Randy Smith
A few years ago, I saw this poem on signs at a few youth ball fields. Back in the 1980s it prompted us to do a series on youth baseball when I was sports director at WDEF-TV. The series won a state-wide award, and was hosted by my assistant Bill Ericson.
"He stands at the plate with his heart pounding fast. The bases are loaded, the die has been cast.
Mom and Dad cannot help him; he stands all alone. A hit at this moment would send his team home.
The ball meets the plate; he swings and he misses. There's a groan from the crowd with some boos and hisses.
A thoughtless voice cries, "Strike out the bum." Tears fill his eyes; the game is no longer fun.
Remember-he's just a boy who stands all alone. So open up your heart and give him a break.
For it's moments like this a man you can make. Keep this in mind when you hear someone forget,
He's just a little boy and not a man yet. "
I'm reminded of this poem each time I see or hear an adult say or do something inappropriate at a youth ball game. I was also reminded of it when I saw a brawl between adults at a youth game on ABC news. A pair of coaches locked up at third base, and in just a matter of seconds, close to a dozen men has become involved. Granted, that several of them were trying to break the fight up, but to a nine or ten year old boy, the scene must have been frightening. Things like this are not isolated incidents. If you don't believe me, just check out Youtube.com.
I have witnessed personally a few terrible scenes like the one I just described, but thankfully nothing in recent years. I coached both of my children in baseball and softball, and now I take a lot of pleasure in watching both grandsons play baseball and my granddaughter play soccer. They have all had wonderful experiences so far, as they've participated in youth programs at Middle Valley and East Brainerd.
Being an involved parent is perhaps the most important factor in youth sports. Being there for your kids and grandkids is vital for developing good citizens, but just one brawl between adults can damage all the good a parent has done up to that point. Children look to us to protect them and provide for them. And no matter what, they also look to us to teach them how to act appropriately. You can teach your child to be a good citizen without ever teaching them a thing about baseball or softball or soccer. Leave that to the coaches. After all, I never saw a child offered a college scholarship at a youth baseball game.
Let 'em play and have fun. Folks in Chattanooga are doing a good job at that right now. After all, "He's just a little boy and not a man yet."
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Randy Smith has been covering sports on radio, television and print for the past 45 years. After leaving WRCB-TV in 2009, he has written two books, and has continued to free-lance as a play-by-play announcer. He is currently teaching Broadcasting at Coahulla Creek High School near Dalton, Ga.
His career has included a 17-year stretch as host of the Kickoff Call In Show on the University of Tennessee’s prestigious Vol Network. He has been a member of the Vol Network staff for thirty years.
He has done play-by-play on ESPN, ESPN II, CSS, and Fox SportSouth, totaling more than 500 games, and served as a well-known sports anchor on Chattanooga Television for more than a quarter-century.
In 2003, he became the first television broadcaster to be inducted into the Greater Chattanooga Area Sports Hall of Fame. Randy and his wife Shelia reside in Hixson. They have two married children, (Christi and Chris Perry; Davey and Alison Smith.) They have four grandchildren, Coleman, Boone, DellaMae and CoraLee.
He can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com