[greymule]

In central NJ, every sport has had its disgraceful incidents involving fans, players, or coaches getting out of control. I used to be the "commissioner" of a Kindergarten–First Grade soccer league, and I couldn't believe how seriously some parents took those games, even though most coaches were just trying to get the kids to kick the ball in the right direction. I even had parents furious with me because I hadn't assigned their kid and his friends to the same team. (In making out the rosters, I used to spend hours distributing the talent so the games would be competitive.)

However, in my experience with baseball and softball, non-shaver baseball and men's softball far surpass older boys' baseball and girls' softball in terms of problems.

I've had several guys tell me, as they left the playing area, that they were going to meet me in the parking lot. So far, nobody actually has, though I don't doubt it will eventually happen. Of the instances I've witnessed or been personally involved in, alcohol was often a significant factor.

Last July, I had a break between SP games and went to a nearby field to watch a LL tourney from the outfield fence. I could hear a guy standing nearby muttering obscene insults toward several players on one team. I asked him what his beef was with that team. With overwhelming beer breath, he explained, in obscene terms, that his kid was on the bench, while these other, inferior players were on the field.