What do you think about the 9yr old Little League pitcher who can't play because he's too good.?

Question

Jericho pitches a 40mph fast ball, but has never hit a batter. League president (son on opposing team) wanted him to play another position, then disbanded Jericho's team.

Answer 1

Its horrible. No kid should be punished for being good!

Answer 2

Personally, I'm appalled at the behavior of these adults, who exhibiting "EXTREMELY POOR SPORTSMANSHIP, when we tell our children how important GOOD sportsmanship is.

These are children playing a sport. They learn and grow into their skills.

If he's that good, I think the opposing teams should get out there, practice, and get better, and "step up to the plate and meet the challenge", not quit (which was the coach's decision--what a poor way to coach).

For the other team to forfeit is cowardice, takes the game away from KIDS, and sends them the wrong message. Regardless of how good the pitcher is, the game gives valuable experience TO ALL THE PLAYERS, who will not get better unless they play. In any game, someone wins and someone loses. You play more, you get better.

I'm ashamed these adults are acting in such a childish manner, putting their own needs & desires ahead of those of the actual kids playing--stop living vicariously through your kids! Yes, we all want to win, but lets play first. And certainly don't try to skew the field by eliminating better players or teams--they can't, and don't, do that at every other level of play...can you imagine what high school and college football would look like if every team forfeited every time they had to play a better team? Ridiculous. And doesn't build self-esteem, confidence, and comraderie that's needed to build good teams.

The Little League World Series is the best of the best...don't send the wrong message to your kids, help them to perservere, if they want to!

If you ask little Johnny and his team mates if they want to play, I bet they'd say "YES", because they love to play, regardless of how good any one player is.

In all honesty, I hope the lawyers come up with a case against the league and Mr. Noble (oh the irony in his name!!).

Or at least provide a wake-up slap in the face to all these adults, and show them how poorly they are acting. I might have to go there and do it myself!!

Answer 3

i heard this story on the radio last night. The full story is that Jericho was asked to join a higher up league because he was too good for the league he was playing in and the other kids weren't having fun. He declined this offer (or more likely his parents declined the offer) so they told him he couldn't play. The next game, his coach put him on the mound anyways and the other team forfeited. Then the league disbanded the team and scattered all the players to other teams throughout the league. Frankly, I believe that he was told that he was too good for this league and given the option to go elsewhere and since he declined, he should not be allowed to pitch in the 9 yr old league. In all sports, there is only one level where the best of the best compete and everyone else plays against people of their own skill level. If Jericho wants to try to break this trend, he should not be allowed to pitch. The league would rather have the other 100 kids in the league happy than just the one kid who wins all the time