smithers joe Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 little league baseball was formed in our neighborhood in 1952...before that we just played sand lot baseball....that year they held tryouts..they were picking 15 boys out of about 30 of us...as the coach handed out the consent forms for the chosen ones to get signed, i saw all my friends getting pick....i wasn't picked...i quickly turned and started walking off the field...i didn't want anyone to see the tears in my eyes...i was almost at the other end of the park when i heard the coach calling my name....he ran up to me...your not a very good player joe, but you try so hard and you have so much enthusiasm, i couldn't sleep nights, if i didn't give you chance...that's how i became one of the chosen ones... one coach's chance lead to a life time of playing and 25 years of coaching little league baseball...the moral of this story is, when you help someone and give them a chance to reach their potential, you never know what you've started... Link to comment
AV. Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 22 minutes ago, smithers joe said: little league baseball was formed in our neighborhood in 1952...before that we just played sand lot baseball....that year they held tryouts..they were picking 15 boys out of about 30 of us...as the coach handed out the consent forms for the chosen ones to get signed, i saw all my friends getting pick....i wasn't picked...i quickly turned and started walking off the field...i didn't want anyone to see the tears in my eyes...i was almost at the other end of the park when i heard the coach calling my name....he ran up to me...your not a very good player joe, but you try so hard and you have so much enthusiasm, i couldn't sleep nights, if i didn't give you chance...that's how i became one of the chosen ones... one coach's chance lead to a life time of playing and 25 years of coaching little league baseball...the moral of this story is, when you help someone and give them a chance to reach their potential, you never know what you've started... Smithers Joe (Torre)? Also, great story to start off the week. Glad you received that chance. Link to comment
MJDDawg Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 I love stories like this. Congrats on the great "career" Joe. Link to comment
surtur Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 It's crazy how heartbreaking something like that can be to a kid. Glad the coach saw something in you and gave you a chance as a ball player myself as a kid it help make me a better person and taught me a lot about self control, team work and fair play. Amongst many other things. I think it also shows great character that you took the opportunity not for granted and the end result was a long lasting involvement in the game. Link to comment
YEGCanuck Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 I think each of us can point to an experience while growing up that has impacted our life in a way that sticks in ones memory. It sounds like you have had opportunities to give back to others over time which is a very satisfying feeling. Link to comment
smithers joe Posted May 16, 2016 Author Share Posted May 16, 2016 19 minutes ago, YEGCanuck said: I think each of us can point to an experience while growing up that has impacted our life in a way that sticks in ones memory. It sounds like you have had opportunities to give back to others over time which is a very satisfying feeling. and those moments are worth remembering... Link to comment
Heretic Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 What's also great is how it was "competition" for little kids. Joe (and us other old timers) are so much better off for it as it was through initial discouragement that drove us to be better. Today's kids? So sad. All they have learned is a sense of entitlement and no need to better themselves. (yes, I'm generalizing). Parents - STOP CODDLING YOUR KIDS! Link to comment
surtur Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 2 hours ago, Heretic said: What's also great is how it was "competition" for little kids. Joe (and us other old timers) are so much better off for it as it was through initial discouragement that drove us to be better. Today's kids? So sad. All they have learned is a sense of entitlement and no need to better themselves. (yes, I'm generalizing). Parents - STOP CODDLING YOUR KIDS! What he is really trying to say is smack those little buggers upside the head when they disrespect you. Just like our parents and there parents did. Just kidding but this whole sensitivity approach to everything is making our youth lazy and want everything spoon fed to them. Some will thrive and others will be what you see today self entitled little brats. But even though I am not an old timer as some I grew up where hard work and determination got you what you wanted. Link to comment
smithers joe Posted May 17, 2016 Author Share Posted May 17, 2016 i'll have to tell you all, the story of ray one day... Link to comment
falcon45ca Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 I remember that one fateful day when Coach took me aside. I knew what was coming. "You don't have to tell me," I said. "I'm off the team, aren't I?" "Well," said Coach, "you never were really ON the team. You made that uniform you're wearing out of rags and towels, and your helmet is a toy space helmet. You show up at practice and then either steal the ball and make us chase you to get it back, or you try to tackle people at inappropriate times." It was all true what he was saying. And yet, I thought something is brewing inside the head of this Coach. He sees something in me, some kind of raw talent that he can mold. But that's when I felt the handcuffs go on. Link to comment
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