http://espn.go.com/espn/commen...s-industrial-complex
The guy may be a little over the top, but not much. Love the cartoon, and the term "sports industrial complex."
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quote:Originally posted by realteamcoach:
My biggest worry about the "travel ball" situation is that kids start to believe the games are what matters. Baseball is a skill-based sport, and they need to get repetitions. At times, kids will travel and play all weekend, then take the weekdays off to "rest up" for the next weekend. Wouldn't it be better to stay around town and practice more often?
quote:Are we taking things way overboard at a very young age?
quote:Originally posted by Texas1836:
BackstopDad32- Yes, it is part of the zeitgeist.
quote:Originally posted by PGStaff:
Is there some type of criminal activity going on that I'm not aware of?
quote:Originally posted by Catcherz_Dad:
These avenues didn't exist when the majority of us were playing baseball growing up, otherwise, our parents too might have spent thousands of dollars to give us the best chances at success.
quote:Originally posted by Gingerbread Man:
In years gone by, and when baseball wasn't as popular...
quote:Originally posted by bsbl247: I will say without naming the kids, that only the top 3-4 from that championship team would play on an Elite Major 12-13U team in California.
quote:These avenues didn't exist when the majority of us were playing baseball growing up, otherwise, our parents too might have spent thousands of dollars to give us the best chances at success.
quote:Originally posted by dw8man:quote:Originally posted by Gingerbread Man:
In years gone by, and when baseball wasn't as popular...
Really, baseball is more popular now?
To put words into your mouth, it seems like you are saying that paying $1000.00+ a season to drive ones kids all over the place to play basically the same level of competition they played "in the olden days" has magically made baseball more popular.
quote:Originally posted by Rob T:quote:Originally posted by bsbl247: I will say without naming the kids, that only the top 3-4 from that championship team would play on an Elite Major 12-13U team in California.
Four of the kids on that team do play for an Elite Majors team - So. Cal. Rebels.
quote:Originally posted by zombywoof:
I find that very unlikely during the time I grew up because parents didn't get involved with us playing baseball. We played on our own unlike most kids today. The only way the parents got involved was to pay the rec fees for those of us who signed up the local league and for the most part, us kids rode our bikes with glove and bat to all the games. The parents rarely went because dad would work and mom had to stay home and take care of the house and kids.
Plus back then, many of our parents didn't have that kind of money and if they went for broke on their kids, it would be for an education, not glorified baseball leagues. The ones that stood out ended up playing for their HS teams and legion teams in the summer, then if they were that good, they continued on and went as far as their ability took them.