There has been an outpouring of support for new Justin-Siena High baseball coach Allen Rossi on this site in the last few days. Former players, willing to attach their names to the praise, are extolling the virtues of the head man returning to the Braves' top job after five years away.
The letters of support for Rossi can be found in the "Comments" section of the story about Justin-Siena baseball that appeared here in June.
Rossi wouldn't be a high school coach if he didn't have critics. A couple wrote here, anonymously, to complain about things they allege that he did on the field and off. It's admirable that former players would rally to his support.
It's unclear how all those former players heard about two isolated anonymous citics or brief online conversations I engaged in to make sure those critics realized that their voices will be heard in this space.
A piece appeared here in June detailing my experience with the Justin-Siena baseball program in the spring of this year, when my freshman son split time between the JV and varsity. Beyond that piece and online conversations with folks who responded to it, no attention has been paid to the school or the baseball program.
To be extra clear:
1) My son transferred to a public school in June at roughly the time Allen Rossi was going through the hiring process. My son's decision had nothing to do with Allen Rossi returning to the job he did well for so many years at Justin.
2) Allen Rossi contacted me via e-mail to ask me to give my son his best wishes for success at his new school. We wished Rossi nothing but good things for Justin-Siena's baseball program.
3) Anyone who thinks the June story was about my son, missed the point or chose not to get the point. So, I won't be engaging in a debate over the value of playing wiffle ball at varsity baseball practices with the former player named Travis who wrote.
I'm compelled to urge those writing in support of Rossi to write to Napa Valley Register, too. Their views of Rossi would reach a bigger audience of Napa Valley baseball folks and such positive and high praise would run in total in the newspaper. (Anyone writing with criticism of a high school coach would have trouble getting their stuff printed online or in the newspaper pages.)
Some who wrote in support of Rossi blasted those who were anonymously critical. The Napa Valley, I realized quickly, isn't a place where criticism or even questions about prep sports are welcome. So, if folks want to use this spot to share their feelings ... they're welcome. I'd prefer names, but if folks remain anonymous I will still respond.
I appreciate folks paying attention to this site and hope they'll check it to see if anything beyond the one story about Justin-Siena baseball is appealing to them.
(Contact Ted Sillanpaa at tsillanpaa1956@gmail.com)
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