Since sports at this current juncture are grinding to a halt, it is a time for athletes of all experience levels to take some time off. This is even true for major league baseball players, as the All-Star break commences this upcoming Monday. As we all know, there are UHSAA restrictions that outlaw football workouts, scrimmages or anything like unto them until August 1. Now, this is a column, so please don’t ask me to cite my source, but may it suffice that this person is reliable. Reportedly, last Friday morning, residents in Manti could hear what sounded like a workout at the Manti High football field. Now, this is not an accusation against Manti High coach Cole Meacham or any of his assistants (perhaps they weren’t even there, which I’d like to believe), but it is rather unordinary. This is a time in July for rest and relaxation. To put this in proper perspective, according to the 2008 NFL Fact & Record Book, NFL training camps do not start for at least another week, with the Washington Redskins reporting to Ashburn, Va. on July 19. As for the other 31 NFL teams, most of them will begin training camp on Thursday July 24 or Friday July 25. Thus, we see that the NFL, which is the gold standard of football in this country, does not force its players to labor in the heat before camp. They are a professional organization, and while they are not completely problem-free, in this regard they are. While during my playing days, I loved getting back on the football field, I will admit some of my most pain-staking times were enduring the grueling practice sessions before the season commenced, which for all intents and purposes were training camp practices. It’s important to remember that if paid professionals are reporting later than adolescent boys (allegedly) there’s something amiss with this. I reflect upon one of my favorite cartoons growing up, the classic Canadian series, “The Raccoons.” In one of the episodes in this series, a young raccoon named Bentley lands a prestigious summer job where he’s making money and is supposedly content. After things go awry at work, (jealous coworkers sabotaged his project) he is fired and while camping with friends, he admits that he feels devastated because his future is shattered. Fortuitously, for him, his former employer is hot on his trail and tells him that he appreciated his work and that it wasn’t his fault he got fired. Nevertheless, his former boss tells him he will not hire him back, because he’s just a kid and (here’s the clincher), he should ENJOY HIS SUMMER. This means no molestation within a set time from any source. Now, to quote Eminem, Back to Reality… If the kids were out there working out under their own volition, that’s commendable and it shows that they’re becoming mature adults. More importantly, they’re making the choice to do it themselves. If that’s the case, all is well and no one’s to blame. Of course, those who were there knew what happened and because of what we celebrate on the 4th of July in the United States, we are free to choose for ourselves. Anyway, hopefully you liked this take, and perhaps there will be more as the year progresses.