Column: Little Leaguers brighten sports
Published Aug. 28, 2007
A magical time comes around toward the end of each August when baseball is played at its purest level, passion surpasses contracts, players aren't afraid to shed tears and the sound of aluminum never sounds as sweet. No, it's not the Major League Baseball Wild Card chase, but instead, the Little League World Series. This is an event so chaste that even its organizers refuse to charge admission for fear it would take away from the sanctity of it all.
During a summer that's been especially critical on professional sports, the Little League World Series couldn't have come at a more appropriate time. For two weeks, sports enthusiasts were able to momentarily forget the trials and tribulations in the media and refocus their attention on youthful children, who described their experience as "flying like Peter Pan."
Even the most exhausted and disappointed fans, like those in Georgia who were distraught and confused by the Michael Vick case, were able to concentrate on the eventual winners from their home state, the All-Stars from Warner Robins. The star-studded roster of 11-to-13-year-old children played like champions and acted the role throughout the entire tournament, a feat rarely seen by professionals these days.
But even greater than the sportsmanship or the pause from life supplied by this series was the emotion that only young teenagers are not too embarrassed to reveal. The tears after losses were real, the joy of winning was authentic and, most importantly, it was all genuine. Apparently too young to take steroids and too energetic to slow down and take in the moment around them, the Little Leaguers demonstrated what is missing in professional sports these days. With their goal only to play baseball until their bodies could play no longer, the players competed for the right reasons.
In addition to the satisfaction of an unadulterated tournament, the Little League World Series provided an opportunity for the world to come as one and celebrate the freedom to play such a game. With eight American teams and eight international teams, each representing a different country, the championship was literally a "World Series."
There might be less scouts and executives at this World Series, but that doesn't stop American and international viewers from enjoying the event. There was ESPN coverage, national media attention and 45,000 screaming fans. And these fans knew exactly what they were cheering for: not enhanced power, not financially driven motivation and, consequently, not professionals. But there was nothing amateurish about the Little League World Series. As Warner Robins coach Mickey Lay said to the Associated Press, "They're not greedy kids ... they just enjoy playing the game. That's something that we miss sometimes."
We might have to wait until the end of next summer for the next time we can watch an event played so maturely and professionally. Only then will the time come when countries don't have to pick sides, when families can afford to attend a baseball game and when we can all take solace in watching a bright future.