In the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated, 13-year-old covergirl Mo’ne Davis mentions her initial reaction to full-grown adults, strangers, snapping her picture, treating her like a celebrity.
“That’s, like, creepy,” she said.
Exactly. Couldn’t have said it better when trying to explain why I’ve always before held the Little League World Series at arm’s length, refusing to watch just as I would any other form of televised child abuse.
Kids playing baseball on a high-pressure national stage? Young pitchers testing the limits of unformed arms? Whole regions of the country placing their hopes on slender shoulders? That’s, like, creepy.
But, you know what? I’m sure enough going to check out Mo’ne Davis tonight when she pitches for the Mid-Atlantic Region (Philadelphia) against the West (Las Vegas).
Davis, braids flying with every delivery, became the first girl to throw a shutout in the Little League World Series Friday. She has become a fixture on the national news programs and what’s left of the big magazines. And something of an inspiration. Mo’ne is so money.
The ease with which she has handled all this, the natural joy which shines through all the clutter that adults have constructed around her, has made me put a good number of my reservations about this event in escrow.
This LLWS has been a mind-changer. At least temporarily.
First there was the girl from Pennsylvania who is having a great time playing baseball, thriving in the moment. That Las Vegas team will be a handful, but, now, you just want her to hold onto all the delights of this week no matter the result.
Then there was the coach from Rhode Island, who, thankfully, was miked Monday when he gave what amounted to the Gettysburg Address of youth sports speeches.
Dave Belisle’s team had just been eliminated, his players were crushed, and he delivered a talk to his team that was perfect in tone and message. Spontaneous and from the heart, his words held the kind of lessons every youth coach should be passing along to his or her players.
You very likely already have heard Belisle’s inspirational post-game speech, but it bears re-reading. It will make you feel a whole lot less creepy before flipping to ESPN to watch pre-pubescents at play:
“Heads up high. Heads up high. I’ve gotta see your eyes, guys. There’s no disappointment in your effort — in the whole tournament, the whole season. It’s been an incredible journey. We fought. Look at the score — 8-7, 12-10 in hits. We came to the last out. We didn’t quit. That’s us! Boys, that’s us!
“The only reason why I’ll probably end up shedding a tear is that this is the last time I’m going to coach you guys. But I’m going to bring back with me, the coaching staff is going to bring back, you guys are going to bring back that no one other team can provide — that’s pride. Pride.
“You’re going to take that for the rest of your lives, what you provided for the town of Cumberland. You had the whole place jumping, right? You had the whole state jumping. You had New England jumping. You had ESPN jumping. OK?
“You want to know why? They like fighters. They like sportsmen. They like guys who don’t quit. They like guys who play the game the right way. If everyone would play baseball like the Cumberland Americans, this would be the greatest game.
“The lessons you guys have learned along the journey, you’re never going to forget. We’re going to have some more fun. We have two more days of fun. When you walk around this ballpark in the next couple of days, they’re going to look at you and say:
“Hey, you guys were awesome!’ “Everybody has said: You guys are awesome. Awesome. Awesome. Absolutely awesome.
“It’s OK to cry, because we’re not going to play baseball together any more. But we’re going to be friends forever. Friends forever. Our Little League careers have ended on the most positive note that could ever be. OK? Ever be.
“There’s only going to be one team that’s going to walk out of here as World Series champions. Only one. We got down to the nitty-gritty. We’re one of the best teams in the world. Think about that for a second. In the world! Right?
“So, we need to go see our parents, because they’re so proud of you. One more thing. I want a big hug. I want everyone to come in here for one big hug. One big hug, then we’re going to go celebrate. Then we’re going to go back home to a big parade.
“I love you guys. I’m gonna love you forever. You’ve given me the most precious moment in my athletic and coaching career, and I’ve been coaching a long time — a looooong time. I’m getting to be an old man. I need memories like this, I need kids like this. You’re all my boys. You’re the boys of summer.
“So, for the last time, we’re going to yell Americans: One, two three – Americans!”
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