"Lazzari's Sports Roundup" - - - - 6/9/07

Kids and Sports......Us and Them

Recently, I started thinking about the difference between how our generation approached sports (and life in general, maybe 30-35 years ago) and the way youngsters go about it today. Like night and day, folks. You see, my intention here is NOT to criticize the youth of today--far from it; I've met/coached some wonderful youngsters who will definitely go on to be productive members of society. It's just that countless factors, including technology and the disintegration of the family unit in general, seem to have produced kids today who aren't as talented and/or interested in sports as we were--and ones that SURELY don't have as much fun as we once did. With that in mind, here are a few differences between "us"--the kid of a few decades ago--and "them" (the youth of today). And yes, folks, you can hum the old Pink Floyd tune while reading this:

US: We grew up in the "sandlot age"--not the computer/video age--and were playing sports CONSTANTLY; the only time when a kid of our generation would plant himself in front of a screen for hours was when he was sick and vomiting the colors of the rainbow while watching TV instead of being at school.
THEM: If a kid currently doesn't have the latest X-Box or video game, panic sets in for fear of having to get some fresh air OUTDOORS (good heavens!!).

US: We PRACTICED, PRACTICED, PRACTICED as youngsters --then PRACTICED some more. To this day, I'll make a dozen free throws in a row in a playground setting while a stunned youngster asks HOW I did that; I try to explain that the FUN for us as kids was making as many shots in a row as possible.
THEM: The same, inquisitive child will then gaze at me and ask "What's so fun about THAT?"

US: We loved BEING part of a team.
THEM: Kids love SAYING that they are part of a team.

US: I remember shagging fly balls for HOURS on HOT summer days at a high school field during the 70's--our only refreshment being a "Boss" bottle of cola shared by 5-6 of us.
THEM: Hot summer days provide a good excuse to enjoy the air-conditioned comfort of a game room, drink Red Bull, and not risk sweating profusely on the new Tommy Hilfiger duds.

US: We watched games on TV in their entirety and learned TONS about the sports we were viewing.
THEM: Reality shows, reality shows, and MORE reality shows.

US: Guys like Pete Maravich, Steve Carlton, Bobby Orr, and Ken Stabler were "cool" to us.
THEM: Shaggy, Lindsay Lohan, any multi-tattooed athlete, and the latest "American Idol" are the "coolest" people on the earth.

US: We did homework, organized pick-up games in whatever sport was in season, ate dinner, did MORE homework, then went to bed.
THEM: They will consider any time spent on the PC as "Typing 1" homework; consider "pick-up games" as ways of enticing the opposite sex, eat fast food, continue "typing" homework" (wondering very little about what REAL homework may have been assigned that day), and hopefully get to bed before midnight.

US: We'd play tackle football in two feet of snow--for HOURS.
THEM: "Football is too BOOOORING--I'll be sure to ask Mom or Dad for a new snowmobile, laptop, or iPod at Christmas!"

US: We'd actually make SUNDIALS in the dirt while playing stickball in order to make sure we got home in time for dinner.
THEM: Cell phones not only tell what time it is, but they will also map out a direct route to the nearest Blockbuster.

US: We idolized Pete Rose for his hustle and "blue collar" approach to the game.
THEM: They idolize anyone who can "hustle" PEOPLE and/or make good money WITHOUT having to work.

US: We considered criticism and being reamed out/lambasted by our coaches as simply constructive ways of getting our attention in order to make us better players.
THEM:Yelling can hurt one's feelings and scar one for life--possible legitimate reasons to bring forward a damaging lawsuit.

US: We ATE, DRANK, and SLEPT sports.
THEM: They eat, drink, and sleep.

US:We used wooden bats while playing Little League; if they cracked, we were encouraged (if not ORDERED) to take them home, put screws in the handles, then use them the next game.
THEM: You can only be a good hitter if your Dad paid more than $250 for an aluminum bat.

US: We'd say "Let's Go Mets" or "Let's Go Yankees."
THEM: They'll say "Let's go to the mall--or better yet, Disney World."

US: We had VERY few alternatives to playing sports--thus resulting in us improving greatly due to the amount of time spent honing our skills.
THEM: Kids are now pulled in Gumby-like fashion in a thousand different directions (activity-wise) and have too many choices about what to do after school (although EVERYTHING still remains "BOOOORING").

US: We'd ride our bicycles a mile or more to get to a sandlot game.
THEM: They'll ride an ATV to get to, well, NOWHERE in particular.

US: Our parents kept relatively low profiles while watching games in the stands and fully supported the coach--for fear they'd embarrass their children.
THEM: More and more parents are currently living vicariously/vociferously through their kids; if embarrassment presents itself, so be it--no big deal.

US: When we joined ANY team, we were there for the LONG RUN; devotion was stressed from the very beginning.
THEM: Kids will leave a game/go on vacation at the drop of a hat; who cares if one hurts the team by his absence as long as something MORE fun is on the horizon?

*And finally,

US: We CARED about sports; they defined who we were/who we continue to be.
THEM: "Sports are mostly BOOOORING!"