According to Wikipedia, " The Apprentice" is an American reality television show hosted by Donald Trump, created by Mark Burnett and broadcast on NBC. Billed as "The Ultimate Job Interview," the show stars 16-18 businesspeople competing in an elimination-style competition for a one-year, $250,000 starting contract of running one of business magnate Trump's companies.

For millions of viewers, the highlight of each episode (except the finale) is the boardroom meeting in which Trump declares, "You're fired."

John Burroughs High School celebrated the class of 2008 during the graduation ceremonies held at Memorial Field.

Shortly after graduation (some rumors say it was the next day), Steven Garcia, 2008 head coach for the Indians softball team, was fired. The school will now be recruiting the fourth head coach in four years.

At the end of the 2006 season, Jennifer Gomez retired from coaching softball to teach full time at the school. In 2007, Nick Schepperle says he was asked to resign at the end of his first season, but refused.

So after several meetings with the school administration, he was fired.

According to softball sources, former JBHS head baseball coach Jose Valle will lead the squad in 2008-09. Valle acted as an assistant to Garcia during the 2007-08 season (some say the school gave him no choice).

According to some sports books, Valle is a 6:5 odds for giving it up after next year - gas prices and the commute are a major factor.

So what is happening to the 36-year-old JBHS softball program? In my opinion, there are two key factors (in order) - interfering parents and wimpy school administrators.

The fall of Schepperle came at the hands of two parents whose main interest was their daughter.

According to sources, Schepperle and Garcia endured several parent meetings (with administration present) in which a barrage of four letter words was unleashed but not stopped by school officials.

Garcia's demise was pure incompetence - he should not have been hired in the first place. Schepperle had extensive experience as an umpire and coach; Garcia was an assistant to the assistant at Glendale Community College.

Schepperle supported the program, regardless of the player; Garcia supported his "stars" to the loss of the team. In the end, a few parents did not want the coach to make it to the next season and school administrators bowed to the pressure.

Until these two factors are reversed (Valle will not face either due to his status as athletic director for Burroughs and many years as a baseball coach), the program will have difficulty attracting qualified coaches.

I sincerely wish the 2008-09 JBHS softball players all the best in their upcoming season.

My hope is that the drama of the past two seasons is done, opening an opportunity for true team success.