Teams are mostly political

By Michael Smith
Published: June 27, 2008

I want to start by saying that I’m a concerned citizen of Barbour County.
I was reading the “tournament teams” to represent Eufaula and wanted to express that it’s like politics. You have to be “a name” in the Bluff City area for your child to make it or a “coach’s son.” Reading what one coach said about trying to pick 12 out of 70-90 kids, they start looking at batting averages and attitudes.
Well, coach, I could have done a better job at picking players and I don’t have a child that plays for this league. We all know that first picks were some from travel ball who also have to be “somebody” to get on the travel ball team.
Those selected had to pick travel ball or all-stars.
I will say on one team, the coach’s sons were not picked. Two kids deserved to be on the all-stars. They played really hard and represented their team well (someone actually picked the right ones on this team).
On another team, one “all-star” walked off the field during a game and quit, but wasn’t only let back to play, but made all-stars. Is this the attitude that makes all-stars? Another one got in a cussing argument with a parent from another team and also made all-stars – what?
No wonder the older the kids get, the less they want to play rec sports. This is political sports and parks and rec knows what goes on, but they just seem to turn their heads. There are some kids that have the potential to shine, but aren’t given the chance. Coaches’ sons can walk out on the field with the worst attitudes and know they are going to make all-stars.
Something else that is noticeable is that coaches’ sons are never pulled out of any innings - they play the whole game. I know some parents hate to spend their money to see their child play only one inning in a game. These kids cannot learn if they aren’t on the field. Some of these kids can go to every practice and still not get to play but one inning.
Parks and Rec need to get off their hind ends and make a difference for all the kids and families who spend time and money with them.
Let some of the kids that have potential to shine, shine.