Hear a recorded Greeting from Mister Ed Himself!
This is going to be a tirade written in stream of conciousness!
I am fully responsible for its content! If you are
offended by challenges to your sanity or intelligence, read no further!
Okay, today we'll take up two case histories concerning sports programs here in the
San Francisco Bay Area. While the rest of the country has a certain dislike for
our teams because some of them ALWAYS seem to be in the running for some kind of
championship (A's, Giants, 49ers), let's not forget the dismal losers (Raiders,
Sharks, Warriors). Hey, we may have some good teams around here, but we're not
nearly as arrogant about it as say, New Yorkers, who seem to think it's a
birthright to witness championship play. The last "team" mentioned, the Inglorious
State Warriors, has just produced one of the sorriest stories in recent sports
history. I refer, of course, to The Choke. Or, if you prefer, the newest NBA
Player Greivence Procedure. Latrell Sprewell has NO COMMENT since the reinstatement
of his contract with the Woeful Warriors. No doubt...It's hard to say anything
when you're laughing so hard. No matter what the details are, the very action speaks
for itself, people...This man: 1)Choked his boss, 2)Threatened to kill him, and
3)Threw a punch at him. Simple math for you and me: 1-2-3 you're OUT! Not so
if you can bounce a big orange ball and throw it through a metal hoop with some
accuracy. Here's the most insidious thing about this case: Thousands of kids and
adults around the country take their cues from this kind of behavior. Don't
think that's true? I've worked as an amateur sports official for the last seven
years, and I've seen the deterioration of fair play in just that short space of
time. Ten-year-old kids arguing with umpires, "adult" softball players using
abusive and threatening language. A kid was killed after a Big League baseball
game just a few years ago right here in my home District. And all of this points
right back to our idolization of gifted athletes and our willingness to look the
other way when they exhibit inappropriate behavior. We reward them with huge
amounts of money and pat them on the head, reassuring them that we'll try to help them see
the "right way". Then they go out and brutally attack coaches (Sprewell), fellow
players (Westbrook), and ex-wives messin' around with busboys (?).
How do we stop this? We boycott the teams that allow unrepentant players to
get away with it. Right. Or maybe we teach these players at a young age that
fair play and sportsmanship is more important than "gettin' in your face" or
humiliating others for your own amusement. We establish youth sports programs
run by caring parents and volunteers who want to see kids grow up strong in
their convictions and not convicted of felonies.
Programs like that exist even in such out-of-the-way places as Pittsburg, California.
My own son played in their Peanut League at the age of seven. It's the kind of
game where the kids' own coach pitches to them, and everybody gets to play, regardless
of talent. A pleasant way to watch children learn the value of performing for
themselves and others in the spirit of FUN. Having been a Little League board
member myself, I know the value of getting the parents and family friends out
there to watch the tykes play. I also know the REAL value of a few extra bucks
tossed into the league coffers by a sponsor who also happens to be a doting
parent. What a combination! Cash and participation! Who could turn down THAT
kind of dedication? I'll tell you who...the Pittsburg Peanut League board of
Directors. Seems they were just a tad leery of putting the sponsor's name on
the backs of these kids. The sponsor was Jerry's Tattoo's, and the board felt
that some parents might complain about promoting "that kind of business" in
youth sports. Okay, but as Jerry himself points out:"Why do they allow pizza
parlors to advertise? They sell beer to parents while the kids eat pizza."
Why indeed, Jerry...it's because the folks on the Board have no spine, man, pure
and simple. If anybody complained, all I'd say is:"Hey, if you'd like to pony
up the $250 sponsorship fee to cover this team, we'll talk about it. In the meantime,
put it donut in it!" How are we supose to teach kids fairness when we can't practice it
ourselves? Get with the program, folks! I don't care if it's Joe's Gambling
Parlor or Fred's Pizza or U-Stiff-Em Mortuary that comes up with the cash.
Anybody that wants to keep kids on the right road and backs it up with green,
time or sweat is OK with me! Play Ball!
"Hey blue, you're missin' a great game!" Oh yeah? Tell me where it is so's I can go see it...
