Quote of the Day
Morris Buttermaker–Come on guys, remember what I told you. There’s no “I” in “Team.”
Matthew Hooper–Yeah, but there’s an “M” and an “E”.
Tanner Boyle–“There should be an “F” and a “U”.
–a conversation in “The Bad News Bears”
ESPN’s website published an article today about a 9 year old boy who was banned from pitching by a kids’ league in Connecticut. Dan Patrick discussed it on his radio show at length and fielded numerous calls on the subject. And TB got an email that he should feature the story on Travellinbaen.com. As a man of the people, I’m happy to comply with requests, so after running the story through my prism of peculiarity, I offer the TB take.
First, here’s how I imagine the initial conversation between the league official and the kid’s coach, who couldn’t have dreamed this would happen:
League—Hey coach, that Jericho kid is dominating our league.
Coach—Yeah, he’s something else ain’t he?
League—We don’t want him to pitch any more.
Coach—Ha ha! I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t want to face him myself.
League—He’s banned.
Coach—Dang right he throws sand.
League—You don’t understand. The kids can’t hit him, he’s banned for the year.
Coach—Well he fanned 18 a couple of games, but averages about 16 so I’d say he’s fanned about 100 so far this year.
League—We’re not communicating. He’s prohibited.
Coach—Yes, I don’t want to jinx him, but he’s certainly the prohibitive favorite for MVP.
League—He’s out of the league coach.
Coach—Heh, heh, out of this world, more like.
League—I think I better write this down for you—(writes with bat in dirt) B-A-N-N-E-D
Coach—Blank stare.
My ten cent’s worth is first that the complaining parents and league have done this kid a tremendous favor. The national press is cool, but the value of this apparently idiotic move will stay with Jericho his whole life. Can you imagine the b.s. sessions with his ARB’swhen he’s a bit older. Kid one, we’ll call TB says “man I loved Little League, I hit .610 one year.” Then some kid we’ll call Sweet– “I once struck out 18 kids in a 6 inning game and didn’t even get my name in the paper.” “Then, I don’t know…Larry–“I was good enough to play with the 9 and 10 year olds when I was 8.” Jericho—“ya’ll suck. I was so damn good when I was 9 they kicked me out of the whole freakin league.” End of discussion.
Travellinbaen 
I would have done it twice but they didnt start me but brought me in the 4th inning, struck out the next nine (including so called TB) damn I was a Jericho
TB, still finding these new blogs, so I will throw in my 2 cents. I will start by saying that this is a perfect sign of the apocalypse. This country has been dragged down to the murky depths of mediocrity (not only that but awarding mediocrity) because of liberal mamsy pamsy parents who think their child should never face adversity or hardship. We are raising a nation of remote control pushing, mouse clicking, ps2 thumbing wimps who could noy beat their way out of a wet paper bag. How can you tell a kid he can’t play because he’s too good?? If that isn’t unAmerican, I don’t know what is. Truth be known if he was only throwing 45 mph, my son threw up to 52 mph as a 9-yr. old last year, so send this little yankee turd down to Mississippi where we love the competition. God Bless Buck Buckley!!!
As a footnote I would like to say that I was a victim of Sweet’s in his 1981 – 18k- No hitter in the Championship of the Kirkpatrick Tournament and I do remember his “No Hits” “18 Strikeouts” Gameball. So, can we please acknowledge this fact and let Sweet get on with his life.PLEASE!!!