Longtime Bellaire High School baseball coach Ray Knoblauch died in his sleep yesterday. Knoblauch, father of current major league player Chuck Knoblauch, was 71 and had been battling Alzheimer's.

The article lists his accomplishments (four time state champion) and his innovations (using video tape in the 1960s), and also gives a clear idea of the positive influence that a coach can have on his players. I think a key lesson for anyone in a position of authority is that if you want to be respected, you won't always be liked. How often is "he wanted to be everyone's friend" given as a defense of someone's failings? Sure, you can go overboard the other way (*cough* *cough* *Bobby Knight* *cough* *cough*), but it's definitely the way to go.

I think this is my biggest fear of fatherhood. I don't like being disliked. It's gonna be hard to be the bad cop. Tiffany knows this - I had a hard enough time disciplining the dog. But I have to admit, we're all better off now that Harry knows what his limits are. And by now I've seen enough children of friends, family, and acquaintances to have gotten a healthy dislike of uncontrolled behavior and ineffective parenting, not to mention the fact that Tiffany will kick my ass if need be. So I believe I'll be ready when the time comes. I'd better be, that's for sure.