Earlier tonight I was catching up on the Sports scores on ESPN.com, I found this story about a 9 year old pitcher that was banned from pitching because he is too good. How ridiculous is that! The league reported told the boy and his coach that he could play anywhere that he wanted except pitcher, a day or so after the ban the boys coach put him in to pitch and the other team forfeited the game, they just quit and walked off the field.
What is this league teaching these children? It can't be that excelling in something is a good thing. It also can't be that to be the best you can be, you need to compete against the best that you can find. This young man wasn't banned because he pitched wildly and hurt kids, he was banned because they couldn't hit the ball when he pitched.
I wonder how many of these kids in this league will quit the first time things don't go their way? It is a shame to say things about the kids, but honestly how can we expect them to act differently than they have been taught? Especially when it is done so dramatically. The league went so far as to disband this kid's team and distribute the players to other teams in the league. Again I have to ask, how ridiculous is that?
I was thinking of when I played little league, it wasn't uncommon to have some kids that were a lot better than I was, but that was what practice was for, to improve and better our skills. I wonder if the other coaches thought about teaching their charges to bunt, or here is a revolutionary thought, bringing in an older kid to throw batting practice to make the kids on their teams better players?
Come to think of it, it would be easier if our Board of Realtors would ban several of the top producers in our market. Then we would have a much easier time competing. There would be little or no reason to invest all that money on books and training, and we could just set back and enoy ourselves instead of improving ourselves! It would be great!
Who am I kidding, it would be awful! There would be no looking at myself in a mirror, nor feeling of growth nor accomplishment. No growth, and a burning desire to quit the first time someone did something better than I could. That would be just awful!
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Hi Tony and Darcy.
This is absolutely ridiculous! And what a horrible message it sends to that little kid, who obviously had to work extremely hard to get as good as he is. But I'm willing to bet that this has more to do with complaining parents of all the kids who can't hit off of him.
Hmmm...aren't there countries that don't allow anyone to excel beyond the masses?
I didn't see that report but, as you, find it absolutely amazing! I coached several sports over the years and served as a high school head soccer coach and assistant wrestling coach for years. Wrestling was easy... the best rose to the top easily enough. In soccer, our youth programs had multiple skill levels at various age groups. We enjoyed the opportunity to have the "best" compete in an environment of similar skilled players. Baseball youth programs are generally localized and instead of "rewarding" the best in this case, they leaned toward placing limitations on the advanced player. Sport is an opportunity for individuals to learn and grow.. but obviously not in that community.
God bless the new America! When you hear about stories like this it really makes you upset. The mediocre really want everyone to stay at their level.
I was just coming to post this....good job. What does it say about this country? Nothing good. I'm not yet 30 and you can certainly blame my parents' generation and theirs. Everyone's been force-fed garbage lines about everyone being good and a winner their whole life. Well it isn't true! Some people are really horrible at things. In fact, MOST people are pretty bad at MOST things....
The key is finding something you're good at and love and excelling at it....kinda like a phenom 9-year-old boy might do. Moving him up, pulling your team off the field or disbanding his givess ALL the wrong lessons. You practice harder, praise those that are able to succeed and encourage those that are trying...this makes me sick.
Darcy, I agree with you totally! That is completely nuts! And let's ban Lenn Harley and Sharon Simms from Active Rain! They're too good at it and have too many points!
40 miles per hour was scaring the other boys...and he had never hit anyone. Amazing!
I read about that. Thing is every league has one of those kids that has matured faster or is more naturally gifted than the rest. I remember growing up and in 5th-6th grade you had kids throwing 60MPH from 45ft away ont he small baseball diamonds...yeah they dominated, but it only lasted a couple years. Matter of fact one didn't even make Varsity baseball in HS and the other was just an average player. DEAL WITH IT.
I saw this today. This was/is so stupid. Sounds like there was much more behind this than just 40 MPH pitch. THanks.
Thank everyone for commenting. I remember well kids like the ones that Casey mentioned, it is all part of growing up. It is stupid to continue punishing excellence and rewarding mediocrity! Anyway thanks again for reading and commenting. I completely understand and agree with each of them!
This is scary beyond imagination. This is AMERICA for crying out loud! Who approved this?? It goes against every principle America was founded on ! The powers that be who did this should be hanging their heads in shame and begging forgiveness from those kids and reverse their decision. FOR SHAME !
Next thing they'll do is ban mothers from attending games who provide juice that's too cold for the little leaguers!
Pathetic!
Boy, I sure would like to be his Lawyer.
This is a crazy story! I saw it on the news. The boy was so sweet. When interviewed he said he just wants to play baseball and move on!