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When one talks about athletics administration, it is difficult to provide a quick, accurate picture of everything that goes in to what we do. Athletic directors have a very demanding job, which entails long hours, unrelenting demands, and a long list of responsibilities and challenges.

When confronted with some of these challenges, there are times when I wouldn't mind being someone else. For example, early in my career, I really enjoyed James Bond movies and perhaps fanaticized about reacting to situations as he might. "Hello, Hoch, David Hoch, High School AD."

I normally drive to school in my 2001 Dodge Caravan, but just once I'd like to pull up to school in Bond's Aston-Martin, complete with rocket launcher. And, I wouldn't mind if my golf cart at school featured a flamethrower I could use to dry out our athletic fields.

I'm also a huge fan of Indiana Jones movies and wouldn't mind attacking certain situations as if I were Dr. Jones. You could compare his quarrels with communists, Nazis, whatever other villains, to dealing with obnoxious parents in our setting. While there are times I'd like to be off searching for the Holy Grail, the Crystal Skull, or some other exotic object, realistically, I just want to get the scoreboard and microphone working in the gym.

Most of us can also relate to the movie title Sleepless in Seattle. Who gets enough sleep in this profession? For me, this film could accurately be retitled, Sleepless as an AD in ... Loch Raven.

At the end of some extremely demanding, contentious weeks, I feel like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest--that I've just had a lobotomy. And just once I'd like to handle some obnoxious parent like Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry, and tell them, "Make my day."

Do you remember the film Guess Who's Coming to Dinner starring Sidney Portier? Heck, I'd settle for being able to get home to even have dinner most nights when we have a contest in the stadium. Who knows if anyone comes to dinner at our house, because I'm never there.

Speaking of classic films, I wonder if The Wizard of Oz could be remade featuring an athletic director as the Wizard. Imagine our coaches skipping through the halls singing, "I'm off to see the AD, the wonderful AD of Lock Raven." Oh, sure! I'd pay to see that one.

Of course most days, I feel that I'm in the lead role of Mission Impossible. Nothing is ever easy and someone--parents, booster club, fans, an angry coach--is always taking pot shots at me. "This is your mission should you choose to accept it. This tape will self destruct in 10 seconds."

Then there is the epic movie Titanic. At the end of the film, you see Leonardo DeCaprio standing on the deck of the Titanic with no lifeboats to be found and the gigantic ship slipping below the water line. I find myself in that role constantly, only I don't often hear the band playing in the distance.

Going back a number of years, the The Longest Day was a great war film. Gee, I live the longest day 3-4 times a week when we host stadium contests. It usually results in a battle with visiting fans who don't want to follow our expectations and rules. We're constantly under siege and looking to establish a beach head.

Even though it wasn't on the big screen, the TV series Happy Days is what most athletic directors really aim for. Imagine being the Fonz for a day: Snap your fingers and exalt, "Hey!" and everything turns out the way you want it too. If it were only that simple.

When you think about it, some of our days compare favorably to dramas, others are tearjerkers, a few can be described as comedies, and there is certainly an epic or two. However, there is no doubt that all of our efforts are memorable.

While the casting and location of your productions may vary, most athletic directors are looking for the same ending. We all want the greatest participation possible for our young people, positive and encouraging coaches, teams which represent the school in an exemplary fashion, and happy athletes, coaches, parents and administrators.

That's a wrap! Get some popcorn and enjoy your production!

David Hoch, EdD, CMAA, is the Athletic Director at Loch Raven High School in Baltimore County, Md. He is past President of the Maryland State Athletic Directors' Association and a frequent contributor to Athletic Management. He can be reached at: dhoch@bcps.org.