When the Umpire Costs the Game

            About ten years ago, a team from Oceanside, CA was participating in the Little League World Series. Their opponent was a squad from the Bronx, NY.

            The New York team won 1-0 on a controversial play.  The winning run was scored by a Bronx player, who missed second base moving from first to third on the base hit of a teammate.

            After the game, ESPN, who was broadcasting the contest, showed replays that demonstrated clearly the New York player had missed the bag. That was enough to provoke the ESPN commentator to ask Daryl Wasano, losing manager of the California team, this question, “Is this something you will be bitter about in the future?”

            Wasano answered, “Not at all. It's a judgment call, and we didn't get the call. Now we move on.” Wasano continued by stating how much he and his players had enjoyed the entire World Series experience; they were grateful.

            Sportsmanship seems to be a rare commodity these days. That’s a shame.