RubberBuzz || Akron Unleashed: Little League: The New WWE

7.12.2005

Little League: The New WWE

Davie G. has at least one kid and said kid plays some kind of sport. And for all I know, Capital G has never punched or thrown things at a ref/umpire at any of Lowercase G's games.

In light of the recent attacks on community members and umpires, we're reminded that these kind of attacks are far more common then we'd like to believe.

As much as any of us would like to say we're shocked because this sort of thing just doesn't happen, it doesn't take much searching to prove that statement wrong.

Like, for instance, the parent who stalked an 18-year-old Catholic Youth Organization basketball referee to his car in January, choked the teen and allegedly threatened to kill him.

This sort of thing does happen, and too often to be regarded as an anomaly. The incidents that make the headlines are not so much exceptions as they are extreme examples of the seamy underbelly of youth sports. Hardly a game goes by without some adult acting like an idiot.

Of course, adults act like idiots all the time. I suppose the idea of such behavior at a kids' baseball game seems more galling because Little League is supposed to be the epitome of wholesome Americana.

So now we know this is happening and probably a lot more then we'll ever hear about. So how do we fix it? Again I'll defer to The BJ.

I've been to games where the crowd is lectured briefly before play begins. The official tells fans how they are expected to behave, and what will happen if they don't. There always seems to be a better temperament at those games.

It seems, out of respect for the tragic recent events, that local sports organizations could easily adopt a similar policy.

Hmm... that seems a little weak. I think all refs at the beginning of every game should get a bucket of water balloons. Whenever a parent acts up, throw a balloon at them. Maybe then they'll remember that this is a KID'S GAME. Let the kids have fun, they're too young to be stressed out by yelling parents. Win or lose, sports are supposed to be about the experience and learning to work as a team.

I think the parents in the stands could learn a few things from the kids on the field. First, there's teamwork. Maybe the parents could work together. If an ump seems unfair, work as a team and bring the issue before the league. Don't go all vigilante on his ass. Next, if you see something of interest, like a neat bug, wait until a break in the game before you pick it up. If you're a parent and you see your kid do something stupid, like put a glove of their head or pick a flower in the soccer field, wait until a break in the game and then tell then nicely what's up, all the while remembering they're kids. Don't yell at them or embarrass them in front of their peers.

The BJ :: Tell adults how to act at games

(joe :: Little League: The New WWE)

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