Watching my favorite college team, I saw some things that shocked me. Guys concerned with mugging for the camera rather than playing hard-nosed, fundamentally sound baseball. That hurt.
Then, when I thought I had reached a new low, here was a story that warmed my heart...
Two weeks ago during regional play, the team I was watching called on a kid to pinch hit in a blow out game. This kid was redshirted as a freshman, and has had fewer than 10 at bats total in the last two years. Think about that... doing all the work the other guys do and getting less than 10 at bats in mop-up games over three years. When informed of his pinch hitting assignment, this kid told the coach "Please let my teammate bat instead as I know he is not coming back and will never have the opportunity again" When I heard that story it restored my faith and it brought a tear to my eye.
I have said it before, you get guys more concerned about the group than themselves, and magical things can happen. This kid will always be a winner in my eyes because he did what winners do...