This might be borderline un-American, but I'm sorry, I don't like the Little League World Series.
Now, I have nothing against Little League itself. In fact, it's a fine organization, the largest youth sports organization in the world.
The nonprofit organization allows 2.6 million children worldwide to play the game of baseball. Its coaches and adult volunteers provide a multitude of lasting learning experiences for these young players.
This column is also not intended to disrespect the Petaluma Little League team, which finished up a fine season on Sunday by winning the consolation game in the World Series championship round.
The Little League games played week in and week out are wonderful. I don't even object to regional playoff tournaments.
But that's where it should end. At the local level.
There is no reason to subject 12-year-olds to the rigors and stress of a statewide or national or worldwide tournament.
High school sports only rise to the state level. College sports only compete at the national level.
Why does Little League need to thrust itself on the world stage?
It's simply too much pressure to put on young boys who are just hitting the age of puberty.
I really believe the Little League World Series is for the adults' benefit. It is an opportunity for the grown-ups, many of whom perhaps did not have a high-level athletic experience when they were young, to experience the thrills of sudden death playoffs.
It's too much for pre-teens. We do see the happy 12-year-olds who jubilantly celebrate their victories.
However, we rarely see the devastated middle school students on the losing side. The youngster who struck out with runners in scoring position. Or the infielder who booted a groundball at a crucial moment. Or a pitcher who gave up a critical homerun.
There are plenty of youngsters in these tournaments who suffer through the wrath of a normally calm coach or parent who lets their emotions get out of control during the tense moments of these must-win games.
I'm not alone in this opinion. Former Oakland Raiders head coach John Madden expressed reservations last week on KCBS radio about the Little League World Series.
Bad experiences at this level can be scarring for young athletes. And it's not necessary. There's no reason to make Little League baseball a worldwide experience with live television coverage and hordes of other media attention.
Little League baseball is a wonderful experience at the local level. Let's keep it there. At the local level.
A Father from Walnut Creek
The teams that get to the Williamsport tournament are the best of the best, an "all star" team of the entire league. They play other towns in their region (most of which he faced as a representative of his hometown's "traveling team" that summer), and so on up through the ranks until they become their state's representative in the finals to go to the LLWS. Take a look at the rosters of the tournament from, say, 2000. You will see more than one name on those rosters that are playing major college baseball, if not in the professional ranks. By the way, my nephew's team won their sectional, but lost in the second round. Was he disappointed? Sure, who wouldn't. Did it "scar" him as an athlete? Let's see. Last spring, he was starting catcher on his HS baseball team as a freshman, as well as all-league soccer player. His team made it to the New England regional finals in Pop Warner football the year of the LLWS run, just missing out on the national tournament. Nah, I think his disappointment at losing didn't affect him much. Truth to tell, I think the LLWS loss was a GOOD thing for him. It showed him that, as good as he may think he is, there are almost always others as good if not better than him.
As a former baseball coach my rules were simple, have fun and play by the rules.
Or, we can allow our children to try and excel, and encourage them when they succeed AND fail. And not protect them from every little hurdle they might have to overcome in life, because they will encounter hurdles... and mom and dad might not always be around to pick them up. As I've told many people, I didn't raise children.... I raised ADULTS.
Sad, that some kids may be deprived of the chance to compete and excel. They will never get to know what they are capable of and to test how far their potential will take them.
When I grew up there were very few private coaches for kids, there was a clear season and if you just worked hard you had an ok chance of making your local HS team. Those days are gone. Now you have the use of video, private coaches and a laundry list of what parents will spend and kids will do because.......you have to to make the team. There seems to be no end in the quest to be the best. This trend has also gone to academics as well so I am not bashing on sports as I do love them.
As a kid, I played on a team that went 0-26. We sucked and knew it. We weren't coddled and given participation ribbons. Somehow we found the strength to survive. Life isn't always fair. Let the kids play. Forget the cheaters and egos in the majors... I'd rather watch the little guys play. True heroes.
One, I don't think the LLWS should be on TV. Two, parents can be the largest problem in Little League. Three, I do loathe the push for kids to specialize in one sport so young. It makes me sad. Kids should be able to play multiple sports, even through high school. Four, my main issue when i see pitchers in the LLWS is how they are throwing all kinds of junk. Most of those kids' arms will be ruined. Coaches and parents are to blame for this. Other than that, Little League is a great experience.