8.18.2007

Afternoon Gem



I had ESPN on in the background when something got my attention a second ago.

The Little League World Series was on and Mexico was leading the Netherlands 10-1. I learned there was a "10 Run Rule" which meant if Mexico scored one more run, the game was over. The coach of the Netherlands, in the middle of the inning, went to the pitcher's mound. The entire team gathered around him.

In broken English, in a soft tone, and in a truly inquisitive manner, he said this:

"If they score one more point, then it is over. What do you want to do? Do you want to give them the run or do you want to play for the honor?"

Long pause.

Then one little kid said, "The honor."

That moment beats anything in professional sports I'll see all year.