Believe it or not, my dream in life wasn’t always to host a radio show or write a weekly online column. When I was younger, I aspired to run the motion offense for Bobby Knight’s Hoosiers before surpassing Walt Frazier as the greatest point guard in Knicks’ history. Basketball was something that I was good at, and summer camps and winter recreation leagues were an annual part of my youth. Though my basketball success waned because my growth-spurt didn’t materialize until 10th grade, similar success did not translate onto the baseball field.
I played two years of Little League in a town that had won a Little League World Championship just a handful of years earlier. Trumbull was super-competitive because of that, and I often use that as a crutch when talking about my baseball ineptitude. I played two years and had a grand total of zero hits and appeared in zero playoff games. In fact, the two teams I played for finished in last place in both seasons. I struck out more times than I can remember, and I rarely even put the ball in play. I was one of the bad kids, on one of the bad teams. But, I didn't care because between the strikeouts, there were laughs, pizza parties and ice cream I joked about my lack of ability with teammates and became the “class clown” of the 1992 Tigers. I was with my friends, and I was playing a game that I loved (even if I wasn’t good at it), and was having a great time.
Flash forward to 2008. Just about 20 minutes north of the town where I was the strikeout king over 15 years ago, there is a 9-year old named Jericho Scott. Unlike the younger version of myself, Scott is a great player and he plays for a great team. He throws a 40 mph fastball, and his team is 8-0 in the New Haven Youth Baseball League. Jericho is so good in fact, that the League administrators have decided to disband his team. Attorney Pete Noble, who represents the League, said that facing a pitcher that throws that fast is “frightening” for these kids. Really frightening, considering that Scott has never, ever hit a batter with a pitch. Noble went on to say that it was a “developmental league” with a lot of “beginners” whose purpose is to “promote” the sport. That’s fine for the rest of the kids in the League, but what about Jericho? What about his team?
Jericho is too good for his own good according to his League
I try to keep this column sports-related and steer away from politics and other non-sports related issues. But, I feel like this Jericho Scott story is a representation not only of what’s wrong in youth sports, but what’s wrong with this country. They say 25 is the new 15. Do you know why that is? It’s because we treat 25 year olds that way. High school kids are treated like 5th graders, and 9-year olds like Jericho Scott are treated like toddlers. We’ve become so enamored with “fairness” and not hurting other people’s feelings that talented people have to be broken down until they are on the same level as everyone else. It’s a blanket of leveling the playing field in sports, and in life. My boss told me the other day that I couldn’t say “chick” (when referring to whiny Team USA goalie Hope Solo) on-the-air anymore. That term, like Jericho Scott’s 40 mph fastball, might hurt someone’s feelings. It really gives “walking on egg shells” a whole new meaning.
When I was in fourth grade, I won my age group’s Knockout and Hot Shot championships at a summer basketball camp. I won two blue First Place ribbons, a free basketball, and a framed picture. I was proud of myself because I had practiced a ton and spent most of the winter out on my driveway shooting hoops. I accomplished something and I was recognized for it. I EARNED it. Today, what would happen? Would everyone have won a ribbon? Would I have been rewarded for my hard work? Would we even have any individual competitions? On the opposite end of the spectrum, I never won anything playing Little League baseball. However, the pitchers weren’t made to throw underhand to me. I didn’t get to hit the ball of a tee (though I tried to get that rule instituted). I didn’t get a trophy just for stepping into the batter’s box. My coach didn’t pull me from the lineup, even though sometimes I would get so frustrated that I’d pull my cap over my eyes for letting my team down. There was no leveling of the playing field for me. Some kids were better than other kids and some teams were better than other teams. Some kids got trophies and ribbons, some kids went home empty-handed. That was sports, and it was a representation of life. Some won, some lost, but even without trophies, everyone went home with lessons.
That was what youth sports used to be about. It wasn’t necessarily about competition, just about learning from competition. I was schooled on teamwork, and how to carry myself in victory and defeat. You’ll have to excuse kids today for not knowing the difference between winning and losing. Everybody “wins” and everybody is handed a trophy. Kids don’t “earn” anything anymore. You show up, you get a trophy – that way everyone wins, right?
This Jericho Scott story doesn’t make me angry as much as it just makes me sad. A unique talent made to feel ashamed of himself and his team disbanded in the interest of fairness. Some are saying that Scott should be moved up. Why? So he can test himself against 11 or 12 year olds? Is that what Jericho wants to do, or does he want to play in his own age group with his own friends against his peers? This isn't like moving a pitcher from A-ball to the Majors. This kid is nine years old. NINE. The only people that want Scott moved up are the parents of the kids that can’t make contact against his fastball. The people on the other side of the argument always say that it’s about the kids. No, it’s not. It’s about their kids. Who cares if Jericho is forced to sit out and his talent is wasted, as long as all the other kids have a chance to actually put the ball in play?
Scott said earlier this week, “I feel sad. I feel like it’s my fault that nobody can play.” It’s not your fault, Jericho. It’s every parent, every coach, and every administrator in recent years that have whined or complained because their kid, or their team wasn’t as good. They say it’s not fair for someone to be that good. Not fair for a team to have a kid like Jericho Scott. Not fair for their team and their kid to actually feel what it's like to lose.
In the interest of fairness, how long until we stop keeping score?
SHOOTING THE REST OF THE SPORTS WORLD:
Swish: The Redeem Team
I made the decision to tough it out and stay up to watch Team USA’s 2:30 AM tip-off against Spain in the Gold Medal game early Sunday morning. The final call was made while I was sitting at Upstairs Pub in Bloomington, making my first trip back to my alma mater in months to see a friend that just moved there. I can assure you that I was of a sober, sharp mind for the entire game 2nd half, and what a game 2nd half it was. The Spainards opened the fourth quarter on a 7-0 to cut the lead to two, and hung around for the entire final frame. But, Team USA kept hitting clutch buckets. Deron Williams hit a crucial three right off the bench, Spain had no answer for Dwayne Wade, and Kobe Bryant converted a critical four-point play to ice the game. Congratulations to the Americans, who seemed truly joyful to win Olympic Gold, for retaking their place as the World’s basketball superpower. One thing I wanted to mention – I know we talked about the Redeem Team vs. the Dream Team debate last week. After watching Rudy Fernandez sit behind the arc and rain 3’s on the Redeem Team defense, I had visions of what Chris Mullin, Larry Bird, and Michael Jordan would do to said defense. Maybe that game wouldn’t be as close as I thought…
Kobe's 4-point play clinched the Gold...but I still think MJ circa '92 would tear him up
Brick: Kyle Busch
For most of the 2008 Sprint Cup season, things have come pretty easy for Kyle Busch. But, over the last month Carl Edwards has been stealing the spotlight and stealing wins. Busch’s frustrations boiled over at Bristol as Edwards conquered him for the 2nd straight week, leaving the rivals with another 1-2 finish. After crossing the line, Busch decided to ram his car into Edwards twice. The #99 responded by slamming back into Busch and spinning him out, delighting the 165,000 fans in attendance. The irony of the whole situation is that Busch was mad at Edwards for a little bump which allowed the #99 to pass the #18 with 30 laps to go. I can’t help but laugh at Busch, who was 100% serious by the way, for actually having the gall to call someone else out for bumping him. Busch is universally hated among NASCAR fans and drivers for his aggressive racing tactics. You know you’re an <expletive> when even your brother hates you. Kyle Busch is the kind of driver that NASCAR needs, but unlike polarizing figures like Tony Stewart or the beloved Dale Earnhardt, Busch doesn’t seem to have any fans. I don’t mind the #18 bumping and spinning out others on his way to victory lane, but he can’t be hypocritical about it. If you’re gonna dish it out, you gotta take it.
Air Ball: Mets bullpen
The New York Mets bullpen struggles are making me wonder whether it’s even worth it for them to make the playoffs. I mean can you imagine this hodge-podge of sucktitude trying to protect a one-run lead against Milwaukee or Chicago in the postseason? Yikes. The Mets blew their 22nd (!) save of the season after blowing a 7-0 lead in Philly, and in the process lost their spot atop the NL East. You can’t blame the current situation on the injury to Billy Wagner because he accounted for seven of those blown saves himself. Their temporary “closer” Aaron Heliman has an ERA of 5.15, Pedro Feliciano has yielded 50 hits and walked 45 batters in 47 1/3 innings, and the Mets were forced to take a flier on Luis Ayala, who had a WHIP of around 1.50 with Washington. Need a perfect example of how bad this Mets’ bullpen has been in ‘08? Johan Santana has a 2.64 ERA and has given up three runs or less 23 of his 27 starts. He has SEVEN no-decisions in games where he gave up two runs or less and left with a lead. With even a halfway decent bullpen, Santana would be right there with Brandon Webb as a serious Cy Young contender.
The Shots Fantasy Update:
Lonewolf def. Robinson Cano & Co. II, 5-3
Baseball season has ended early for me, as Robinson Cano & Co. II will miss the playoffs. Like A-Rod’s 0-5, 2 K, 2 GIDP night against Boston, this way an embarrassing was to go out. Lonewolf was by far the worst team in my fantasy league, and still had Travis Hafner and Rich Hill on his bench (obviously he didn’t pay much attention to his team). He also had Grady Sizemore, who almost singlehandedly beat up on my anemic offense. Golden Raspberries go to Russell Martin and Brandon Phillips, who batted under the Mendoza line for the week.
There will be no postseason for Robinson Cano or Robinson Cano & Co. II
Fantasy NASCAR, 254 point week - still in 7th place
A solid but unspectacular week in fantasy NASCAR, as I continue to hang around. Though remaining in 7th place doesn’t sound great, I’m only 97 points behind the 4th place team, and 300 back of my roommate for first. By my calculations, it would take about a month to make up that deficit, based on picking up 75 points a week. This would’ve been a good week to forget to change my lineup, as Carl Edwards/Kyle Busch had another 1-2 finish.
Chuckie Three Stick-Up, 152 point week – 63 points out of 3rd to last place!
Another week, and another winner for my Fantasy Golf team. “A” Group starter Vijay Singh (8-under) netted me 52 points, while a solid fourth place finish by Kevin Streelman got me 42 more. This team was 576 points back of 3rd to last (after I didn’t know how to set my lineup for the first month of the season) at the halfway point. Three of the last four weeks, I have led the group in points and with four weeks to go, my season-long climb out of the gutter is nearly complete.
Plax On, Plax Off – Fantasy Football Draft on Tuesday
I always draft late because injuries (hello, Derek Anderson) complicate things in the preseason. Unlike some, I usually only draft and play with one team. Only in 2000 and 2005 did I have two teams, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. But, if you draft three or more teams, then you’re a douchebag. I don’t care that 25% of your Fantasy teams ended up winning the league. It defeats the purpose of fantasy to have more than two teams. That’s like filling out 50 NCAA Tournament brackets.
The Shots What to Watch this week:
Philadelphia at Chicago, Friday-Sunday
Finally, it feels like this Phillies team has woken up. All along I’ve felt like they were the best team in the NL East on paper, but they had yet to put it together. But, after a four-game sweep of LA and a comeback win in the opener against the Mets, Philly looks playoff-ready. The Cubs have been ridiculously hot, and there’s just not a better team in baseball right now. I’m not trying to jinx Cub fans here, but it’s time to face reality: YOU ROOT FOR THE BEST TEAM IN BASEBALL. Read that sentence again, take a deep breath, and let it soak in. Take a mini-vacation until October.
#24 Alabama at #9 Clemson, Saturday
Every year when fall comes around football begins, the leaves change, and Clemson is overrated. The Tigers are viewed as the favorites in the otherwise craptacular ACC, and they’ll have a chance to prove their mettle early against Alabama. Alabama QB John Parker Wilson returns for his third year as the starter, but playmakers DJ Hall and Keith Brown have both graduated. Bama is a year away from really making noise, especially with the young talent that Nick Saban has stockpiled.
Clemson, for real? We'll see...
Pepsi 500, Sunday
Just two races remain until The Chase, and while I could care less whether Kasey Kahne and David Ragan make the cut, the aforementioned drama between Kyle and Carl make all the races must-see-TV. Edwards is a streaky driver whose wins usually come in bunches, so don’t be surprised if he’s running up front again.
The Shots YouTube Clips this week:
Sports related –
Here’s my lasting image of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Of course the commies at NBC pulled all the “real” video clips.
Non-sports related –
In over a year of writing this column, I think I’ve claimed that six or seven different YouTube clips were the best ever. This is just the most recent.
The Shots Chick Pick this week: Megan Fox
Gotta give everyone some love. Even the trashy ones.
See you next week.
Listen to Derek as he hosts the Xtra Large Lunch, every weekday from noon to 1 PM on XL 950!
