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attacks are appearing on the airwaves and internet, alleging
that the purity of the rite has been irrevocably compromised and that the
whole World Series idea should be dropped.The criticisms are falling
into three general categories.
1) Kids Can’t (Shouldn’t) Throw Curves : As reported here, Mike Scuzzerella,
Saugus’s 95 lb ace hurler throws a wicked curve, and has been honing it
since he was seven. Shame on him, his coach for allowing it, his
parents for permitting it and me for reporting it. It has been widely reported
as scientific fact (since I am not a scientist I can’t vouch for this myself)
that kids who throw curve balls before they are 14 or 15 will be drinking
their beer through long straws by the time they are 40. Rips up their
elbows, appearantly.
2) The kids are often poorly served or even unhinged by the intense media
spotlght. Don’t we love to bitch about the culture of privilege and
pampering which produces such an amazingly high percentage of criminals,
assholes and psychopaths among major professional athletes. Well, this
is how it starts. We are all guilty of glorifying and worshiping a
bunch of spoiled 12-year-old kids, some of whom will continue to be lionized
until they either one of the aforementioned unpleasant pros or burn out.
3) The interest and face time afforded the Little League World Series
has spawned widespread
gambing on this most innocent manifestation of the
national pastime. Especially on on-line betting sites, there were
constantly moving lines on the winners, the over/under, the number of runs
scored. A disaster waiting to happen! Only a matter of time until
shady gambling interests try to entice a kid to pad the score, or even
throw a game.
So anyway, I am disillusioned and disconverted by this revolting development. On
the other hand, it’s hard to think of a more American triumverate than
Media Stars, gambling and physical abuse.
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