Brought to you by Kevin Sugarman (Engage PR’s cynic)
Some of my colleagues at work might tell you that I just narrowly fall into the category of opinionated. Others might say that despite my age, I am bit of an old fuddy-duddy. Well, the EPR team is attempting to harness my inner cranky old man by putting me to work on writing a monthly blog entry. The format will be relatively simple; every month I will rely on my crack investigating and journalistic skills (with a slight assist from Google, the AP, MSN, and yes, probably Perez Hilton) to call to your attention the "Tool of the Month." I will make the decisions, in a completely arbitrary and unscientific way. Finding candidates will not be difficult - the George Wilson in me (for those too young to remember, he is the angry old guy in the "Dennis the Menace cartoon") is constantly reading, watching, and listening to things that rub me the wrong way. Narrowing the list to one winner will be the difficult part.
So without further ado, and to show how much license I am willing to take with this blog, I am naming the entire Youth Baseball League of New Haven as my tool of the week. Long story short; nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good little pitcher. Evidently too good. The Youth Baseball League of New Haven has banned the kid from pitching. Because Jericho throws 40 mph and is mowing down his opposition, the league demanded that he no longer pitch and find a new position to play. When Jericho's coach ignored officials and put him on the mound for the team’s next game, the opposing team forfeited and walked off the field.
Now it looks like the league is disbanding the whole team and redistributing its players. Anything to stop the kid from his reign of terror, i.e., striking opposing batters out, or in other words, doing what he is supposed to be doing. The kid didn't break any rules, has not hit or injured one batter—he is not being allowed to play because he is good. In the AP story, Jericho states "I feel sad...I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."
These people stink. And they should be ashamed of themselves. Banning children from participating in an activity because they are good is ridiculous, and that is why the Youth Baseball League of New Haven is my tool of the month.
By the way, I will definitely be looking for suggestions. Who knows, your tool might show up in my next entry.
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