Help me save my boy!!

FootbagginBum · Post by **FootbagginBum** » 10 Apr 2005 20:53

I send a plea out to the footbag world, especially those who attended css6 and to a lesser degree worlds, help me convince my number one student and partner Evan Gatesmen from quitting footbag! (For those who don't kow of him, he won sick trick at css6) I'm not saying anything forceful, I just can't seem to get into his mind and would like everyone who was so impressed with him (which seemed to be a lot of people, including some Baps) to send him an encouraging email telling how good he is, what possibilities his game holds (I so think he could be one of the best...I think he's as good as me and he's only been playing 18 months) Some of you who may have gone through a similar not wanting to play stage might be able to express some regret or something too. He just says that he never really had interest and he just used it to kill time, and is bored and done with it (though it seems like there's more on his mind). His parents are so supportive, he's so talented, and he's such an integral part of the scene here, quitting at 16 would be the biggest shame I've ever scene in footbag, and to me even equal to losing Ryan Mulroney's presence at worlds.

Anyhow, his email is [email protected] and I think some genuine positive words from those who played with him might hopefully be able to save my diamond in the rough. Thanks again, it'd really mean a lot to me if we can give him good incentive/fan mail to keep kickin.

And meanwhile I think I'm gonna see what I can get into his head through his parents end.

Here's hoping,
Bum

Dat · Post by **Dat** » 10 Apr 2005 21:02

I think if he's bored with it you should just leave him be. Footbag is something you do cause you love it and if he doesn't enjoy it anymore he has a right to stop. He shouldn't be forced to do something he doesn't like anymore just because his friends want him to.

sen · Post by **sen** » 10 Apr 2005 21:15

Dat, I think your <b>mostly</b> right, but if people can help see the fun and joy that a former pasttime of his has, then why not try? If he's encouraged by peoples words, then great. If, not. . . at least he had a fair chance and know's people cared about him.

KronoKicker · Post by **KronoKicker** » 10 Apr 2005 21:37

I agree with Dat too, but I did get to kick with Evan several times at worlds this year. He is really good, and definitely has a lot of potential. I will definitely send some words of encouragement.

habitat · Post by **habitat** » 11 Apr 2005 10:57

well if evan quits, he is dumb because he is really good, but it's his deal. I would be disappointed that it proves once again that people who get really good lose interest quickly,

as long as he doesn't start saying footbag is "gay" like some other "gay" people

Sporatical_Distractions · Post by **Sporatical_Distractions** » 11 Apr 2005 15:00

I have personally kicked with evan gatesman at css6 and he is sooooo good and not just in the footbag sense. He is a super chill kid and is hilarious as well. The last night of css there was just the missoula footbag alliance, half-beard from chicago (sorry, I forgot your name), and evan. Me and him just kept eachother laughing the whole time and it was probably the most memorable part of css for me. If he quits then so dies a memorable part of the second tournament i had ever attended. I remember him saying that once you are this far into footbag and/or this much into it, then it becomes a part of who you are. I hope that it remains a part of who he is but then again, if he really wants to quit then he should quit. I wrote him a very encouraging e-mail and hope he makes the decision that best suits him

FootbagginBum · Post by **FootbagginBum** » 11 Apr 2005 18:47

Thank you so much Kevin, I knew Missoula and Eugene would be helpful.

Now as for dat and krono:

Dat wrote:I think if he's bored with it you should just leave him be. Footbag is something you do cause you love it and if he doesn't enjoy it anymore he has a right to stop. He shouldn't be forced to do something he doesn't like anymore just because his friends want him to.

Please READ the post before addressing it. I posted evan's only words on the matter which stated that He was NEVER really interested in it. He did not GET bored, he's ALWAYS been bored (from what he's almost always said), therefore that should NOT (and I'm 90% sure that IS NOT) his (true) reason for "quitting". This kid has always had some objective insight affecting every aspect of him (don't really want to go into it as I already feel I'm pushing his privacy to the edge of neccesity) and that part of him is dominant almost all the time, EXCEPT when he's really into something (shredding hard, laser tag, soccer...). Almost of you who met him saw him to be quiet. Steve Goldberg was even tentative to go give him tips cause he wasn't sure how he'd react (but he did and they schooled forever, and since Steve made Ryan and Vasek, this is another reason I can't let him quit yet) But the more footbag becomes whats on his mind, the more he relaxes and the HAPPIER he gets. Kevins description of him as hilarious and having fun is only characteristic of him when he is in the zone, and footbag gives that to him (as I'm sure soccer once did before I knew him). All that on top of all the other good reasons to play footbag. And even though this may seem a bit pushy or intrusive, as someone who's studied psychology and philosophy and the nature of people and character (as a theatre major for 4 years), this little boost from outside may be the only thing that will help, because it doesn't seem that any of us here in town who "know" him (in varying degrees) can get through to him or get anything other than indifference out of him. I wouldn't have made this thread if I hadn't thought it through from many angles (for 2 days in fact). Please trust and assist me if you understand.

Also, this kid started learning on his own from watching us when I was a senior after I said I wasn't teaching any more kids at our school myself (I said my second in command had to do it all as practice for when I wasn't there). This kid impressed me so much on his own that I HAD to devote my time to helping him, and in 5 months he passed all 20 other freestylers in town, even all my former teachers. I put so much time I said I wouldn't put in, and he gets better and better and has more fun at it all the time (He enjoyed css about 20 times as much as worlds). And he's already pushed the footbag envelope; I'd never seen anyone duck zoid, and he ps whirls out of it like nothing (not to mention how he's pushed me and the rest of the Vegas scene) I can't let him lose something that he could be the best at so early on, especially when I could be near the top if I hadn't sacrificed my own schooling time to foster his growth. I am not an emotional person (in fact, as a philosophy major and a scientist, I am very far from it) but if a month goes by without him showing up at meetings, I will spend a good amount of time crying to say the least.

Sorry that was long, it was all important though. Thanks guys.

Bum

Dat · Post by **Dat** » 11 Apr 2005 20:02

I know it's sad that this promising protégé of yours says he doesn't want to play anymore, but won't it be a bigger tragedy if he is unhappy playing footbag? If he is having personal problems outside of footbag he should be dealing with those instead of distracting himself with footbag. Either way, it doesn't seem like more footbag is the answer.

HG · Post by HG » 12 Apr 2005 03:14

Evan was awesome. The hour that i played with him he didnt talk at all. I am not sure why, maybe he's THAT shy? I dont know, but he seemed friendly.

Another thing, you say he wont visit .org or this, try to get him to do that.

kenny_wunder · Post by **kenny_wunder** » 13 Apr 2005 21:02

i have to say that evan is an amazing shredder. that last night at css with evan and the mfa was frikin' awesome. now, i love footbag more than anything, but if it came down to making a choice between something like school or footbag, i would have to make a sad choice.

Splint · Post by **Splint** » 13 Apr 2005 23:58

If he quits, I'll kill him. Someone with that much natural talent just up an quitting the game is insane. He easily has the potential of being the next Vasek. At 18 months into the game I think he's even better than Vasek was at that stage. He easily hits stuff I've worked for years on and never been able to hold steady.

I'll only forgive him if he's doing it to go climb the Himilayas to train with some whacked out monk to become Batman.

FootbagginBum · Post by **FootbagginBum** » 14 Apr 2005 07:33

Wow, I don't know about him, but I'd like to go do that soon...I'm just hoping the monks and saints like footbag...I've already come up with all the arguments and everything...lol.

I will agree with you there Dat, one should not run from their problems, and I wouldn't want him to play if it really made him unhappy...but if we are somewhere in the right direction about it being an internal issue, I think its more like when depressed kids don't want to go outside...I don't think he feels anything negative ABOUT footbag, just lost the little bit of drive that kept him going...

Maybe your right Henry, if I could get him on here long enough to see his new fan base and get some of the Jorden videos, maybe he'll come back to us. He always liked Jorden...even at worlds when he was only great, rather than insanly good. Also I think a certain offer involving Montana might coax him back too.

Anyway, he seems to have some good esp too, so the more positive energy we generate towards him the better.

Later guys, here's hopin.
Bum