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because he's TOO GOOD!

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=3553475

I posted that over in the baseball thread. It's just plain stupid.
We overprotect our children these days....now it's to the point that we can't let them lose a game because it will hurt their feelings, so they ban the good players?

Part of the dumming down of America.




(yes I know I spelt that wrong. And that. Irony.)

seems that the soccer moms have infiltrated baseball.

Maybe they should expel the honor roll students too, so the hockey helmet/short bus kids dont feel bad.

Skibo wrote:seems that the soccer moms have infiltrated baseball.

YEP!

Ok believe it or not this kind of bullshrimp doesn't just happen at kids levels.

A number of years ago in the Pacific Northwest a semi pro football league was formed. The City of Auburn had a team called the Panthers. They were good. So good in fact that they remained undefeated in regular season play and won the league championship all three years. They progressed to the National Championship twice. The first one they had to forfeit because they couldn't afford the travel fees. The second one they won.

After three years of their dominance the League folded. Then Reformed and didn't invite Auburn or it's coaches back.

Can't beat em? Kick em out.

I always thought the whole idea of playing sports was to beat your opponent? He's too good for the other players? Tough s***, life is unfair.

"League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league."

My first thought was for him to pitch against older players, or a different league too... just move him up.

If it's a developmental league, and there are beginner 9 year olds on the other teams, it doesn't do anyone any good to have him pitching against them. It just seems there should be other, better, options for his escalated talent to me.

However, it seems that this can be identified before the season starts... I I think they're wrong to ban him at this point in the season. If it has anything to do with the political bs that he chose one team over another, that's just stupid IMO!

Here's a short story from Kurt Vonnegut called "Harrison Bergeron".

Just read the first paragraph to get an idea where we are headed:

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html

This is just stupid...the people that run that league are real morons...

My little leaguer saw this on the news this morning and said it was "so unfair!"

blackjack wrote:Here's a short story from Kurt Vonnegut called "Harrison Bergeron".

Just read the first paragraph to get an idea where we are headed:

http://instruct.westvalley.edu/lafave/hb.html

Troubling . . .

Tiki Bar wrote:"League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league."

My first thought was for him to pitch against older players, or a different league too... just move him up.

If it's a developmental league, and there are beginner 9 year olds on the other teams, it doesn't do anyone any good to have him pitching against them. It just seems there should be other, better, options for his escalated talent to me.

However, it seems that this can be identified before the season starts... I I think they're wrong to ban him at this point in the season. If it has anything to do with the political bs that he chose one team over another, that's just stupid IMO!

I agree. Sounds like a more challenging league would be better for this kid, but deciding mid-season (and just before what sounds like is the playoffs) is ridiculous.

Playing sports growing up I can relate to how the kids that were losing feel. I can remember this one kid in basketball in 7th grade he was 6'2" already I was the tallest kid on our team.....5'9" and I had to guard him. After the first game I told my dad he shouldn't be allowed to play he's too good and big. All that year he beat the crap out of me (we had a small league only 6 teams so we played every team 3-4 times) and dominated the entire league and tournament, they went undefeated. My father instead of letting quit and run away told me if I want to win, if I want to beat the best, I have to practice harder and more than they do. The entire summer I practiced, played basketball day and night. By myself with friends whatever just so I could beat that one guy. Over the summer I grew to 6'2" and could jump like a frog, and the next year I did beat that guy even though he got taller too.

Ok had to tell that story but to shorten it up no one is instilling a work ethic in these kids. Life is not easy you won't always be the best but you can work the hardest.

buffettbride wrote:

Tiki Bar wrote:"League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league."

My first thought was for him to pitch against older players, or a different league too... just move him up.

If it's a developmental league, and there are beginner 9 year olds on the other teams, it doesn't do anyone any good to have him pitching against them. It just seems there should be other, better, options for his escalated talent to me.

However, it seems that this can be identified before the season starts... I I think they're wrong to ban him at this point in the season. If it has anything to do with the political bs that he chose one team over another, that's just stupid IMO!

I agree. Sounds like a more challenging league would be better for this kid, but deciding mid-season (and just before what sounds like is the playoffs) is ridiculous.

He and his parents turned that opportunity down. He wants to be with kids his own age.

I listen to ESPN radio a lot, and this was quite the topic of discussion yesterday.

I think the main issue was that Jericho was pitching EVERY game, and that is grossly unfair to his own team and opponents.

If he's too good, I think he should have been moved up to the next level if he could handle it, but the entire team shouldn't have been punished because of his ability.

And I"m sorry, but his parents' behavior isn't helping his cause.

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:
And I"m sorry, but his parents' behavior isn't helping his cause.

So he's made to suffer? Seems fair.

parrothead3282 wrote:Playing sports growing up I can relate to how the kids that were losing feel. I can remember this one kid in basketball in 7th grade he was 6'2" already I was the tallest kid on our team.....5'9" and I had to guard him. After the first game I told my dad he shouldn't be allowed to play he's too good and big. All that year he beat the crap out of me (we had a small league only 6 teams so we played every team 3-4 times) and dominated the entire league and tournament, they went undefeated. My father instead of letting quit and run away told me if I want to win, if I want to beat the best, I have to practice harder and more than they do. The entire summer I practiced, played basketball day and night. By myself with friends whatever just so I could beat that one guy. Over the summer I grew to 6'2" and could jump like a frog, and the next year I did beat that guy even though he got taller too.

Ok had to tell that story but to shorten it up no one is instilling a work ethic in these kids. Life is not easy you won't always be the best but you can work the hardest.

To me, in schools is an entirely different ballgame, since there aren't other options.

(although, that's not entirely true, since I hear stories of local prodigies being enticed to move to different school districts. Enticed how, I don't know the details, but enticed none-the-less!)

CaptainP wrote:

Brown Eyed Girl wrote:
And I"m sorry, but his parents' behavior isn't helping his cause.

So he's made to suffer? Seems fair.

So you think it was okay for his mother to become irate and threaten the other team? Yeah, that's setting a good example for how to handle things.

Tiki Bar wrote:

parrothead3282 wrote:Playing sports growing up I can relate to how the kids that were losing feel. I can remember this one kid in basketball in 7th grade he was 6'2" already I was the tallest kid on our team.....5'9" and I had to guard him. After the first game I told my dad he shouldn't be allowed to play he's too good and big. All that year he beat the crap out of me (we had a small league only 6 teams so we played every team 3-4 times) and dominated the entire league and tournament, they went undefeated. My father instead of letting quit and run away told me if I want to win, if I want to beat the best, I have to practice harder and more than they do. The entire summer I practiced, played basketball day and night. By myself with friends whatever just so I could beat that one guy. Over the summer I grew to 6'2" and could jump like a frog, and the next year I did beat that guy even though he got taller too.

Ok had to tell that story but to shorten it up no one is instilling a work ethic in these kids. Life is not easy you won't always be the best but you can work the hardest.

To me, in schools is an entirely different ballgame, since there aren't other options.

(although, that's not entirely true, since I hear stories of local prodigies being enticed to move to different school districts. Enticed how, I don't know the details, but enticed none-the-less!)

My daugher's first volleyball team was comprised of 3rd and 4th graders. One of the 4th graders was extremely athletically gifted. She was consistently overhand serving at 9 years old (which is practically unheard of). My daughter's team, mostly because of this girl and a few other key players, destroyed every other team they played. Most teams at this level could barely serve over the net at all, much less attempt an overhand (not one other team even attempted it that season). Even with a 5-serve/side-out rule, they easily beat every team they played, and won the championship.

Subsequent years, my daughter's team did not have this player (and had a more even distribution of skill) but still placed 2nd and 3rd in the league under the same coach.

It has just as much to do with the one key player as it does with the ability of the team to perform as a team, with a coach who coaches the team and doesn't rely on a single player.

To that mom's credit, not that flying off the handle was the best choice, but part of me can't blame her. I would be totally p*ssed off, too, and I don't know that I would have kept my comments in check (I can be a bit of a hot head ) Depending on which side of the story you read, her comments may or may not have been "threats."

Either way, it sends the wrong message to kids that 1) You should be penalized for having an exceptionally gifted athlete on your team. 2) You should quit because you're facing what seems like an unwinnable situation. 3) Parents can be that disrespectful at a child's event.