View Single Post
  #22 (permalink)  
Old Tue May 17, 2005, 12:58am
David B David B is offline
Official Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 1,772
Quote:
Originally posted by GarthB
Quote:
Originally posted by mbyron
Quote:
Originally posted by GarthB
If fun is all that matters, get rid of the coaches and parents, give them a wheel barrow of candy and soda and an X-box.

Does the phrase "anything worth doing is worth doing right" mean anything to you?
I'll preface this with saying that, with respect to umpiring, I agree with you, Garth.

But I heard a variant of that expression recently: "anything worth doing is worth doing badly." I'm a bad pianist, but it's worth doing all the same.

I would say that the difference with umpiring is: when you screw up the game (or umpiring) badly enough, it's no longer even baseball. Part of learning a team sport is discipline, which can't be approximated by ignoring the rules.

That's why I agree with Garth's application of his phrase to baseball, even if it lacks application more generally.
I have a degree in Music, but I, too, am a poor pianist. (My major was percussion and music education) However, when I screw up a 12 bar blues progression, a kid doesn't get sent back to first, called out or ejected. [/B]
... and you don't have to worry about some parents yelling at you about your ability etc.,

My 7 year old is now playing and he's asked me on several occasions about the umpire's calls. "dad why did they call him safe when I tagged him before he got to the bag?"

Contrary to some opinions the kids do know the difference even at a young age.

I have yet to "enlighten" my son that the umpires don't hustle, don't get in position and don't care,

so far I've just told him that the umpire must have not seen him tag him first, or that the umpire couldn't see it from where he was.

But they notice, and for sure the parents do.

Thanks
David
Reply With Quote