When Shoeboating Goes Overboard

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — September 13th, 2002

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When Shoeboating Goes Overboard

This everyday phenomenon is occurring in inner cities around the country: children picking up basketballs, bats or tennis racquets trying to emulate their favorite athletes whether on basketball courts wanting to be like Mike, or on a court not traditionally dominated by black athletes in hopes of one day being the next Venus or Serena Williams. 

 

Television plays a major role in shaping our children's perception of the appropriate behavior while participating in athletics. 

 

All too often, a bad light is shone on professionals that casts an ugly shadow and places doubt on the responsibility that these athletes are taking to teach our children the values of sportsmanship both on and off the field. There are times, however, when the attitudes on the field draw negative attention. 

 

The Little League World Series showcases the best school-aged ballplayers from around the globe. They compete in Williamsport, Penn., for the prestigious Little League World Series title and their exploits are televised nationally on ESPN and ABC. These players represent more than 50 countries and cover every nationality the world has to offer but are all united by their humbling love of the game. 

 

These children fill sandlots for pick-up games, trying theirhardest to be a mirror image of Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr., or Andruw Jones. This influence extends beyond mere admiration when the little leaguers saunter down the first base line after hitting one out of the park emulating their heroes. 

 

Especially upsetting, on a stage such as the Little League World Series where the world is watching with judgmental eyes, is when it's only seen in our young black players.

 

The team from Harlem, N.Y. is the only inner-city team to ever make it to Williamsport. It hasn't just been their bats that have caught the attention of spectators, rather, their actions during play. 

 

Down four runs in their half of the fourth inning of the Mid-Atlantic Region championship game, Harlem prepared a comeback with the heart of their order due up. Their surge was sparked by two key base hits, putting runners in scoring position. A rally was brewing and center fielder Fernando Fries felt it.

 

On his way to the plate he paused, reminiscent of the late Babe Ruth, he pointed to center field and called his shot. This is a twelve year-old who is nowhere near his full athletic potential or even recognizing it, prophesizing his next swing in an effort to intimidate the opposing team or, worse still, show-off. 

 

Whatever the case may have been, he tagged the very next pitch to straightaway center that took a bounce off the center field wall scoring two runs. Defiantly pumped, Fries stood at second base, looked toward his dugout, popped his collar, and shouted, "What? That's what I am talkin' bout." 

 

That following Tuesday, in Harlem's 5-2 win over Aptos, Calif., Andrew Diaz was booed for hot-dogging after crushing a 235-foot, two-run homer. After he swung, he knew it was gone and turned toward the ball and waved bye-bye while strolling down the first base line. He continued toward home plate in a feeble attempt to replicate Deion Sanders.

 

The scrutiny and feedback the Harlem team received was enough to get the attention of many pro athletes, including former San Diego Padre and Little League commentator Tony Gwynn, who pointed out that that type of hot-dogging has no place in little league or the pros for that matter. 

 

Harlem manager Morris McWilliams warned his team after Diaz' antics that they would be ejected from the game if anyone attempted to further showboat and/or hot-dog. Is it his responsibility to check his team about excessive showboating on the field or should we first look toward the pros, whom these children idolize, to set a better example to follow? Or was Charles Barkley right in saying, 'I am not a role model'? If they aren't, will the real parents please stand up?