Poor Preaching

I've always enjoyed watching the Little League World Series. But the coach of the Lake Mary team from Florida was off base in his speech urging his team on in the bottom of the Sixth Inning of yesterday's championship game, the standard last inning at that level of play. He told the kids that the outcome was already written, that God had told him they would rally and win (they were down 1-0) so all they had to do was finish the job.

That was wrong of him. It sends a very bad message. Two, in fact. The future is never preordained, and the Almighty doesn't take sides in kid's games, if indeed in any sports at all.

I get it: he wanted to inspire his charges, to help them relax. Yet it gives the wrong expectation about God. If the Florida boys lose (the game is in extra innings as I write) what are they supposed to think about their coach's words? Did God toy with them? Did their coach and mentor? It’s simply not right.

If they win, what might they think? That God thought more of them than a corollary set of kids from Chinese Taipei, who, like the Floridians, were simply playing a game they loved? I would hope not. But the invitation is certainly there. And what are those Chinese youngsters supposed to think should they ever hear that speech?

The whole thing invites cynicism and/or arrogance. Neither is good.

Thinking about Little League

There's been a lot of Little League baseball on ESPN lately. I enjoy watching it; seeing kids live out dreams is pretty cool.

Regional championships had been going on since Wednesday. The Little League World Series finals begin this Thursday, August 15, in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the home of Little League. In many ways August has become my favorite baseball month simply because of League play. One day I think I'd like to spend the week of the Finals in Williamsport, just for the atmosphere. I might actually like that more than seeing March Grapefruit or Cactus League games at the big league level.

About the only tough thing about it is that I always feel bad for the kids who lose. There's no point playing the game if you aren't trying to win, yes, and there are lessons of grace and sportsmanship in losing. Still, they're kids. If you don't feel a bit bad you're kinda cold, I think.

At the end of the day it's just a game though. That may be the most important lesson they could learn. At the risk of appearing hypocritical I do wonder if playing such games to a national television audience is actually counterproductive: we make sports too important to kids still too young and impressionable to fully appreciate the big picture. That won't stop me from watching a lot of their games. I simply hope that in the long run it's a good, positive experience for all involved.