Bernie Brewer
Grouchy Old Fart
A little background first........
Those of you that know me know I love baseball, and am lucky enough to have a son that loves it as much as me. And he's pretty good at it. He plays in a small league every Monday in his regular school district (four teams). Then this year the coaches for the four teams put together an "all-star" team to play in a neighboring town to give the kids that really love it a chance to play some more.
There are a few of these "all-stars" on each team in the regular Monday league.
You can really tell which kids on the four teams are on the all-star team and which are not, for several reasons. Yes, there is a noticeable dropoff in skill level, but that is not the kids' fault, and it's not what I mean anyway. I am talking about their parents.
I was at my son's game tonight, and there were a couple a$$hole dads there bitching about everything. One was scolding his kid because he wasn't pitching hard enough. The other was yelling at his kid because he couldn't catch up to a fastball and was swinging behind it. Then one was yelling at the catcher, and it wasn't even his kid. Then both were yelling at the ump for his ball and strike calls.
Come on, guys. Set a decent example for your kids. Don't ***** out the ump. You think it's so damned easy, you get behind the plate and do it. I've been an umpire, and it's not as easy as it looks.
And if your kid makes a mistake, don't yell at him in front of everyone. ENCOURAGE him. Tell him it's OK, you'll get'em next time. And later, when you have some time alone, talk about what happened and how to correct it. And if your kid's game needs work, and they all do, get off your dead ass and go play ball with your kid. Pitch him a few so he gets some swings in. Get your fat a$$ in a crouch and let him pitch to you. Your kid's game will improve, and so will your relationship with him. And at the games, if you can't say encouraging things, then just shut your piehole.
Those of you that know me know I love baseball, and am lucky enough to have a son that loves it as much as me. And he's pretty good at it. He plays in a small league every Monday in his regular school district (four teams). Then this year the coaches for the four teams put together an "all-star" team to play in a neighboring town to give the kids that really love it a chance to play some more.
There are a few of these "all-stars" on each team in the regular Monday league.
You can really tell which kids on the four teams are on the all-star team and which are not, for several reasons. Yes, there is a noticeable dropoff in skill level, but that is not the kids' fault, and it's not what I mean anyway. I am talking about their parents.
I was at my son's game tonight, and there were a couple a$$hole dads there bitching about everything. One was scolding his kid because he wasn't pitching hard enough. The other was yelling at his kid because he couldn't catch up to a fastball and was swinging behind it. Then one was yelling at the catcher, and it wasn't even his kid. Then both were yelling at the ump for his ball and strike calls.
Come on, guys. Set a decent example for your kids. Don't ***** out the ump. You think it's so damned easy, you get behind the plate and do it. I've been an umpire, and it's not as easy as it looks.
And if your kid makes a mistake, don't yell at him in front of everyone. ENCOURAGE him. Tell him it's OK, you'll get'em next time. And later, when you have some time alone, talk about what happened and how to correct it. And if your kid's game needs work, and they all do, get off your dead ass and go play ball with your kid. Pitch him a few so he gets some swings in. Get your fat a$$ in a crouch and let him pitch to you. Your kid's game will improve, and so will your relationship with him. And at the games, if you can't say encouraging things, then just shut your piehole.