Field of Realities
You may remember the intense fervor generated by the story of Jason "J-Mac" McElwain, the high school basketball team manager with autism who got a chance to live out his dream of playing in a game. Not only did he get in, he scored 20 points in a 4-minute span. Here's a video recapping that incredible story:
Well, with the current Little League World Series underway, there has been some not-so-inspiring press about another story you may or may not have heard. Check out this link from ESPN.com about a Little League event that took place in June. During a championship game, with the tying run on third base, a coach decided to walk the opposing team's slugger intentionally to face the next batter, Romney Oaks. Ask any baseball strategist, and they'll say it's the right move. Only those strategists are usually talking about MLB, not Little League. See, Romney Oaks was a 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed at age 5 with a brain tumor. He has since recovered wonderfully, but the intensive treatments have prohibited him from engaging in contact sports. As a requirement, he is only allowed to play baseball as long as he wears a helmet in the outfield. So, cue the theme music to "The Natural", right? Wrong. Romney struck out on 3 pitches, and the opponents worked their "strategy" to perfection.
Now, was it the numbers game? Or, was it an opportunity to take advantage of a child's disability to win at all costs? Such is the question that plagued not just this game but youth sports in general. When does youth sports transition from teaching kids about fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship to focusing on wins and losses? Interestingly enough, there is now a reality show on MTV, "Two-a-Days", which chronicles the Hoover High Buccaneers, an Alabama powerhouse. It's Varsity Blues + Friday Night Lights + Laguna Beach all rolled into one, but the message is clear. Football is life, and these kids have an incredible weight on their shoulders to play their best and not embarrass themselves, the school, or the state. Ouch. It's a good thing I never let the pressure get to me when I rode the bench during my 2 years of high school basketball.
Well, with the current Little League World Series underway, there has been some not-so-inspiring press about another story you may or may not have heard. Check out this link from ESPN.com about a Little League event that took place in June. During a championship game, with the tying run on third base, a coach decided to walk the opposing team's slugger intentionally to face the next batter, Romney Oaks. Ask any baseball strategist, and they'll say it's the right move. Only those strategists are usually talking about MLB, not Little League. See, Romney Oaks was a 9-year-old boy who was diagnosed at age 5 with a brain tumor. He has since recovered wonderfully, but the intensive treatments have prohibited him from engaging in contact sports. As a requirement, he is only allowed to play baseball as long as he wears a helmet in the outfield. So, cue the theme music to "The Natural", right? Wrong. Romney struck out on 3 pitches, and the opponents worked their "strategy" to perfection.
Now, was it the numbers game? Or, was it an opportunity to take advantage of a child's disability to win at all costs? Such is the question that plagued not just this game but youth sports in general. When does youth sports transition from teaching kids about fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship to focusing on wins and losses? Interestingly enough, there is now a reality show on MTV, "Two-a-Days", which chronicles the Hoover High Buccaneers, an Alabama powerhouse. It's Varsity Blues + Friday Night Lights + Laguna Beach all rolled into one, but the message is clear. Football is life, and these kids have an incredible weight on their shoulders to play their best and not embarrass themselves, the school, or the state. Ouch. It's a good thing I never let the pressure get to me when I rode the bench during my 2 years of high school basketball.
posted by F at 4:09 PM
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