Before I go off on my new pet peeve of sports, I want to congratulate the Hawaiian team for winning the Little League World Series.
The "Little Shane Victorinos" showed a lot of heart throughout the tournament and deserved to be crowned champions, even though the kids from Louisiana, or should I say the lefty closer/first baseman, choked the game harder than Jean Van de Velde at Carnoustie.
My pet peeve: Kids in the Little League World Series shaking the hands and congratulating their opponent for hitting a home run against them or making a great defensive play.
I’m sorry, and I’m sure Bleacher Report members are going to let me hear it on this, but I really don’t care. I need to get this out.
Just like I pleaded for kids to take their cleats off, I’m begging these kids to stop going up and shaking opponents’ hands after the other team does something good.
I’m fine when a kid makes a diving catch to tell him nice play, but don’t go out of your way and shake his hand and slap him on the rear to congratulate him.
That would be like when these kids go to their welcome back dance in junior high and they really want to dance with this one girl, but she decides, when the DJ plays Chris Brown’s “Say Goodbye,” to dance with a kid from another school, to go to that guy and give him a handshake.
So, just like I hope none of these kids would do that, why is it hard to ask for a kid not to congratulate an opposing player for making a great play on them?
- B/R Ticket Guide
Sure, you will write, “Scott, Little League is about sportsmanship." Well, that’s why, America, every year there are fewer and fewer Americans in the MLB. Little League should be about teaching the kids the fundamentals of baseball in an exciting and organized format.
Coaches should preach COMPETITION to their kids.
Competition is what life is about. For those that disagree, you aren’t making it in life. Unless mommy or daddy gives you everything, you will not succeed in life unless you compete. So why not drill this in kids’ heads?
Yes, these kids are 12, but in three years they will be in high school and will have to make a team. They need to compete hard or they will get the scissors.
Simple as that. You don’t compete in school; you will flunk out. You don’t compete to get that girl; you will be hugging your pillow at night. You don’t compete for that job or raise; you won’t have money.
I would also love to know the number of teams that made it to Williamsport that have coaches who preach sportsmanship.
Sure, the coaches tell the kids to be good sports, but would they really discipline their best player, probably their son, if he didn’t show sportsmanship?
Maybe that’s my ultimate frustration. I know the sportsmanship displayed is really faker than Michael Jackson’s face, post-"Thriller." That’s like a college football coach preaching his players are student athletes, and when the best running back is having trouble in class, grades get fixed.
This gets me to why kids are so soft in America today. Not only do I have to watch kids wear face guards up at the dish, but also shortstops wearing mouth guards and kids crying after they give up two runs in the first.
No, I’m not saying I want kids to be poor sports and have bad attitudes, but I do want to them to have some toughness and not lay down like a guy in the French military.
I even saw a kid go up and shake the hand of a kid he hit with a pitch. Are you kidding me? When you are on the bump, you are in control. Let the other team think you did that. Have them fear your pitching. By going and shaking the kid’s hand it shows, “I made a mistake I'm sorry.”
Why don't you just tell the kid at bat what you are throwing so he can get a hit and be happy?
Now, if you, as a pitcher, hit a kid and he is down and hurt, yes, go up make sure he is fine and be a good sport. But when the kid is perfectly fine, don’t run up to him and make sure he feels ok.
I’m sure people will be telling me, “Winning isn’t the only thing in life.”
Winning isn't everything?
Well, tell that to your boss or wife when you aren't bringing money in. Everything in life is a competition. Can I get that job, can I lose 20 pounds, can I buy that first home, and when the pressure is on and everyone is watching, can I come through?
comments (108) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
Scott you are dead on. Not only is this happening in Little League it is going on in highschool. You remember the story. Jason ( you can shoot as many times as you want) Mcelway gets on the court and the other team stands around while he makes 3 after 3. Are you kidding me? If I coach that team I run on the court block his shot and hit a Shawn Merriman dance in his face and tell my players "that is how you play defense." What are we teaching our kids today? It definately isn't about life because as an adult I've never had anyone come up to me and say " hey about that promotion you go ahead and take it, you need this moment more then I do." So Scott keep writing real shit and I will keep reading. And for all you guys that will hate on this story. Tell your kids " D up and play hard even against the mentally disabled."
from 2 months ago
aj you should star in the tv movie as the coach of the other team. just for the shawne merriman dance. emmy-winning stuff right there. also, the picture on this article is excellent
from 2 months ago
i dont see the relation between competitiveness and sporsmanship...? could someone elaborate a little more for me?
2 months ago
Scott, this article is so true. I get sick and tired of kids not competing.
from 2 months ago
Right on Scott. I wrote a paper on this subject my freshman year in college in ethics. I got a C on it because "it wasn't considered nice." It was an opinion paper and I was told my opinion was wrong. I called out the teacher in class and fought her in front of the class of 200, until I proved that how she graded my paper with her bias was unethical. I was one the Debate team 4 years along with playing baseball, basketball and football for my high school. Competition is my middle name and my teacher learned it that day. Changed my grade from a C to an A-.
2 months ago
Scott you are dead on. Not only is this happening in Little League it is going on in highschool. You remember the story. Jason ( you can shoot as many times as you want) Mcelway gets on the court and the other team stands around while he makes 3 after 3. Are you kidding me? If I coach that team I run on the court block his shot and hit a Shawn Merriman dance in his face and tell my players "that is how you play defense." What are we teaching our kids today? It definately isn't about life because as an adult I've never had anyone come up to me and say " hey about that promotion you go ahead and take it, you need this moment more then I do." So Scott keep writing real shit and I will keep reading. And for all you guys that will hate on this story. Tell your kids " D up and play hard even against the mentally disabled."
from 2 months ago
Scott great article.
AJ how you could write that. That kid won a ESPY award, and is having a movie made about his amazing story for a reason. People like you really do scare me.
from 2 months ago
I don't remember thinking that the other team let that young man score. Pretty harsh.
from 2 months ago
Who cares if he won a ESPY. Do you know how many better stories there are in the world then that one and I don't see them winning any ESPY's. And How do I scare you? Because I don't cry when some kid makes a shot doesn't make me a bad person. Maybe you're the bad person because you didn't expect him to make any shots.
from 2 months ago
I agree Don it is harsh that the other team let the young man score.
from 2 months ago
You scare me cause a kid fought against odds and made it into a game, and then made three 3-pointers. You couldn't even do that in a open gym.
from 2 months ago
Bob he actually made 6 three pointers. And you are right he is a better shooter then I am, but how did he fight against odds. Because he has a disablity now he can't make shots? See you have the problem because you want to keep him back. I'm glad he made the shots, but I would have been more impressed if he had no arms.
from 2 months ago
Great AJ you know the stat line for the kid. Shows you have way too much time on your hands and you just come on here to start stupid debates.
from 2 months ago
An ESPY would be cool though.
from 2 months ago
Actually, if you watch the tape, the only score that was uncontested was a fastbreak shot where only one player from the opposing team was on the right side of the court. Every other shot had a hand in his face for the shot. He did work for the shots, that's why it was inspiring.
from 2 months ago
Bob was always the last pick in kickball.
2 months ago
I tend to agree with Scott on this. By removing the competitive elements from competition, what are we teaching our kids? Nothing irks me more than going to a youth sporting event and being told, "Oh, we don't keep score here." What? Our children need to learn many important lessons from sports and competition...that everyone is equally skilled/lucky is not one of them. Our kids need to learn that success comes from hard work, not from specially formatted rules. They need to learn how to win with class and lose with dignity. They can benefit from lessons about learning from your mistakes, working harder and doing the extra little bit to attain goals.
All this "I'm OK, you're OK," nonsense will produce very accommodating adults who are totally unprepared to deal with a world where they do keep score.
from 2 months ago
Your right on Don.
from 2 months ago
AJ you just went Rae Curruth on this kid.
2 months ago
Scott you are so right with this article. I get so upset going to my cousin's little league game and having to watch these soft kids as you put it. I want to forward this article to everyone I know. "Pick of the Day"
2 months ago
Competition is a good thing. Sportsmanship is also a good thing. Believe it or not, an excellent level of competition can be obtained WITH sportsmanship. Those that think that competition is somehow in opposition with sportsmanship tend to be lazy thinkers who will forgo personal discernment and call things black or white.
Girls that want boys to COMPETE for their affections degrade themselves to being a prizes to be bought or sold; whether the currency is achievements or dollars, a prostitute is still a prostitute. A boss that plays an employee off another is nothing more than a manipulator exploiting the talent in his department; the result is a demoralized staff, poor performance- and when the company has to lay people off, it will be that highly paid slave drivers who will get it first. I have seen both dramas play out repeatedly.
And is there a relationship with between practicing sportsmanship in the Little Leagues and a decreased number of Americans in the Majors? Could it be that the rest of the world is catching up to the high standards of COMPETITION in American baseball?
Cutthroat competitors tend to become obsessed with winning and notoriety. They tend to cheat, steal and lie to win...by any means necessary; they also see any threat to their winning as a mortal enemy. Tonya Harding saw Nancy Kerrigan that way. Apparently Barry Bonds saw Mark McGwire that way.
And I would rather have an athlete who can handle losing than someone who is so bent out of shape that he has to vent his frustrations on the referee like that martial artist from Cuba during the Olympics.
Consistent competitive winning is possible without living the laws of the jungle. Greg Maddux is an intense competitor who will throw inside, but he is also a sportsman who goes about his business without the attitude. I reckon he could have been like Roger Clemens and throw splintered bats at people, but that would be wrong. Better yet, Sandy Koufax was one of the greatest left-handers in history, but he never threw at people. Ty Cobb was one of the fiercest in baseball; competing was everything and he called baseball "something like a war". He ended up dying with the highest career batting average- and an alcoholic, paranoid, and bitter COMPETITOR.
I have played sports with and against those who will be in your face and say, "you can't beat ME". On the other hand, I remember the late Curt Flood say that behind his noted fierce glare at the plate, there was a respect for the FELLOW MAJOR LEAGUER on the mound while simultaneously thinking, "I am going to do my best to beat your best- and it will take my best effort to do it, which is why I train and practice as hard as I do."
Intense competition is quite possible with great sportmanship.
from 2 months ago
Abner is one the best points I have ever read. You make a lot of good points and I do agree with you
"Intense competition is quite possible with great sportmanship". If this could be accomplishment, then the country would be in great shape for the future. The point I was trying to make was these coaches fake preach to their kids to be good sports, when all they care about is winning something they never could do when they were 12.
from 2 months ago
Eddie you soft just like these little league kids are. Overpaid like A-Rod, don't hate on a guy who is the best player in the game. Whatever job you had if you were the best in the world at it, I'm sure you would demand a lot of money too. I love people like you, get all upset cause your life sucks. Vote Republican too. Was that attempt at humor? or you just saying another dumb thing?
from 2 months ago
I'm booking my flight now. Where should we meet?
2 months ago
I agree leave the sportsamnship for the normal Little League Games once you get into Regionals and trying to qualify for the LLWS it should be like a High School Game, not going out of your way to be unsportsmanlike, but not cheering when you lose, it should be about winning up to a point, we should not be teaching these very grown up teenagers that all that matters in life is being happy even if you get kicked around in the LLWS
from 2 months ago
So true chase. People will say don't show these kids crying, well goes what those same kids aren't tripping when ABC and ESPN are showing them hitting homers. I hope that lefty from the Louisiana team has to fell like a choker the rest of his life. He was all excited when the team was up and probably would be bragging to his friends he was on ABC. Plus Mexico wasn't good, so if he doesn't choke they win the whole thing. Maybe, next time when your teammate hits home run lefty, you don't jump and down in the bullpen. Maybe you should warm up so you won't choke.
2 months ago
In my opinion the whole thing is a joke. The players hit corked balls with metal bats over short fences. Its all bull and i give none of these players any credit
from 2 months ago
Fellowes, are you kidding? You don't think these kids have any talent? The stars of the Little League World Series are the future of baseball. If you were to record some of their names, save the sheet, and then take a look at the sheet in June 5 or 6 years from now, I guarantee you will see some of these kids on the internet regarding the Major League draft. A 12 year old who can hit a ball over a 225 foot fence deserves credit. A 12 year old pitcher who throws the major league equivalent of 98 mph deserves credit. Very foolish by you.
from 2 months ago
Ari I agree Fellowes made a dumb comment but you made a dumber comment.
You do your little game of printing kids off and looking them back up. Very few will. For every Garry Shefflied and Derrick Bell (same team), Sean Burroughs, and Todd Frazier there are thousands of kids who don't do anything. Little League World Series teams are made up of whatever town in America has kids going through puberty first. The studs on these teams are filled out and will be average high school players at best. Everybody will catch up up to them. Trust me. Sure they won't suck in the future but they won't be major league talent or guess what Ari, teams would draft little leaguer's now.
from 2 months ago
Fellowes your' re stupid.
2 months ago
Great article. I have been reading your pieces for some time now and can say with confidence that your style is unique. keep going hard like viagra.
from 2 months ago
Thanks but I sometimes fall like Niagara with people bashing me on here. Glad to know I got supporter's.
2 months ago
You get bashed because you try to be cutting edge hardcore, but all i ever read is a bunch of faggatry. Where do you find the time come up with and write about this puke?
2 months ago
What kind of trim can you get at the bar with a line like this - "I am getting recruited by big time colleges for ultimate frisbee, and if my team didn't choke in the regionals, I would have been a ultimate frisbee champion." I am gonna use that tonight and hopefully impress chicks with my athleticism in a sport that was made up by the kids that got cut from frosh football. Being a three time world champion ultimate frisbee player is right up there with a bronze in the special olympic hundred yard dash.
from 2 months ago
couldn't have said it better Seth. lol
2 months ago
Have you played little league baseball recently? If you don't think little leaguers compete, especially at the extremely high level that all those teams at Williamsport are, then you are crazy. I played on a Little League all-star team, recently enough that I can remember, and we practiced twice a day every day. Those teams do at least that too. Every team cries when they lose. You don't think those guys want to win? Giving the other team props when they make a good play doesn't mean they don't want to win. I agree that this stuff is coming a little more prevalent -- but Little League is very compettitive, I can guarantee you that.
2 months ago
Good article, so true. I've been thinking this for a while, especially with the article by Shaun Ahmad a while ago about a Little League canceling the All-Star game because they didn't want to hurt people's feelings. Your articles are usually on mark, and I like your ideas most of the time. Good job with this won, definitely one of My Picks.
2 months ago
Spot on! A local AYSO league (Mission Viejo, Cali), one of the largest in the nation, refuses to keep score in games b/c they don't want the players to get upset if they lose. Cripes! We are wimping out our youth!
from 2 months ago
Didn't know that Lisa. That is a joke. Parents are ruining it for the kids.
2 months ago
This article made my laugh with it's hilarious bluntness. Not many people would have the balls to write something we're all thinking. Well done, my friend.
2 months ago
Haha, I like how you said ""Little Shane Victorinos." Good article, by the way!
2 months ago
First off, great article Scott. This one of the most interesting I've read in quite a while.
Several of you had great points, Abner and Don (his first bit anyway) to be specific. I think for the most part, you all misplaced the blame, though. The blame is not in the sportsmanship, believe it or not that's a good thing. The blame should lie with the children's upbringing. The parents are making the kids soft.
I agree with Abner almost completely. Sportsmanship is needed and will get you the farthest in life, in the right dose. When it holds up the game, it gets a little excessive. I would rather see too much sportsmanship, though, then to see brawls.
Most of you are also missing a key point. You are looking at these little league games from an adults perspective. Look at it from a kids perspective for once. These games mean nothing. Everyone wants to win, of course, but a day after the season in over the kids move on and forget about what happened. Let them be kids and don't try to make the game so serious. They come out and play their hearts out just to have fun. It is one of the finer pleasures in life, as a little league coach, to see these kids come out and compete and have fun, not truly care, and not worry about the outcome. It's a true love of the game, which is sadly lost when you get past college, sometimes sooner. I have played high school football, baseball, and college baseball. This is the time to get serious and overly competitive. One has to because it is all about winning at this point. If you don't perform, you don't play. If you don't win, you get fired. To make little league all about winning is not the way to go about it, though. If you teach kids to only be competitive that's all they know. They become the cocky jerks that everyone loves to beat up on in football games and the pitcher that you savor the 400 foot blasts off of.
On the other hand, I do agree on some levels with the original point. Kids are softer than they were a generation ago. During one of my games, as a coach, I witnessed one of my most talented pitchers give up three runs in a 1/3 of an inning and bawl right there on the hill. I remember back in the day to my little league games when crying only happened when you got hit by a pitch and broke your arm in three places. Once again, this is rooted in parenting. We have come to a generation where self-esteem is the most important thing to parents. Parents do everything they can to make kids feel better and baby them, instead of teaching them how to make themselves feel better. Parenting is quickly becoming a lost art.
P.S. The article is about pet peeves, therefore, I feel I should interject one of my own. I hate unprofessional writing. I realize that we are all amateurs here, but some of you need to at least pretend that you have somewhat of an education. If you write professionally the point that you try to put across does not come across as offensive, but rather intelligent and you may just get that other party to agree with you. Instead of being respectful, polite, and being politically correct some of these comments give way to some of the worst writing I've ever seen. This is supposed to be a debate and a discussion, not an argument. If I had to guess I would say that most of the main contributors to the comments section (with the exception of a couple) have had little more than a 9th grade education. Parts of this argument are ridiculous and a disgrace to what "Bleacher Report" is supposed to be.
from 2 months ago
I agree with you Michael, the parents are the problem. They try to have their kids do and play things they weren't good enough to play as a kid.
from 2 months ago
Thank you for the comment and thanks for saying that many of us do not consider the point of competition from a child's perspective. This is huge! I played, coached and refereed in youth leagues; they are supposed to be recreation leagues. I have personally seen far too many parents that show up to games like it was the Superbowl, World Series or the World Cup.
It has been my experience that far too many parents hang their worth, value and esteem on the performances of their children. I have coached too many kids who were embarrassed by their parents' "encouragement" yelled from the stands.
By no means am I saying that our kids shouldn't compete or be soft. As a coach, I have always stressed a player doing his best on game day and practice. I like to quote "Hoosiers" to my players- "if you go out there and be the best you can be, it won't matter what the scoreboard says..." By no means do I think we should pamper or baby kids on the field. I have also coached children who were utterly frightened to go for the ball or challenge opponents from lack of confidence. That too, is also sad and I have also dealt with that as a coach- sometimes to the dismay of their parents.
This leads me back to the ultimate team, which is the family- where the role of captain, coach and support is filled by the parent. In families where winning is seen as the ONLY way to compete and losing means you were a failure, sportsmanship will fall to the wayside and forced displays of it will be just as Scott called it- fake.
2 months ago
You guys have no reason to worry about America not being the best in MLb. You still win the world series every year.
/silly comment.
On a serious note, we have the opposite problem in England. Children's football (Soccer) is driven by the opposite mentality to your childeren's Baseball. We have two-footed tackles, diving, swearing, very angry parents; and this is at 10 year-old level.
Trust me, hold on to sportmanship whle you still can.
from 2 months ago
Yes, I have noticed what you're talking about here. You see everything from riots at games to people punching out officials. As I am from the middle of the country, South Dakota to be specific, I don't know the mentality of Europeans. In fact I will take my first trip to Europe this January, so perhaps I can see it first hand. My question to you, though, is why has the game become so serious? I can recall two third-world countries, of which I can't remember the names right now, stop a war between them for the duration of the World Cup simply so they could compete. Americans take our sports pretty seriously, but that takes it to a whole new level.
from 2 months ago
no idea why it's become like this, micheal. I've stopped going to games becuase of the abuse fans throw at the players, referees, each other, and me, if I ask them to quieten down.
2 months ago
A agree. Sports is about competing. Period. Stop the "good game" crap. You don't win, it wasn't a good game.
from 2 months ago
Moron, tell your 10 to 12 year old son that after every game, and 1 he won play, 2 he'll kill youi in your sleep during his teenage years.
from 2 months ago
LMAO I guess my sarcasm wasn't caught. Understandable, seeing as it's the internet, but I was being incredibly sarcastic. Trust me, I'm not that serious.
Actually, I coach 7th and 8th as a part time job. I see parents being way too hard on their kids all the time and it makes me sick. I know the object in kid sports on all levels is fun... At least until you get to high school.
Oh and I'm not a dad, but will be in 7 months. I would never say anything like that to him/her.
2 months ago
I agree that there is a time and place to congratulate the other team on a game well-played, and that is after the game.
That being said, this article was really stupid and unfunny - just like all of the Scott Tully articles I've seen. Yawn.
from 2 months ago
Where did I write I don't kids to congratulate after the games? All I said is I don't want them to shake hands after the other team hits a home run. Just like all of the Darnell comments I've seen. Yawn.
from 2 months ago
"Where did I write I don't kids to congratulate after the games?"
First learn to read. Then, learn to write an actual English sentence, then re-read my comment.
By that point, you should realize that your question is stupid and pointless. I never said you wrote anything of the sort.
2 months ago
I just wanted to thank you for this article and hitting an obvious nerve. While I don't think you meant it as extreme as some of us have taken it (myself included), strong beliefs and perspectives about sports and competition have come out: the mentality of "if you didn't win, it wasn't a good game", sportsmanship should be reserved only for after the game, kids today are softer athletes than their predecessors, the misconception of youth sports being non-competitive, sports accomplishments are to be used for getting women, life is all about competition, and the mention of the vested interest in sports by gambling!
The article was supposed to be about sportsmanship (fake or otherwise) and is defined as "being fair, generous, a good loser and gracious winner. Competition has wound up being the issue. People who absolutely have to WIN to feel as though they "competed" throw fairness, generosity goodness and graciousness out the window.
Some of the very personal, heated, and mean-spirited exchanges following your noteworthy article are testimony to this.
2 months ago
i'm sorry you have a small penis,but you need to work that out with your therapist..youre "tired" of seeing 11 year old children wearing face plates and mouth guards to avoid injury?? you dont want kids to shake hands after a game,win or lose?? its all about the competition?? for pre-teens..? childhood comes only once,youre actually right about adulthood being dog eat dog..thats why we SHOULD allow kids to have 12 or 13 years without having to worry about winning at all costs..believe it or not,clown,kids arent out there playing ball to please YOU..
from 2 months ago
First tpm where did I write once in the article that I don't want kids to shake hands about the game. The clown is you who reads what they want too and then writes to bash me because you were bad at sports. Every person who liked this article tpm, played and excelled at sports and undeerstands the point od competition.
Then you make a comment, by saying I'm dumb for wanting kids to not wear face plates and mouth guards. All I have to do is laugh at you, because that's what kids do when they see a kid wear a mouth guard playing 2nd.
2 months ago
Great article,
I played football for 12 years, when I was just in fourth grade my pee wee coach would run us into the ground, it was all about winning. Cheating was not ok, but win at all cost, playing hurt, and train hard. In highschool it was the same, practice, lift weights, and you better knock the s*&t out of the guy lined up across from you.
If you did not win you were a loser.
Lombardi said it best, "If its only about how you play the game, why do they keep score"?
Everyday in the real world is a competition, work hard, be the best. Get the raise, and spend that money!! yea yeaaaa.
I coached youth football last year, after the first practice we had, I had the kids running sprints, after 5 of them, some of the kids were walking or coming up with an excuse. Even the parents said I should not push them so hard. I stuck it out, and we won 2 games. Those were by accident. Needless to say, I did not coach this year. When I played we ran until we puked, and then ran some more.
The coaches even looked at our report cards. 3 licks for a getting a "D", and 5 licks for an "F". Our coaches taught us to be men, and the guys that I still keep in touch , that I played with are all succesfull.
I feel sorry for those kids because they will grow up, and quit as adults. The will be whiners. This country will continue its downward spiral, of raising soft, lazy kids.
from 2 months ago
Eddie, you are what is wrong with this world.
You have been a member for 19 days, and posted just over 120 comments, but have yet to contribute anything to this site.
And they were not beatings, but you know what it worked. I have a great job, life is good.
I will be flyiny to nassua beach for Labor day, and not care how much money I spend. You on the other hand, probally have to scrap the adult video booths, just to earn enough to pay for your internet connection.
Get a life, stop filling your day, going around commenting on peoples articles.
from 2 months ago
Well I am happy for youe Eddie, Its good to know you are patrolling B/R. With all the extra time you have, instead of using it to contribute to society.
You sound like a smart guy, and your talents seem to be wasted.
You should mentor young kids, on the art of talking crap on the internet.
I mean really, do you honestly think, that any of the writers here who are contributing to the site, with both Articles and comments. Give a hill of beans about what you say?
You profile says it all, you look like a pedifile, even though you tried to manipulate your pic, or is that your mom.
17 days since you joined, 151 articles posted.
You are the loser here, write an article or shut up.
I knew I recognized you from somewere. Dude you are sick.
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=5584852
2 months ago
Scott you are a moron, that is why baseball is dying. Hitting a guy with a pitch and then apologizing does not make you less of a man. It takes a man to admit your wrong and apologize for your mistakes. Baseball is a game and that is why people play it, it grew up in the streets and that is why it was america's past time, and that game does not exist any more. Also I am from Hagerstown, and I can tell you that the coaches of the Federal little League team that represented us at the World Series really does coach there team like that. They play to win, but not by sacrificing sportsmanship. Many other leagues in our area coach the game as you say it "like men" and the majority of them are about to fold, they are drawing half the numbers they did 15 years ago when I played.
from 2 months ago
Joe your a moron for thinking baseball is dying because coaches are to hard on them. Baseball is dying in America because kids who want to play sports would rather play football (until they find out it hurts), basketball, and all the winter and summer x-games stuff. Then the rest of fat loser kids want to rush home from school and play Halo. That is why baseball is dying. I will agree with you when you were young kids played in the streets, and again why that doesn't happen today because soft parents are afraid Billy may get kidnapped at a park.
If kids are quiting because it's too hard, I'm glad because then they won't waste high school coaches time. So in you mind, you would want every kid to play in American, get the same amount of innings, get a participation trophy, and make them fell good? Well Joe that's why you are soft and have no clue what you are talking about. You have no idea what is takes to be an athlete because if you did you wouldn't have wrote that comment. Every person who agrees with me in this article has played or knows what it takes to make it in sports.
2 months ago
You can teach kids to work hard in practice, compete, and excel, and still show sportsmanship. Why does it have to be one way or the other. You can cungatulate the other team for making a good play and still hate loosing just as much. The idea is maybe the loss motivates you to work harder, and not so much make you go him binge drink and beat your girl friend. Some people on here are a little over board and scary. The reason a lot of leagues does not keep score is because the league is recreational and for excersize, not competition. If you believe your child excels then you need to find a league that promotes competition. That is how most Basketball, and Soccer leagues work now. There is a place for everyone, and that is real life. There is a place for everyone in society, some who excel and do great things and those who are happy with the simple life and a low paying job, both are ok, and one cannot work with out the other. In sports the top players go pro, and the recreational players buy tickets to go see them play. All of that can still happen with sportsmanship. Try to beat your opponent but respect them.
2 months ago
Scott you are quite the genius. I played football, wrestled, played baseball, and played soccer growing up, and was an All Star in all of them up until high school. I got a scolarship to play both soccer and wrestle in college, and chose soccer, I now coach a u-10 select soccer team which is extremely competitive, and help out with the local wrestling program. (And by the way that fat kids play baseball now because it isn't hard, and there isn't much running). Also I didn't say anything about everyone playing equal time or getting a participation trophy. I simply stated that you were a moron for putting down sportsmanship. You obviously are an extremely ignorant person to make comments about a persons athletic ability through a web blog who you have never met. It is people like you who are turning kids a way from sports, to go play Halo. Rather a kid is good or bad we should still try to motivate them to work, and use the kids who excel as an example, not pit them against one another and call them losers. I am a High School Counselor, and I get to see the kids every day who were told they wern't good enough and were losers, and I can promise you it didn't make them better, just more angry. Life does not start and end with little league baseball, or youth sports for that matter. This country was founded by great people and none of them went to the little league world series.
from 2 months ago
Well that sucks for those kids. If they were losers, they should have done something when they were a kid about it. If it didn't happen when the kid was 15, it sure as hell would happen when he is 25 and getting called losers by girls he is trying to talk to. He should be lucky it happened at 15, then maybe he still has time to change himself. Also that's great for you were an all-star, who wasn't. What college did you go to?
2 months ago
Why do you have to be great at sports to not be a loser. Sports are a great way to learn about respect, hardwork, dedication, teamwork, leadership, the types of things that mold you throughout life. So why cant that be taught to everyone, at different levels, highly competitive, and non competitive. The strange thing is none of these comments have anything to do with sportsmanship. Who does sportsmanship make you soft? You can be highly competitive and still maintain good sportsmanship. When they go to college they will have no choice, the NCAA is one of the biggest advocates for sportsmanship......... I went to Virginia Wesleyen.
from 2 months ago
Ok Joe, I know I go over the top in my writing but I didn't say I don't want sportsmanship. I just don't want kids giving props to kids after they do something against them. Your telling me if your goalie gave up a goal on a good shot by the other team, you would want him to tell that kid nice shot. No, I hope you would want your goalie to get the ball give it the ref and get the game going so you can counter.
Yes I agree 100% with you about sports teaches those qualities. Why I love sports so much. I would love a world where every coach taught kids the game and had them play in with respect. But like I said in my article when they get older, life teaches them people don't play by the rules and don't do things with respect.
I respect your career very much, I'm sure you could get a lot higher paid job but you are doing what you love and helping kids out. That's very commendable, and their are very few people like you. Not many can sacrifice money for doing something they love and that's the point I'm trying to make. Kids get taught sportsmanship and then when they get older they look back at how big of a joke it was. Yes if it could continue all the way though life it would be an amazing foundation to teach kids.
I'm in college right now debate monthly, should I be a Sports Agent and live the cut throat life or should I do what I think my calling is, my a high-school teacher and coach.
2 months ago
I have one last question before I go is everyone here related to Ricky Bobby? There is a reason why it was a comedy people, get a grip, and crawl out of your wholes in the ground. When you die god is not going to ask you your batting average before he allows you into heaven. I'm a Cal Ripken fan till I die, and he was baseball and there was no better sportsman then Cal. After reading this blog it can be confirmed that baseball may RIP!
2 months ago
Good article Scott. I really enjoyed it. I think you walk a fine line here though. If you teach your kids to be "over competitive" like Joe said a few comments ago, you risk ether them quitting, or playing over their heads. On the other hand, you never get anywhere if you always take the "I'm sorry I hit you," "good game" approach. If you're always like that, you never get anywhere in life and in sports; you get soft. Once more, competition is pretty much everything in life.
2 months ago
Actually yes we are like that, if a player from the other team makes an outstanding play we applaud that kid and tell him good job because we try to promote the sport. After the game at the next practice we then teach our kids how to stop it. So they are prepared next time they are in a similar situation. We aren't results focused we are improvment and hard work focused, we are individual focused. We want to see each player continue to inprove and get better from top to bottom. If are our worse player we want you to improve and get better, but also we do not want our great players to settle for mediocre either, we want them to continue to excel, work hard and get better also. As they hit older ages we become more result and team focused. We aren't trying to baby then either though, their is a difference between being positive with a kid and babying them. If my son gets hit hard and knocked down, I tell him not to cry about it, to get up, rub some dirt in it, and hustle to get the ball back. And if at the end of the day the other team is better than you shake there hand tell them good game and then work that much harder at practice next week to get better. We have a job as coaches rather you are non competitive or competitive to teach these kids to love the game, to work hard and give it there all and at the end of the day if they can do that we will be happy with them. And if we can continue to do they they will continue to try to get bett. I tell all of my kids to get respect you must show respect on and off of the field. Part of that is being a worthy opponent competitvely and mentally, which requires sportsmanship. For an example of this read up on Messiah College which is a small D-3 college which lives and dies by sportsmanship on and off the field, and obtains national championships on a now regular basis. When you played them you may have left the field bloody or vice versa but always shaking hands.
2 months ago
I guess I'm on the 'ignorant' side of the fence, then. I was taught from childhood that sports was all about fun; when you're WINNING. I never, EVER, had 'fun' before, during, let alone after a game that my team lost. The lessons that were taught was that winning, whether it was winning a spot on the team or a starting position, was eventually rewarded with championship trophies and lettermen jackets while losing had consequences that you didn't want any part of come Monday afternoon.
Got a question; do you think any Patriot fans had 'fun' watching Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin hoist up the Lombardi trophy? Do you think Tom Brady shook hands with Michael Strahan and his teammates after they did the 'stomp' dance during their Super Bowl celebration in NYC?
Try telling a team who lost a state championship game how much 'fun' it was to get beat and see how far that goes. Or to a winless team about how little the score means to them.
Oh, I know; I have to put myself into the kids' shoes to see the sportsmanship side of the argument. Uh, no I don't. I'm an adult. The only reason one plays the game, whether its youth league, high school, et al, is to WIN THE GAME.
Sorry for having the politically incorrect opinion on this but that's just how I feel. I could never wrap myself around the notion that sports was all about exercise, sportsmanship, and having a good time. Back in my high school days, having a 'good time' meant barbeque, crab/lobster boils, playing spades at poolside with my friends, and skinny-dipping with my girlfriend after the sun went down; being on the wrong end of a buttkicking, regardless of the sport, never factored into the equation of a good time.
So if I was going to spend my afternoons doing windsprints, suicides, push ups, and running into folks for three hours at a time in 97-degree heat on an ant-infested football field when I could've been relaxing in my air-conditioned house while playing Galaga, it was strictly for the sole purpose of beating the tar out of the guy on the other sideline and 'having fun' doing it.
Just a thought....
from 2 months ago
Dennis, Amen. Thank you. Back to my point, any athlete who has had to put his body through hell in order to beat his or her opponent, agrees with you and me.
2 months ago
I agree with almost everything you noted with one exception, i.e., congratulating an opponent on a great play. If you're up by 8 and your pitcher is fresh, hoot and holler for your opponent's play - if you're behind or the game is on the line, THEN you keep your mouth shut when somebody steals a hit from your team.
from 2 months ago
I agree. Of course if you are up it is fine to show your opponent some love for his or her efforts.
from 2 months ago
Well, different strokes for different folks; its okay to disagree (that's what this forum is all about, anyway). Believe me, my feelings aren't hurt; as a football official, I've heard a helluva lot worse....
from 2 months ago
I meant that for Eddie, not you....
2 months ago
I would also have to agree. When I remarried, I got two great stepsons. One, showed interest in playing baseball. After I spent a while working with him. I came to the conclusion he was less than a natural ball player. Don't get me wrong, I love my stepson like he is my own. In talking to my wife, I told her in a mild way, that I didn't think he would make the cut. Well, she took him to try-outs. I had to go, to show my support. It was just as I thought. He put in a poor performance. The following day, we were contacted by a coach saying he had been chosen to play on his team. Come to find out, everyone that signed up made a team. I was completely astonished to find this out. This wasn't even tee ball or minors...this was a traveling pony league. For 7th graders. Are you kidding my I thought to myself. For crying out loud. I got cut three years out of my high school baseball team. What did I do...I would spend summer after summer, pitching a ball in to a net in my back yard. I had a bucket of balls next to me. I would go to the batting cages every week. And finally, even though it took me until I was a senior, I made the team. Very few people can relate to the feeling of that type of success. But, it is something that has stuck with me every day of my life.
Sportsmanship to me is being a gracious and humble winner. By this, even though our HS team literally beat the crap out of every team we faced, our coach would never allow us to degrade, flame or insult any member of another team. We were to respect them for being a competitor like us. But, we also never (other than the "good games" after the game) openly congratulate another team member for anything. After all, we were there to win. And if they did something to prevent it, that was bad in our view.
May sound harsh, but I totally agree we are making our athletes pushover and whiners.
from 2 months ago
So true Doug. Great post.
2 months ago
Scott, you're the man. I say this to my 9 and 17 year old boys all the time, I tell them when thier on the basketball court or the football field they have no friends.
from 2 months ago
So I guess thats how your parents raised you Eddie, since your comments have been nothing short of "mean spirited".
Your a Hypocrite, loser with no friends.
And you used "LOL" what an idiot.
from 2 months ago
Keep telling them that Brian. You have raised men.
2 months ago
Wow! 76 comments, you must have struck a nerve, and I don't have time to read them all, but I will say that I don't see this in my daughter's travel softball league. YES, they shake hands at the end of the game, but there is no congratulatory conversations. Now, maybe girls are a little different. I don't know. I only have the one and she's already almost 14. Her team is highly competitive with a sincere desire to win. They are "good sports" when an opposing team member goes down with an injury and is removed from the game because they know it could be one of them. These girls play in the rain, the heat, dust and mud in shorts and tank tops and come up bleeding at least once every game, and they play THREE to FOUR 7 inning games per day in two and three day tournaments. Our girls are tough as nails and understand what it takes to win. They do, however, recognize a worthy opponent.
If you think little league coaches aren't teaching kids how to compete, then it's the parents that need to complain. But then again, it may be the parents that are making the coach go too easy on their kids. Sometimes... it really is the parents that ruin everything for a team even more so than a really bad shortstop.
2 months ago
There's a line between sportsmanship and competition-- albeit a pretty large line. When you get to a point, its not about fun, its about winning, no matter what they tell you. Heck, I was at my 8 year old brother's baseball game, and he (and all the players and all the parents) could tell me the score, what the team's record was, and every statistic you could ever imagine, even though the coach could do none of that. So, in that sense, its as competitive as you make it. But hey, no one goes to the Little League World Series (or any tournament, for that matter) to have fun. Yes that's part of it, but the team's first priority is to win and win at all cost.
2 months ago
I feel like it doesnt even really matter.
By the time these kids hit high school/college, they wont be shaking hands and smacking butts.
So let em do it now, while someone can tell them they have to.