-- Worth reading for those involved in youth sports (author unknown):
He stands at the plate
with heart pounding fast.
The bases are loaded,
the die has been cast.
Mom or Dad cannot help him,
He stands all alone.
A hit at this moment
Would send the team home.
The ball meets the plate.
He swings and he misses.
There's a groan from the crowd
with some boos and some hisses!
A thoughtless voice cries:
Strike out the bum!
Tears fill his eyes,
the game's no longer fun.
So open 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.
-- Many of us love baseball. We love the horsehide, rosin and pine tar. And that's just in the hot dogs ... The best thing about baseball today is its yesterdays! All those players respected the game! ... On the other hand, Manny Ramirez, upon his arrival at Dodger camp: "I just do what they want me to do." Yes, as long as what they want him to do doesn't involve hustling or getting a haircut ... Did you know Rays pitcher J.P. Howell and his wife Heather worked out with skating legend Peggy Fleming? He referred to her as a "beast" in the gym ... Twins' Joe Mauer, one of the best players in MLB and possibly the next .400 hitter, is about to sign a huge contract. His manager Ron Gardenhire: "We're trying to decide whether to give him Minneapolis or St. Paul" ... A 7-year, $126 mil contract may have ruined Blue Jays' Vernon Wells. Seems to have lost his passion.
-- According to Dottie Dennis, for every person on earth there are 200 million insects.
-- Olympic coverage--Bob Costas deserves gold. Brian Williams, who loves being on TV, should have stayed home.
-- Penn State football coach Joe Paterno: "I slapped a kid across the helmet this year in our bowl game. Did I abuse him? No, I abused myself--my hand hurt for two days."
-- Apparently Tiger Woods has received calls from President Obama and Bill Clinton. Obama called to offer support and Clinton called to borrow a few phone numbers.
-- Frisbee inventor Fred Morrison died at age 90 on February 9. The body will lie in state on the roof of his neighbor's garage.
-- In closing, Bob Richards asks, "Why did St. Patrick drive the snakes out of Ireland?" Answer: He couldn't afford the plane fare.
(Some of the information in this column was obtained from other news organizations)
