Thursday, April 12, 2007

i miss coaching little league

I just realized how much I miss coaching little league baseball. Yea, I played baseball my entire life, but I did not know how much I really missed coaching until this week. Over the weekend, I found out that a kid that played in my league, a fine young man that we played against was found murdered along with his cousin in Union City. When I heard the news for the first time, I over looked it namely because I could not fathom that I would know the individuals. I was however saddened that such reckless violence was taking place and that we lost two great futures in the progress.

They say little African American boys are not playing baseball anymore. I know the numbers are dwindling, but I want to disagree. We played baseball at old national and we won. We had several state champions since I was coaching there including my T-Ball team (40-2). I had my boys since they were four and they are 14 now. In addition, we had fun, sub states, districts and the whole nine. My best memory was my 9-10 team beating the best team in our league on a lasting double play hit to my son at second base and his shot to home when the bases were loaded. 5-4 was the final score and they had scored three runs in the last inning until we got the force out and ran off the field. That year we sent 4 teams to the state and 3 of ours to the sub-state.


But last night it really sank in, at the Braves game, sitting behind the dugout with my number one son and number one daughter. I love baseball. And what I liked most about coaching was that it taught young men: to depend on teammates and work with others (because you cannot bat every time nor can you play each position at the same time). But what I remember most, other than the dugout chatter “we got em scared now”, was what I always told them. “Anybody can be an athlete, but you all have to be scholars, gentleman and athletes in that order. Rest in peace Delarlonva Mattox.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, that is heartwrenching to find out someone you know was so violently murdered. Your kids are gorgeous and look very happy.

Stay in coaching...Our young people need strong, intelligent, caring, leaders to guide them

Rose said...

That's so sad how our young people's lives are taken without much thought. All across the country this is happening. Hopefully kids will continue to join the leagues because it is such a positive outlet for them.

Anonymous said...

My heart goes out to those teenagers. I had heard about it when it first happened...and I was saddened by what I was hearing. How could anyone take the lives of two innocent young people. This world is getting crazier and crazier by the minute. Its not even safe for our kids to walk to the grocery store anymore.

I agree with J.D. Anderson, I advise you to stay in coaching because the youth need to be surrounded by positive role models such as yourself. I do not care to watch baseball personally, but it is a sport that my dad, cousins, and brothers have all developed a passion for. And I am sure I will develop that same passion if my son decides he wants to play it....but all youth are influenced by everyone that plays a role in their lives. ANd it is important to surround them with loving, caring, educators who will show them the right way to live. And try to prevent them from becoming murderers such as the sick individual who murdered those children. Only God knows what really happened to those kids, but its all in His hands. My heart goes out to the loved ones of those teenages. May God be with them. "Mi-Mi"

CapCity said...

As Stevie sang, Love's in need of love today. I am a spiritual sistah & I find myself praying more & more each day. My heart goes out to all of our young people who are 'lost' on so many levels.

Heaven help us, now more than ever.

Saadia said...

I'll skip commenting about the post...but I just wanted to tell you that your children are BEAUTIFUL!

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

thanks hon, it takes beuty to recoginize beauty

Mizrepresent said...

Since the story broke i was in shock and deep pain how anyone can do this to a child...and then come to find out, out of less than 6 degrees of separation, one of my very bestfriends husband was one of the parents that found them...and my bestfriend and the mother were good friends. When something like this happens it affects the entire community, the nation even. I cried for these children, like they were my own.

All-Mi-T [Thought Crime] Rawdawgbuffalo said...

They are our own children and we need to get back to that hon

Lena said...

Your children are so cute!

Why did you stop coaching?

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