Friday, July 10, 2009

Baseball In Oil Country


Picture 286
Originally uploaded by korcepaul
My son's team played in New Mexico last night on a field just north of an Oil Refinery. They played well and won the game even though the other team had an amazing rally in the last inning that nearly tied the game.

These games are state championships, somehow even though we live in Colorado we play in New Mexico for State Championships. Usually Colorado ski junkies have a hard time playing the kids in New Mexico, not this time! However, our coach benched three players who have always been on our team. Three players who are sweet, dedicated, diligent and very very likely to not catch the ball. This great American game is our son's passion. I have always felt his coach was the best in town, gentle and full of positive lessons about the game and also fair in playing each kid as much as possible.

I feel very conflicted with his teammates being benched during the championships. Its a game, I understand winning is important, but at what cost?

3 comments:

veganmomma said...

I'd be conflicted too, it is such a tough one. I played high school soccer and I remember the feeling of getting benched (very awful), but when it gets to a certain level of competition, it seems it is about "winning". I sort of hope my kids don't get into competitive sports, because this really is a MAJOR issue I have. At what age does this become OK, etc.? I want my kids to enjoy sports, but at what cost to others?

Tammie said...

i tend to be conflicted about these things too.

i think too many of us (myself sometimes included) tend to focus on the outcome of an experience and not the experience itself. some of lifes greatest lessons come from failures. the benched kids werent even given the chance to fail.

but i understand. its a game that people put a lot of time into and they want to win.

its a fine line i guess.

A Modern Mother said...

Too bad, I think that sports should be fun too. Some people take this stuff way too seriously.

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