Give Me Some Peanuts and a Blackjack

This past weekend, my son and I sat down to our favorite sporting event in all of sports—the Little League World Series. The Little League World series, televised for years, has always been known for the high expectations it has for the players. They have rules governing players, parents, and coaches and expect all to show be superlative in sportsmanship manners and etiquette during the competition. Usually, the participanting teams comply and display true and pure sportsmanship values—that is until this year.

The championship game pitted West California against Japan. The Japanese team has made it to the final game to play The United States eleven times since 1998. The teams from Japan have always displayed a sense of respect and love for the game.  Additionally, they consider the opportunity to play sacred, and hardly show anger, or any emotion for that matter, until the game is over when they run out to pay homage to the bust of Babe Ruth—they consider him the God of Baseball. It is just a joy to watch them play. (Japan went on to win 6-4)

I appreciate and admire when I see the teams give their best and show respect for each other and for the umpires and officials. After spending an entire year dedicating every idle moment to this one goal, I can see and understand the competitiveness on the field. However, it also pains and embarrasses me to see the American team choke their bats, stomp off the field, cry in anger in the dugout, and glare at their opponents.

What has happened to youth sports in America? Between coaching and observing the news, we have seen: overzealous parents stomping up and down the sidelines; relentless trash talking; obscene gestures; intimidation; fights; and deaths from violence, and all of this is for you sports. (Insert irony and sarcasm here.)

Youth sporting event violence has been on the increase in recent years and it is widely believed to be the result of role model mimicry. When this behavior is accepted and encouraged among adults, whether it is parents or professional athletes, is it a wonder that the young do it too?

It is now fashionable to be a jerk to society as long as you are supporting a sports team. Mama and papa bears are at the games and are protecting their kids. In the heat of the moment they often will simply go too far. I would love to always root for the home team, but when I see athletes acting like babies, I can’t help but to secretly root for the other guy. I am only speaking for myself, but I’m sure I’m not alone. 

What is your opinion on sports and bad sportsmanship in America?