May I suggest, The Little League World Series. Chances are, most of us played Little League. Watching this, I can almost smell the grape snow cones and boiled hot dogs of my youth. But these kids. Granted, they are enhanced by the broadcasting capabilities of today, enabling us to find out their favorite baseball player, subject in school, vacation memories, etc;. Sure, occasionally a catcher will have a rough moment, but I love watching the competitiveness, sportsmanship, and pureness of these games. The absolute wonder and joy of playing baseball. My late mother was from Williamsport, and she would religiously watch the LLWS. I always assumed it was just because it was her hometown. I was wrong.
I agree with you as long as I don't delve too deeply into the whole thing. On the surface, the LLWS is a joy to watch; young kids playing America's game. But if you only knew the politics, mean spiritedness and selfishness (all by the parents) that go into the making of the all star teams that compete for the LLWS, it would take a lot of the shine off the whole experience. There is NO purity whatsoever.........except for the kid who got hit by the pitch comforting the pitcher. If only the parents were required to stay home.........
I love the Little League world series.....US , Taiwan, Cuba and Japan always in the mix. Taiwan is really proud of it's world Little League championships. I used to call Little League games one summer on a trip to my Uncle's in Indiana...great fun.
Co-sign this. The Little League organization and back dealings make the NCAA look pure. Happy for anyone who is able to watch these games and see them simply at face value though. That's how it should be.
They actually have an ad campaign which somewhat addresses the "parent issue", but I do get what you're saying, which really isn't much different than an NBA All Star Game selection, or an Olympic selection. The difference ends up being the pure joy in the athletes.
There was a team from Hazel Dell that was 2 years behind me in age that made it to Williamsport. I knew most the kids on that team. A lot of them just matured before other 12 year olds. I think only one made it to division 1 baseball and he pitched for OSU briefly. But yeah it can be fun to watch as long as they don’t start crying when they get shelled on the mound. The Japanese “12 year olds” with beards usually win it all.
When I played baseball I was on both sides of the political spectrum. There was years I made the All Star team where I didn’t really deserve it and there was times I did deserve more than anybody else but my dad wasn’t down there watering the field and shaking enough hands
Yeah I was thinking Taiwan but said Japan. it’s strange to me how few Taiwanese players have played in the MLB compared to Japanese.
For about the last decade me and some buddies play a year long fantasy league where we pick teams instead of players. You better believe the LLWS is one of our 15 sports. Nothing will make you feel like more of a degenerate than typing “LLWS Odds to win” into google! Yes the politics behind a lot of it is shitty and I wish they let the kids play more ‘real’ baseball but the actual action on the field is pure.
Most Taiwanese ball players play in Japan or S Korea...Japan is the big market for Taiwanese players...there was a Taiwanese fielder, slugger playing for the Astros I think a few years ago..another played for the Yankees I think...they are rock stars in the Japanese league though so the fame factor isn't in the MLB for most Asian ballplayers...baseball is crazy popular over there.
Our neighborhood team Wilshire LL went when my son was that age. He wasn’t good enough to make the team though,HA! Two kids off that team are now on UofP which is kinda cool. Not sure how far they got….. BECAUSE BASEBALL SUCKS ASS!!!
Geez. I read the other thread and now this one reads as, “Wanna put Jody and love back in sports????” I need a cup of coffee!
Good for Hawaii making it to the title game. They seem like mature kids and a lot less political over there. The coach has no kids on the team but does it because he loves coaching young kids. That’s how it should be.
My wife and I sponsored a girls little league softball team from SE Asia for several years back in the 90s. It was great fun hosting the team and watching them play at Alpenrose Dairy. The girls of course had never been to the US and some had little English but they played hard, competed and had a great time when they weren't playing the game.
