Memories are for the kids, not the adults

Sad. Disgusted. Appalled.

That basically sums up my feelings toward what happened this week with the Jackie Robinson West Little League's forging of a boundary map.

How about shocked? Stunned? Stupefied?

No, nope and no way.

We all know that once adults get involved in kids games - especially ones that end up on ESPN - crazy stuff is bound to happen.

And I thought about writing how this cheated other kids in Illinois, Indiana, Nevada and other states. But we all know that, and it has been talked about ad nauseam.

The real problems begin well before kids reach the 12-year-old Little League all-star tournament that sends the best of the best to Williamsport.

Many of you see it every week, every month and every year at the local level. And as a Little League coach and board member the past six seasons, I saw and heard plenty of it as well.

These are actions by parents who think nothing of the horrendous example they are setting for their 8- to 12-year-old sons and daughters by behaving like buffoons all in the interest the almighty "W."

Here are just a few from our league over the past years in our town:

• A coach decides to stack the infield when lighter hitters are up, prompting a midseason rule change requiring outfielders to have one foot on the OF grass.

• One coach makes a deal to accommodate another coach's schedule to push back a playoff game a day with the understanding that pitching availability will not change. On game day, the coach who was accommodated uses the pitcher who should have been ineligible. This prompts a screaming, yelling, cursing confrontation for all to see.

• An adult coach of 8-year-olds slaps the other kids' hands too hard after a game, saying, "They were bad sports, so I'm gonna be a bad sport."

• And, finally, a 6-foot tall manager of 8-year-olds decides he's going to play catcher (including wearing the kid's catchers gear!) so his team won't be short an outfielder. He says there's nothing in the rule book preventing this, and when the league commissioner comes to the field, the manager says, "Give me one reason why I can't do this."

To which the commissioner says: "Because you're not 8."

Despite these isolated incidents and what has happened over the past week with JRW, there's something that hardly ever gets said in a newspaper, or certainly on ESPN. And that's this:

For all the problems Little League is facing - whether it's too many kids not playing because of travel ball or simply because baseball is too "slow" - parents and you young kids reading this need to keep something in mind.

There's nothing like standing on a field with all of the best players in town, most of whom are your friends, in front of your parents and others in the community and representing your town. It's the closest to an Olympic feeling any of you will ever get.

And the memories - even if it's just two or three games - will last a lifetime.

So with Little League sign-ups in full swing, keep that in mind.

Play ball. Play Little League.

The games you play with and against your friends will be the ones you remember years down the road. The myriad travel games and tournaments? Not so much.

And parents - lighten up.

And, for Pete's sake, remember that this is about your kid learning a great game, improving in it and showing a whole lot of class along the way.

• Follow John on Twitter @johndietzdh.