Herb Wisdom never waffles

You know where Wisdom is coming from. He likes to tell you like it is. He doesn't sugar-coat it, either.  In doing so, he might light a fire under the so-called powers in-charge.  He stirs the coffee in their cups.

They might be saying, "you can't say that!"    He will respond, "oh, yeah . . .watch me!"

Wisdom is the ISC's Western Vice-President. He has gained that respect from being in the game for 33 years, as a player, coach, and sponsor.  So, the 56-year-old  can chew on the old days. And in the blink of an eye, offer suggestions for the future.

Wisdom is hardy the "Southwest Mouth, who roared!"

The most frustrating thing for him is that he often wonders if anyone is listening. And that a sad commentary on men's major fastpitch today. That's because, excuse the pun,  Herb does offer wisdom.

"I'm not having fun anymore," explained Wisdom. "This is the time of   my life where Irene (his wife) and I should be enjoying the game.  But this game isn't what it used to be. And that's goes for Irene, too. When I was playing for the Long Beach Nitehawks (1960-70's), it used to be that if we didn't have a tournament to go to on weekends, the wives were mad at us.

"It used to be like a hometown happening. The wives were always involved. Now,  with so many players, playing out of  their cities or states,  the wives don't care. They don't travel. Sometimes, they feel, ' why  should I get involved with his present team, because  next  year their husbands might be playing for another team.

"Irene and I have been in it for the long haul.  But we're thinking what happened to the loyality the players had for the team they played with.  I lost three players this year. It  almost  devastated us. We had worked so hard to keep our team together, and in a New York-minute they're gone.

"We don't have our heads in the sand," continued Wisdom. "We know what is happening in this modern era. Still,  we don't have to like it.  You have some sponsors, with Lamborguini budgets, come into fastpitch softball, and all they want to do is win. Sometimes, that comes at any price. Look at what happened with Toronto, and All-Car.  They're not in this tournament (ISC World Tournament), because they weren't in it for the long haul. "They just wanted to win.  You have guys with budgets, like Larry Miller Toyota, and you have to respect what he has done for fastpitch softball, because he has been in it (1979) for the long haul. His team is first class. And he does things first class. I respect him.

"Then, you have guys with a beer budget, like myself. They're in it for the love of the game. They have all their credit cards maxed out.  And do you think anymore really cares about us?  They don't.  It seems like sometimes teams, like us, are used for tournament fodder. Teams beat up on us, and who cares? No one.

"Once, we get to be respectful,  and win a couple games in the tournament, others teams look to our talent and want our players for their teams. That's the thanks we get. It's like a slap in the face. We're forced to start all over, and I don't think I want to do it.  It's not fun anymore.

"Everyone comes up to us year-after-year, shakes our hands, and tells us, 'keep working, you'll get a chance at the championship. I know some people are very sincere when they say it. Others, walk away, and I know what they're saying, 'Herb will never have a world-class team. We'll always kick his team ass!'"

Wisdom wants men's major fastpitch to start promoting the game more.  Bring people back to the game. And continue to use the new ISC Website.

"It seems like we forget those who have accomplished a lot in this game," said Wisdom. "I played with three or four former All-Americans with the Long Beach Nitehawks, and they are not even in the ISC Hall Of Fame. They have been forgotten. That's sad. We should bring them back.  That's because they have their own business and could be team sponsors. They love the game. But once their playings were over, people seemed to forget about them.

"That's not class. We should get them involved.  They would love it if someone put forth an effort to bring them back," added Wisdom. "Another thing, our new ISC Website is a real step into the 21st Century.  I am not up on the technology of computers. But I have young men on my team, who are on it all the time, and they bring me printouts of it.  It's been great for us. A real major step for us."

While is hasn't been fun for them, even in the dark of dawn, there has been a silver lining this season for Herb and Irene.  Their son, Cliff, played for the USA National Team in the recent Pan American qualifier.

"That was our proudest moment in the game,"  Wisdom pointed out. "It's a family thing. You know how much pride you take in your family. He was representing  the USA. Still, he was representing our family. And yes, it was a big deal for us. A very big deal. Once you've been around the game as long as we have, it's like Christmas came early."

We're constantly bombarded with the details of the seamier side of professional sports, and the players who are addicted to drugs, assault their wives, and teammates, stalk and rape women, drive drunk, turn on their supporters, hold out until their multimillion-dollar contracts are renegotiated, complain about their rich-and-famous lifestyles, and disrespect their elders.

It is simply class when a father and mother can say their proudest moment in life and the sport was sending their son to the Pan American qualifier. And they are very sincere about it. When Wisdom talked about it, you could almost see his eyes swell up, with tears. And their son, Cliff, reaching out to his mother, and planting a big kiss on her cheek.

That's more than just family business. It should be a reflection of life. But it isn't, not in this fast-talking, fast-paced, what have you done for me 1990's. It seems like there isn't enough time in this world for youngsters to stop and smell the roses.

When Herb, and Irene got into this fastpitch softball business some 33 years old, they weren't looking for adulation. It was for the respect  the respect they had for the game.  Their fastpitch softball family was an extension of their own family. The players are wives were also their family. Irene and Herb nurtured their own family. They also nurtured their extented family.

When people look back a the registered geniuses of  fastpitch softball coaches, Wisdom concedes that his name will not be among them.  He knows that. He is not in the sport for that.

But if the people look back at what Herb, and Irene have endured to keep their families together,  they will know the heavy burdens they have had. They will know their story is a reflection of real life.  And they know they have to answer anyone. . .well, almost no one.  And He knows. Believe me, He knows.

And He would be elated with their efforts.

Editor's Note:
DAN PATTISON has been a sports writer and columnist for over 30 years with The Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, Las Vegas Sun, The Sporting News, Basketball Times & USA Today.  He is currently enjoying his association with men's major fastpitch and as an ISC Commissioner.