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DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Myhusband is a very competitive guy. He is a loving father, but when we go to our son's Little League games, another side comes out. My husband is the loud one on the sidelines — pacing, swearing; he micromanages our son, and shouts belittling comments at him and other kids on our team. He argues with the um- pires, and complains about the coaches. It is embarrassing and hurtful for our son, and I don't envy the coach. My husband has coached a few of my son's teams, as well, and he has been ejected from games. I've tried asking him to be calmer. I have urged him to try to see things from our son's perspec- tive, but his reply is that you should demand 100 percent from people. He says that he's a lot better than his own dad, who never showed up. How can I get him to see that this behavior is unacceptable? —Exhausted DEAR EXHAUSTED » Your husband claims that he is "better" than his father was, but how is getting ejected from a game bet- ter than not showing up for the game? Either way, Dad is not at the game! If your son yelled and got ejected, would your husband endorse this behavior? I doubt it. I shared your ques- tion with Tina Syer, of the Positive Coaching Alliance (positivecoach. org), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to training parents and coaches to have positive experiences on the field. She responds, "Sports parents too often lose sight of the big picture, which are ideal for teach- ing life lessons that can help kids achieve in all aspects of their lives. 'Ex- hausted' should persuade her husband to focus on effects of his behavior." Syer, who coaches one of her sons' baseball teams, says, "Learning to compete and give 100 percent is important, and the way to ensure your son takes those life lessons is by providing unconditional love and support, regardless of performance, and by helping him process the youth sports experience. "Berating him, coach- es, or others only serves to humiliate the child — chasing him from the sport — and to drive a wedge between him and his father, potentially for the rest of their lives. Research, and the top sport psychologists work- ing with pro athletes, has found that negativity degrades performance." Syer and I agree that shooting a video of your husband freaking out might shock him into changing. Don't ask him to change; lovingly demand that he apply his 100 per- cent effort to changing. DEAR READERS » Some- times people who dispense advice run out of answers. If you've ever been curious about the life behind my advice, read my new book, "Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home" (2017, Hachette). Dad strikes out at Little League by becoming overly competitive You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson. com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Aries(March21-April19)— If you desire change, you need to start within. Look for a simple alternative rather than make a big splash. Excess of any kind will be detrimental. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Don't act hastily when dealing with personal or professional matters. Protect against emo- tional misunderstandings. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — When dealing with investments, negotiations and secretive matters, you need to slow down, tame your emotions and avoid making an impulsive move you will live to regret. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You'll be led astray by someone from your past. Don't trust someone with your cash, ideas or valuable possessions. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Aim to be original. Don't let the words or actions of others dis- rupt your plans. Follow through with your intentions. It's what you do, not what you say, that will have the biggest impact. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Call in old debts. Don't put up with anyone trying to separate you from your money. If changes are required, find an efficient way to move forward. Stick to a set budget. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Observe how others treat you and look over any contracts you have with individuals that are falling short of your expecta- tions. Living beyond your means will catch up with you. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Taking part in challenging activities will be gratifying, but old injuries must be treated cautiously. Know your limita- tions and win without jeopardiz- ing your health. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Overpaying to compen- sate for someone else's mistake should not be considered. Offer suggestions, but don't try to fix things on your own. Protect your assets. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Refuse to get involved in situations that go against the way you do business. If you don't like the way things are be- ing done, walk away or change the format. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — If you work hard and stick to your plan, what you accomplish will be yours and yours alone. Don't share personal informa- tion. An unexpected bill will set you back. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — You've got the right idea, so don't let anyone mess with your plans. Avoid people showing signs of indulgence or unpre- dictable behavior. Protect the people you love. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, APRIL 4 TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2017 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B