It’s Just a Game

A spokesman for Little League Baseball Inc. frankly admits that any number of folks say problems with the sport for the 12-year-old and younger set isn’t the kids, it’s the parents. Welcome to Garden Grove.

Last week a meeting of coaches in the Northeast Garden Grove Little League ended in a brawl--involving the grown-ups, not the children. The youngsters displayed the proper maturity and were merely spectators, suffering through a terrible firsthand example of adults unable to control their emotions.

The meeting was called to discuss whether a team should have its victories transformed into defeats or whether it should be allowed to replay the games because one youngster was declared ineligible for being too old. That is not an overly difficult problem to solve.

Yet two coaches battled each other and several other adults jumped in. Police were called after the punches were thrown, but no charges were filed. One coach had his wounds treated at a hospital.

The idealized vision of youngsters playing baseball involves sunny summer Sundays, green fields and white baseballs, and an occasional hot dog. It also should include a tolerance for players showing more enthusiasm than talent. If first basemen occasionally watch a bird fly overhead while a ground ball rolls through their legs, well, it is after all a game, and the kids after all are kids.

But too often the adults ratchet up the pressure. Sometimes, it’s parents pushing coaches to put their children in the game more often. Sometimes, it’s coaches berating umpires. Too often, it’s parents and coaches pushing their kids to win at any cost.

One coach in the fight had the sense, unfortunately belated, to admit being ashamed of letting his temper get the best of him. “I think it’s actually pretty ignorant,” he said. He’s right. He should be sure to repeat that to all the children who witnessed the sorry spectacle.

Adults fighting over Little League ball are fighting about themselves, not the kids. Yes, before the days of Little League, when children batted balls around in pickup games in empty lots, punches were thrown. But maturity puts an end to that behavior. Let the kids enjoy the game. Let them enjoy childhood.