WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Is it so bad to be soft?

Me: Well, they're at it again, those kids in the Little League World Series. And as usual, they're having a blast.

Flash (my famous dog): I sleep through most of the stuff you watch on TV, but I think I opened one eye and half an ear long enough to hear the announcers talking about how much sportsmanship is emphasized there.

Me: Yes, sportsmanship is highly emphasize . . .  I'm surprised you can use a big word like "emphasized" correctly in a sentence.

Flash: Easy, old man, or I'll tell everybody about your curled pinky toe. And I'll let them know you watch "Dance Moms."

Me: First of all, that's why I always wear shoes. Second, I don't watch Dance Moms anymore. Third, we were talking about sportsmanship at the Little League World Series.

Flash: Oh yeah, I heard about the kid pitcher the other day who gave up a homerun but then ran over to give a high five to the kid who hit it as he was rounding third base.

Me: Yep, he sure did. But it didn't sit well with some of the baseball purists out there- especially a handful of college and professional coaches. A few of them took to social media to say the kid was "soft" and that he was taking this whole sportsmanship thing way too far.

Flash: But the kid is only twelve years old.

Me: Well, lots of coaches believe the way to create a ballplayer who will be successful at every level is to make sure he understands the need to compete as hard as he can and never let anything interfere with the focus he has on defeating his opponent. This will prepare him for success at the college and professional level someday.

Flash: But I hear most kids who play Little League never end up playing in college, much less professionally.

Me: Yes, but the need to instill the competitive spirit will last a kid a lifetime whether he continues to play or not.

Flash: But it may also cause him to lose interest in the game of baseball, especially if he's being taught that it's all about being tough, even before he's hit puberty. Shouldn't he just be allowed to enjoy playing for now?

Me: Of course, but . . .

Flash: It's a bit of a stretch to call a 12-year-old star pitcher "soft" if you ask me.

Me: Well, I didn't really ask you.

Flash: You probably should have.

Me: Ouch.