Greatness is Not Acheived on Level Playing Fields

I'm embarrassed.  I'm embarrassed that I actually believed we had sunk to parenting lows with "everybody gets a trophy" leagues.  I was wrong...I admit it.  The latest concept is the "your kid is too good for the league" parent.  No, I'm not talking about Incredi-kid, but his joining the Little League Major division is where I finally saw this concept first hand.  PA-THE-TIC.

This year Incredi-kid was drafted into the Majors.  I was concerned he would struggle since he is 10, and most of the kids are 11 or 12.  I believed his skills had developed enough for him to meet the challenge of playing up.  So, I decided not to sign up for baseball as a coach, and then volunteer to help on whatever team (or level) that Incredikid landed.  Well, he was drafted to the defending champs who have 2 of the best returning players in the entire league.  I've been around baseball a long time, and these kids are really good.  One of them happens to be 5'10 or so, and more athletic and strong than just big.  We'll call him the "Beast."  The Beast mashes at the plate, and throws fire from the mound.  Now, Incredikid is 5'1, pretty tall for a 10 year old, but he's a beanpole and looks downright puny next to this monster.  I must admit, one of my prouder moments was watching him dig-in at the plate during a practice against the Beast early in the year.  He struck out, but stood in like a champ fouling a few off before he went down swinging.  12 year old versus 10 year old...this was the expected outcome, but overcoming that fear in week two of practices was really important for Incredikid.

The Beast isn't the biggest kid in the league eitiher.  There is a bigger kid who is 6'2 at 12 (the "Giant")...yup, he's my size and maybe a little bigger after seeing him on the mound last night (more below).  Anyway, there is a group of parents that believe these kids, who are just much bigger and more talented than theirs, are a "danger" to the other kids in the league and should be banned from pitching.  No, its not really because they fear their kids safety as no kid has suffered any real injury from one of these flamethrowers...it's because they are just too good.  These parents claimed it is based on size, but they aren't calling for that gumpy kid who couldn't throw a pitch through a wet paper bag's ban. No, they are okay with that lobber since little Johnny can hit against him even though he's six foot as well.  They want the studs removed to give little Johnny Strikeout a better chance at the plate.  They hide behind calling the kids "unsafe" and spread fantastic tales of knocking kids out with pitches (that never happened) to push their agenda.  The real agenda is to get give their kid a better chance to get a hit.

My recommendation to these "field-levelers" is to pull Johnny Strikeout out of the league today as his safety is being threatened.  No, not his physical safety.  The Beast is too good, and he's only hit one kid all year.  He, the Giant, and a few others have amazing control that goes with their great velocity.  No, you need to pull Johnny because you are RUINING HIM FOR LIFE.  Yes, all caps means I'm yelling.  There is no field-leveling in life.  If we all played on a level playing field, we'd all be mediocre, and that sucks for the world.  You are making your kid mentally weak.   I don't care whether it's swimming, basketball, or gymnastics, there is always that kid that's bigger, faster, stronger, and just better.  One must learn the skills to work harder, longer, and try a little harder than you are used to, and the fields, pools, and tracks are places we learn this valuable skills.  Greatness is not achieved on level playing fields.

Dick Hoyt is a hero of mine.  His son Rick can't walk or speak without a computer (Rick has cerebral palsy), but Team Hoyt has raced over 1091 times including the Iron Man Kona and 5 other Iron Man triathlons.  Team Hoyt is amazing, and the story is better than I can summarize in a paragarph.  Watch this video, and try to hold back the tears (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxqe77-Am3w), when you see Rick's face at 3:10 as they fly through the lava fields in Kona.  Team Hoyt doesn't need help, a hand up, or a special accommodation. They freaking rock the races, and together achieve greatness!  What they do is so awesome because they overcome so much.  A 65 year old guy shouldn't be able to tow his son 2.4 miles in a boat while swimming amongst thousands of competitors in open water.  How does that same father carry his son112 miles on the bike through the brutal winds and blazing heat of the Kona lava fields, and then push him all 26.2 miles of the a marathon in just over 13 hours?  It's not fair after all.  He's got it harder than the rest, and it's more difficult for them to win.  The look on Rick Hoyt's face as they come down the finish shoot with his right arm triumphantly raised...that is why it must be done.  Overcoming great odds is greatness defined.

Our kids cannot always be great.  Life just doesn't work that way, and being great all the time would make it boring.  Being great is being a 10 year old and facing the Beast, the Giant, or whatever nickname you have for the best player in the league.  This is not a new deal folks, there has always been some kid with whiskers at 12, and he is just better than everyone else.

Overcoming the fear...yes, its scary for the kids to face gas at the plate is bravery.  Glory often follows.  It maybe gloriously fouling off a few pitches before striking out, or  lacing a line drive into left field for a single as Incredikid did last night off the Giant (yup, I'm bragging).  The smile on Incredikid's face as he ran down the line was one I will never forget.  It was one of those defining moments where you see your child achieve in the face of adversity that doesn't happen on a level playing field.

This morning Incredikid had a little extra bounce in his step and shine to his smile.  Last night, if just for a moment, Incredikid tasted greatness.  That little taste...that feeling of absolute accomplishment, will serve as fuel him to taste it again in the classroom, on the field, and hopefully in life.