MOG

For the love of God press play already.

What can I say, I love the game of baseball. I love to watch it, play it, read about it, and coach it.

Yes I coach Little League. Been doing it for about 5 years now. I started when my son Alex was 3. At that time he wasn't able to play but, I saw an opportunity to start coaching in anticipation of his entry into the the only game that matters. I suppose Alex and Baylor were pushed into the sport. Baylor dropped it this year but Alex has been chomping at the bit to get on the diamond since the last snow fall. He loves it. The good news is my daughter Lindsay is also keyed up to play, she runs around with a glove and a batters helmet on asking me to pitch to or catch with her.

My time as a Little League coach has known no problems, the kids love me, parents appreciate the time I take to help out their children and I would like to think I am generally well liked around our local fields. That is until recently when I got into a fight with a parent over the concept of 'choking up' on the bat.

Two weeks ago one of my boys (we can call him 'G") had gotten his second strike out in a game. He became frustrated and rather belligerent. I had said, "G, you have to choke up on the bat. Just give me 2 inches." G said, "I can't, I am not allowed."

Me: What do you mean your not allowed?

G: I'm not allowed, my dad doesn't want me to.

Me: Is your dad here today?

G: Yeah, he's over there.

Me: Let's go talk to him.

I couldn't believe that a parent would tell their kid that they weren't allowed to choke up on the bat. Well I was wrong. G's dad did indeed tell him that he couldn't choke up. The dad had told me that his son (who is 8) had mastered the short bat and he wanted G to get used to hitting the longer bat without any help. This is when my dinosaur brain kicked in.

Me: Fine, if that's the way you want it , you can sit here and watch your boy strike out because he isn't allowed to take advice from his coach who actually knows better.

G's dad: Why are you singling my boy out, there are other kids striking out, why are you singling him out.

Me: I am singling him out because he is the only kid who's dad won't let me do my job of coaching.

Words were exchanged and a few people came over to break up the scene. It could have gotten ugly but it didn't.

Cut to last week.

There's G. He has a shorter bat and his dad is behind the fence telling him to move his hands up the bat about an inch. G's dad doesn't speak to me. He never offered an apology and yet here he was taking my advice. Needless to say, G hit every time he was up to bat and his demeanor was greatly improved but my attitude had changed after our initial encounter. My zeal for coaching had been taken away. I wasn't the same.

I guess over time I will get into it again, I can't let my love for the game be ruined by one irate parent but for now I am subdued on the diamond.

Anyway dig Fatboy Slim. I changed it up somewhat to reflect my feelings for the great American Pastime.

Posted on 05/13/2008