You’re Out
Hey Winkie Sullivan, you know what’s ruining youth sports today? Nasty parents. Little League umpires are quitting left and right, citing verbal abuse and physical attacks from parents both during and after games. Like Buck Norman says, “It’s not about kids playing, it’s about parents winning.”
This tantrum culture is embarrassing, but people are starting to figure out ways to put a stop to it. Here’s how a Little League program in New Jersey did it: if you act like a jerk to an ump, you’re banned from the stands until you’ve volunteered to umpire three games yourself. Then you can come back. As Sansabelt Sibilia would say, “That’s beautiful.” Since this program kicked in, there have been zero parent meltdowns.
Locally, the great Irish politician, Holyoker Jim Leahy, took a stand after a parent slugged a female ballplayer in the face after a youth baseball game. He talked the city council into hanging signs at Holyoke ballfields to encourage a little civility. The signs say, “Please remember these are just kids. This is a game. The coaches are volunteers. Umpires are human. You do not play for the Boston Red Sox.”
Way to go, Jimbo. Take it on the road, baby. Keep your dukes up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-r2luDoV9TI
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