baseball, softball, apple pie and chevrolet

For most of my life, I have either played, watched, coached baseball or softball. Last season, my daughters softball team went undefeated and if memory serves me they outscored their opponents by about 4-1 and won their championship. It was machine pitch and I was the "Pitcher". I loved watching this age group (16 and under) grow each practice and their game play showed it. The thrill was seeing them adapt, learn, become proficient and convert to wins. They look in their eyes was one of pride and their love of the game. Next week, August 15th, begins the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Kids from all over the world come to play their hearts out. And I plan on watching every game I can. These kids play because they love the game. Yes, they want to win and there is nothing wrong with winning. Over the last several years, I have become disillusioned with professional sports, particularly baseball. Before I get into serious trouble here, I have several friends who are in the majors and I have a lot of respect for them and the journey they took. It was countless hours of hard work and ethics combined with God given talent. Of the ones I count as friends, it is because I was privileged to spend time with them off the field and hear them talk about their families. For many years, I was honored with being able to drive a AA team so it was a daily friendship with them. A few years ago, I was also honored with driving a college softball team and thanks to the coach (thanks Andrea)I fell in love with women's softball. I will be the first to tell you the girls play with as much heart and intensity as the men do! Back in the early 1900's, people played baseball for the love of the game and played their hearts out. Kids looked up to them as heroes. They had to have their baseball cards with their favorite players name on them and some even had personal autographs because back then fans could get close to the players and spend time with them. And then, with one of moms clothespins, they affixed their cards to their bicycle spokes. It's hard to talk to our seniors today that do not remember Joltin' Joe, The Babe, Lou Gehrig and the stories of their games. For the hardcore, they can tell you who Wally Pipp was. And now we come to present day. Alex Rodriguez is an absolute disgrace to baseball and it's fans. The whole banned substance thing is bad enough but to repeatedly lie to the fans is disgraceful. Players today do not play the game for the love of it. They play for the money. It's not about team contribution, it's about me maintaining my level of play so I get a zillion dollar contract. It's about what I have to do to get the bonuses negotiated in my contract. It's the owners bidding on players to get them to come play for them in their park so the fans will come out to see them. Not the game, just the new side show trick pony we just traded for. What does my child, your child, any child learn from A-Rod? Cheat, like A-Rod and you can be the highest paid player? Never mind that your nuts are gonna look like raisins. You made 27.5 million dollars a year plus, plus, plus. He doesn't give a rats ass about my child or yours. He doesn't give a rats ass whether he has little fans that want to be like him and he doesn't give a rats ass about your child either. It's 27.5 million dollars a year. Do you realize that is $75,342.46 EACH DAY? A large percentage of his fans who are children don't have parents that make that much in a year. If he bats 4 times in a game, that's $18,835 for EACH at bat. Or, if he gets one hit per game, well you get the picture. So, what is the point of my tirade? It's about the love of the game. It's about the look in a kids eye when his hero steps up to the plate. It's about that kid who signs up, tries out and makes the team. It's about that kid who steps up to the plate and tries to visualize and think, "if it's low and inside, what would "(insert hero name here)" do? August 14th, I challenge you to watch an MLB game or go to one (plan on dropping about $150-$200 for a family of four). Then, August 15th, turn on your TV's to ESPN and watch the Little League World Series. No steroids, no salary caps, no arbitration, no agents. Just kids playing the game as it should be-for the love of the game. until next time...