Mayor cancels Little League All-Star game to help boost self esteem.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
United States
July 11, 2008 11:13am CST
The City of Beachwood has decided to break tradition and cancel a Little League All-Star game for children ages 9-12.
In March, Beachwood Mayor Merle Gordon sent a letter to parents of children involved in the Little League program stating the city was canceling the All-Star game based on information provided in an article written by the founder of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, Fred Engh.
The article suggested that All-Star games take away from sportsmanship and hurts the self esteem of players, especially younger players.
In the article Engh states, "There's nothing like sticking a dagger into a youngster's self-esteem the first season he plays the sport by letting him know that he's not good enough or considered worthy to be part of this elite group of teammates.
In my opinion, this is one of the most rediculous things I ever heard of. I believe the term "politically correct" is sometimes overused, but in this case "politically correct" describes what Mayor Merle Gordon has done.
Do you agree with the decision to cancel the Little League All-Star games?
Read the entire article here:
http://www.myfoxcleveland.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6856475&version=8&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1
Lloyd
3 people like this
7 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I think that is silly to cancel the game. I that is just plain silly. Now maybe not keeping score would be best so they don't have to worry about the hoopla but I figured little league helped build confidence and incourage them to be more active in sports and play well as a team..learn alot of things.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Jul 08
You are right Lloyd. I mean that is life they will have to learn about disappointments sooner or later..that be like saying sorry my son isn't going to school today because he got a C and the others got A's and B's. I think that also dealing with it early on will help them better cope later on.
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
23 Jul 08
That's a great analogy.
Thanks for sharing it.
Lloyd
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Cancelling the game was absolutely the wrong decision. It smells of political correctness.
Those who qualify to make an All-Star team should be rewarded. If it hurts someone's feelings, then that should be motivation for them to work harder.
Just like Major League Baseball, not everyone makes the All-Star team. It's just a fact of life.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
22 Jul 08
That's just pathetic. Kids have to learn that they won't always get what they want. Failure builds character. If they are so worried about self-esteem they might as well cancel sports entirely. I was the last picked for every single team I ever played on from kickball to basketball until I turned 12. That's when I was suddenly taller than everyone else.
I didn't cry or complain and my self esteem wasn't permanently damaged. I just learned that I can't be the best at everything and those kids with more talent, or those who put more effort in were going to be rewarded for it. That's life. We can't hide our kids from life forever. 9-12 is old enough that kids should know they can't win everything.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
22 Jul 08
Hello my friend. Finally we agree on something. I couldn't express it any better.
You said it all.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@bonbon664 (3466)
• Canada
22 Jul 08
I don't think it's a bad idea. These are little kids here that are just being introduced to sports, and I don't think anyone should be excluded at that age. There's a lot of time yet for the cream to float to the top, but, at that age, it should just be fun.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I respect your opinion, but I disagree. Not everyone is going to rise to the top. If they aren't successful at sports, then their are other options.
How about being the best in math, science or the many other activities that are available to children?
There is a reason why this mayor's actions have created a stir. It's because he has crossed the line.
Kids aren't as sensitive as we are lead to believe. They usually get over minor disappointments.
I know I did as a child.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
11 Jul 08
Hum...I have views on both sides here. My kids all played in little league. We lived in a small town where certain parents would get very upset if the "star" son or daughter was not played as much as the parent thought. Most of the coaches of the younger players were more concerned that each kid got playing time equally.As the kids got older they did more all star stuff. In some ways I think all star activities reward players for improvement. Here in Houston a few years ago one of our local teams went to the Little League World Series. I just hope that youth sports is kept fun and teaches kids how to not only play the game but that it is not a popularity contest. I was always the last kid chosen on a team... Let's face it some kids are not good enough and play only because Mom and Dad make them. I think that in many ways they have already had their self-esteem bruised just by being in school and putting up with other kids. Personally I think the Mayor is nuts.
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I remember going out for my high school basketball team in the 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade and being cut from the team each time.
To me it was nothing more than a reality check. I never once let it affect my self-esteem. I continued playing basketball outside of the sport arena with friends and supported the varsity team by attending all of their games.
Maybe we were just a litte tougher back then.
I also remember we had after school intramural basketball teams. I was one of the ones never picked, so all of us who weren't picked started our own team called "The Rookies". We competed with pride just like the rest of the other teams.
I can't see how canceling the All Star game benefits anyone.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@jdoss23430 (379)
• United States
22 Jul 08
OMG ! you have got to be kidding me ! Both of my boys played little league from the age of 5 on up starting with T-ball. My ex-husband coached them throughout and I was a coach/team mom for all thos years. We worked very closely with the kids on our team even in the off season, if they wanted the help. We never had any problems with kids and self-esteem. It actually gave them something to strive for the following year. If we take away the things that will make our children strive to be better in life, what incentive do they have?
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I remember when I played little league baseball. I was selected to the All Star game as a first baseman. I wasn't expecting it and it really boosted my self-esteem.
It was during the days that parents didn't attend the games. We actually walked to all our games.
The majority of the people who attended the game were other little league baseball players.
They chose sides and rooted for their favorit All Stars. None of them appeared depressed to me.
I think this mayor made a bad decision and he need to reverse it.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@jdoss23430 (379)
• United States
22 Jul 08
I totally agree with you ! In fact, now that I have thought about this discussion throughout the morning and think back, there were a couple years we let the players pick who they thought should be on the all star team from their own team (without being able to pick themselves). Then the coaches would get together and eleminate the weaker players. That way everyone had a say in who got to go. What this Mayor is doing is alot of the reason kids are the way that they are today, they dont think that they have to work for anything because people like him are wanting it handed to them for nothing. I guess we live in a much kinder, gentler world than we did when we were coming along.
1 person likes this
@AlephWren (135)
• Argentina
11 Jul 08
Nope, self-esteem is something very personal, you can't just relate it to a sport... Otherwise the poeple there is subestimated...
1 person likes this
@lloydanthony111 (4698)
• United States
11 Jul 08
I believe that you shouldn't let a personal setback affect your self-esteem.
I'm sure there's an area where you can excel if you put your mind to it.
Maybe you can be a math or science All Star. Or a musical All Star.
I don't agree with cancelling the All Star game for the reasons listed.
Lloyd
1 person likes this
@cjgrooms (4456)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I actually went to read the article but couldn't find it. Surely this is a joke. The only way a little league could effect a kids self-esteem is if their parents makes them feel like they are not "good enough" because they don't make the team. When are kids suppose to learn things like, you can't always be first, good sportsmanship and sometimes you need to work at something to get better for the next time ( i believe that is called having a GOAL) I thought kids sports was all about teaching kids while they were having fun. Is this nut going to cancel all other contests so no one has to learn how to act if they don't make a team or come in first)? Let's face it 4-H is a goner so are the girl scouts (maybe he doesn't like girl scout cookies) and don't forget Writing contest and science fairs. The list could go on and on! i am going to ask that you keep this poor nut in your State, I do not want him in MY State!
