Back to the Diamonds

This past weekend Vine-Ingle Little League and the Freedom Park softball season kicked off. I am a big fan and often sit diamond-side to watch our nieces and nephews work their magic on the field. It's such a mainstay of spring and the passion and emotions can run as high as watching the Braves in a pennant race! One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is watching t-ball. If you're ever having a bad day just go out there, have a Coke and watch the kids wrestle the others on their own team for the ball...it's really cute.

But there is one thing that never ceases to frustrate and disappoint me at the same time...parents and fans that yell disparaging remarks at coaches, umpires or even the kids themselves. When I first saw this inappropriate behavior I had to do a double take. I mean really, these are kids and volunteers out there playing the game because they love it. Baseball and softball at this age has got to be the purest form of the sport. And the last thing kids need is anyone putting extra pressure on their shoulders.

Now let me say a couple of things here: one...I don't have kids, so I don't know the joy and probably the frustration of coaching the little guys off the field and away from their coaches. And secondly let's face it... we're in the middle of the NCAA tournament. And if you've gone to any high school or college basketball games, heckling is getting to be a common place in the landscape and some of it is really funny.

But this year, can we make a pact? Don't chew out the little guys on the diamond, don't rip the umps over a call, and most importantly enjoy this special treat for what it is...the future boys and girls of summer learning life lessons through playin' ball.

See ya on the diamond!
Suzanne