Sport? Human Nature & Other Problems in a small Christian School

May Day. Before the day was over there would be calls of Mayday, S.O.S. After the races and pie eating came the main event, The Ball Game with a capital THE. One year, North against South, East against West, or Bible Institute against College\High School. On this fateful day, I don't remember what sides were in the arena. After the emotion began to rise after a few innings some of the bystanders who had been old time stars, like ILW or WOP, would want to play an inning or two. They were not top players any more as they once had been, but at least were not any worse than some kid who had been used to fill up the team they replaced. Even AWL got into the act and pulled it off to everyone's satisfaction since he began by donation a new ball or two, pure gold from heaven, and then replacing some kid at the bat, would quite regularly make a hit, clouting the pretty good, running to first and then safe, give over his place on the bag to the original kid both to run and play field afterwards.

As the Emotion still arose among players and spectators, here came the makings of minor tragedies. Man, this game had been practiced, under and over by some, for months. There were those who held that if anyone didn't strive to win with some earnest dedication he would be just as lackadaisical in other fields. Debatable, but so held by some.

The fateful matter on that day was RBW wanting to play. The game stopped. Hearts stopped on both sides. The most complicated and potentially earth shattering consequences possible. RBW was the most loved, perhaps, of all the head folk. Where some others were criticized for...for...oh you know, everything, RBW was well liked. But if he was given a place at bat, a wild pitch-- and which of our pitches was wild half of the time-- could put out the sight completely of the poor near sighted artist-invalid. Nor could he hit, nor run. What to do?

Tragedy was being cooked up by the Babylonic gods of confusion, touchiness and indecisiveness. The primary primitive state of the game was there was no adult coach in charge nor adult umpire, and the other spectator adults stood as helpless as us young guys. RBW was given a bat and the pitcher trembling threw as soft a powder puff as he could. I don't remember if the ball was then hit and the throw was purposely wild, or whether he was out, those details are forgotten by the succeeding tragedies.

The inning over, in place of following ALW to the bystanders seats, RBW took his place in the field. The side was up to bat, taking any advantage that ball-players are supposed to watch for, but their balls in the general direction of the illustrious-in oratory-but-not-in-fielding fielder. What should have been an out or a one-bagger at most, rolled through his glove, sauntered through his legs, and on into the field beyond, while the fielder in turn sauntered back for the ball and through it finally not to but toward the infield, but could not reach more than a few paces at which the second baseman, runs out, retrieves the ball. and starts to throw to home only to discover that the runner wasn't even running, just walking across the base amid a deathlike pressure grabbing at the vitals of everyone.

Grit your teeth and go on with the game. Next batter. Same awful awesome scenario repeated. Some players and perceptive observers were hardly able to breath at the pressure on the heart. All except RBW. So observant in poetry and platform, he acted as if it were only a game, everyone was out for a little fresh air and no more. RBW kept his place in the outfield. The team stopped, looked to heaven for relief, and finding none, the pitcher wound up to face the next batter. The same thing repeated all over again, not a single out and three unearned runs.

The game certainly unsavable after all the efforts and practice of months, was down the drain. The team captain went half berserk with frustration, walking in tight circles for some seconds, ol' Romey, I think it was. Ol' Romey, I think it was. Ol' Romey called for a new fielder and sent the most illustrious right fielder he ever had or ever would have, to the showers.

RBW suddenly did not seem to be sauntering, nor laughing, nor idly smiling as if to say, "It's only a game." He suddenly acted as if it was important, and the clouds of Olympus gathered.

Oh, oh, we all thought. If only, if only there was someone to have helped the situation at the outset, an adult coach. One of the ex-stars to step up and take charge a solution would have been simple. He would merely call the two team captains and say, "Listen, go ahead and play any old way and when Dr. RB gets tired and volunteers to leave, we'll quietly forget the unearned runs, and go on at where the score had been. Give the dear old fellow a chance to play a little." All would have heaved sighs of relief at the fair and simple solution and gone ahead.

As it was everyone could see there was inevitable serious tragic harm. RBW supposedly so thoughtful of others was remarkably unperceptive here. The young players were taking the game so seriously they had lost sight if respect for the boss. RBW who preached more than once on the importance of humility was startlingly touchy at times, not to say proud in certain departments.

Weight, darkness and pressure reigned during the night, and sure enough the next morning, a general school and whole church meeting was called to discipline the whole team as well as the captain. I sweat through the proceedings. It was more of the same blind unfairness. Of course, we were partly to blame for not enough long-sighted respect. But that was only half. That half was taken up and backed and repeated by all and sundry, teachers and administrators. No one said very much about the balancing half, the student's side. Several tried to hint at it a bit diplomatically, but there was the problem of making it worse, if spoken explicitly, of making an explosion unto an atomic bomb.

The Bible teaches us to respect our elders and obey those who have the rule. But it also warns in many ways to be careful of hurting the little ones, the young men, the sons, and the importance of not hiding ones pride behind respect of office, the fault of not seeing two sides, and of having a trial where one person or one side is both accusing district attorney, judge and jury. Such an authority may seem to get away with the situation he creates, but thinking people are watching, thinking, praying. though silent.

Let us adults and fathers foresee firstly adult supervision of our sports. Next, see both sides of situations and not create a situation where a condemned is virtually forced to remain silent. Certainly not be condemned by any one side before the other side is openly honestly considered and fairly weighed.

How many other instances there are of really good young guys going too far, getting out of hand, for lack of supervision and foresight by teachers or administrators.