Not So Little League World Series

Many would argue, including myself, that we are in a very dark age for professional sports. We have cheating referees and players, quarterbacks that engage in unspeakably cruel animal activities, and habitual offenders that are immune to maturity. The money, fame, and spotlight given to these athletes is oftentimes too much to handle. My reasoning for this is because at a young age these soon to be larger than life humans, yes they are humans, are brought up with the wrong messages. We can thank sport media outlets such as ESPN for "corrupting" the world's sporting youth.

A good place to focus my complaints about the misfortunes of sport is the Little League World Series. Nearly every kid at one point in their life has donned the brightly colored baseball uniform modeled after a major league team. They come out on that cool Spring morning with their small metal bat and brand new, barely broken in mitt. They do this for the love of the game. At least I thought it was. But when I see ESPN showing these 12 and 13 year old American boys all day everyday for a 3 week span, playing baseball against kids from all over the world, it makes me cringe. Televising these games promotes the wrong messages to kids who have dreams of being a professional athlete one day. In an age where the highlight, and flair, and money are what make sports go round, ESPN brings those ideas to life at the heart of America's youth.

Every day I see on Sportscenter's Top Ten plays an amazing catch or walk off home run by one of these kids. And while yes it is a great feat to make a play that changes or wins a game, 12 year olds repeatedly being shown on ESPN is a great way to stretch an ego to epic proportions. While ESPN maintains that they love the fun this event brings out in the kids faces, they love their smile on the executives faces when these games are beating Major League Baseball games in the ratings. And to top it off, who can't help but wait and see the crying faces of the losing team. ESPN has a penchant for showing how disappointed these kids are. With all the scrutiny and pressure put on these kids, who don't yet know the meaning of the two words is just used, is in no way fair. And while yes they are smiling and having fun, they also know that when its all over they can go home and take out that video tape in their VCR and watch themselves making "web gems" and "goin yard."

Let these kids play without being put on the pedestal known at TV, especially ESPN. How come high school baseball games are rarely seen on TV? Shouldn't these more skilled and older kids be able to put on a better show for ESPN? Or does ESPN love corrupting youth and the youngest possible age?

Now I will admit I was glued to the tube when watching the championship game. The Japanese kids were excellent players and looked like "little machines" as my friend stated. The US kids were very talented as well and I'm happy they won. It was a great game and deserved a mention on TV. This doesn't mean that ESPN or ABC should broadcast the entire tournament. I can see ESPN's future fall television lineup: Sportscenter at 6PM, followed directly by poker and other addicting gambling games, then maybe so Ultimate Fighting match with a Little League World Series game sandwiched in between. Three events that are quality programming to build ESPN's empire.

Now I Know people will ask me why I watch and love sports as much as I do, after reading this post. I watch sports because I am a fan and because the people I admire are professionals. This is their job and they are the best at what they do. Let these kids play these great games without all the spotlight. Let them play to play. At 12 and 13 the kids have so much more they need to focus on. Yes, I believe sport can build character and teach people team work, but in rare cases the fame and fortune of the business can destroy lives. Kids need to focus on the positives of not just sports but life in general. Learning this at a young age is imperative for becoming a mature and successful athlete.

It will be great if many of these kids that played in the Little League World Series on day played a professional sport. Lets hope that if they do make it big, that their actions are not compared to guys named Bonds, Pacman, or Vick.


P.S. I don't really hate ESPN this much only in certain instances like this when they show programming they don't need to show. They are capable of putting on a good product.