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As summer vacation begins for many area students, I'm
reminded of my simple, youthful times. And I realize
that it is a different time and a different era.
During the Titans' visit at Huntingdon a few weeks
ago, linebacker Pete Sirmon implored the kids to get out
and do something this summer.
I concur.
It's very easy to become complacent, to kick back and
play Tony LaRussa baseball on the "Playstation" or
whatever it is kids play video games on these days. I
don't care if you are entering first grade next year or
are a post-graduate student. If you have some free time
during the summer, get outside, do something active and
do something fun.
I remember, when I was a kid (some might argue that
not much has changed from those days of yore), playing
sandlot baseball for the better part of the day. If we
weren't doing that, we were playing basketball (either
"horse," "pig," or one-on-one come to mind) or at the
beach.
I realize the latter is kind of hard to do, since
Tennessee - McKenzie in particular - isn't known for its
coastline.
I remember that if we didn't have enough for a game
of 500 or home run derby, we'd play "hot box" or what is
commonly known as "pickle." That's where you have to
fielders and two bases and one runner. And the runner
tried to advance to the other base without getting
tagged, much like a rundown in baseball. If you were
tagged out, you became a fielder.
In retrospect, it was kind of a pointless game, but
it was nonetheless fun.
I remember my local elementary and junior high school
had a summer recreation program. Classrooms were turned
to game rooms and gyms were teeming with kids jumping
rope, playing hoops or dodge ball.
But it's a different world now, a different era.
I believe most kids are good kids, but mindsets have
changed. We've become litigious in our thinking. If you
had a summer recreation program at one of the schools,
liability insurance would almost bankrupt the system.
And there is a destructive element in some of our
youth today.
All I can say is that we had a blast playing "knock
hockey," softball, kickball, 4 square, volleyball,
tennis or whatever people wanted to do on a particular
day.
A backstop still stands at the place where I went to
elementary school in Florida. It's probably the same one
that stood when I has having Little League practice
there 35 years ago. We also played summer-rec softball
there. We even had a traveling team and played other
summer recreational programs in the area. The school
system even provided transportation. We did this in
addition to our Little League regimen.
I remember when it was good enough to play just
Little League and Babe Ruth. Today, everyone is on a
travel squad of some sort and playing tournaments in
hundreds of miles away.
When I was growing up, the sandlot was the place
where you improved. You didn't want to lose in the
organized game that night and then on the sandlot the
next morning.
I've had the discussion with several like-minded
friends of what's the biggest thrill: hitting a baseball
right on the screws; hitting the perfect golf shot;
cracking the crisp tennis shot or winning a game of
"horse."
Sadly, a lot of kids this summer will never know.
This week, a friend of mine will be coming here for a
little batting practice. Like me, he is 40-something (or
will be). He was here in March for some BP, infield
practice and catching fly balls. I don't own any
computer games.
If you care to join us give me a call before
Thursday. We could use the help, too!
If you can't give up the computer games, TV or air
conditioning completely, at least try to push yourself
away from it for a few hours to shoot some hoops, ride a
bike, take a hike, play some golf or go fishing. You
might not know what you are missing.
And my offer stands: if you need a partner to play
some catch or to throw a little BP, you know where to
find me. |
