Awarding a Varsity Letter

[Salty]

...My baseball coaches autistic son received one and he even got to stand in at second base during senior night. (after the game was well in hand) ...

and if the game had not been "well in hand" ?

 

[Rolfe]

Let him wear his letter. To whine about it is simple pettiness.

Note that the story said that it was a parent who complained.

 

[Use of Time]

and if the game had not been "well in hand" ?

Well then he probably wouldn't have gotten on the field at that point would he? Just like the other roster players that were on the bench. Right combination of players for the right situation. None of this has anything to do with the varsity letter situation of course. Why are you being so pedantic?

 

[Zaac]

Good gosh . It's a high school letter for goodness sake. I was a four year letterman at a D1 school, and have been a longtime member of our school's Lettermen's Club. And I don't think I've ever heard anyone even hint at complaining about the honorary letters that we give out to little kids suffering from diseases.

We did the same thing in high school. What possible harm could there possibly be in letting this CHILD feel as though he was really a part of something? In lieu of everything else he has had to deal with in his life, what harm is there in this when he has contributed to the team no doubt to the best of his abilities? If his teammates don't have an issue with it, why would a parent or anyone else?

Pure, wicked foolishness.

 

[Salty]

I think anyone with an ounce of humanity in them would have done the same. But it seems like we'd much rather teach our kids to just be nasty and mean-spirited.

They need to pull a Rudy and all of the letter winners go lay their jackets on the Principal's desk.

According to IMdB : Dan Devine was upset about the scene in which several players laid down their jerseys on his desk as a form of protest for not letting Rudy suit up for the upcoming Georgia Tech game. According to Devine, that incident never took place and if it had, the players involved would have been booted off the team

Based on the new evidence from your most recent post, I believe that you are absolutely qualified to receive a varsity letter Salty.

Thanks, but no thanks - I didn't earn it.

and if the game had not been "well in hand" ?

Well then he probably wouldn't have gotten on the field at that point would he?

Several people have said that all these letters earned in the past mean nothing now. So, what's the big deal if letting that kid play in a Varsity game - in the last inning, even if the score is tied. As has been said - does the end make a difference?

He played some ball and deserves to be recognized according to his ability.

This I totally agree with!:thumbsup:

Salty, not making a sports team doesn't make you physically challenged...

Then give me the proper definition of "physically challenged.

Good gosh . It's a high school letter for goodness sake. I was a four year letterman at a D1 school, and have been a longtime member of our school's Lettermen's Club. And I don't think I've ever heard anyone even hint at complaining about the honorary letters that we give out to little kids suffering from diseases..

Could it be a Letterman did not want to rock the boat


Still waiting for a comment of these 2 items:

(1)

Now, let me tell you what I did as a coach.
I had a T-Ball team - ages 6-9. At the end of the season, I pass out awards to EVERY player. Now, if each of those were a "Most Valuable Player" then the award would be meaningless.
In addition to the MVP, I also had awards, such as Most improved player, and the like.
Bottom line- each player received an award, based on HIS strengths. I had one player - that the only award I could give - was Best team sprit. He had no athletic ability, but he was at every game - rooting for the team ( and yes, he did play in every game, though his on field time was limited)?

2)

As I mentioned before, come up with an alternative "letter" for the boy to wear. What is WRONG with that compromise?

 

[Bro. Curtis]

Then give me the proper definition of "physically challenged.

Seriously ? You think not making a team makes you physically challenged ? Glad I didn't use that cop-out. I failed to make teams until I was a junior, and I have varsity letters in ice hockey, baseball, and stage band.

 

[Use of Time]

Salty in response to this.

"Several people have said that all these letters earned in the past mean nothing now. So, what's the big deal if letting that kid play in a Varsity game - in the last inning, even if the score is tied. As has been said - does the end make a difference?"


What does competing in the actual game have to do with a varsity letter? Of course the end makes a difference but that comes nowhere near your OP which is becoming more and more vague as this discussion goes on.

Allowing a mentally disabled child a moment of joy in a situation where the competitive nature is not compromised is in no way a horrible thing. Instead of answering questions with more questions why don't you just make whatever point it is you want to make instead of creating a laundry list of hypotheticals. Everyone else here has answered your thread topic in good faith.

 

[Use of Time]

Seriously ? You think not making a team makes you physically challenged ? Glad I didn't use that cop-out. I failed to make teams until I was a junior, and I have varsity letters in ice hockey, baseball, and stage band.

Bingo. Physically challenged to me is being physically disabled. Not working hard enough or having the situational game IQ to compete makes you not good enough. There is a difference. Bro. Curtis, you kept working to improve yourself and it paid off. I'm glad you never considered yourself physically challenged. That would just be having a defeatist attitude.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

I played softball at a very high level until I retired at 51 years of age. I've played in some other leagues since then. Not what I used to be.

 

[Use of Time]

I played softball at a very high level until I retired at 51 years of age. I've played in some other leagues since then. Not what I used to be.

I played softball with my battalion in the Army and I hated it. The guys took it way too seriously to the point where it was absolutely no fun. Most of them had no idea how to play the game and would constantly belittle each other on the field if someone made an error or something. I've played in state championship tournaments in baseball where we lost due to a head in the clouds miscue on the basebaths but we picked the guy up. I just couldn't get into the insane competitive nature of my teammates.

I also had a hard time hitting as am I am not very big and can't drive a ball that comes in at 15 mph. It's tough learning to swing at pitches that come in at eye level when you've been trained all your life to hit belt high 80-90 mph.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

I was probably one of those guys. LOL. I was always pretty good.

I've beaten teams that Pepsi, and Crown Royal put on the road. I faced the King and his Court. (Struck out in three pitches)

But I'm old now. It all is just pleasant memory.

 

[Use of Time]

I was probably one of those guys. LOL. I was always pretty good.

I've beaten teams that Pepsi, and Crown Royal put on the road. I faced the King and his Court. (Struck out in three pitches)

But I'm old now. It all is just pleasant memory.

Our team was good but we always ran into the team from the Army Medical Hospital (Trippler in Hawaii) that had civvy ringers. Their shortsop played baseball at Georgia Tech for crying out loud.

 

[Bro. Curtis]

A long time ago I played on a team that had a US Women's Softball player at shortstop. She wasn't a powerful hitter but nobody got anything by her.

I do realize how idiotic and off putting big headed jocks can be.