Published: Monday, September 05, 2011
Your kid doesn't need a promoter, and you don't want to be Don King.

Your kid doesn't need someone to email the newspaper, call the athletic director or text the coach to tell them how wonderful the kid is.

Everyone who needs to know knows. Everyone who doesn't know now will know soon.

Know how?

Your kid will tell us. Your kid will accomplish things. Your kid will cross the finish line in the order she crosses, and that will get noticed. Your kid will play lights-out defense while the goalie gets bored. Your kid will flatten every linebacker in sight. Those who matter will notice.

Your kid's accomplishments will speak volumes, more than what you can say on his or her behalf.

He will do it without you, and people will know.

"The old adage still holds true," Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin baseball coach Jim Clark told me recently, "that if you're good enough, they'll find you, no matter where you are. If you're at a showcase or a playground, they'll find you."

When your kid signed up to play, there was a line on the form that said "parent."

There wasn't a line on the form that said "promoter."

Do yourself -- and your kid -- a favor. Ground the helicopter. Put the smartphone down. Close the laptop.

Buy a very comfortable lawn chair or bleacher pad. Keep a blanket and a rain poncho in the trunk.

Empty your mind. Listen to some Grateful Dead on the way to the game.

Then fill that head of yours with the memories that are about to unfold, the ones that will last lifetimes -- theirs and yours. Pay attention to the little moments. The smiles teammates share. The glances in your direction. The sheer beauty of being young and athletic.

This is their moment to achieve and yours to cherish.

Savor every moment of this season, and don't stress over who's getting attention, who's getting ink or airtime, and who's getting noticed.

All that matters is that one person notice your kid.

You.