It’s all my 6-year-old son can talk about.
“Dad, did you see me do that? Did you see me catch that ball? Wow, that really hurt my hand.”
He couldn’t have been prouder and the smile on his face couldn’t have been any bigger. It was one of the coolest things I have ever seen. Isaac, my boy, was playing shortstop when he somehow snared a line drive headed for the outfield.
I tell myself it was because of all the catch I have played with him over the past couple of years. But then I realize that the only reason he caught the ball was because the line drive hit him in the middle of the chest and just happened to bounce down into his glove.
Still, an out is an out, and actual outs are few and far between in T-ball. In the whole scheme of things, catching a line drive is really not that big of a deal — unless you are a 6-year-old playing T-ball.
And that’s what makes T-ball the world’s greatest sport for kids. Everybody on the roster gets to play every position on the field, and 99 percent of the time, the ball stays away from their gloves. Everybody gets to hit, even though it takes some kids a little longer than others.
In short, it’s what sports is supposed to be. Watching these kids play T-ball puts a lot of other things happening in the sports world in perspective.
One of the most anticipated trials in Seattle history is set to end Thursday. The six-day, no-jury trial in federal court will settle the final two years of the Seattle SuperSonics’ lease at KeyArena. U.S. District Judge Marsha Pechman will decide whether to force the Sonics to play their home games in Seattle through 2010, as called for in the team’s lease, or let them move to Oklahoma City, where owner Clay Bennett hails from.
Since purchasing the team two years ago, Bennett has basically run the Sonics into the ground in an attempt to build apathy in the city.
The list of who’s been forced out, traded or resigned since Bennett took over the franchise is a who’s-who in Seattle. Gone are Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens; former coach/players Jack Sikma and Detlef Schrempf; the team’s two best players, Rashard Lewis and Ray Allen; former head coach Bob Hill; play-by-play announcer David Locke; general manager Rick Sund and former general manager/player/CEO Wally Walker, among others.
Oh, and the the Seattle Mariners just got done firing general manager Bill Bavasi and field manager John McLaren, who helped the Mariners to the worst record in the Major Leagues this season.
Pretty depressing stuff for the area’s professional sports fans. At least I have T-ball.
It’s just so amazing watching the 10 kids get together, regardless of athletic ability, to learn and play such a complicated game.
It’s a blast to see some of the kids run to third base after hitting the ball or watch a grounder go right between their legs. It’s also fun to see the sense of accomplishment they feel when they figure something out.
The excitement each one of the kids feels for the game is contagious, even to the grizzled parents watching in the crowd. It’s just pure.
But it’s also a little bittersweet knowing that pureness will one day be over-ridden by competition, attitudes and, eventually, greed.
Until then, I’m going to enjoy every moment of the experience.
Sports editor Casey Olson: 925-5565, sports@fedwaymirror.com
