone of their decisions to blow off practice.
Even today, I was unable to row on the pond, because the rest of my boat had decided they simply didn't want to, and chose to make they're way to erg alley, without even bothering to show up at the bus to see if they'd be needed.
And i may not be the best gambler in the world, but i would wager good money that i won't be the only member of the team unable to row tomorrow's practice. i know for a fact that Nick Fenton won't be able to row, once again, due to the infection in his hand.
and even so, i don't see how my being unable to attend would hinder 4 others from practicing, in the past Alicia has shown up for both morning and afternoon practices, and seemed quite willing to do so at the time to cover for chip when he couldn't row, perhaps one of the other rowers who attend morning practices only could do the same thing if it were possible, like perhaps say, one of the rowers who is a member of the Navy SIP program, and routinely misses Wednesday mornings on a regular basis as it is.
Perhaps i'm reading too much into this issue, or perhaps you are...
but the underlying issue isn't dedication to Crew, its the fact that this is Mass Maritime. If none of us had commitments to a regiment, and this were a normal school, i could guarantee you that you would have a team 100 times as dedicated and motivated as the one we have now.
but alas, such is not the case, and we all need to make do with the situation at hand...
With Regards,
Justin O'Donnell
PVT, US Army, Massachusetts National Guard
3/C Cadet, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
i think i went a lil bit overboard
TRIP
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