Celebrate Youth Sports
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With rampant reports of steroid use and cheating among professional athletes, sports often are maligned.

As a former sportswriter, I need no convincing about the ills of big-time sports. But youth sports are different. My son Jack, 17, has played on sports teams since he was 7. After one season of soccer, he played Little League until he was 12. He loved playing baseball and made lots of good friends.

We still laugh as a family about our favorite Little League moments. Jack has played on a basketball team since he was in first grade, and he loved that as well. When the weather is good, he heads to Shillito Park after school for pick-up games with his buddies. And Jack has played golf since he was 11 when he made his first and only hole in one.

He’s now an accomplished golfer -- way better than me -- and he’s a top player on his high school team. I’ve shared all the sports highs and lows with Jack as his father and his coach. Sometimes, I wonder who has had more fun -- him or me.

I’m still surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed youth sports. Jack has learned life lessons along the way -- patience, poise under pressure, teamwork, and that not all leaders have proper leadership skills. Now, Jack is a T-ball umpire and learning more life skills -- like how to handle irate parents. Jack has learned to remain calm and in control when people twice his age are screaming about a perceived injustice.

For my son and me, sports has been a special time in our lives. And I see no end in sight. So, let the pros use steroids and cheat. As for youth sports, Jack and I say, “Play ball!”