Post by Marcus on Jun 26, 2007 22:25:54 GMT -5
This isn't going to be a popular post I'm making, so if you're easily offended perhaps you shouldn't read it.
Now I've very much enjoyed my three years of service to this league, the last two being as league director and president. I have a lot of love for the idea of this league. I have made a lot of very dear and close friends here, and I'm blessed to call some of you my friends.
This message is not intended toward my friends or even those whom I don't know well but always act in an adult and professional manner. Basically if the content of this message "stings" a little, then you will know it is probably directed at least in part toward you.
You know all I've heard this year is how my team isn't "a church league team" or other simple-minded moral judgements toward them. I could care less what you say about me, but if you don't take the time to get to know my players, then you may kindly shut your trap. I have better things to do with my life than decide whether you're "religious" enough to be associated with this league or whether your team has been miraculously blessed with superior moral values than the rest of the league. I have a life, in fact I have a life for which I am very thankful. I couldn't care less who you like or of whom you approve. Even better than that, I couldn't care any less whether you think so-and-so is a "christian." Notice I didn't capitalize the word "christian." The reason for this is I'm not sure very many people can actually achieve your standard for being a "christian." Now it is between my and my Lord and Savior as to my salvation status, is it not? Good thing for me and probably millions of others that you won't be making that decision for us....
If we want to really look at things, let me ask you one question. Aren't "church people" supposed to be the happiest people in the world? Why is it we get together in this church league and there is more griping, complaining, whining, crying, belly-aching and accusations than in a secular league? I never saw this much problem in your typical run-of-the-mill men's league! Read that sentence again. I have been on the field with a bunch of drunks and have seen people get along perfectly fine! I am so ashamed that this league has this reputation. I honestly feel ashamed that I invited a couple of my teammates to play ball in this league this year.
One of my teammates, whom I will not name, is just about the nicest, most humble guy you will ever meet. His wife is also a very wonderful person. Every time she has been to the ball field there is some "controversy." It's very much embarrassing that she probably thinks there are a bunch of overgrown babies here.
There were some things that happened tonight that I absolutely can't believe. I had someone tell me that when he came to bat, he was going to be "hitting at me." That's fine. I'll tell you one thing, you can hit at me all night, but you'd never know if you actually ever bothered me. Why? Because I'm an adult. I can play this game without having to make it something personal. To make things even funnier, this very same person wanted to tell me that I was an embarrassment to my team. I guess it's convenient to use phrases like "Christian like" and "church league team" when the fingers are pointed at the other team, but why do these things not apply to the ones saying these things?
That's exactly what I've been talking about all year. I can't control what you do, but I'm still going to be the same adult that I've always been. You may not like me because I'm so brutally honest, but I dare you to point out one single time when I was unfair to anyone. Let me tell you that you'd better bring a mountain of evidence with you! But you will still complain. You will still complain about whoever runs this league next year....and the year after that.
I now have a renewed sense of respect for Earl Keene. Earl and I may sometimes disagree on the field, but I love the man. He put up with this nonsense for more years than I. I don't see how he did it. Everyone wanted to say his team won because he was "running the show." Well they won the tournament last year without him running it. Maybe they were just good? Nah, nobody would believe that, would they? Jeez. You know sometimes it just is what it is. Stop trying to look for excuses, reasons and rationalization for everything. Sometimes things just don't work out for you. It's called LIFE. Maybe you should consider getting one.
Thank you!
Now I've very much enjoyed my three years of service to this league, the last two being as league director and president. I have a lot of love for the idea of this league. I have made a lot of very dear and close friends here, and I'm blessed to call some of you my friends.
This message is not intended toward my friends or even those whom I don't know well but always act in an adult and professional manner. Basically if the content of this message "stings" a little, then you will know it is probably directed at least in part toward you.
You know all I've heard this year is how my team isn't "a church league team" or other simple-minded moral judgements toward them. I could care less what you say about me, but if you don't take the time to get to know my players, then you may kindly shut your trap. I have better things to do with my life than decide whether you're "religious" enough to be associated with this league or whether your team has been miraculously blessed with superior moral values than the rest of the league. I have a life, in fact I have a life for which I am very thankful. I couldn't care less who you like or of whom you approve. Even better than that, I couldn't care any less whether you think so-and-so is a "christian." Notice I didn't capitalize the word "christian." The reason for this is I'm not sure very many people can actually achieve your standard for being a "christian." Now it is between my and my Lord and Savior as to my salvation status, is it not? Good thing for me and probably millions of others that you won't be making that decision for us....
If we want to really look at things, let me ask you one question. Aren't "church people" supposed to be the happiest people in the world? Why is it we get together in this church league and there is more griping, complaining, whining, crying, belly-aching and accusations than in a secular league? I never saw this much problem in your typical run-of-the-mill men's league! Read that sentence again. I have been on the field with a bunch of drunks and have seen people get along perfectly fine! I am so ashamed that this league has this reputation. I honestly feel ashamed that I invited a couple of my teammates to play ball in this league this year.
One of my teammates, whom I will not name, is just about the nicest, most humble guy you will ever meet. His wife is also a very wonderful person. Every time she has been to the ball field there is some "controversy." It's very much embarrassing that she probably thinks there are a bunch of overgrown babies here.
There were some things that happened tonight that I absolutely can't believe. I had someone tell me that when he came to bat, he was going to be "hitting at me." That's fine. I'll tell you one thing, you can hit at me all night, but you'd never know if you actually ever bothered me. Why? Because I'm an adult. I can play this game without having to make it something personal. To make things even funnier, this very same person wanted to tell me that I was an embarrassment to my team. I guess it's convenient to use phrases like "Christian like" and "church league team" when the fingers are pointed at the other team, but why do these things not apply to the ones saying these things?
That's exactly what I've been talking about all year. I can't control what you do, but I'm still going to be the same adult that I've always been. You may not like me because I'm so brutally honest, but I dare you to point out one single time when I was unfair to anyone. Let me tell you that you'd better bring a mountain of evidence with you! But you will still complain. You will still complain about whoever runs this league next year....and the year after that.
I now have a renewed sense of respect for Earl Keene. Earl and I may sometimes disagree on the field, but I love the man. He put up with this nonsense for more years than I. I don't see how he did it. Everyone wanted to say his team won because he was "running the show." Well they won the tournament last year without him running it. Maybe they were just good? Nah, nobody would believe that, would they? Jeez. You know sometimes it just is what it is. Stop trying to look for excuses, reasons and rationalization for everything. Sometimes things just don't work out for you. It's called LIFE. Maybe you should consider getting one.
Thank you!
