http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4406915
A girl I work with knows my crazy obsession (I call passion) with baseball and decided to forward over this little article to me. I was angered. Then I finished reading it, and I felt a little better, but still angered.
To sum this up, it's about two kids who get hurt playing little league baseball in two different parts of the country.
Kid 1: Slides into second on a double, tears his ACL. Mom sues the team manager, the 1st base coach who waved him to second, and the league. She settled for $125,000.
First off, your kid is a pussy. Yeah, I said it. If you don't know how to slide and get dirty as a young boy, then good luck with your life, you should be wearing a helmet when you walk down the street for the rest of your life. Also, you shouldn't be playing baseball (I hear competitive chess is really taking off.)
Second, people who are managing baseball teams for kids are volunteers. Non-profit organizations are running these leagues, as in...THEY ARENT MAKING MONEY OFF THIS. The only compensation these people get for the headaches of organization, scheduling, fields, safety, and whiny-bitchy parents is the good feeling of helping kids have an opportunity to play sports and maybe even some enjoyment of staying involved with a game they love. That is it. I seriously am considering calling up this woman and harassing her. It just might make me feel better than Kid #2.
Kid 2: Playing catcher, tags a kid out at home plate and breaks his arm in the process. What does this kid do? He asks his coach what he can do to help the team and stay involved. Wow, I love this kid. If I had a son, and he did this, I would cry tears of pride.
I was in a similar situation as a senior in high school. The 2001 class wasn't a strong one talent wise for baseball at our high school. The 2003 kids had gone to the national tournament the summer before. Guess what, they filled the remaining varsity spots my senior year and many of them started over seniors to start the season, including myself. Because I wasn't 6ft tall, my career growing up as a pitcher (which I dominated) was now moot, there were kids taller, younger, and better than me. I also didn't play much in the field or at the plate in recent years as I was DH'd for when I pitched, and I had recovered from a herniated disk (see Joe Crede) that I suffered from for 2 years. To sum this up, a lot of my teammates my age who lost their starting spots to younger kids quit in the middle of the season. Babies. I stuck it out, helped my teammates anyway I could, cheered my ass off at games, busted my ass in practice. 8 games into the season: "Wernick, you're at 3rd today" and never sat an inning the rest of the year. My parents had even tried to convince me to quit that year as they didn't like seeing me on the bench. I knew my stubborn and persistent personality would pay off somehow, because that was the best season I ever had and by far the most fun I ever had playing baseball. I have stories from that year that I'll remember to the day I die and can tell my grandchildren about. All because I didn't quit like all the other whiny babies.
All said and done, glad this kid got an award. He deserved it. I feel terribly sorry for the other kid. He may be a pussy, but he probably likes baseball and just wanted to have fun. I don't feel sorry that he got hurt, that shit happens, but I feel sorry he has such a low-life set of parents as I don't even want to know what moral lessons they fail to teach him in the future. This kid probably will get crucified at school in the fall by other kids.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Can Favre Save My Life?
History:
Brett Favre....a Minnesota Viking. My GOD! Tell me this 5 years ago and I punch you in the face. I would have no tolerance for Favrepalooza, and I wouldn't stand for it.
Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings, the team I did not choose but chose me, have never won a Super Bowl. Despite being from Minnesota (which I hold no state pride) and being 50% Norwegian blood (never been to Norway), I feel a huge devotion to this team even though I know they're going to break my heart every year. They are arguably the most successful football team that never has acquired the ring. Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions are all longstanding franchises without a ring, but they are PERENNIAL LOSERS. Vikings have many hall of fame players, 1 of only 9 coaches in the hall (Bud Grant = old school badass), 4 superbowl appearances, numerous NFC Championship games, and even more playoff appearances.
Who does this remind you of? Chicago Cubs. Only difference: Cubs are cursed, won't ever win it. Vikings aren't cursed, just bad luck.
Destiny:
Superbowl seasons usually tend to have great "stories" associated with them. Teams overcoming adversity or some obstacle that year, or breaking records, whatever the case may be. You have to admit that the Brett Favre acquisition, paired with a long drought of non-superbowl rings for a successful and perennial contending/dominating franchise, definately sets the table for a great super bowl story. Its in the cards people, easiest schedule, best running back (of all time) in my opinion, stellar offensive and defensive lines, and a Hall of Fame Quarterback.
Getting It Done:
"But Brett Favre isn't what he used to be". No shit. But guess who is isn't? TJoke or Sagecopter. Two guys who should tattoo a question mark symbol on their foreheads, because that's all they'll be known ass. As long as Favre just runs the offense, doesn't turn the ball over, gives the defense time to rest, and can convert a 3rd down once in a while, I see this season with Superbowl written ALL OVER IT.
This is the year, I can feel it, I'm so caught up in Favrepalooza that I can't take it anymore, gonna explode. I say this every year, but this year it looks so good on paper it's sick.
Bring it on.
Brett Favre....a Minnesota Viking. My GOD! Tell me this 5 years ago and I punch you in the face. I would have no tolerance for Favrepalooza, and I wouldn't stand for it.
Unfortunately, the Minnesota Vikings, the team I did not choose but chose me, have never won a Super Bowl. Despite being from Minnesota (which I hold no state pride) and being 50% Norwegian blood (never been to Norway), I feel a huge devotion to this team even though I know they're going to break my heart every year. They are arguably the most successful football team that never has acquired the ring. Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, and Detroit Lions are all longstanding franchises without a ring, but they are PERENNIAL LOSERS. Vikings have many hall of fame players, 1 of only 9 coaches in the hall (Bud Grant = old school badass), 4 superbowl appearances, numerous NFC Championship games, and even more playoff appearances.
Who does this remind you of? Chicago Cubs. Only difference: Cubs are cursed, won't ever win it. Vikings aren't cursed, just bad luck.
Destiny:
Superbowl seasons usually tend to have great "stories" associated with them. Teams overcoming adversity or some obstacle that year, or breaking records, whatever the case may be. You have to admit that the Brett Favre acquisition, paired with a long drought of non-superbowl rings for a successful and perennial contending/dominating franchise, definately sets the table for a great super bowl story. Its in the cards people, easiest schedule, best running back (of all time) in my opinion, stellar offensive and defensive lines, and a Hall of Fame Quarterback.
Getting It Done:
"But Brett Favre isn't what he used to be". No shit. But guess who is isn't? TJoke or Sagecopter. Two guys who should tattoo a question mark symbol on their foreheads, because that's all they'll be known ass. As long as Favre just runs the offense, doesn't turn the ball over, gives the defense time to rest, and can convert a 3rd down once in a while, I see this season with Superbowl written ALL OVER IT.
This is the year, I can feel it, I'm so caught up in Favrepalooza that I can't take it anymore, gonna explode. I say this every year, but this year it looks so good on paper it's sick.
Bring it on.
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