Well, a good friend of mine pointed me in the direction of this nasty little controversy, and I couldn’t resist making a few comments! I’m being told that there is more to the story then what appeared in the Kirkland Reporter’s article – and I don’t disbelieve that statement – but there is enough information in this story to really get me wound up (pardon the pun!)
I’ll let you read the story to get and analyze the details so that you can draw your own conclusions – however – I will say that the real losers here are the kids! Little League is supposed to be one of those healthy activities that keeps kids out of trouble. Looks like it isn’t working – and more importantly – the parents clearly get themselves into trouble too! (Can you say attorney fees, at the very least?)
I was in a vanpool a long time ago, and I’ll remember a conversation with a mom who had kids in Little League, she was telling stories about how the parents would get riled up (the woman I knew volunteered as a scorekeeper/statistician) and cuss and swear and have temper-tantrums over the “unfairness” of the record keeping, etc. I was generally quiet during those conversations, but my mind always went back to the same point: The kids certainly aren’t learning anything about sportsmanship or civility. Now this story. I’m glad I never played in Little League if this stuff is true.
Take a look at the Little League logo:
The three key words: CHARACTER COURAGE LOYALTY
Somewhere along the line the kids and the parents seem to have forgotten those 3 simple words. I personally believe that building good character requires good leadership, something the parents didn’t seem to be doing a good job of. The kids involved will never forget the day this all happened – and the baggage they will carry around will probably shape many of their interactions later in life. Shame on the parents for allowing this problem to develop.
Its just a game folks. Raising kids isn’t.
Mom arrested after Little League game goes foul - Kirkland Reporter
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