Quote:
Originally posted by Rich Fronheiser
Yup, this crap never, NEVER happens in a USSSSSSSSSA game or in another youth context. Newsworthy problems only happen in Little League.
And is this really that big of a deal?
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I don't know how newsworthy it is, but obviously the entire national mainstream media has jumped on it. If they think they can get a racist slant going, the mainstream media will report the facts and see if it takes off. Sells a lot of papers, for whatever reason.
But Rich, the point of your post is dead on accurate. LL (R) has developed a lot of success over the years with it's program, and the TV coverage of the 12 yo tourney puts a huge target on their back. The organization takes a lot of abuse from people who don't know the difference between LL Baseball Inc., PONY, Dixie Youth, AAU, Dizzy Dean, USSSA, IBC, American Legion, Local Community Rec Dept. etc. All of these organizations have their good points. They also all have bad points. They all have good umpires, and they all have really really crappy umpires. Same goes with coaches, players and parents. So the guys who bash LL without specific instances they can attribute to the actual organization, are simply bashing rec ball in general, but lump it all in to LL Inc. It's not always entirely accurate and hurts their credibility.
That being said, the guys who bash LL Inc. because of something factual that happened to them personally, or to someone they know, have every right to single out the organization with their opinions. They are speaking from experience. Tee has actually given specific examples in the past of issues he personally had with the organization. Those should be told, if he feels it necessary, and he maintains credibility. He dislikes the organization because of the reasons he has posted or published in the past that are most likely factual. He doesn't, in my opinion, bash LL Inc. because it is the what the masses think rec ball is. Most other bashers tend to fall in the second category. They bashing rec ball, but calling it LL.
All I'm saying is when speaking of youth ball in general, it is more accurate and gives more credibility if talking about a specific league, identify it. If it is just rec ball in general, don't call it LL, or PONY, or any of the others unless you are sure that is the organization.