Whether they want to or not, or whether we as parents want it, they do influence our children.  Why do you think you get paid like that?  Do you not find it funny how teachers, doctors, police, etc. do not get paid as much as the rich and famous do?  Do you think throwing a touchdown is more important than teaching our children?  Do you think being an actor and delivering a good performance is more important than a real life policeman?  Part of being in the public eye is that you will influence young minds.  With all the corruption that goes on:  in politics, Charlie Sheens latest, walking off the court, Tiger’s act; many in the public eye are not doing a good job role modeling positive behavior.

            As parents we cannot control the actions of others.  We can control our own actions though.  I remember being a young boy in little league and watching how the opposing coach and our coach had agreed there would be a walk limit.  I was just ten or so.  We were up quite a few runs, and in the last inning our pitchers started to walk the other team.  When they got to the limit, our coach said that was it, no more.  Their coach said no such deal had been made.  The umpire did not overrule him, even though a few previous innings it had affected our teams at bat.  There was quite an argument between the coaches and parents of both teams.  Another time, our team was playing another team in the playoffs.  In the first inning, the strike zone for our pitcher was like a match box. They got their only two runs. We lost the game two to one. I was the catcher that game and can remember how the strike zone was crazy in the first inning; and seemed off the rest of the game.  I was not happy, but didn’t think much of it.  Later I learned the umpire was the brother of the opposing coach.

            In both of these cases, players from both sides knew what had happened.  In fact, after the second game I mentioned in school the next day there was a fight over it by some of the opposing players.  I can remember these and other times to this day where parents had acted poorly.  PARENTS, WAKE UP!!  You are the most important role models your children have in their life.  This man I saw the other day was upset because he thought the other team practicing had taken one of his baseballs he was using with his son.  To get so upset, start arguing, yelling, swearing in front of the kids, including his own boy was nuts.  Did they end up with one of his baseballs?  Might of happened, but I do not know.  I do not think anything was done intentionally.  I do know though, he sure taught his son a poor life lesson that day about sportsmanship and dealing with others.

            Sports are one of my greatest loves next to my family, friends, and faith.  It should teach our children good life lessons.  We as parents must be a good example for our children.  If not, what do we teach them?  Baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and all the other sports are just that.  They are not life or death.  They are meant for fun, and hopefully our children learn good lessons from them.