Twelve Step Sports Addict

While searching the web for my daily sporting news fix, I came upon an article about a 9 year old kid named Jericho Scott, from New Haven, Conn. Jericho is a pitcher, and he’s so good, that the officials want to cancel his team’s season. At 9 years old, Jericho’s fastball tops out at 40 mph and he is dominating the opposition. He is so dominant, that the last time he took the mound, the opposing team walked off the field and forfeit. What makes this story so interesting is that now it has turned into a legal battle. Yes, I said legal battle, with lawyers and possibly a judge. First of all, relax people. There is no need to bring the law into the realm of little league over Jericho’s talent. Somehow I expected to see Congress step in and an official hearing to see if little Jericho is using HGH to achieve his blinding speed. Its little league baseball, not the collective bargaining agreement for MLB.

Jericho has friends in the league, he loves baseball, and he loves to pitch. Why are we denying a kid an opportunity to nurture a talent and do what he loves? Would society rather see Jericho give up baseball and start a life a crime? To the parents who are upset because their kids are not fulfilling their broken dreams by not being able to hit a 40 mph fastball, life is not fair. As in anything in life, there are people that are more talented than others. That is a lesson kids need to learn, but also learn not to give up and walk away when they face a person with unequaled ability. The parents kids’ can still field, throw, catch, and hit, and learn the game. It’s just harder to hit the ball when Jericho takes the bump. Why make this kid an outcast because he can do something better than other nine year olds? I hope when Jericho is 18, he’s standing on the mound at U.S. Cellular field, but the reality is that at some point his talent will peak or he will get hurt and then his fondest memories of baseball was when he was young. Keep throwing the heat little man, and enjoy it while you still can. ML